Hey guys! Had a ppi done on a 355 I am looking at buying, and one cyl came back w/ 130psi and 23% leakdown. I have read countless threads on this board and the old f-chat board about this but just wanted to confirm if this is a valveguide prob. or maybe a cracked/broken ring? All other cyl came back w/ 2-3% leakdown. Could it be carbon stuck on the valve not allowing it to seat properly? What would you guys do? Please help! I want to buy a 355!
run the other way and buy mine!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4541745575 that leakdown % is a sign of a big and expensive problem. I'd pass and look for one with all cyl within 10% of each other.
no I hit the wrong button and it said sold and im to lazy to figure out how to fix it. If any mod want to relist for me ill put you in my will. I have a 360F1 incoming and was thinking of selling the 355. Sorry for the thread hijack. Carry on
Nightdawg - I've been looking too. What were the other cylinders if I may ask? I've heard various things here and there about valve guide problems and that if its a 97 or older and some early 98s (up to a certain assembly number), they may all end up getting the problem sooner or later. May - is the key word here. No one knows for sure but there is an issue with the brass guides which they later changed to steel. I'm currently debating between 2 cars - one which is a 97 that currently does not have a valve guide problem and compression matches closely (but is around 158 average, very nearly zero leakdown) or a 98 that is past the assembly number and does not have the issue. Price is close but its not a no brainer for me for a variety of other reasons (color, options, proximity to my locale). Scott
Scott, I have also read the same thing about the 98+ not having the valve guide problems. Apparently a batch of 97's did. Can anyone else elighten the situation w/ some knowledge about potential costs? And if it could have just been a screwy test? Has anyone else had this happen and then tested again normally after driving?
I had the same experience. I PPI'ed two different '97's and they both failed the leak down test during my search. I bought a '98 when it passed the leak down. Dino
It can be found inside the engine compartment. It is on a small rectangular plate mounted on the driver's side engine compartment shock tower. The plate reads "ASSEMBLY NUMBER XXXXX". The XXXXX number should be equal to or greater than 27689. Scott
For assembly numbers below 27689, what does that mean? Definite valve guide issues? Possible VG issues?
Best information is that about 20-25% of the cars have had a problem. Valve issues are not confined to the early cars it is just more common.
So lets say it is a valve problem, what are the potential costs involved? Shouldn't the mechanic have been able to tell from the PPI what it is (valve or rings etc.) with a stethiscope? Can just the one cylinder's valves be done alone or do all valves from that head have to be adjusted and redone?
Usually done as part of a general Pre-Puchase inspection, which runs about $400 - $500. By itself, I guess you're looking at a couple of hundi.
