By Jacob (24.12.161.208) on Monday, April 09, 2001 - 08:51 pm:

Well, we finally managed to get the head off of our '76 Civic 1200. In case you don't remember the story. We got the car because the guy thought it had a blown head gasket, and maybe a warped head. The car needed a radiator, and had an overheating problem.

Anyway, so we pull the head off like ten minutes ago (after trying to figure out top dead center and stuff). Staring up from number two cylinder is a piston with a hole the size of a penny. This could be a slight problem!

Anyway, now my question. Our original theory (before we saw the piston) was to just pull the head, and get the head cleaned up and checked, put a good gasket on it, and wait for the bottom end of the motor when we had more money (college students), this way the car would run. Could we now get away with just flushing the bottom end many times to try to get the shreads of metal out (assuming they're shreads). Or would we just end up damaging more stuff in the long run? Should we just pull the motor and rebuild the bottom end? Find a different motor? Gimme some advice ya'll.

Thanks

By Adrian (Civicguru) (203.42.97.227) on Monday, April 09, 2001 - 10:28 pm:

Whatever happens you've got to pull the bottom end apart to some extent (got to pull the sump off to pull the piston out.) I wouldn't bother trying to do it in the car - very messy job and will take you longer than if you pull the engine out (a very easy job). It hardly seems worth it though as you need at least one new piston, might as well do all the rings and bearings (if they are worn) at the same time. You'll need a new sump gasket etc. Basically it's not worth the effort unless you do a complete rebuild. If you can find an engine that you know is good (from someone on the board maybe?) it'll probably be cheaper and easier in the short term.