Crank Cancer?

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Bigmatt

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I'd been having problems with my SHO the past few months. I had the timing belt replaced and an underdrive pulley installed about 6 months ago when I did the 60k. Most recently I heard a clicking noise at the front of the engine. I had it checked out and some people said it was a tensioner. At any rate, I am stranded in Des Moines Iowa, returning to Denver from 6 months of Army training. I'd press the gas pedal down and I didn't get much power. On the 5 hour trip from Milwaukee to Denver, I could only cruise at 70 in 5th gear, and then later, only in 4th gear, and later only in 3rd gear. The car would only go at high RPMs.

I broke down in front of a repair shop. They checked the car out and everything is good. Now they want to tear open the front of the engine to check the timing belt as if it jumped timing. The car won't even go. Doesn't this sound like crank cancer? I'm pretty sure the dude that did the timing belt and underdrive pulley didn't torque the bolt down right. I usually do my own work, but sometimes it's easier to pay someone for times sake.

If it is crank cancer, is it best just to rebuild the engine, or do you have to take the engine out to replace the crank? I am thinking about a 3.2 swap, or are there rebuild kits available for SHO MTX engines? In the least I know I'll need a new sprocket, key, and possibly crank shaft. Ugh. I can't junk the car, it's in beautiful shape, and I've done too much to it. Thoughts?
 

SHO_ROLLER_2

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With any luck, it ruined the timing belt sprocket instead of the crank. That's what happened to mine.

It just started running worse and worse. Replaced all the usual suspects and when I went to do the front 60K, that's when I saw what the problem was.

Good Luck! I hear that the best fix for crank cancer is a transplant..........
 

rbruso

unlikely
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Back in '99 when this happened to me I just had to replace the sprocket and key. I basically had continuously (and randomly) changing timing of about 0 to -20 degrees between the crank and cam. The crank was fine, and still looks good (on a stand in the shed, for now)

Kept the sprocket (minus shutter wheel) on my desk at work for several years. It's in the closet now.
 

kevinspann

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Crank might be fine, the only way to know is to take it apart.

What part of Virginia were you in? I feel like I may have seen your car before.
 

Laminar

NO SHO
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Stuck in Des Moines? Head to Hessen Haus and have a boot, you'll feel much better.

boot1.jpg
 

Bigmatt

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OMG I'm off to the Hessen Haus to **** the pain! Ha. @kevin, I was in Petersburg, by Ft Lee, but I drove to Richmond a lot. Got lots of thumbs up. People like my sho cause it's in really good shape...
 

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