Hey, my dad is going back on call and I need my car running asap. My ZC all of a sudden starting blowing TONS of white smoke and running really shitty. I did the motor swap myself but have never done any internal work.

What is needed to do a complete rebuild? How much will it cost?
How hard is it to do?
How long would it take? (the engine is ready to be pulled if needed)

I really need to get this done quick so if anyone wants to do it or help me (i'm in Ohio) I'll be more then willing to pay. I just need to get this thing back on the road.

thanks

 

Its not an overnight job. Some things to replace would be:

head gasket
intake gasket
exhaust gasket
piston rings
cam seals
valve seals
oil pan gasket
plugs
wires
cap and rotor
rod bearings

I'm sure I'm probably missing something, but you get the point.

 

why not just get a replacement zc (they are so cheap these days) and put tthat in there. meanwhile, you can start rebuilding the old motor, and since you wont be in a hurrry you will be able to take your time and make sure it all gets done right. then when you are done you will have a freshly rebuilt motor that should last you a long time. heh, and you will also have a backup motor just in case it doesn't.

 

Hey man, i know how difficult and stressful it is when you need to work on the internals for your first time and by yourself. But i would recommend taking the motor out first (obviously) since you know how to do that then take the head off and the manifolds mking sure you do the correct sequence for the head. You can take the head to your local machine shop and have them replace the seals. Some machince shops are **** about you haveing the cams and etc. on, so find out and take them off because they may charge you to take it off. Then when you get to your block take off the rotating assembly if you dont know how to check your manual. Then you can take the block to the machine shop and have it honed and ready for a fresh set of pistons/rings and what not. Then your ZC should be in tip top running shape when you put all of it toegther!

 

oh, and fyi, blowing white smoke and running like crap is usually the result of a blown headgasket.

 

i completly agee.and not to talk you out of it or anything,but i would just get another motor.something like a d16z6

 

Yea you could look at it two ways.. One way would be that you could get another ZC for the price of rebuilding it because they are really cheap thesedays and that would save you a lot of hassle. But if you did rebuild it you would know that the motor is in good condition and has all the gaskets/seals replaced. And yes.. you could probably change the headgasket and solve your problem..

 

alright thanks. I dont really have the time or money to do a complete rebuild right now but I also would hate to replace the head gasket, throw everything back together, and still have the same problem. Can you visually tell if anything else needs replaced once I pull off the head?

later