HELP in NYC!

SHIMBIMMER

SHIMBIMMER

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OK. I'm going to show my hand here.

I am more like Cole Trickle than Carl Nelson. I need some help trouble shooting a situation with my car and as much as I know about these cars I don't know enough to diagnose it properly.

Here's the problem - I need a mechanic to pay it a house visit. Actually - a garage visit. I want to try this approach before having it towed as the last two garages that have serviced it here in NYC have been - well - not ideal.

Anyone living in NYC know a mechanic (or is a mechanic) that would make a "garage call"?

Hopefully this isn't too random. I appreciate any leads.

Cheers,
SHIMBO
 
What I've gathered...

FOLKS?

Thanks for the kind attention to this.

I need someone to take a look at what might be a gas leak or what I fear may be a cracked head. Simply put - I don't really know. I had the car serviced (all fluids changed, etc.) and a new thermostat installed. According to the garage they thought the existing thermostat was bunk even though it had been replaced just over a year ago with perfection (hole drilled - right temperature). They installed a warm weather product. The care ran well for the first drive (about two hours). The second time I drove it (I always warm it correctly) the "incident" occured.

After shutting it off for a few minutes and then starting it up I drove off a bit sooner than I would have normally (even though the engine was warmed up correctly) and it began to sputter, idle dropped pretty significantly and I drove it right back to the garage. Smoke was coming out of the back but since I'm color blind I can't really tell if it's blue or white or grey.

A small puddle exists beneath the engine and from what I can gather it's gas. I've gotten that far. I attempted to start it and try running it again (not driving) and thought it was better to NOT attempt that again versus have someone take a look. Attached is the best photo I could take of under the car.
 

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Garages that install "warm weather products"
in cars in the middle of winter in New York
might need to be avoided.
 
Agreed..

sfdon said:
Garages that install "warm weather products"
in cars in the middle of winter in New York
might need to be avoided.
Click to expand...

Don't get me started on their work - but alas - it was installed in August/September. I haven't been driving much at all. That being said - my car ran so very cool and solid up to bringing it to NYC.

Here's the story about a guy who brought his coupe to NYC with him and will likely move back to Cali...because of his coupe. ;)
 
I don't want to think what storage will cost.

Color blind ok but if your nose works, the fluid is either gas or it is not.

Running the fuel line is simple on these cars. From the tank a short cloth line in the trunk then steel. The line should run left across the rear drivetrain and then behind the rocker panel lip on the driver's side and to the drivers wheel well. It dives up as a cloth/rubber line, across the firewall and then to the filter etc.

Check the course and see if it's wet. You may have to crank the engine a bit to get the gas going. Most probable is one of the cloth/rubber lines and the abrupt weather change.
 
When you saw the smoke, was it coming out the tail pipe or did you see it in the rear view mirror as you were driving back to the garage? If the latter, then that could be some fluid (coolant turning to steam) in the engine bay wafting back under the car and visible behind you.

Does the leak under the car smell strongly of gas? If not, then it probably is something else. It almost sounds like you could have two things going on. Gas leak and coolant leak. If a gas leak were to cause smoke then there would be fire.

I would play if safe and replace the fuel hoses and clamps first. With the engine cold check everywhere for leaks. Coolant ones are usually easier to find because of the green droplets). Since your engine was not fully warmed up when you experienced the problems check around the exhaust manifolds first - they get hot fast and will smoke if oil of coolant drip on them. If you cannot find anything obvious then clean old drippings and crud off as best you can with papertowels. Put a sheet of cardboard under the engine bay. Try starting up the car again with the hood open (and fire extinguisher handy) and watch for leaks, smells, and smoke/steam.

If no obvious problem is found consider towing it up to Mario's shop in NH?
 
Vsr

Maybe Mario will come to NYC...
Travel, accommodations, theater tickets for Mario and the Mrs...

Hmmm... maybe cheaper to put on a flatbed to Bow NH...
 
Bottom line is you have an early head with a bad valve/cam and 10 rotten pieces of fuel line.
You need to remove your fuel rail and replace all the hoses to the injectors and fuel rail.
Why not prep a fresh head and use the winter down time to get your engine bay healthy again?
 
If you need a pro, try Ward Jennings in Southport, CT. He did a PPI on my coupe before I bought it and then subsequently did the work on the car. I was very satisfied. He used to own an e9, too.

The cost of enclosed shipping to NH to Mario's shop may be cheaper than you think. I have used Horseless Carriage, Exotic Auto Transport. May be worth the cost if in fact you need a new head, etc.

I also recently used an open carrier to ship a minivan from south Florida to DC (triple the distance you are looking at) and it was only 450.

Scott
 
Maybe call VAC motorsports in Philly for a recc on a mechanic. To consider Mario in NH is crazy...you would also prob be 99th in line anyway.
 
Good call...

sfdon said:
Bottom line is you have an early head with a bad valve/cam and 10 rotten pieces of fuel line.
You need to remove your fuel rail and replace all the hoses to the injectors and fuel rail.
Why not prep a fresh head and use the winter down time to get your engine bay healthy again?
Click to expand...

Don - great call. I think it's time I ship the car back to NOCAL anyway. You and Terry did such great work on it before. That and I'm likely to be back in SF by Spring regardless.

PM being sent.
 
Send it over- l have an '85 head ready to go.
 
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