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You need to get more info Bill. Which two cylinders have “poor combustion”? What are the compression readings on all the cylinders? I would go buy a compression tester and see what you have before even considering a decision. You can get one for $20 and you can check it yourself.
The way the brake booster is plumbed in to the system can make the leak affect some cylinders more than others. I would pull it off and plug the hole and then see how the engine runs.
Also didn’t you just have the heads redone on this engine? If the two cylinders that are having problems are next to each other there is a very good chance the new head gasket failed.
I would consider 5k high for a rebuild. When I rebuilt my ’59 I didn’t skimp on anything. Had the best machine shop in town do the work, replaced all the pistons and every valve, rods sized, crank turned.. the whole nine yards. I also replaced every piece that could possibly cause me problems and had the radiator redone. I spent around $2500 for the whole ball of wax. Admittedly I did everything myself except the machine shop work (which I know you can’t do because of parking situation). I would think you could get a good rebuild for around 3k if you don’t go nuts with it. Especially so if you just had the heads redone.. that’s a large chunk of change and there is no reason to do them again.
Steve B.
-----Original Message-----
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 |
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