Bob you need to put a borescope down the plug holes and have a look at the piston tops. If any are badly scarred up or damaged, you're into a full engine out situation, so it would be pointless to "just" pull the heads now.
I've been keeping up with this thread. Glad to see Riffledriver posting. Just checked back for an update and saw this post. I'm so sorry. Way worse than I was hoping for you. But remember its just a car. Keep things in perspective. e
Sorry, that's not good news. I agree with John, no point in fighting the head off in the car. The leakage in all the cylinders suggests they are bent but I am very surprised you could pluck one out. Usually the stems are bent enough to prevent that. You need to do some soul searching here and decide if this is a job you want to do yourself. My advice would be no. If that is the case stop now. The further you go the harder it is for someone to pick up where you left off. If you tell us where you are I can refer you to someone to talk to.
With the work that was done on my 550 by the "professionals" in So Florida. I would get all the books and info I could get my hands on and do it myself. The mechanics (I can not call them professionals) could not even get the cam cover gasket on right and the oil ran down and ruined the a/c compressor clutch. Only a $4100.00 plus labor mistake for a new compressor had I not repaired it myself by getting a used clutch coil from an old Cadillac Catera. Chuck
So you made a bad choice and now all professional mechanics are bad. So tell me, what do you do for a living? Run along, you're bothering the grown ups.
I did not make the bad choice. The previous owner did. I buy the cars that the "pros" screw up and the owner can't afford to get someone else to make right. I got this car from a dealer that could not afford to have all its problems corrected without loosing money on it so he sold it to me because he knew I could repair it without just throwing parts at it, and I have been doing this since 1970. I currently own a 71 Maserati Ghibli SS#2244, a 72 Ferrari 365GTC/4 #15765, a 73 Ferrari 365GT4 #17109, a 73 365GTB4 #16703, and the 550 Maranello #117712. What do you own and when was the last time you turned a wrench. Last I heard pounding a keyboard won't make you an expert at anything. Chuck
Chuck- When you badmouth someone's profession, expect him to take umbrage. Brian Crall Company, Ferrari service and owned by someone with multiple Ferraris and at least one Lamborghini. He is trusted, we do not know you.
Bob, I'm curious what other "local entity" you are shopping your problem to. Make sure to do due diligence.
HAHAHAHAhahahahaha! Sorry Chuck, you lost all credibility right there. You actually can't just pop into an internet forum and start attacking members who you haven't even bothered to familiarize yourself with, and expect to earn any credibility yourself. If you posted a poll here and asked who members would trust to work on their car, you or Rifledriver - the results would be 110% in favour of Rifledriver. Sorry, you're a newbie - and not even bothering to check out who Rifledriver is before attacking him does not speak well to your diagnostic or troubleshooting abilities outside the garage.
i'll be waiting to read "chucks" counterpoint article right after brian's in the next issue of forza...
Must say i feel very bad for the OP here, what a lousy situation to be in. I saw another thread close by where some fellow says he's never worked on any car before, buys a set of sockets then does a timing belt on his 456. I cringe at the thought, but if he can pull it off, then who am I to comment? But by definition he was lucky, just as our OP was unlucky, and yes, if it were done by a professional with real skill (understanding + experience + capability) and the right equipment, then luck wouldn't by a factor. I've worked with techs/mechanics my whole 25+ year career, and seen the look on their faces when someone brings in a car or component that they (the amateur) have buggered-up. Our OP here has been open and owned his error, which I admire; it increases my empathy. But those fools who diminish the knowledge and capabilities of real professionals, they are largely a product of the internet-era, insufferable in their ignorance and blind self-belief. I hope we can soon hear that our OP has put his car in the hands of a good specialist and will share in a proper repair by a real mechanic, a term I prefer to that if technician. You all probably already know this, but Henry Royce, the real creator of Rolls-Royce, listed his profession simply as "Mechanic". Humility is always a virtue, and is a requirement for the never-ending learning and inquisitiveness that marks a good mechanic or craftsman. This site is great because we get to hear from such people, e.g. Brian, P. Newman, et al. My own, relatively middling capabilities have only grown over the years because such people have been willing to answer my questions. That I approached them with respect and some deference was not a coincidence. John in Connecticut.
It happens. I wacked the valves in a vvt Benz. I didn't set the timing properly, ( relied on another techs instructions) fired up the car after doing a head gasket. Ran perfect at idle, but as soon as I revved it past 2500 rpm..baalookk..she smashed all the intake valves. Oh well, had to fix it, take the hit and keep on truckin..
John- That guy had a friend that is a professional wrench that did give him some help, even though it looks like he did most of it himself.
