Since your car has rust but isn’t Swiss Cheese there are some very good rust inhibitors that with minimal prep stop rust dead in it’s tracks. With the engine out it would be s great time to spruce up the engine compartment and the bottom of the car.
I don't mean to be cruel, but in my mind if you throw money at the head without addressing the worn out block well you might as well just burn that money. Another aspect of that block is the since the rings or bore are so worn out there is a good change the bearing aren't long for this world. It's a tough choice you have to make. Good luck.
Okay now I’m following you all. I was airbraining on what is really a bigger underlying problem here - the low compression and that whooshing air. Dealership did not talk about what all that might mean - worn out rings, bore, etc... so I guess they were just going after the $2200 to fix part of the problem. They gave me 9 pages of estimates for everything. The last page is an estimate for a new engine - $11,000 lol. I picked up the car. Weirdly it felt great to drive it again while knowing what’s wrong now. Better than wondering and worrying. I’ll call them tomorrow and ask more about the compression test and leak down numbers and what that might really mean. Seems they’re showing they recognize that by giving me an estimate for a new engine. this is crazy, I’m actually considering that used engine and learning how to do it. We have a backup car to drive from the in-laws... hmmm
Swapping motors is not too hard. Take old motor out. Take parts off old motor and install them on the new motor. Install new motor. It’s plug and play.
You were able to do all the engine work up till now so replacing an engine should not be so overwhelming that you won’t be able to complete the task. Read up on some of Minidave’s engine cleaning and painting tips and you’ll have one sharp R53 for years to come.
I can no longer tell if you guys are the angel or the devil on my shoulders! I’ll be diving into research and a lot of thinking this weekend. I’ll be posting more as I think this through.
Ok I can’t be good anymore! @trevhead just buy this and be done with it!!! http://store-revolutionmini-com.3dcartstores.com/RMW-1st-Gen-18L-Stroker_p_161.html
It’s $1,000 off! I’d be crazy not to take advantage of this incredible offer! Have thought about this nonstop since Thursday, talked it over with my son and several of my car buddies. Here’s where I’m at: we want to keep the car, keep it safe and keep it running... decently. We’re going to replace the cam and the lifters and eliminate the misfire. Then, we’re just gonna roll with this low compression thing. I’ll get the leaks sorted, going to need help with the rear main seal, but then it will be back to being more usable. I know this probably sounds a bit half-assed, but I just don’t have the time to dedicate to a rebuild or replacement. I would actually love to do it, but now is not the time. so maybe I’m putting a ticking time bomb together. The compression issue just seems like something we can live with for a bit. Or it will die completely in a month, I don’t know... I’ll be shopping for the cam and lifters and associated bits tomorrow, and hope to get them in the car next weekend.
I have ordered the new camshaft and rocker arm, and I hope to get them in the car on Saturday and have a smooth-idling R53 by Saturday evening. I just threw another chunk of phone support time in a Detroit Tuned cart and called Mike - those guys are so helpful. I wanted his advice on all these most recent developments, regarding my idea to fix the misfire while knowing I have the low compression readings from the dealer (but remembering that my compression readings at home were in the normal range). His theory is that it's possible the tech at the dealer had inadvertently flooded the cylinders with fuel which stripped all the oil out, causing the low compression. I know I flooded it when I was doing all my spark plug/injector/electrical signal testing, but that was a few weeks ago. Wouldn't think that would still be sloshing fuel around, but it wouldn't have to if the tech did the same thing (he tested everything I tested with injectors and signals etc, so now that I think of it, it's definitely possible). Anyway, I'll update again when I get these new parts in. Please cross your fingers and your toes, hold your breath, count backwards from 1,000, dance under the full moon, whatever it takes to send my car good vibes for the final attempt.
Sounds like a good game plan. Best case scenario is the car runs like a top and worst case scenario is you have a good head for a rebuild/ long block. Good luck.
I'm cursed. the place I ordered the camshaft from can't find it in their warehouse and has refunded the order. So instead of receiving it tomorrow and installing it this weekend, I'm shopping today and hopefully doing it next weekend. Can't win. Maybe good things come to those who wait. oh wait, I forgot to dance naked in the moonlight this week. That's why.