93 ATX Found On Racetrack Dead

[SUPRDUD]

Hi Folks,

I don't get here often but I was at an open track day and blew up my motor. I was holding off a new Vette for 4 laps and started running warm, up to but not over the N of normal. I pulled in the hot-pits and let it cool down and went back for more. About 2 laps in it was getting warm again and then started smoking and knocking.

I let it set for a while and it was okay at idle. I drove it home 10 miles but it is knocking badly.

The other time I was out to the track it was 25* and Sat. was 90*. I had topped off the oil before I went as it leaks a little and now it reads about 3/4 quart too much. I fear I may have over filled it and foamed the oil. Or it was just time to die.

Very nice garage kept black car with only 119K on it. I have a parts car (good motor, bad trans, rough) in the yard and must decide what to do.

How does it work to pull the motor from the top? Or must I drop the whole thing out the bottom? Any advice is great. I have a shop and tools but have not messed with front drivers much for pulling motors. Never a SHO, yet.


If you want to see the track: racemph.com will take you there. Brand new 14 turn 2.1 mile road course. Great fun!!! In April I put almost 50 laps on the car and burned the left front to the wires....barely got 15 laps total before it blew this time.

 

[SHOBlu]

It is easiest to drop the motor and transaxle from underneath. Get all the coolant lines, electrical connectors undone on the top then drop the subframe with the engine and trans as one unit. Some people undo the struts in the towers and drop them along with the steering rack/spindles/control arms/tension rods. Others remove the nuts from the steering rack (you'll need to remove the P/S pump from the rear of the engine and keep that system closed) from underneath, remove the ball joint from the spindle and drop the subframe/drivetrain without the suspension pieces attached If I were to do it I would leave the suspension bits attached and drop the least amount of components as possible. I think it just makes it easier when it comes time to install everything.

If you do a search you'll find some write ups that detail engine removal. Good luck.

 

[SHOtimer]

I swapped my 3.2 out of my ATX out the top - and would do it again that way again.... Pulled the motor/tranny out in one piece and put them back in.

Doug

 

[SUPRDUD]

SHOtimer,
Do you have to remove all the acc. off of the passenger side of the motor first, or is there room to bring it all out together?

Can you pull just the motor, or does the tranny need to come along?

SHO blue,
My K frame was not far from removing itself before I did the recall on the bolts and washers.........I am set up a little better to come out the top as I have a chery picker, but not a lift. I did read a thread about going out the bottom. It was helpful.