Not running on all cylinders, litterally

[buickpower]

was kicking around the same thing in the back of my mind, wouldn't hurt to pop off a valve cover and verify rockers move.

 

[Jerryl]

Well, the jury is out.
Had a broken injector wire on #6, like it was melted.
So, I am still NOT understandinng how it was wet.

Anyway, fixed that and now working on other problems.
Compression on #1 is at 85, all others at 120. HG? I hope it is.
GM composite HG, ARP's torqued to 80 with a calibrated wrench, heads and block were resurfaced .......... Yes, I did retorque the heads and was running around 14 psi boost with 18 deg chip, 93/alky.

Not sure if the oil from the turbo blew the cylinder but I will change the HG and see what happens. (Edited for PG rating)

Thanks everyone for your input and advice.

 

[cool 84]

Well, the jury is out.
Had a broken injector wire on #6, like it was melted.
So, I am still NOT understandinng how it was wet.

Anyway, fixed that and now working on other problems.
Compression on #1 is at 85, all others at 120. HG? I hope it is.
GM composite HG, ARP's torqued to 80 with a calibrated wrench, heads and block were resurfaced .......... Yes, I did retorque the heads and was running around 14 psi boost with 18 deg chip, 93/alky.

Not sure if the oil from the turbo blew the cylinder but I will change the HG and see what happens. (Edited for PG rating)

Thanks everyone for your input and advice.

Sorry to hear about the bad luck. Oil will make it detonate pretty bad. I blew a headgasket when my turbo went. The car looked like a mosquito fogger from the rear.

 

[Jerryl]

Sorry to hear about the bad luck. Oil will make it detonate pretty bad. I blew a headgasket when my turbo went. ........

I am devloping a "love hate" relationship with this thing.

 

[Squid4life]

"GM composite HG"

Are those the grey ones that have a "coating" you can sort of scratch off with a fingernail? If you want to use them again, I have a new set that came with a gasket set I bought. I don't need them, they are yours.

Also, glad you found the issue!

 

[Jerryl]

"GM composite HG"

Are those the grey ones that have a "coating" you can sort of scratch off with a fingernail? If you want to use them again, I have a new set that came with a gasket set I bought. I don't need them, they are yours.

Also, glad you found the issue!

Thanks Squid!
I had a spare set and now need another spare set.
If they are still available, I'll take em.

 

[Squid4life]

I'll get them sent out tomorrow!

 

[TType84]

Why are you using composite instead of steel shim? just curious.. because the block and heads were resurfaced?

 

[Jerryl]

Why are you using composite instead of steel shim? just curious.. because the block and heads were resurfaced?

Well, ......... good question. Not because of the resurfacing actually, but, starting to wonder myself.
Based on my research, I wanted to run as much boost as possible without knock, so in essence wanted lower static compression. Keep in mind that I am not building a race motor.

 

[TType84]

Well, ......... good question. Not because of the resurfacing actually, but, starting to wonder myself.
Based on my research, I wanted to run as much boost as possible without knock, so in essence wanted lower static compression. Keep in mind that I am not building a race motor.

ic guys stack two steel shims to matach one composite... never had an issue with steel shims althought i'm sure tb.com's hotair gurus will be sure to chime in...

 

[boostmaster]

Composite Gasket

Using a composite gasket will effectively lower your compression, which in turn will give you sluggish performance on the bottom end. Boost is boost no matter what head gasket you are using. But I can say that the stock steel shim gaskets are among the best out there. They are very hard to blow.

 

[Jerryl]

Well, the car was still running on 5. Borrowed an ECM from a local board member and "WHALA" she runs on 6!

Just to make sure (I am in denial at this point), I reconnected the old ECM and she was back on 5. Back to the borrowed ECM and she smoothed right out. So, I need an ECM.

Yes, a noid light would have caught it sooner, but try doing that on number 6 on a hot air! After swapping injectors around and verifying injectors, harness and everything else .......... well you get the idea.

Had been told that "a bad ECM is possible but highly unlikely".
Well, if it can happen, I have already replaced it.
Just posting in the hope it helps someone.

Thanks again to everyone for the input!!

 

[cool 84]

Well, the car was still running on 5. Borrowed an ECM from a local board member and "WHALA" she runs on 6!

Just to make sure (I am in denial at this point), I reconnected the old ECM and she was back on 5. Back to the borrowed ECM and she smoothed right out. So, I need an ECM.

Yes, a noid light would have caught it sooner, but try doing that on number 6 on a hot air! After swapping injectors around and verifying injectors, harness and everything else .......... well you get the idea.

Had been told that "a bad ECM is possible but highly unlikely".
Well, if it can happen, I have already replaced it.
Just posting in the hope it helps someone.

Thanks again to everyone for the input!!

You know, a regular dashboard light will plug into an injector clip perfectly and will flash when you turn it over on the starter. Glad you found the problem.

 

[Squid4life]

Well, the car was still running on 5. Borrowed an ECM from a local board member and "WHALA" she runs on 6!

Just to make sure (I am in denial at this point), I reconnected the old ECM and she was back on 5. Back to the borrowed ECM and she smoothed right out. So, I need an ECM.

Yes, a noid light would have caught it sooner, but try doing that on number 6 on a hot air! After swapping injectors around and verifying injectors, harness and everything else .......... well you get the idea.

Had been told that "a bad ECM is possible but highly unlikely".
Well, if it can happen, I have already replaced it.
Just posting in the hope it helps someone.

Thanks again to everyone for the input!!

WOW!!! That is all I can think to say right now is "WOW"...

 

[Jerryl]

WOW!!! That is all I can think to say right now is "WOW"...

Funny thing is ..... I did not care about the ECM cost and was actually hoping it WAS the ECM. That way I knew what to fix!

A few positive things came out of this ..... I learned quite a few diagnotic thricks along the way, PLUS everything else is verified to work ........ at least for now.

 

[Squid4life]

"""Compression on #1 is at 85, all others at 120. HG? I hope it is."""

Did the ECM fix your HG/compression issue?

Did the HGs get there yet? I sent them priority.

 

[Jerryl]

"""Compression on #1 is at 85, all others at 120. HG? I hope it is."""

Did the ECM fix your HG/compression issue?

Did the HGs get there yet?

After burning a piston and a block, I am hessitant to make statements before opening the block. Could have been a burned valve, broken spring, broken ring as well. I therefore consider myself lucky it was only a HG.

The ECM did not pysically fix the HG issue :tongue: , but, hopefully will prevent future HG failures due to rich or lean knock.

I will let you know as soon as the HG's get here. THANKS again!

 

[Squid4life]

Gotcha. I thought maybe you did another compression test and now they are all good.

No worries on the HG's. If you choose not to use them, just hang on to them for someone else, like I did. :biggrin: