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View Full Version : Engine issues..........need a fresh look at it...

Tim Baillie
09-06-2007, 08:13 PM
I recently had the intake gaskets replaced on my Buick V6. I was busy so my buddy did it for me. The gasket ended up slipping and we had to redo it.

Since then the car runs like total crap............

I replaced the distributor, coil, rotor, plugs, plug wires and nothing mattered.

When I drove it, it would cough and sputter, kinda backfire and have no power..........I could get it to drive if I kinda feathered the gas and it would get some speed up............now it barely stays running to get it in and out of the shop.

Me and my dad thought that something might have got screwed up the last time the gaskets (2nd time) were done so he tore them off today and redid it again............there was a little bit of "crap" inside in the valley but nothing major.........

During the whole process #6 cylinder (passenger side rear) is the problem...........if we pop off #6 plug wire and when we let it arc a 1/2" or so from the plug, the car runs a little better but not like it used to.

Any idea's ?

My dad is a retired mechanic of 40+ years and he is a little stumped.............he is thinking now that if some of the crap got into the lifters it could have screwed things up.

Want to blow the car up at this point.............

Should have lived with the slight oil leak out of the back of the intake............

Thanks
camcojb
09-06-2007, 08:22 PM
is this EFI or carb? If EFI, does it have a map or maf sensor, what other sensors, etc.?

Jody
Vegas69
09-06-2007, 08:22 PM
Check for vaccuum leaks and make sure the distributor is in correctly. If it is the timing correct.? Thats the only thing it could be from changing and intake unless their is a freak coincidence.
Tim Baillie
09-06-2007, 08:29 PM
It's carb and I just asked my dad and he never swaped out the Distributor, on the buick it doesn't have to come out to remove the intake.

There minimal vacum lines and they seem to check out............even did the water test on the vacum lines and nothing happened...............

Played with the timing and it got a little better one afternoon when it was warm out but went to crap the next day and has been crap since then
Payton King
09-07-2007, 06:12 AM
sounds like they got swapped
Tim Baillie
09-07-2007, 07:33 AM
Sounds like what got swaped ?
camcojb
09-07-2007, 07:43 AM
Sounds like what got swaped ?

I think he's speaking of the plug wires.

Jody
Tim Baillie
09-07-2007, 08:23 AM
Checked and double checked that, replaced them, metered them.........they seem good to go.....
68protouring454
09-07-2007, 08:51 AM
firing order?
Tim Baillie
09-07-2007, 02:30 PM
Triple checked

I'm ready to kick the car.........
aany001
09-09-2007, 08:29 AM
what year and model buick r u working on??
Tim Baillie
09-09-2007, 08:32 AM
It's a 86 Buick Regal. The car came with the computerized carb crap with electronic distributor.

When I bought it in 01 I stripped all that off and put a edelbrock intake and carb on it with a older 231 HEI distributor.
aany001
09-09-2007, 08:46 AM
If I remember correctly these engine has a metal lower intake gasket?
Tim Baillie
09-09-2007, 08:47 AM
Nope, just a bead of silicone across the back and the front.

The gasket kits used to come with a rubber runner for the front and back, but Felpro got rid of it and GM discoed them, so now it's silicone.........
aany001
09-09-2007, 08:51 AM
what type of gasket material is used to seal the intake to the heads? are they 2 separate gaskets? did something accidently fall behind the valves somewhere holding it open? have you done a compression check on all cylinders? Is it possible that one of the plug gaps where closed accidently when installing the plugs?
aany001
09-09-2007, 08:53 AM
was the valve train undone at any time during this reseal and the valve adjustment is way off?
Tim Baillie
09-09-2007, 08:55 AM
what type of gasket material is used to seal the intake to the heads? are they 2 separate gaskets? did something accidently fall behind the valves somewhere holding it open? have you done a compression check on all cylinders? Is it possible that one of the plug gaps where closed accidently when installing the plugs?

The gaskets are your typical Felbro gaskets with the little silcone built in beads etc. Pulled the valve cover off and there is nothing in there but need to check deeper..........my dad did a compression test but wants to run another one since the car has gone to total crap now........plug gap is good too.........
Tim Baillie
09-09-2007, 08:55 AM
was the valve train undone at any time during this reseal and the valve adjustment is way off?


Nothing, just poped the intake off and regasketed and put back on.......that is what is madening about the whole thing.......
aany001
09-09-2007, 11:01 AM
the problem has to be simple and is just staring you right in the face lol lol .was the carburetor turned up side down for any reason? When the engine was running some what did you check for a vacuum leak?
good luck
Steve
Tim Baillie
09-09-2007, 11:59 AM
the problem has to be simple and is just staring you right in the face lol lol .was the carburetor turned up side down for any reason? When the engine was running some what did you check for a vacuum leak?
good luck
Steve

It' so in front of our faces it could probably bitch slap us !

The carb could have been turned side ways etc when cleaning off the manifold............not sure............

We checked all the vacum lines and around the gaskets for a leak from not seating properly etc............
J2SpeedandCustom
09-09-2007, 01:04 PM
Is the motor grounded properly? Sounds like it's ignition related. Is the dist off a tooth? or not advancing properly? What timing are you running?
Tim Baillie
09-09-2007, 01:28 PM
Is the motor grounded properly? Sounds like it's ignition related. Is the dist off a tooth? or not advancing properly? What timing are you running?

It is grounded, none of that changed.

Dist was never removed so it can't off a tooth

and we have played with the advanement quite a bit to try and get it to run right........
aany001
09-09-2007, 01:34 PM
whats a compression test say in all cylinders?? What is the mileage on this engine??? is it possible that the timing chain has jumped?? start from the basics and make sure the your number is located properly yada yada yada....even make sure the dist cap hasnt burned a hole in it some where.good luck
Steve
Vince@Meanstreets
09-09-2007, 09:37 PM
I too thought about a piece of intake gasket getting into the intake runner....another thing I have seen alot after an intake swap with no oil change right after is the camshaft going flat. Coolant gets spilled into the lifter valley and gets sucked up by the oil pump at start up.
aany001
09-10-2007, 08:01 PM
any luck on getting your engine going??
Tim Baillie
09-13-2007, 08:19 PM
We did a compression test, 160-65 across the board. We took the carb out and cleaned it out and put the smallest jets in and it seems to run 90% like it used to.

Have to play with the carb it looks like......

Thanks for everyones help !!

It helps to have a fresh look at things............