I've posted a few threads related to the saga of getting my head gasket replaced...and you guys have been a huge help...hopefully I can get some good useful advice on this issue.

I just got the car over to my friend's shop..we used a tow dolly and I started the car to drive it onto the dolly. This engine normally fires up immediately, and it did earlier in the day today, but when I started it to get it on the dolly it cranked maybe a half turn or so and stopped, quite suddenly. Tried again and it started and ran but didn't sound good..running rough but was able to get it on the dolly. So instead of doing a traditional in-car head gasket replacement, we're thinking of pulling the motor because this sound to me like an issue with the crank/main bearings. At least this will give us an idea of the condition of the pistons/rings too, and make doing the head gaskets quite a bit easier as well. Due to the blown head gasket, the bearings are probably sitting in water/coolant. Anyway, the car has not been driven in this condition for long at all, half a minute if that. I have read up quite a bit on the top end of these things, but have very little knowledge of the bottom end, aside from the obvious. So here's the questions...

1 - What sort of cost would I be looking at to get the crank machined and the bearings replaced? Is replacing the bearings something I would be able to do myself in a shop with access to pretty much anything I'd need?

2 - Would it be a good idea to just have the rings replaced too? Would I need to go so far as to have the cylinders re-bored and larger pistons installed?

I know a lot of this will depend on what I find when we crack into the engine.

Just looking for how much more complicated this has become. I do know there's no way I'm going to just put new heads/gasket on this engine and call it a day after the way it started today...just looking for info to decide whether it's still worth it to rebuild this engine or if I'd be better off looking for another one...

 

It's just speculation until you get it apart and see what is messed up. I know you are impatient, but it's WAY to early to be thinking about cost of this or that.

Anytime an engine is apart, rings and bearings should be replaced (and at least a light hone performed) unless you are really going to do it backyard/ghetto style. They are so cheap compared to the cost/effort to tear the motor down and they are main things that wear out.

Rich

 

thanks...over the next few days/weekends we'll be working on pulling the motor and pulling it apart. I didn't realize how cheap the parts were (bearings and rings) so I guess it's not really a BAD thing this happened, It'll be easier to do the head gaskets and the bottom end will get a refresh. In actuality I'm glad it happened now, and not after I got everything back together, that woulda sucked.