quote Originally posted by handymanpat: I really want to put up a photo for you to see. How do you do that

Did you try the Pennocks Image Poster? That'll put the pics on permanently. You can use other methods, but the pics sometimes disappear.

quote Originally posted by handymanpat: I just noticed that your car has the t tops. That would be really cool to have.

That's an image previously posted by someone else here.

I myself would never own a T-Top. Living in a rain forest, I don't need the grief of a leaky roof.

quote Originally posted by handymanpat: I don't know how to put a photo up. How do you post photos?

If you're running Windows... PIP

Images can be no wider than 1024 pixels, and the file size can be no larger than 300 kb.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 01-23-2016).]

I see that it is the body style of an 86 gt notchback but mine is an 88. Is that more rare to find?
Thanks Pat

quote Originally posted by handymanpat: I see that it is the body style of an 86 gt notchback but mine is an 88. Is that more rare to find?

Since there's no such thing as an "86 gt notchback"... I'd say yeah, that's pretty rare.

An '88 GT has the aero nose and trim. An '88 coupe looks like a Formula and/or an '87 coupe.

I don't know what exactly you've got there, but keep in mind it's quite easy for a previous owner to have swapped body parts.

Any luck with PIP ?

You mention that it has a "worn out 2.5". What makes you say this? Have you done a wet/dry compression check on the engine? That will tell you a lot about the condition.

quote Originally posted by Neils88: You mention that it has a "worn out 2.5". What makes you say this? Have you done a wet/dry compression check on the engine? That will tell you a lot about the condition.

I took the wife's chevette to the dealer for a diagnosis of her engine problem, back when we were first married, and when we got to the dealer they said we replaced, a dozen different things. I asked why, it was just in for a diagnosis, you were never told to try and fix anything. I argued with the owner of the dealership about it in the show room, loudly and he ushered me back into the garage and I told him you had no right to try and fix anything, just diagnose the problem, rip all the crap off you put on and put the old stuff back on, none of it helped the problem and you still don't know what the problem was. But of course they had already thrown all the old parts off, just a con to get people to pay for things they did that found nothing,

Dam idiots never did a wet dry test, the mechanic must have been right out of tech school or the dealership did this all the time to everyone. On the ride home the car dropped a valve into the number 1 cylinder and locked up the engine. Why they never did a wet test is still a mystery to me.

when we finally got home Melanie's dad and I ripped the valve cover off and the valve was no where to be found so we ripped the head off and low and behold there was the valve, sideways in number one cylinder.

I will never understand why people, especially mechanics don't do tests before throwing parts at a problem to fix it. We have become such a disposable society is beyond me. I have bought cars that had seized engines and fixed them and made money when I sold them. Test, Test, Test until you find the problem, Never just throw parts at any problem !

Steve

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 01-24-2016).]

I had to crank the engine a bit to get it to finally get going so I had guessed it to not have good compression, once it starts it spits oil but you are right, I will grab a compression tester down at auto zone and check them so that I can be accurate when I sell it. I am curious now to see what they read. based on having old tires out engines in the past I guessed this to be in that category. I will let you know what I find out when I test it. I had put new plugs in it when I started it but the air cleaner was really dirty and the plugs were pretty old. I did not take off the cap and rotor (or what ever it is) to check that out but I will.
Mostly I have been grabbing what I need and I have been working on the other car. Its like I have a free pick and pull in my driveway!

quote Originally posted by handymanpat: I had to crank the engine a bit to get it to finally get going so I had guessed it to not have good compression, once it starts it spits oil but you are right, I will grab a compression tester down at auto zone and check them so that I can be accurate when I sell it. I am curious now to see what they read. based on having old tires out engines in the past I guessed this to be in that category. I will let you know what I find out when I test it. I had put new plugs in it when I started it but the air cleaner was really dirty and the plugs were pretty old. I did not take off the cap and rotor (or what ever it is) to check that out but I will. Mostly I have been grabbing what I need and I have been working on the other car. Its like I have a free pick and pull in my driveway!

Do the dry test first, write the numbers down of each cylinders test, then do a wet test of them again, then look at the numbers, just a dry test can only tell you so much. Like my example of the dealership who only did the dry compression test and never figured out the problem. The number differences will tell you more, the wet test would have given them a starting point, never do just one kind of compression test.

Smoking at startup is common for a bad valve seal, not a bad repair but you will have to take the valve cover off of the offending cylinder.

But then you won't listen to me because I made a joke that you took as an insult so do what ever floats your boat.

Steve

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 01-24-2016).]

The dry test from cylinder 1-4 was 130, 120, 90, 90
The wet test was 145, 145, 140, 140
For the wet test I let it run for 10 minutes and it changed the reading quite a bit on number 3 and 4
The engine Is probably fine for driving the car around, it had sat for several weeks. It is difficult to start and I had to give it a couple of shots of starting fluid to get it going. I bet it just needs a little more maintenance to the electrical or maybe the timing.
This time it did not spit oil, I think it just did that upon start up after not being run for a while.
Well, someone can buy a running 2.5 with an extra working trans. and lots of red body parts!
Thanks Pat

oil rings are gone in the low cylinders, I forget the % they are supposed to be from the highest to the lowest but yours seem at little below that. I think its 10% but with my memory who knows, if I am wrong some one will come along with what the books numbers are But that doesn't mean the engine is trash. they still have value to someone, maybe not you but someone, and if they have value to someone you could sell it, maybe not $30,000 but some value. Hey it could pay for something else to whatever you decide.