Massive Coronary only Minutes from the Marina

[oldiesrocker2001]

Though not familiar with the workings of the atomic4, My first guess would be a loose timing belt that finally slipped a tooth or two or a gear tooth broken, depending on the configuration of the cam drive. Either one of these would still provide spark very retarded causing hard starting,poor intake suction and low power. This would have been disastrous and very noisy at high rpms when the final failure occured.

 

[jviss]

Broken camshaft

Ross! Thanks for the post. FORTUNATELY - everything turns and half the valves do go up and down.

I would bet that if the valves for the cylinders closest to the driven end of the camshaft go up and down, and the others don't, that the camshaft is broken. A lot of work to fix, but not necessarily fatal.

 

[RobertLangdirect]

I would bet . . .

JViss . . . hold your bet, please. A4s are notorious for having valves hung up and open. It is a flat head motor. See the pictures or Google "Flat Head Ford Valve Video."

Thank you for the post. I am going to work on the boat and motor Wednesday.

 

[RobertLangdirect]

Re: Broken camshaft

Can we say CARBON PLEASE? I wanted to do this a week ago but the heat was just too much. So, I moved a small home AC unit down to the boat. Blowing cool air into the companion way, I was able to tolerate the record temperatures.

Carbon and other goo was covering the valves, exhaust flow, and intake valves. On two of my INTAKE valves, the keepers were so corroded that they would not release with the valve tool. As I am replacing the springs already, I used the dremel tool to cut the valve springs apart and then used a socket and hammer to tap the valve keepers free.

Today (did not go to work) I plan to begin re-assembly. Posted one new picture (took more but have only one available). The dark shadow (on the latest post at the begining of this page) is 3/8 of an inch of carbon.

And -- now a you tube video after I assembled all with the cleaned valves and new springs.

http://youtu.be/-IGegdI7dAE

 

[RobertLangdirect]

You guys got this right!

I'll toss my 2 bits in on something . . . Maybe the head gasket?

Merlinuxo! Along with badly coated valves, last night as I went to clean the flat head, I saw a odd shadow of carbon. You might see that on the picture, pointed out with a screw driver. Yes! That is carbon bleeding over from the three and four (furthest bad) cylinders. These were the two cylynders with no compression as I previously noted.

And thinking it was dirty valves -- JAKE AND EGGS -- Thank you too!

RichH! You called it as well, "you probably have the beginings of a blown head gasket .... and the location of the blown gasket is probably between two cylinders - usually between #3 & #4." WOW!!!!!!

So you got that one right.

I will review the post and edit this to add another name or two as I thik others noted this too may have been an issue.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Thanks for encouraging me as well.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Rich knows what he's talking about. I'm just guessing.

I'm enjoying following along. Being a "get dirty" kind of guy, I hate paying for anything I can do and appreciate this attitude in others.

 

[anchorclanker]

I never commented, because whatever it was would be found out eventually, and until the proper tests were done, in the proper sequence, a guy could guess till their blue in the face. You did however, follow the correct path. Checking compression is something everyone should do on occasion, and especially when a problem arises. Glad to see you have it under control.

 

[kloudie1]

OK, Robert ! Good Stuff !! Now we are waiting with baited breath to hear it purring on your you-tube post !
Hope the re-assembly went well

 

[Bad Obsession]

Good luck. I hope to see you guys out there sometime. It may be a cool trip to get a bunch of boats to raft up in Port Tobacco!

 

[RobertLangdirect]

As promised, video!

-- OK -- As promised -- with a better camera -- We have finished the heart surgery.

Thanks to everyone here that encouraged me to dive into this. Thanks to Ken and Don at Moyer Marine Inc. I called them to ask about a new engine and instead, they sell me less than $200 of parts, tools, and manuals, and four free phone calls (on their 1-800 number no less), we are up and running.

WOW!

I know the commentary I make in the video is "goofy," but I was pretty stoked to have the motor back together AND running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUrkcznIacc

 

[kloudie1]

MIGHTY FINE, Robert! Thanks for posting the video .. She sounds fine.

 

[Merlin Clark]

OORAH Robert! Great job!

 

[JohnS]

Thanks to Ken and Don at Moyer Marine Inc. I called them to ask about a new engine and instead, they sell me less than $200 of parts, tools, and manuals, and four free phone calls (on their 1-800 number no less), we are up and running.

Yet another reason I love the A4....

 

[RobertLangdirect]

Well, today I add a picture showing the "old" valve spring compressor I had in my tool kit and the one everyone sugested I buy (and I did from Moyer Marine).

The old one was, in fact, too large and of a hard-to-make-work configuration. It is fine to do overhead valves in automotive applications, but not suited for the flathead, side valve motors.

Again, thanks for the advice!

 

[tommays]

Good job

BUT your fuel lines leave me rather scared