legacycentral bbs

so this is my first newish bru, i used to beat the piss out of a couple early 80's wagons, oh about 12 years ago. so this is all new to me. i am usually an older american car man although i currently drive a couple VW's , wich i love to death.

91 legacy wagon with the EJ22 , i think, was running o.k. till i loaned it to a freind. its now got a hella loud knocking. i cant exactly blame my friend, it was knocking but it went away once it was worm. now it gets louder wen it gets worm, and boy does it get worm!!! i had to stop twice while trying to get it home. it seemed like the oil wasnt circulating or somthing.

so now i got the block, still in the car, stripped down. i was hoping it was a valve or hell i really didnt know what was wrong. but i have 2 other cars i drive regulary so i guess i just wanted to take it apart.

i now have discovered that the two pistons on the passenger side are a bit sloppy.

is there any thing more i can do with out pulling the "block"

{which i learned is in two halves wich is kinda weird to me}

keeping in mind that i am the ultimate GHETTO mechanic!! and i have $3.96 invested for spark plugs cause the ones in it were blown to hell. and i'm doing all this werk on the side of the road, wich sucks. and the majority of my parts come from over the fence at the local UPI cause i am a pathetic starving artist werking with a negative budget.

and am i wasting my time all together? should i just find a different motor to throw in and if so, should i just get a tranny to, cause she used to slip a bit until it was wormed up.

i wood really like to make the motor i got work right if possible
but i'm afraid of were all the metal shavings in the oil are shaven from...


your laffing at me, i know it...


hell, i wood like to drop a 350 in the bitch, and call it aday.


i am looking forward to any and all suggestions or coments...


thanks

krackerella...

350? gross. Really I have no idea what was wrong with it. I'd tell you to pull the codes but I'm pretty sure you've had the batt disconnected for a long enough time to make it not worthwhile. I too am curious though what causes the sideways pistons.

"new" engine would be my choice you could probably find a good one w/around 100,000 on it for pretty cheap up there i would imagine.

New engines are cheap and quick to replace. My guess is your bearings went to hell. Someone else had that problem recently. Weird because these bottom ends are very well designed. I wonder if old oil pumps are the cause?

Steve

or lack of oil?

What color are the sparkles in the oil?

Is the knocking rpm or speed dependant? Do you have any transmission troubles? Any changes in gas mileage or engine power recently?

I get a knocking too when I'm under load. It's rpm dependant and as soon as I remove load (clutch in) it goes away. I've changed oil and haven't found shaving or anything though. I'm still a little undecided if it's an engine bearing or something in my clutch (it's only got 21k on it). My car does leak some oil (valve covers I believe) but I check my oil religously and keep it in check. Good luck and keep up posted.

BTW, welcome to the board.

yes i do have transmission troubles.. its an automatic and it slips a bunch until it is worm. i havent had it long enough to notice any changes in gas or power.
the sparkels in the oil deffinately look alluminum. and there was plenty of oil. but i question the pump. it just didnt seems like the oil was moving.
and i didnt say sidways pistons!!! i said the two pistons on the passenger side...
so far its unanimous. new engine... i just dont have any money to throw period.
i sure wish someone in the portland area had an extra motor laying around that they wood be willing to trade for some manual labor of ther choice...

since i'm dreaming anyway. whats the biggest baddest motor i can put in this thing? turbo' nitros/ i dont care.

thanks
krackerella

Biggest - 3.3L H6
Baddest - USDM 2.5L STi
Greatest - USDM 2.2L Turbo Block Built-up

All $$$

Edited because biggest wasn't big enough

Maybe you could swap in a 2.5 N/A block and use your 2.2 heads like Matt Monson did, but without the cams. Might be the same price-wise.

Steve

SVX has 3.3L H6, that swap has been done before, so its def. possible.