On the road, but a harmonic viberation question emerges.

Well for those playing at home:

Compression Test:  (Dry)

#1:   140-150
#2:   140-150
#3:   115-120
#4:   140-150

Numbers vary sense my compression test bleed down valve decided to start leaking.  I wet tested #3 and it shot up to about 210. 

Engine is tired.  However it is running pretty smooth.  I let the wife know that we should probably look into an engine swap in the future.  Or perhaps rebuilding the other engine block, and going with a reman head.  

Onto the coolant leak:

Pressure tested.  The damn thing still had some pressure in the system from sitting overnight.  Nice surprise for yours truly!  Pumped it up to 18lbs and the coolant line to the turbo started dripping again.  It's double clamped on both ends.  I snugged it down and that leak stopped.  That one makes sense, as it 'fixed' itself at lower pressures.  Going to higher pressure/operating pressure is when it started dripping.  So no marks on the ground.

Harmonic Vibration:

Thankfully I wet tested #3.  I asked the wife to crank it over with the intercooler removed.  Of course it won't run for more then a second-  But that was all I needed to see a smoke show out of the connection from the turbo to the rear pipe with the O2 sensor.  Nice puffs of blue smoke in a rather rhythmic fashion!.

Needless to say I'm not thrilled, as I hate repairing exhaust.   So I'm putting the next project  (Rust abatement on a 2010 Dodge Journey...Before it goes on the road we're going to de-scale and rust treat the undercarriage.  For 10 years old?  It's pretty bad).

We're taking it in for inspection, and then parking it back in the 'barn' so I can get that gasket and mating surface prepped and repaired. 

Anyone happen to have a part number for that gasket?  LOL!  Looks like I'll need to attempt to source one out!

There's the updates!

S-

Well the results of the test are good news, at least. My Cylinder #3 also was low until I added some oil, and then it too shot up.

When my head gasket blew in 2010 it was between #3 and #4. According to what I’ve read, this is a common problem for these cars.

Just an FYI.

Yes.  It would seem the pressure(s) can at times expose a weak point.  That would be the headgasket from what I've been told.

When we picked up the car(s)  (We still have the 1987 T-Coupe for a parts car)  The '88 we have just put on the road had a rather large crack in #2 exhaust valve right into the water jacket.  Block was partly seized up from sitting.  It's freed up (transmission fluid and effort!)  To be honest, I was shocked at how good the cylinders actually looked once we pulled cylinder head.  That's likely why #3 isn't as strong as we'd like.  Physical exam of the walls looked pretty good all things considered.

Yeah it sucks the rear gasket on the turbo took a poop.  It might have been that way from the last owner,  we've no way of really knowing sense it sat for so long and the history isn't known.

Anywho--  The head was replaced with the one from the '87 with a complete gasket set including new head bolts. I used a machinist straight edge and it was within spec for warpage.   Quite a nice job as well.  Intake manifold was done/attached on the bench however.  No way I could get my hands and do that job when installed into the car LOL. 

Should be fun to see how much fight I'm in for with the turbo bolts at that downpipe.  I'm going to invest in a basic torch setup to get it 'warm' and hope they break free.  We've got the other turbo unit from the '87 as well, if needed.  I'm hopeful it won't be.  That one is pretty crusted.  Functional yes-  But pretty rusty.  (likely a map gas setup.  My step father loves to borrow my tools.  I'd rather not go oxy-ace...with my luck he would forget to shut the valves off...)

S-

Yes.  It would seem the pressure(s) can at times expose a weak point.  That would be the headgasket from what I've been told.

When we picked up the car(s)  (We still have the 1987 T-Coupe for a parts car)  The '88 we have just put on the road had a rather large crack in #2 exhaust valve right into the water jacket.  Block was partly seized up from sitting.  It's freed up (transmission fluid and effort!)  To be honest, I was shocked at how good the cylinders actually looked once we pulled cylinder head.  That's likely why #3 isn't as strong as we'd like.  Physical exam of the walls looked pretty good all things considered.

Yeah it sucks the rear gasket on the turbo took a poop.  It might have been that way from the last owner,  we've no way of really knowing sense it sat for so long and the history isn't known.

Anywho--  The head was replaced with the one from the '87 with a complete gasket set including new head bolts. I used a machinist straight edge and it was within spec for warpage.   Quite a nice job as well.  Intake manifold was done/attached on the bench however.  No way I could get my hands and do that job when installed into the car LOL. 

Should be fun to see how much fight I'm in for with the turbo bolts at that downpipe.  I'm going to invest in a basic torch setup to get it 'warm' and hope they break free.  We've got the other turbo unit from the '87 as well, if needed.  I'm hopeful it won't be.  That one is pretty crusted.  Functional yes-  But pretty rusty.  (likely a map gas setup.  My step father loves to borrow my tools.  I'd rather not go oxy-ace...with my luck he would forget to shut the valves off...)

S-

P B Blaster is your friend. I’m often amazed just how well that stuff works.

Yes.  It would seem the pressure(s) can at times expose a weak point.  That would be the headgasket from what I've been told.

When we picked up the car(s)  (We still have the 1987 T-Coupe for a parts car)  The '88 we have just put on the road had a rather large crack in #2 exhaust valve right into the water jacket.  Block was partly seized up from sitting.  It's freed up (transmission fluid and effort!)  To be honest, I was shocked at how good the cylinders actually looked once we pulled cylinder head.  That's likely why #3 isn't as strong as we'd like.  Physical exam of the walls looked pretty good all things considered.

Yeah it sucks the rear gasket on the turbo took a poop.  It might have been that way from the last owner,  we've no way of really knowing sense it sat for so long and the history isn't known.

Anywho--  The head was replaced with the one from the '87 with a complete gasket set including new head bolts. I used a machinist straight edge and it was within spec for warpage.   Quite a nice job as well.  Intake manifold was done/attached on the bench however.  No way I could get my hands and do that job when installed into the car LOL. 

Should be fun to see how much fight I'm in for with the turbo bolts at that downpipe.  I'm going to invest in a basic torch setup to get it 'warm' and hope they break free.  We've got the other turbo unit from the '87 as well, if needed.  I'm hopeful it won't be.  That one is pretty crusted.  Functional yes-  But pretty rusty.  (likely a map gas setup.  My step father loves to borrow my tools.  I'd rather not go oxy-ace...with my luck he would forget to shut the valves off...)

S-

P B Blaster is your friend. I’m often amazed just how well that stuff works.

You're not kidding.  We have several cans of that, and about 6 cans of brake cleaner within arms reach!    And we can't forget the best friend when the job is done:  Anti Seize, and of course:  Fluid Film.  

S-