Blown 3800?

[mloaks]

I SeaFoamed my '98 Camaro 5M with 91k miles last week and hydrolocked cyl #5. I pulled the front 1 and 2 plugs, hurt my hand and decided to start her without pulling all plugs, even tho the starter would not turn the engine over.
All the oil shot out of that area of the engine and onto the exhaust, in the 5 minutes I ran her after I bumped her off. I can hear a rod or something knocking. The car did not overheat. Before I tow her to a shop, I'd like some of yr wisdom...

Looked under the car last night, and the oil seems to only emit from the right rear #5 cylinder area, no visible cracks or holes in the block, plugs still in, cannot see much over the exhaust log.

Wondering:
1. If the damage is confined to the block itself and a rod or big end, can I buy a reman short block assy, and simply install my current heads, fr cover, etc and save money? Or would the labor eat up the price difference of a long block (I can no longer do this work myself at 51...)?

2. Is a compression test the only sure way to isolate the damage? I dont want a shop to advise a new engine if a short block or cyl head would get me on the road to work; this Camaro is not a street project (unfortunately)!

3. In that vein, if I legit need a long block/reman engine, should I spend an extra couple hundred $$$ on a bit hotter motor with a bit more torque?

4. If word -of-mouth gets me to a good shop, and a decent used engine thats not rebuilt, is that an option with a car with 91000miles in excellant shape? I just bought it last month, dont even have plates yet...

Any input is appreciated! Thanks. Did a search, and hope i am in the right forum...

[nascar24jd]

Re: Blown 3800?

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I would personally go with the remanufactured long block just to be on the safe side.

Was the car running bad before you Seafoamed it? I use Seafoam in the gas tank, and deep creep in the throttle body once in a while. But, I am not a fan of pouring it into the brake booster hose to get it into the cylinders.

[mloaks]

Re: Blown 3800?

Thanks.
Actually, I'd only driven it twice.
It ran wonderfully!
I guess I had bad luck, as I have used it many times. Wish I'd gritted and pulled the other 4 plugs now. :eek:
I certainly will never use it in a vacuum hose again. Nice sticky on this site, and that is how I have always done it to all my cars, but I am getting quoted $3500 for a Jasper reman long blk installed and warranted.
I Think I'll shop around.
Lots of inquirys, but i still have the MkVIII that the Camaro was supposed to replace, and I will drive it. Lotta miles on her, but never let me down.
Seafoam is great stuff, but if yr starter wont turn the motor over, do not bump the car off. Pull plugs and evacuate the motor as if it flooded with water.

[UDLOSE98]

Re: Blown 3800?

I SeaFoamed my '98 Camaro 5M with 91k miles last week and hydrolocked cyl #5. I pulled the front 1 and 2 plugs, hurt my hand and decided to start her without pulling all plugs, even tho the starter would not turn the engine over.
All the oil shot out of that area of the engine and onto the exhaust, in the 5 minutes I ran her after I bumped her off. I can hear a rod or something knocking. The car did not overheat. Before I tow her to a shop, I'd like some of yr wisdom...

Looked under the car last night, and the oil seems to only emit from the right rear #5 cylinder area, no visible cracks or holes in the block, plugs still in, cannot see much over the exhaust log.

Wondering:
1. If the damage is confined to the block itself and a rod or big end, can I buy a reman short block assy, and simply install my current heads, fr cover, etc and save money? Or would the labor eat up the price difference of a long block (I can no longer do this work myself at 51...)?

2. Is a compression test the only sure way to isolate the damage? I dont want a shop to advise a new engine if a short block or cyl head would get me on the road to work; this Camaro is not a street project (unfortunately)!

3. In that vein, if I legit need a long block/reman engine, should I spend an extra couple hundred $$$ on a bit hotter motor with a bit more torque?

4. If word -of-mouth gets me to a good shop, and a decent used engine thats not rebuilt, is that an option with a car with 91000miles in excellant shape? I just bought it last month, dont even have plates yet...

Any input is appreciated! Thanks. Did a search, and hope i am in the right forum...

1. yea, if there is a problem with a rod, etc. YES you can buy a short block and swap everything over. Wouldit end up costing more in labor.... probably. Swapping front cover, manifolds...and all acces can get time consuming.

2. yea, a compression test would be the best way to determin which cyl have been effected, but might not show if there was damage elsewhere, manifolds, heads, etc.

3. there isnt any other motor you could switch to, to gain any hp

4. the motor i have now is non rebuilt, only had 13K on it...i did the swap myself parted out everything i didnt need, spent less than 1K (just on the short block itself)

Input....you probably are looking at getting a new motor. I would personally buy a non remanufactured used motor with low miles froma reliable place.

[mloaks]

Re: Blown 3800?

Thanks again for all the great advice. If anyone in the So MD/NoVA/DC area can recommend a source for used engines, pls lemme know.

So UdLose, u would go used engine vice a reman?

[mloaks]

Re: Blown 3800?

I figured the Long way was the right way, but did not want to overlook options or miss out on wisdom. If the 3800 is toast, I'll get the whole tomale.
Yet, I will keep bugging y'all for more opinions:

1. One option; the car cost 3750. Should I sell her for what I can get and minimize my losses, and a hard-learned lesson, saving the ~$3k I'd spend on a motor (if it was needed, of course)? The MkVIII has 197k miles, which is why I bought the Camaro... but if I need a new engine, Id save 4k or so. But then I am putting 20k miles a year on an old MkVIII...

2. What should I listen for from the shop to help me avoid getting unwanted repairs and expenses? For instance, if a cyl fails compression test and I only need a piston, are they gonna turn the motor to check the big end, bearings, etc? Can a rod be replaced with labor allot cheaper than a reman long block installed, fr instance? Be accessed from the bottom of the block removing the oilpan?

Thanks for any advice, and yr time.

[IfYouDoFeelComfortable]

Re: Blown 3800?

Im a manager at An Advance Auto and when im bored i look stuff up for my Y87.... We sell remaned motors alot cheaper than 3500... i mean an Remaned LS6 out of a vette goes for like 4k. Go check with them

[mloaks]

Re: Blown 3800?

Im a manager at An Advance Auto and when im bored i look stuff up for my Y87.... We sell remaned motors alot cheaper than 3500... i mean an Remaned LS6 out of a vette goes for like 4k. Go check with them

Thanks! Ill ck there...

The 3500 price incl installation; sorry if I did not make that clear.

I have a Honda Sabre V4, and that BBS had this reply:

So... are all the plugs back in and it runs, except it has a knock? Did you run the seafoam thru the brake booster line, directly into the throttle body, or in the tank?Could be a simple hydro-lock problem that blew the head gasket between an oil passage or a water jacket. The internal leak raises compression on that cylinder which could cause detonation in that cylinder or and piston slap that sounds like a rod noise. The kids explorer was using some anti-freeze and had a light knock, can of Bars leak a year ago, still going strong. That is a good engine unless it's been womped on with no maint. Keep us posted.
Spotty

Could he be right, and could I be that lucky?

[Ace]

Re: Blown 3800?

If your serious about the seafoam hydrolocking your engine then i would sue their azz. Their product blew your motor.

[David8399]

Re: Blown 3800?

I Got A Brand New 3800 Motor In Stock For Like $2200 It Comes With A 3 Year 100,000 Mile Warranty. If Only You Were In Mississippi.

[auto666]

Re: Blown 3800?

If your serious about the seafoam hydrolocking your engine then i would sue their azz. Their product blew your motor.

the product alone didnt doit. using it incorectly did no offence but thats the only way it could of happen you poored/sucked it to fast and filled a cylinder

[CHEVYINSIDE]

Re: Blown 3800?

i have one in jersey pulled it when i put the lt1 in . monly looking for $400 for it and it has everything on it including the crossmember . only has like 40000 on it out of a 96

[mloaks]

Re: Blown 3800?

i have one in jersey pulled it when i put the lt1 in . monly looking for $400 for it and it has everything on it including the crossmember . only has like 40000 on it out of a 96

Thanks.
What part of Jersey?
I am south of Annapolis, have a Caravan; can you load it in my van?
Is a '96 the same K Series II 3800 as in my '98? How long out of the car? Kept dry and clean? Would that incl the intake and front assy's?

Was the LT1 had to install, btw?

[97rs4life]

Re: Blown 3800?

yes a 96 is a direct swap into a 98 car

[mloaks]

Re: Blown 3800?

thanks