Broken cam/cams?

[SleeperStyle]

I'm looking at buying a '99 for cheap. I have not seen it yet, but I was told that it runs but only on four cylinders. Should I assume a broken cam/cams, or something else. All I've been told about the car is that it still moves down the road and that "some mechanic" said it needed a motor.
Just want to get some opinions before I even go look at it.
Also, what kind of damage can I expect if the cam/cams did break. Is the motor zero clearance, bending valves? If so I might assume that it isn't the cams, from what he says it isn't real noisy, it just doesn't fire all eight.

 

[lndshark]

I'm looking at buying a '99 for cheap. I have not seen it yet, but I was told that it runs but only on four cylinders. Should I assume a broken cam/cams, or something else. All I've been told about the car is that it still moves down the road and that "some mechanic" said it needed a motor.
Just want to get some opinions before I even go look at it.
Also, what kind of damage can I expect if the cam/cams did break. Is the motor zero clearance, bending valves? If so I might assume that it isn't the cams, from what he says it isn't real noisy, it just doesn't fire all eight.

If it only runs on four cylinder could be a cam failure. The cams dont break, the sprocket will slip causing the motor to go out of time. It is an interference motor. So at the least you most likely have some bent valves. If they have been driving it as it sounds, the damage could be very bad, piston damage etc.

If the rest of the car is in good shape and you can pick it up cheap i think its worth it.

I am actually in the middle of an engine swap with my 98, stuck valve. I found it was actually cheaper to find a replacement engine than to have mine rebuilt.

There are lots of options, do some searches.

Good luck

brian

 

[luigisho]

Buy it dirt cheap and put a 4.6L Lincoln Cont. engine in it.

 

[yard351]

I was just given a '99 in the same condition. The front intake cam sprocket slipped and the exhaust sprocket was ready to go also. In the process it bent all eight intake valves. The pistons had some marks on them but I've seen worse. I'm going to replace the valves and I allready welded the cams. We'll see!!

Yard

 

[crazy-irishman]

Buy it dirt cheap and put a 4.6L Lincoln Cont. engine in it.

Can you actually fit that engine in it?

 

[Jonny Cash]

Being that its RWD, and the mounts would be different... Id say no.. Of course you could.., but would it be worth it?

BTW he has seen the car, and it is indeed cam failure. It just sits right down the street from my house waiting for me to come and tow it out of there.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

Actually, the Conti is FWD and uses the same AX4N slushbox. It might be possible but nobody has shown proof that one exists.

 

[Jonny Cash]

....what year continental... not all were FWD.

Or maybe Im just an Idiot.

Until just the other day I thought 3000 gt's were RWD. Until I opened the hood.

 

[SHO#7]

....what year continental... not all were FWD.

Or maybe Im just an Idiot.

Until just the other day I thought 3000 gt's were RWD. Until I opened the hood.

The Lincoln Continental has been front wheel drive for some time now. I know they were front wheel drive as early as 90 when they were using the 3.8 V6.

You can get a 3000GT that is AWD. It is called a VR-4

Mike

 

[Jonny Cash]

The Lincoln Continental has been front wheel drive for some time now. I know they were front wheel drive as early as 90 when they were using the 3.8 V6.

You can get a 3000GT that is AWD. It is called a VR-4

Mike

Yea I knew that

I just figured the base model ones were RWD because they were put in the same category as the supras and the 300z's.