Bad news for my '59

["mail.charter.net" <salsender@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Poor compression in two adjacent cylinders could also be a bad head gasket. A much cheaper repair than a total rebuild. See about getting a complete leak down test along with the compression test. This will help isolate the problem area.

----- Original Message -----

From: Phil Patterson

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 10:17 PM

Subject: Re: IML: Bad news for my '59

I'm kind of curious, what does he mean by "poor combustion"? Did he mean compression?

Has the compression been checked on those or any other cylinders?

If it was me, I'd fix the brake booster, or at least temporarily, plug the vacuum feed to the booster.

Does the car run better, or differently? Be advised that much more brake pedal effort will be needed to stop the car. Your engine may indeed be worn out, but you can also get the same symptoms from a motor out of tune or many other various problems. If the compression is ok, or at least, not too far off from what the rest are putting out, the cylinders should fire. Besides, a compression check is a good tool for judging engine condition, at least where ring and valve seat seal is concerned. If he could do a compression test, it would tell a lot, if you can get the numbers and post back here. Its just that I hate to throw in the towel and rebuild an engine unless I'm positive there isn't something else causing driveability problems.

Phil <><

----- Original Message -----

From: Imperial59crown@xxxxxxx

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 11:23 PM

Subject: IML: Bad news for my '59

Today I received the bad news from my mechanic that my '59 Imperial has very poor combustion from two cylinders now, and a leak in the brake booster, which would account for its lack of power lately, and poor braking. Now I am faced with the decision to either rebuild the engine, and brake booster, which will cost anywhere in the area of $5,000.00 for the engine alone, or store the car for a while until I have some time to shop around, and accumulate the funds for this undertaking. I am going towards storing the car, since it is becoming difficult to keep driving, having to put it in neutral at each stop light so the engine does not die out. My question is does 5 grand sound like a lot to rebuild an engine, and that is most likely the minimum with this mechanic?

 

Bill '59 Crown