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help.. vz Holden

elle321

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Hi all I need advice urgently please if anyone can help me.. I have a VZ wagon, I was redoing a spark plug and coil, when i finished I started the car and it sounded terrible like it was grinding and not wanting to start, then started and just cut out while running absolutely terribly. Rough and loud. I noticed that the old plugs porcelain had shattered into a couple big pieces and a few tiny pieces, and fallen into the engine. Any idea what damage I've done in there or what I'd need to do, to get the bits out, or where they may be in there. Or more importantly, what I may have damaged? Any advice much appreciated. Im too scared to try start it again, it sounds like it's gonna cease up or something. But definitely very rough and like the fuel isn't getting thru very much. It won't idle longer than a few seconds very loudly and motor is knocking violently all of a sudden since the porcelain bits fell in and since starting it with the bits broken off unknowingly in there. Heelllllppp
 

Jolls

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Not much of an option than to pull the heads and inspect the damage. Possibly scored/damaged a piston/bore/valve.
Let us know how you go.
 

elle321

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Not much of an option than to pull the heads and inspect the damage. Possibly scored/damaged a piston/bore/valve.
Let us know how you go.
Cheers, will do. and have a look at them bits and see if they're damaged
 

Fu Manchu

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The most dodgy option would be to vacuum out the bore via the spark plug hole. You never know, it might work?
 

rambunctious

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The most dodgy option would be to vacuum out the bore via the spark plug hole. You never know, it might work?
Yep, duct tape a piece of rubber hose to the end of the vacuum sucker nozzle, just make sure it is small enough to go in the plug hole, and maybe one of those inspection cameras usually on special under $100 to have a look around.
Hopefully the bits being raised on the top of the piston have not bent a valve but maybe have closed the spark plug gap.
 
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elle321

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So all the bits are out, apparently it all looks fine but after compression test on that cylinder, mechanic says I've bent a valve rod? Does anyone know roughly what it costs to get a replacement? As I feel he's going to try rip me off by the way he's talking. Thanks guys
 

elle321

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He says it's not good news and that he has to remove the heads etc and making it sound like it's gonna cost a fortune.. I got a gut feeling he thinks he be safe to milk me a bit.. so any input be much appreciated
 

Fu Manchu

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Yeah. These engines are boat anchors at best.
Start opening them and it’s expensive. They are complex compared to previous Commodore engines.
It will be expensive.
thousands .

I would go to someone else and get a second opinion or just swap the motor with a second hand one from a wrecker for about $1500 or so.

Some wreckers have their own workshops and are happy to do the work for you.

My local workshop has done many engine swaps rather than repairing these motors.
 

Fu Manchu

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To replace a valve, the heads have to come off.
 
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