LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Rescued a wounded Bird

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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 10:07 AM
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Default Rescued a wounded Bird

Picked this up last week- 129k 94 A4 Formula. Gave the guy $600.00 and hauled it away on a flatbed. Gave him $200.00 more this week. I have to drag this car into the garage with a 9:1 haul system with a climbing rope so I can start taking it apart. LR tire is flat. Wasn't room to drop it in the garage because of the fenceline next to it. I'd rather rebuild a trans than an engine at this point. Engine is bone stock- not even a TB bypass.

The story (maybe):

Guy thinks it's locked up. "Just went 'clunk' and quit running." He thinks the oil pump went bad and the engine locked. Not so fast... he installed a Monster transmission in it less than 2k mi. before something bad happened. No cover on the torque converter- I didn't know the 4L60E (having only owned 2 MN6 cars) had a removable cover like the TH350s and 400s.

I'm hoping to find a flex plate bolt backed out and wedged or something like that. It still shifts into neutral and the back half of the trans does what it's supposed to do with the drive shaft. As it is, the crank won't turn. You A4 experts- can one of these lock in the front and keep the crank from turning?
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Last edited by Gojira94; Jan 8, 2011 at 10:02 PM.
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:02 AM
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Well, while I'm waiting here's some pics of the interior. Thing was filthy. Pulled and cleaned everything. Got most of the carpet gunk off with brush and sponge. Painted shifter trim panel (oxidized bad).
Attached Thumbnails Rescued a wounded Bird-01.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-02.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-03.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-04.jpg  
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:04 AM
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Second car I've owned from 94 that had a car phone installed. Number label on it indicated West VA.
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:07 AM
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Cleaned and got the interior back in. Now just to haul this thing inside so I can tear into it properly...

First 2 pics are after vacuuming, before the sponge...
Attached Thumbnails Rescued a wounded Bird-07.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-08.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-09.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-10.jpg  

Last edited by Gojira94; Jul 18, 2010 at 11:21 AM.
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:10 AM
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good luck on your project.. hopefully its something easy..
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:14 AM
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Engine bay: Why try to replace the Opti if you think it's locked up? Car included new Opti in the box with shipping label dated April 28th. I put my prototype cap/rotor/isolator on it.

Worst case- rebuild shortblock with 355 pistons, wait to do heads & cam later, have Performabuilt do up the trans.
Attached Thumbnails Rescued a wounded Bird-11.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-12.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-13.jpg  
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by meine96ws6
good luck on your project.. hopefully its something easy..
That's the hope- still a good deal for under a grand!
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:24 AM
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hmm time will tell! sometimes its the little things like that that could stop everything! GL and report back
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Gojira94
Have a look at this pic below. No cover on the torque converter! I never knew (having only owned 2 MN6 cars) that this could come off.
It's not uncommon to run w/out a cover.
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 07:17 PM
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Cover isnt needed on the trans. Good luck finding the problem
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 02:37 PM
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even if you do end up rebuilding the whole motor and transmission, it will still be worth the money if the car is in decent shape, thats a deal of a price...good luck
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 03:09 PM
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Take the cap of the Opti and see if the rotor bolts are laying at the bottom of the cap !
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 03:22 PM
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Out of curiosity, where did you buy this car from?
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by RamAir95TA
Out of curiosity, where did you buy this car from?
Got it just north of Durham, NC off hwy 85. Possibly one that you may have worked on long ago? I know you've had hands on a lot of these cars over the last few years...
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 09:56 PM
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So I spent a few hours today prepping the workspace. My buddy has a 3 car outbuilding where I've done some work to the green car. Instead of the usual narrow side spot he offered to let me take the center spot if I'd organize his garage. He and his wife moved in there in March and it's gotten out of hand since then. I didn't mind a bit- been kinda wanting to do it for him. Chalk it up to my OCD.

Here's pics of the exterior. RR quarter, LF fender are losing (lost) clearcoat, both mirrors too. No big deal. I can do the paint work and it'll look really good. Tires are shot, so looking to replace the wheels at the same time rather than refinish the swirlies...
Attached Thumbnails Rescued a wounded Bird-p1907100000.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-p1907100001.jpg   Rescued a wounded Bird-p1907100002.jpg  
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 10:08 PM
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Originally Posted by monzter
Take the cap of the Opti and see if the rotor bolts are laying at the bottom of the cap !
lol... if only... I have yet to pull a few plugs and see if it'll turn, myself. Down to the nitty gritty and finding the problem. Probably have a definitive answer Wednesday when I get back over there. I'm hoping the input shaft is locked inside the trans. I want to rebuild the engine, but would like to have a chance to plan the build, save for it and do it right. But not yet. I want to DD it a little before that as it is (if possible with a trans fix). If it's motor, plan B...
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 10:09 PM
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wow for what it is that car isnt that bad! the only suggestion ill make is on the tires. General UHP's Awesome tires!
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Old Jul 19, 2010 | 10:40 PM
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Wow, you should've just parted out that POS!
.
.
.
Seriously, nice find; I obviously am kind of partial to MPRM cars.
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Old Jul 20, 2010 | 09:41 PM
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Going back in the morning to see if I can coax it into turning before I drop the trans.

Anybody foresee a problem dropping it while leaving the torque converter attached to the flexplate? I think I should be able to get enough angle to move the bellhousing further back than you'd normally have to but I'd love to hear if someone had done it successfully before the cursing and sweating starts.
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Old Jul 21, 2010 | 02:16 PM
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Man, great find and fun project indeed. I really wish I had a bigger garage so I could pick myself up a fun project to work on, jealous!!!
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