MerkXRTurbo
New Member
Some people know me here as the guy who's putting a twin turbo 3.2 into an XR4Ti. That project is still in the works, and I was days from dropping another $500 in parts when a friend, who knows that I like SHOs, sent me the link to a craigslist ad yesterday. There was a 1994 ATX SHO for sale with 155k for $300. The body was good, the only problem was that the previous owner bought it as a non-runner, and he couldn't get it running either. I hopped in my truck, borrowed a flat bed trailer, and drove an hour south to Salem to get it. The upper timing cover had been removed, and I asked the previous owner if he had changed the timing belt, and he said no, that he had just pulled the cover to inspect it to see if it was intact and tensioned.
After I got home I first tried jump starting it with a friends 302 F150... the starter took so much amperage to turn that it almost stalled the V8 that was jumping it!!!!
I began changing the starter with a known good one I had on hand, and had it half way in when I noticed the problem. The portion of the aluminum plate (that goes between the block and bellhousing) that goes underneath the starter was bent back and folded over and two layers were shimming one side of the starter. The result was a starter gear that was pressed against the flywheel making it VERY hard to turn. After straightening it out and trying to start it again I found that it turned over easily.... too easily. It didn't seem to be battling compression. I turned the engine to TDC (had to look high and low to find out I needed to use the yellow timing mark - why the heck are there two???) and the cams were not lined up properly. The timing belt was new, but the installer appeared to have attempted to force it on and tore it a little in the process, so a new timing belt is in order. I think that the owner before the PO attempted this job, and that's when it last ran.
I ran the codes, and got 116, and 636 (obviously KOEO since it won't run). 116 is coolant temp sensor out of range, and 636 is tranny temp sensor, neither being codes that should keep it from running. Just for giggles I switched the coolant temp sensor with one from a spare 3.2 I have (from a wrecked 97k mile '93), cleared the codes, and that one came back.
While I do the timing belt, my 3.0 intake cams are going in, and valves are being adjusted. I will also be replacing the rod bearings in the near future. Any recommendations on what else to stay ahead of? MTX swap is ASAP since I don't "do" autotragics!!!!
Here she is, ready to come to her new home (the body looks this good on all sides)!
After I got home I first tried jump starting it with a friends 302 F150... the starter took so much amperage to turn that it almost stalled the V8 that was jumping it!!!!
I began changing the starter with a known good one I had on hand, and had it half way in when I noticed the problem. The portion of the aluminum plate (that goes between the block and bellhousing) that goes underneath the starter was bent back and folded over and two layers were shimming one side of the starter. The result was a starter gear that was pressed against the flywheel making it VERY hard to turn. After straightening it out and trying to start it again I found that it turned over easily.... too easily. It didn't seem to be battling compression. I turned the engine to TDC (had to look high and low to find out I needed to use the yellow timing mark - why the heck are there two???) and the cams were not lined up properly. The timing belt was new, but the installer appeared to have attempted to force it on and tore it a little in the process, so a new timing belt is in order. I think that the owner before the PO attempted this job, and that's when it last ran.I ran the codes, and got 116, and 636 (obviously KOEO since it won't run). 116 is coolant temp sensor out of range, and 636 is tranny temp sensor, neither being codes that should keep it from running. Just for giggles I switched the coolant temp sensor with one from a spare 3.2 I have (from a wrecked 97k mile '93), cleared the codes, and that one came back.
While I do the timing belt, my 3.0 intake cams are going in, and valves are being adjusted. I will also be replacing the rod bearings in the near future. Any recommendations on what else to stay ahead of? MTX swap is ASAP since I don't "do" autotragics!!!!
Here she is, ready to come to her new home (the body looks this good on all sides)!
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