88 accord carbed engine troubles

[JordanQ]

hi, i'm new here and i was wondering if you guys could help me out with an accord i might buy.the kid says that he bought it in non-running condition, and fixed it up over a year or two, and drove like that for about another year. well he goes on to say that, he was driving it one day, and it started knocking lightly, and lost a bit of power. so he drove it home, and his father told him it just sounded like a belt was loose, possibly flapping around and hitting something. so he checked everything out, and nope, no loose belts. so he drove it to work the next day, and when he got home from work that after noon, he said the knock had gotten alot louder, and it lost even more power, so now he is selling it as-is (parked next to his house, since october) and i thought that in the event that it could just be internals, or the timing belt lost teeth and jumped, i would buy it.

anyways,other than that, the car is mechanically and cosmeticly sound, its got a new alternator, new CV joints, new wishbones, new front clip, interior is immaculate, its been sanded, and primered, it has a black hood, the springs have been cut, but it doesn't have the notorious "bumpy" ride

heres a pic.

before (when he bought it)



after(now, as it sits)

[lostforawhile]

even if it was something major like a motor, you can go to pick and pull or places like that and get a motor cheap. if you look around you can often find good running motors. the knock concerns me, because it could be a main or a rod knock,more then likely a rod. with the condition the car is in,it's worth swapping in another motor.

[2oodoor]

probably head gasket blown , who can tell without tests anyway

[lostforawhile]

probably head gasket blown , who can tell without tests anyway

knock is bad 99 percent of the time. it's eithier your engine going or theres a tiny japanese guy locked in the glovebox who wants out.

[JordanQ]

thanks guys, i'll try to ask the kid about more of what happened.

what do you think are the chances that the block is still good?

i'm 99% sure that the kid said it WASN'T leaking any fluids.

if the block is still good, i'd rather buy new/used internals and know what i have.

[mephi]

You won't know for sure what is wrong with it until you tear it apart. Check the oil for water after it has run for a little while. If it is milky, run away. If it is just a main bearing or rod bearing knock, you may be able to repair it, or the damage may be too excessive to fix without a major investment of funds on your part.

I think either way it would be a fun and interesting learning experience. You never really own a vehicle until you pull the motor.

[Civic Accord Honda]

id get it and just get another long block for it. it was probably ran low on oil once and now it needs new bearings

[JordanQ]

You won't know for sure what is wrong with it until you tear it apart. Check the oil for water after it has run for a little while. If it is milky, run away. If it is just a main bearing or rod bearing knock, you may be able to repair it, or the damage may be too excessive to fix without a major investment of funds on your part.

I think either way it would be a fun and interesting learning experience. You never really own a vehicle until you pull the motor.

even if its only 100 dollars?

(the whole car)

[JordanQ]

id get it and just get another long block for it. it was probably ran low on oil once and now it needs new bearings

i don't have a problem with opening the motor, but i haven't found a place for cheap parts (the cheapest engine rebuild kit i found was 800+ AKA more than a used a20a2)

i would rather rebuild the engine so i know whats in it. (assuming the block is okay) than buy a whole used one that god knows whats wrong with.

[Civic Accord Honda]

even if its only 100 dollars?

(the whole car)

if its only $100 its def worth it!!

i don't have a problem with opening the motor, but i haven't found a place for cheap parts (the cheapest engine rebuild kit i found was 800+ AKA more than a used a20a2)

i would rather rebuild the engine so i know whats in it. (assuming the block is okay) than buy a whole used one that god knows whats wrong with.

ive found them pretty cheap before on ebay

[Civic Accord Honda]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Engin...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Engin...Q5fAccessories


new engines


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA...Q5fAccessories


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA...Q5fAccessories


used B20A with automatic transmission

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-H...Q5fAccessories

[Dr_Snooz]

I wouldn't touch that car with a 10' pole.

[Civic Accord Honda]

I wouldn't touch that car with a 10' pole.

lol it looks cleaner then my ole 3g

[JordanQ]

I wouldn't touch that car with a 10' pole.

why?

it looks fine to me.

[lostforawhile]

if the car is clean and has had a lot of work in it, i would get it and if the engine is bad, buy a good used engine. a20s are still pretty cheap look long enough you might find a wreck with a good motor.

[JordanQ]

if the car is clean and has had a lot of work in it, i would get it and if the engine is bad, buy a good used engine. a20s are still pretty cheap look long enough you might find a wreck with a good motor.

cool, i think i will if i can sell this damned xbox!

[bwallace530]

if the car is clean and has had a lot of work in it, i would get it and if the engine is bad, buy a good used engine. a20s are still pretty cheap look long enough you might find a wreck with a good motor.

how much are used motors im thinking about getting a new one.

[Civic Accord Honda]

between $100-300

[JordanQ]

owner said he removed the oil, there was metal in it.

[lostforawhile]

like i said if the rest of the car is good well worth dropping a used motor in it

[JordanQ]

yup, but thats what i'm lookin at huh? no chance for internals?

[bwallace530]

between $100-300

where would i go to find a used one? and how much would it cost to get it put in?

[lostforawhile]

where would i go to find a used one? and how much would it cost to get it put in?

just rent a hoist from advance or something if you can open up the engine you can put it in yourself. lots of great info on here

[Civic Accord Honda]

you can get the engine from a junkyard pretty cheap. should go check them out. any 3g engine will fit in even if its EFI just put the carb manifold back on it (the efi head actually has a different cam so would put out more power) and since your in Idaho if your not to far from Boise or twin falls bitesize or turabaka might be willing to help ya out on swaping the engine

[JordanQ]

alright thanks guys for all the help, and CHA, because i'm swapping engines anyway, if i did find an FI would it be worth just leaving the EFI on and convert? how hard is that, is it harder than just turboeing a carbed motor? (i think i would want a turbo later on down the line.)

keep in mind, my father is a machinest