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Latest status on the engine problem:
Unfortunately a breakdown in one of the households
most important appliances ( in the wife's view), i.e. - the washing machine
precluded me getting the engine unbuttoned today. Got as far as getting
the flywheel nut off when got side tracked.
However, here are some interesting tidbits.
Al told me he could not find an NGK B9EQV - odd I thought- since I
purchased some. Well when I opened up the tool box there as plain as day
was B9EGV - the CORRECT PLUG - I am beginning to feel like I am in the twilight
zone. All four -all are the B9EGV!
So the right plug - so how come the problem or was
it all an figment of my troubled mind?
No figment about the problem, I could better
examine the apex seals through the exhaust with a bright light. I found
one apex seal shattered into three pieces, one stuck down as if springs are
broken and one which appears to move normally in its slot, but has nicks.
Well as we all know when two of the apex seals are gone on a rotor they might as
well all three be gone.
Now here is where it gets a bit more spooky - I
took one of the B9EGV plugs and screw them into an 86 NA rotor housing (thanks
for the suggestion, George - down under) I have laying around. I then
measured from the inside of the housing to the ground electrode of the plug -
hold onto your hats - it measured 7.5 mm! I could be off by a mm but
certainly places the electrode no where close to the chamber (relative
speaking).
So either the 91 turbo housings (will find out
tomorrow) have shorter sparkplug holes OR the plugs had nothing to do with the
problem. Possibly some other FOD item - but I use no nuts or screws any
place in the induction system that would cause them to fall off into the
runners.
I've already reported that the next most likely
candidate - pieces of the plastic plenum were a negative as all pieces are still
in place.
I really hate to end the day without getting the
bottom of this problem, but just too beat to tackle it. Sitting here in
front of the computer with a cool brew - which is something I don't ever recall
doing before (not the drinking, and not the computer - but both
together!)
I am taking photos as I disassemble the
engine. It took me 15 minutes once I had the engine on the work stand to
get Tracy's gearbox, damper plate, flex plate and flywheel nut off. Next
comes the flex plate, my broken-bolt shield and then the 17 tension bolts (guess
I better remember to put heat shrink on them).
Anyhow, thanks to all of you who had suggestions,
comments or condolences conveyed to me. Appreciate them all and I will
keep you informed as the disassembly progresses.
Ed
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