Quick chain-guide question

[Secant]

What can I look for in a pre-1994 Q to indicate whether the engine is still serviceable (albeit with some work to do)? I'm almost certain that the chain guides are the problem - the person who sold it to the yard said that the engine "just stopped working," which I take to be indicative of chain guide failure. However, the yard owner never mentioned any big bangs, etc. that the previous owner might have reported at the time the engine ceased functioning. I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty if it meant I could get the junked Q running again, so what can I look for to see if the engine is still capable of running?

The car is in otherwise quite good condition, which is why I'm hoping the engine might be resurrected.

[Q45tech]

Take a long wrench and turn the engine over by hand [at least 2 full revs] first thing then if it passes that test pull the front cover and examine the guides.

[Secant]

What am I looking for when I turn the engine 2 full revolutions, and where is the best place to put the wrench?

[Q451990]

You'll put the wrench on the large bolt on the crank shaft (big pulley) and then turn it to see if the engine still spins. You'll want to feel some resistance from compression. If it won't turn, the engine is probably locked up... at least that's my guess. Maybe someone else with more experience can weigh in.

Good luck!

Heath

[92Q45guy]

yes, turn it clockwise to see if it has compression, You should here it. And if while turning it you feel something hit, you know the engine is toast!

[Secant]

Apparently it turns (the yard's owner had tried to get it started when he bought the car initially), so I'm going to do a compression check on all the cylinders to find out if there's any damage. Cylinders 7 and 8 are going to be a great time.

[92Q45guy]

To

Apparently it turns (the yard's owner had tried to get it started when he bought the car initially), so I'm going to do a compression check on all the cylinders to find out if there's any damage. Cylinders 7 and 8 are going to be a great time.

To accurately test compression, The engine must be at normal operating temperature with thottle wide open.

[CrimsonQ]

Also if thecar is worth saving and you get it dirt dirt cheap, engines arent that costly to replace.

now on the other hand if the car cost 3k, it would be to much to replace.

Is the interior clean? outside? electrical?

[Secant]

Also if thecar is worth saving and you get it dirt dirt cheap, engines arent that costly to replace.

now on the other hand if the car cost 3k, it would be to much to replace.

Is the interior clean? outside? electrical?

I can buy the car as-is for $350-400 (including towing to my home). There's a '93 VH45DE on eBay for around $900 with shipping, but I lack the facilities and technical knowledge to replace an entire engine. However, I'm certain I'd be able to replace the guides if that ends up being the problem. I'd even consider tackling the engine if I could find someone with a lift. (Replacing the engine would also ameliorate the problem of the car's 156k miles.)

The car's bodywork is in superb condition, especially considering it's age ('92). This is the main reason I want to save the car. The front seats are super messed up (I'll probably try to re-cover them or perhaps replace them somehow), but the rest of the interior is quite good (just dirty). It has a newish HU and the 10-disc CD changer in the trunk. I have yet to test the electronics, as the battery is flatter than, well, something really flat. The car was roadworthy (except for the engine) when it came to the yard a year or so ago, so I don't expect too many problems. I'll need a few cans of BG44K, though, eh?

Two questions:1) The engine doesn't have to be running to test the electronics in this car, right? (e.g. key in the second or third position)2) Does anyone know any information about the spark plug's thread? My friend is letting me use his compression gauge, but the end is for American cars and will thusly not fit the Q. I can get all types of fittings from a local hardware store, I just need to know what the threading is so that I can get the correct one.

92Q45guy: I'm not looking for an accurate compression reading, I just want to know if there are any bent valves or busted piston heads. I don't expect such a high-mileage engine to have very good compression, I just want to see that nothing's broken.