Classic/Antique Car Repair/1968 buick wildcat

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Expert: - 4/23/2009


Question
i cracked the ring ledge on a piston in the number three cylinder. a compression and leak down test was perform, also a boreascope was inserted to see damaged piston. also bearing noise over 50mph. can i get away with a re-ring job? or total rebuild? how long does it take to pull motor? how do you brake engine-in?

Answer
If you have a damaged piston the engine should come apart. There is no way to determine if the engine can be just re-rung or need a total over haul with out dis assembly and measuring. As far as break in goes, I drive at moderate speeds and change the oil and filter after 500 miles, then drive normally. As far as the tine to remove the engine it will depend on the number of rusty exhaust bolts that you encounter but a good guess would be about 4.5 hours.
Brad

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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