THSCC Roadside Assistance

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Sep 15, 2003 10:28 am

Once again the THSCC version of AAA got my Cavalier home from Rockingham yesterday. :help:

What would I do without you guys? :whoknows:

Thanks to all who offered their assitance in one way or another to make sure Sonya and I made it home OK.

Kent's diagnosis is a spun bearing on one of the connecting rods. :cryin:

I'm 99% sure that's right since I know about 15 other Z-24 owners who had the same problem with thier 2.4L LD9 engine. I guess mine made it much futher than the others with 130K miles before it happened. I'm glad it happened on course instead of on my way home.

Special thanks to Kent, Brian and his crew for trailering my car home. Also thanks go out agian to the Melton's who drove me and Sonya back to Wilson. We owe all of you BIG TIME!!!

If you ever have car trouble at a THSCC events it's almost as good as breaking down in your own front yard. If there is ANY way possible someone will make sure you and your broken machine make it home. What a great group of folks to be associated with. If anyone ever needs my help all you need to do is ASK and you've got it.

See you all at the next event where the Talon WILL be running! :cheer:

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon Sep 15, 2003 3:48 pm

That sucks Vincent. Glad to here that they were able to get you guys home though. Did that happen at the drag race or the autox? And was it your Cavi or Sonya's. Like you said though, at least it was at a THSCC event. Couldn't have happend at a better place.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Sep 15, 2003 4:02 pm

It was my car and it happened on Sonya's last run at the AutoX. I quit drag racing after the tranny blew about 3 years ago. I seem to be a bit hard-headed though :banghead:

because after the tranny went I replaced it and kept right on racing. :car:

Don't worry once Kent gets her fixed I'll be back at VIR with it in 2004. :nuts:

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Mon Sep 15, 2003 4:41 pm

You definately have the racing disease.

Rob Keehner · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 10:36 am

Vincent, that sucks dude. Are you rebuilding that motor or dropping in a fresh batch of mechanicals. I have a neat Idea if you are doing a new one. Find a wrecked Saab, 2.0 liter ecotec turbo bolts right into cavs supposedly. Are you looking for something new??

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 1:14 pm

Well if the crank isn't damaged I'll just have him put in a new bearing and button it back up. If in fact the crank is damged I'll look into getting a used 2.4 but hopefully a low mileage one from 99-01. The 99 and up 2.4 engine had a slightly higher compression ratio and no EGR valve.

I'm not looking to sink a lot of money into it. I just want to keep it running as my daily driver and an occasional track car or autocrosser.

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 5:22 pm

Sorry to bear bad news, but the likelyhood of spinning a rod bearing without damaging the crank is about nil. best start hunting down another engine.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Chuck Frank wrote:

Sorry to bear bad news, but the likelyhood of spinning a rod bearing without damaging the crank is about nil. best start hunting down another engine.

In general I agree with you, *but* I may be the only one who made it through a spun rod bearing with minimal crank damage. Actually, I didn't know the bearing was spun, I was tearing down the bottom end after seeing the oil P light flicker ONCE on track. One bearing had just barely started spinning. The crank was a little discolored - I hit that with emery cloth. But the rod end surface was galled, so out that came to be remachined.

10k+ miles and 15+ track events later it's still running fine. (knocks on wood)

So Vincent, what were the symptoms? Keeping in mind that I had no symptoms, I'd bet that your crank is toast, like Charles said.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Sep 17, 2003 8:13 am

The "symptom" was one helluva loud knocking sound while Sonya drove it full bore on course for about 60 seconds. You can't hear it at idle, but it's very apparent at about 1500 RPM's or more.

Kent's the expert, and the car is in his shop. So I guess we'll see what he finds. :roll:

I was hoping for the best but I need to prepare for the worst huh? :boohoo:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Thu Sep 18, 2003 9:31 am

Kent hasn't opened her up yet, but after reading the "Tarheel Wisdom" I did some checking into another motor.

For a little background, the 3rd gen J-body started in 1995 with the "Quad 4" engine which was a 2.3 liter. In 1996 after a few head gasket and vibration problems (also the switch to OBDII), GM redesigned the engine a bit and bumped it up to a 2.4 liter called the "LD9". The rating of 150HP would stay the same. Not much changed from 1996 to 1998.

In 1999 a few more revisions were made slightly increasing the compression ratio and deleting the EGR valve. Most say the car had a tiny bit more power. The engine pretty much went unchanged from 99-01.
In late 2002 GM went totally to the new 2.2 liter "Ecotec" engine with no further production on the 2.4L LD9.

After a few calls I found a 2001 2.4L LD9 with only 29K miles for $600. :shock:

The ECU is flash programmed in these cars so I'd need a matching one of those too.

No problem, I can get one from the same car as the engine for only $50.

Okay lets see. :roll:

My engine has 130K on it and makes one helluva racket and needs surgery. I don't know how serious the surgery might be until the operation, but the symptoms aren't good. I can get a engine and ECU with 29K miles for $650. Decisions....decisions....not!

Unless Kent knows a reason the new engine option won't work, the Z-24 is getting a new heart. :cheer:

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