Anyone have suggestions on what to do first...
As stated in my other post, the owner suspects a blown head gasket/overheated. Again this car is a '89 T/A 5.0 tpi, with 29,000km on it. I know the oilpan is partially removed( retainers) and the smog pump and starter are also off. I plan to first yank the plugs, and see if there is any water evidence, and on what cylinder. What do you recommend to find if there is a blown gasket. Add water??????
Much thanks in advance for your help. I really want to be one of the 20 running 3rd gens on Okinawa!!!!!!
SHAGGY out.

 

I'd to a pressure test of the cooling system to check for leaks. This will tell you if you have a bad head gasket. I would also do a compression test. If you fail on one or two cylinders, then that is where your gasket leak is. Other than that, I would put the starter and oil pan on and try to start it. If there is white smoke, then you know there's coolant in the system. Also keep an eye out for coolant in the oil. This will KILL your bearings. Periodically pull the dipstick and look for milky oil. If it is, then there is water/coolant in the oil. DO NOT run the motor with water in the oil.

 

89,

So you found your password, eh?

Any idea why someone would try to remove the oil pan?

I'd top off all the fluids, screw in fresh or clean plugs, fill the cooling system with straight water, and start it. If you are going to get any liquid in the sump other than oil, water is far and away preferable to antifreeze mixture.

Let the system build pressure and see what happens. If you have access to a pressure tester, that would be a good means to accomplish the same thing, except you'd have no idea how/if it runs, and what a heat/cool cycle would do to the coolant.

This is gonna get interesting...

 

well , i am about a week out from being able to even sorta dig in, Gotta get rid of the japanese plates, and get service member plates. I don't actually know why they pulled the pan bolts, other than it's a SBC, and not a 2.0 TURBo somthin.
I will do all that first.
I figure worst case, i need to ship a small block to fit under the TPI. Anyone up for swimming over to here with a motor on thier back. Beer is on me!!!!!! SHAGGY

 

If you could arrange it so that all my swimming would be in the pool on the lido deck of the Pacific Princess, I'd be glad to haul over a spare 355 SBC to fit under your TeePee Eye.

Yeah, all that "unneccessary" cast iron tends to confuse some of those eastern engineering types.

Keep us posted.

 

I have a question... I'm honestly curious, is there alot of "r!ce" as we would know it here in the US, there in Japan? Is this an international plague or just people here that are Japanese wannabes?

You should get a vanity plate (if you can) that says "RPREZNT"

 

as i undrestand it, there is very little r!ce here. These guys "okinawa or mainland" build cars up pretty mean. The TT SUPRAS
and 300zx's are crazy. They mostly have skylines and sylvia's . The sylvia is a 200 sx from back there. RWD 2.5, w/wo turbo.
Funny the skyline guys liken there rides to the vette!!!!!!
I laugh and say nah maybe an IROC/formula. They are everywhere, but are still basically a entry level performance car.
I won't get wrapped up in the hype. Too MANY military get over there, buy one, beat it up, break it ,and throw it away. They can't fixem. In closing, the RI$ERS back there are posers, you guys have little to worry about. Here is a diferent world, my T/A may be kick ***, but it will be awhile before I tread with confidence

 

Yeah, it seems that when a trend hits the left coast, it all gets distorted somehow. Not many people can afford to have a Steve Millen-type import that can really do something besides make noise, so they make up for it in chrome and decals. Stillen still won't acknowledge the superiority of the Lingenfelter garage - I guess the Stillen guys are just plasying to that wannbe market, and milking it for all it's worth.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

 

Its definitely true, i new guys that beat supras and skylines over there until they couldnt give em away. You email Chris yet dude? He'll be able to hook you up during his remaining 7 weeks in the 'nawa.

 

nah, i'll holler at him this afternooon, my time

 

Also, if you wanna check out some cars, i dont know if they still do it or not, but they used to race on 58 friday nights, down by kfc/toys r us, which is right by you, might be worth heading down some night.

 

every night, out gate 4

 

Wow, theyve been busy. Gate 2 was my favorite though.

 

Gate 2, huh? Ever been to the banana show?? LOL!

 

Yes.......yes i have...it was closed for awhile cause the old lady had to have surgery..... but last I heard she's still alive.

 

indeed she is..........

 

*** I wish I was back there......

 

ok, just an update.....
I just bought the car today. I will have it towed to my place tomorrow. I am heading back to the states, to comb wrecking yards and parts dealers. To keep this tech, what i the "smallest" CCA battery i should get. The cold is'nt an issue here in the tropics, but the electrical needs of a fully laden T/A (a/c, power everthing) is a consideration.
shawn"sportin' the thirdgen look in the orient" !!!

 

While youve got that beast torn apart, see what you can get out of chris's vette. Hes stripping it, and should give you a good deal on some stuff.

 

hello all again....
Back from the states and ready to get *** deep in this motor!!!!
Ok now i have tools, not yet my compression tester, but all my hand tools and need a good direction. I can spin the motor over with the balancer, so no seizure!!!
I have not pulled d plugs yet. I am partly tempted to go with vaders suggestion, and fill her up, and fire it off. I had a guy back home tell me the main bearings are probably shot, soooooooo.
I did send myself all new filters,plugs, wires, and a complete gasket set, top to bottom.
Oh yeah, I did get the oil filter off, and it was milky. This is the only fluid in the car.
So what do you guys think?
looking forward to hearing from you. SHAGGY

 

If you can spin the crank with no unusually tight spots, excess drag, or odd noises, I'd be tempted to pull the caps just for a quick look (or maybe new shells) and fire it up. If the pan isn't already off, just bolt it up and fill with fresh fluids. Fire it up and just let it run unloaded for a while to see how hot it gets. Check the oil for debris and contamination, and be prepared to swap a few filters. You might get lucky.