my car overheated so that something VERY bad happened. I posted earlier and got some good advice and found out that I can take it into me voc high school and the freshmen (ugh) will work on it and see what they can do...

in the meantime I am going to buy another 94 civic to get around.

QUestion: looking on CL I found civic head that was swapped off an engine that threw a rod. the guy said he put in another engine but took the head off of his, so he is seling a block that has one bent rod and a head to another engine that will fit into a 92-98 civic. he only wantd $70 for this - should I go for it gambling that my superheated engine may be junk - it kept running and i even hit the gas until it stopped - trying to escape an intersetion, which i did

so the thinking on here was it is def a head gasket, maybe a warped head, and maybe the block may be damaged due to the excessive heat...so the school will check it out, probably pull the head and then diagnose: this could take a few weeks but then I will either find out its gasket, gasket+head, or engine time.
thanks for the advice!

 

Get a level and check to see if your block is warped, then take you're head to a machine shop and have them mill as less as possible off, if it's even warped, you can compensate with a thicker head gasket if it makes you feel more safe about your clearances

 

No. Not a level. It's a straight edge and feeler gauge.

 

do you thuink its a bad idea to let the freshmen at a c school try to see what's wrong and try to fix it? apparently they charge shop time (book) $7.50/hr + parts...

 

Why not spend that $70 on some tools and pull it off on your own? Take it to the machine shop that you would have had do the work anyways and have them check it out? They have to check it to make sure it's within tolerances anyways when they inspect it for milling.

The how to threads are all over this site, and you can't figure it out from here you should probably just accept that you will be paying someone to do all of the work on your cars for you from now on.

You can also take pics of anything that might be wrong with your bottom end and ask someone here to identify the issue.

 

Maybe you should go and read my build thread. I actually just covered how to check tolerances your self last night. You can check it for WELL less than $70. A 48" machinist's straight edge can be had for <$15. Feeler gauges, $4. $20 for the only two tools you need to check your block and head for flatness.

 

Dude your build thread doesn't even explain how to test the head and in which spots. On a side note how did you get those cl type s seats in the car? Mounting that is and wiring it in.

 

Not only do I say how, but I also tell you where in the FSM to find the full procedure for doing it. The measurements are all in my thread, but if you need to know what lines to measure, it's from corner to corner diagonally, and across all four sides.

There's a write-up on how to do the CL-S seats around here, if you search you'll find it. I did the write-up on my previous account. The hardware install is easy (as long as you're comfortable with an angle grinder), the wiring is...entertaining. You need something like 9 relays for the driver's seat, and 4 for the passenger's seat.

 

If it overheated have you checked the waterpump to see if its leaking? Change the thermostat and hoses? Bleed it properly?

edit: After reading your post again, you said you drove it until it died. I think you will definitely need to check for warpage as the block and head are probably warped.

 

thanks - I think I'll let the voc kids have at it - I will pass along your ideas. Maybe if they get stuck and it gets warmer) I'll try at it in the spring.
guess i need another car for the meantime...any god ideas where to get a solid mechanical car - dents and scratched ok?