Blown engine??

[GTP_MuNkY]

OK...I posted yesterday about issues I was having. Well I was hoping it was a blown head gasket or at the most a cracked head, both of which I could handle. My garage called me and left a msg on my voicemail today saying they think I need a new engine because the oil is "milky".
Now...we had the engine running on the weekend...it ran ok..just with a misfire, probably from a fowled up spark plug.
I have my doubts about this. C-bad raised a good point to me, could they just not want to work on a 3.4L DOHC??
What is the likely hood that I cracked the block?
I'm going back in to the shop tomorrow to discuss the matter with them, should I push that I doubt teh engine is blown and that the fault is in the top half?

If they continue to insist on the engine I'm going to have it towed back to my place, telling them I can't afford to do it at this time, and I will rip apart myself, maybe with the help of c-bad and q-ball...I just want some of your opinions on this. I have serious doubts that the block is cracked...

thanx
Jamie

[Doubt_Incarnate]

money money money. thats what its all about. they might have seen that a tdc is a $$$ motor and with the markup they would proby pay off their boat i saw a 97 3.4 dohc on ebay i think it wasnt a whole lot of $$$ either.

oops, its gone, but here what i did see a few secs ago:

http://motors.search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&samcm=6028&catref=C12&satitle=3.4+dohc&sacat=6028%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=&fmmk=&fmmd=&fylo=&fyhi=&mppfQy=3.4&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=45036&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=

[GTP_MuNkY]

well I'm seriously considering at least ripping appart the top of the engine to see if I can find anything myself... The tricky part will be putting it back together...I'm in the middle of searching for a "how to", I can handle everything except the timing...thats the only place I think I will run in to problems with my knowledge...I've rebuilt entire engines in high school...I have all the torque specs and everything....its just that damn timing. If anyone can point me in the right direction it would be GREATLY appreiciated!

I'm told the coolant is "milky", would this damage the cylinder walls if I don't run it any more? Its worth pointing out that at no point did the temp hit the red area. I'm just wondering how bad the damage below the gaskets could of gone at this point...

Jamie

[Doubt_Incarnate]

milky coolant is from oil in it. could have gotten through a head gasket, a cracked head, or a cracked block. as long as you had oil in it bearings should be fine. timing doesnt seem to be that hard from what i read, there is a cam hold down tool, you install it on the carriers and it corosponds with flat spots on the cams to hold them in the correct place. loosley instal the the gears on the cams. the primary chain is like every other ohv i think so if thats right, and the cams are locked, just turn the crank to #1 tdc and tighten the cam gears to spec.

i've never been there and done that but from what i gather thats the nutshell.

[Doubt_Incarnate]

i just remebered you had a post once about leaking coolant. i also remeber my car kept blowing hoses untill my head gasket finally went.

and ill go ahead and correct my self on the milky coolant since i re-read and its your oil.

i'd definatly look into it yourself, wosre cas you do need a motor just pull one from yard and cut the middle man. motor swaps arent that hard providing its the same design motor.

most of the connectors only fit each other, so you cant really mess that up. the wire harness usually places the connectors right with what they hook up to when you lay it back in place on the motor. ocasionaly a connector will hide from you but if you have a brain enough to know your way around a garage you'll be able to find it.

[GTP_MuNkY]

thanx for the input

the shop is now saying I need a new engine dispite the fact that they have only had 3 spark plugs out... they say this because of the milky oil. They claim that the oil woul dof stripped all the lube off the cylinder walls and barings. I Use royal purple so I can't see too much damage being caused, its barely been run since all this started and they now have strict rules to not start my car...
is this something that oil COULD do? if so how bad?

pretty sure I'm going to have it towed home later today...

time to consider an L67 swap if it is the block...

Jamie

[Doubt_Incarnate]

im not 100% sure on that. did it squeal at any time? any other high pitched metal on metal noises? if not i'd want my car back and do the head gaskets myself.

[GTP_MuNkY]

I never heard any squealing...
Somone else on another board mentions something about the lower intake gasket having gone....this would explain why coolant isn't getting pumped out the intake stroke as well...its getting sucked in...
I'm waiting for a couple friends now and we are going to push it back to my place (5 minute walk, probably take us an hour) a tow truck was going to be $40...screw that...
I'm going to do some research on rebuilding the 3.4L DOHC before I tare into it, but the first thing I'm going to do is drain any remaining coolant and do an oil change.

Jamie