Curiosity: Cash for clunkers undo

[wpurple]

Just out of curiosity...if a motor has been seized with sodium silicate, can, with enough money, the block and heads be rebuilt?

 

[gruss01]

Anything is possible with enough time and money, that being said, you could probably buy a crate motor for less.

 

[Steeda90GT]

Sure it can be undone, but is it worth it? It will be much cheaper to buy a new engine.

 

[IZwack]

I dont think it would be worth it because this compound (like most outer silicates), once in an engine and at operating temperature, will literally grind down any two metal parts moving against each other - like bearings, cranks, camshafts, push rods and so on (basically anything that needs oil). Its like throwing a bucket of sand in the engine.

 

[5.0]

So the heads are trash also? Just the rockers are trash?

 

[IZwack]

So the heads are trash also? Just the rockers are trash?

I think thats partially dependant on head design (camshafts?) but theres a good chance that its damaged. The 5.0L for example has pushrods which are oiled and the silicates would grind down the walls around the pushrods (and the pushrods themselves).

 

[wpurple]

A friend of mine who is going thru a diviorce, his wife traded in his "baby" for cars for clunkers. The engine has been seized and is working on buying it back from the dealer..he is going after his wife for the price and whatever it will cost to rebuild the motor to keep the number(s) matching. (as opposed to a crate motor)

 

[Scotty J.]

She needs to go to jail.

 

[lifeguard379]

for reals. that sucks

 

[KPSquared]

Rebuilding that block could be hellish. Like it has been said, that would be a complete rebuild with extensive machining. The crank is probably fubared, cylinders, push rods, lifters, valves, heads, cam(s) are probably junk or will need a LOT of love. Just getting the engine dissassembled for rebuild is gonna suck. They basically replace the engine oil with a sodium silicate solution so it is gonna be everywhere the oil was. I can't even begin to imagine how bad the damage to the internals is going to be. You'd probably do less damage running the engine with no oil until it seized.

What kinda car was his "baby"? That seriously sucks!!!

 

[shadowless127]

She needs to go to jail.

This.

 

[IZwack]

A friend of mine who is going thru a diviorce, his wife traded in his "baby" for cars for clunkers. The engine has been seized and is working on buying it back from the dealer..he is going after his wife for the price and whatever it will cost to rebuild the motor to keep the number(s) matching. (as opposed to a crate motor)

Ahah thats just mean! But I'm sure its one of those stories that his friends will all LOL over around a campfire 5 years later.

 

[Turdle]

A friend of mine who is going thru a diviorce, his wife traded in his "baby" for cars for clunkers. The engine has been seized and is working on buying it back from the dealer..he is going after his wife for the price and whatever it will cost to rebuild the motor to keep the number(s) matching. (as opposed to a crate motor)

Well,k in Kansas anyway--she an do whatever she wants with community property. Until the judge says it is his, and those are hers, she can do what she wants with it. I think your buddy is screwed, if they were still married ( even separated) when it happened.

 

[muhl5443]

whose name was/is on the title?

 

[wpurple]

engine rebuilder says $8500 to start, going to just salvage the bare heads and block replace everything else. (lots of labor cleaning it up if it can be)

1998 Explorer 5L with 29K miles.

lawyer says that it will be just taken out of her portion....

sure he could just go with a new engine, but it is a matter of principle.

 

[Kriegen]

There's a fine line between "a matter of principle" and vindictiveness. At the kind of cost, it would be better to just put a new engine in not to mention it will look more mature on his part if they were to go to court to just have that done instead of gouging for the matter of principle. Just my $.02

 

[shadowless127]

engine rebuilder says $8500 to start, going to just salvage the bare heads and block replace everything else. (lots of labor cleaning it up if it can be)

1998 Explorer 5L with 29K miles.

lawyer says that it will be just taken out of her portion....

sure he could just go with a new engine, but it is a matter of principle.

29K??? holy **** ***** needs to die.

 

[crazyflights]

Waste of time and $$ go after her for actual value of the vehicle and thats it.

 

[Rick]

Ahah thats just mean! But I'm sure its one of those stories that his friends will all LOL over around a campfire 5 years later.

Only if he gets his car back and his engine rebuilt with her money... If not, you may be hearing about them on the evening news...

 

[shadowless127]

Only if he gets his car back and his engine rebuilt with her money... If not, you may be hearing about them on the evening news...

he should just build a 347 stroker from the ground up with her money, pull the front driveshaft and just light the tires up in front of her new residence.