Looking at a 93, but engine probs...

[Chrisssssssss]

Hey guys,

I am looking at this '93 MTX (green) and it only has 106K miles on it. The body and interior is in good shape, but the motor worries me.

It doesn't have the timing cover on and it sounds a bit dieselish coming from that area. It also blows a lot of dark grey soot out the tailpipes (I mean a lot) and it seems pretty tight other than that. What could cause this to do this?

The guy said that his mechanic replaced the timing belt, but he is not sure whether or not it was done properly. He says that it may be a tooth off, but not sure. If the timing was off, would it cause black soot out the pipes?

Also it has an intake with those two notches on the top right hand side where the EGR stuff is. Even though it is an MTX, is it possible that it is an EGR car? I recognize those notches off of my intake from the 3.2 motor that I put in. Do the notches automatically mean that it is an MTX that was destined for Cali? Could the smoke be from the EGR gone wrong? It did not throw any codes when I looked at it and started it, but that doesn't mean anything.

I have my old 3.0 still sitting in my buddies garage, with a spun bearing. If need be, do you think that swapping the heads would solve this problem, or is it from the block half of the engine? If it is, then I could use the block and heads from my old engine, and the crank from this one, and then get bearings to fit.

He is asking 2500 for the car, but said that he would take 2K. It is a '93 MTX with Tan full leather and power passenger seat with JBL and all of the options that i could see. What do you guys think? Is it more hassle than it's worth, or could it be an easy fix?

It is only located about a half an hour away, but it is in the US. I live in Canada, so 2K would be 3K and a bit for me. Also does anyone know what the procedures are to import a car to Canada from the States, or where I can find that info out?

Thanks!

 

[mopower]

I would look into the head gasket on the motor. I know you said dark grey smoke but, a little bit of water will make allot of smoke. The timing belt being off a little would make the car run oddly, either missing or pinging or backfirering from time to time, also lower performance.

If it is an egr car and the egr is removed it should not cause that big of a difference in exhaust color. The main thing to worry about with that would be a vacuum leak. It would not cause all that smoke.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

I am going to go back and see if I could take it for a spin. I haven't done that yet, but I am going to. I will see how it goes then.

 

[luigisho]

Something wrong with your '92 or just looking for a winter car?

 

[jthomas68]

The notches are in every rear plenum.They are tapped for the ATX,and just left untapped for the MTX.
With the timing cover off,the motor will make a noticable sound,but it`s up to you to decide if it`s a normal one or not.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

looking for a winter car. I also want to make one car a competition audio car, so it would be off the road for a while and I need another car to drive when this one is off the road getting worked on.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

Still looking for thoughts on the black soot coming out of the pipes. Would it just be a simple problem like a tune up, or a more serious problem such as valves?

 

[luigisho]

I think the only way to know is to do one and if that doesn't work look at the other. JT is correct. The casting is the same on those intakes. Auto's and Cali's are hooked up and the others are not. I would do the tune up and if vales are still a consideration you could swap the heads off your other motor if those are in better shape. Then you can monkey with the extra heads like new valves and do some porting/gasket matching without car downtime.

 

[Chrisssssssss]

I am still not quite sure what would cause that black suit though. what would be my first place to look for problems?