Two Cylinders

[novarolla]

HELP PLEASE
I have a 1986 Nova SOHC engine that started making noise like a very noisy valve lifter, then it lost power, it still starts and runs, but very poor. I had just gassed up and driven about six miles, it was running great until the noise started.
A friend said he put air pressure into #3 cylinder and it bubbles into the radiator. He said it is running on about 2& 1/2 cylinders. Does this sound like a head gasket? There is no water in the oil pan or cylinders though. I read somewhere that something in the carbureator can let go and flood one cylinder. Is this a possibillity? Ignition/electrical all checks out OK.
This 1986 Chevrolet Nova is supposed to be the same as the Toyota Corolla?
Thanks for any help.
lotork

[Flashmn]

A friend said he put air pressure into #3 cylinder and it bubbles into the radiator. Sounds like a head gasket :confused There is no water in the oil or cylinders

That sounds like a really bad headgasket failure, dont drive it till its fixed.

[boosted gt]

sounds like a blown gasket or cracked head to me too.. i have seen many cars with blown headgaskets that dont get coolant in the oil or even smoke out the exhaust

the carb. would have nothing to do with air leaking into the radiator

[cobrajet25]

I agree...looks like you popped your head gasket. Bummer. Keep it off the road until fixed. Good luck. Regards, Aaron

[novarolla]

Thanks for the replies, and help.
I read a post about the EGR valve causing a cylinder to miss too, so I checked out and cleaned the EGR valve and modulator. Still the same trouble.
I will start to remove the head tomorrow. Hope I can get it done by SPRING!
novarolla

[etxxz]

OMG...maibe that's what's happening to me too...remember that thread with the ae86 SR5 with carb/engine problems. I figured it wasnt electrical nor carburator and Flash told of the possibilities of a blown head gasket.

I'ma buy one with now and do the repairs today but before...how much does this gasket go for? if its over the $100s i'll gotto a junkyard!...im so cheap

[novarolla]

If you want to have a more intimate relationship with your 1986 Nova, just replace the headgasket!
I finally got the head off after removing and disconnecting just about everything under the hood. The part I really liked was were the manual said,"you might have to remove the transaxel mount bolts and raise the engine up to remove the water pump pully." Yes, there is about a quarter inch of clearance between the pulley and the frame!! Anyhow the headgasket was blown between #3 and #4.
I don't have a heated work place, and the temperatures are going below zero now so the little old Nova will rest in peace for awhile.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all.
novarolla

[rated_w]

wouldn't get a headgasket from junkyard..

[etxxz]

would a blown head gasket cause the engine to loose so much compression as to loose a lot of power?

[rated_w]

gaskets are pretty cheap IMO .. maybe 50-100 dollars if I remember properly ... .. it's the labour that will kill you .... I've done my headgasket .. took me a while to do it.

[novarolla]

etxxz, yes on the compression/power loss with blown gasket. Mine was blown between 3&4, I hardly had enough power to drive it up onto the portable ramps. My local parts store quoted $36.00 for the headgasket. All the other required gaskets will add up to a lot extra, I am going to put in a new water pump and timing belt too since it has to be torn down that far for the headgasket anyhow. I will send the head to a machine shop to see if the head needs to be planed, and have them check out the valves.
The labor to have all this hired done would be a WHOLE lot more than the car is worth.