Need Help on 03 Termi

Fred'S'nake · Jul 17, 2020

Driving my Cobra to my brother's place about 5 miles away. 3/4 of the way my A/C starts to blow warmer air. I get to my brother's and shut the car off. Later in the day I leave, with the A/C off. About 2 miles away I turn it on, it starts to get cold then stops. At this point I finally think to look at the temp gauge. It is climbing. As I get home the temp gauge is a needle from hot. This has happened before and I ended up changing the rad fan, 6 mos ago. So I make a call to a local shop. I bring it in on Friday, today. They call me about 4:00 today and tell me they did a pressure test of some type on the engine and it failed a couple times. The diagnosis, either a blown head gasket or 2, or a cracked head, if nothing else is wrong. They can't tell till I give them the ok to tear into it. Which btw, they are saying it will be about close to $4000.00 to do the job. This would include, removing the engine, removing the front for the timing stuff, then removing the heads. Then pressure checking the heads for cracks and also for warp-age. Changing the gaskets and dealing with whatever else, (replacing head, etc. then reassembly, and reinstall back in the car. They don't want to shave the heads because that might be a problem if the head is warped. Could cause internals to freeze up later. I was also told by another guy, former termi owner, owns a GT500 now, that Termis don't normally blow head gaskets. So I guess that means I need to hope for a head crack. Anyone have some advice on this? This is my daily and I want it back on the road. What should I do, help please..

grantbp · Jul 18, 2020

Fred'S'nake said:
Driving my Cobra to my brother's place about 5 miles away. 3/4 of the way my A/C starts to blow warmer air. I get to my brother's and shut the car off. Later in the day I leave, with the A/C off. About 2 miles away I turn it on, it starts to get cold then stops. At this point I finally think to look at the temp gauge. It is climbing. As I get home the temp gauge is a needle from hot. This has happened before and I ended up changing the rad fan, 6 mos ago. So I make a call to a local shop. I bring it in on Friday, today. They call me about 4:00 today and tell me they did a pressure test of some type on the engine and it failed a couple times. The diagnosis, either a blown head gasket or 2, or a cracked head, if nothing else is wrong. They can't tell till I give them the ok to tear into it. Which btw, they are saying it will be about close to $4000.00 to do the job. This would include, removing the engine, removing the front for the timing stuff, then removing the heads. Then pressure checking the heads for cracks and also for warp-age. Changing the gaskets and dealing with whatever else, (replacing head, etc. then reassembly, and reinstall back in the car. They don't want to shave the heads because that might be a problem if the head is warped. Could cause internals to freeze up later. I was also told by another guy, former termi owner, owns a GT500 now, that Termis don't normally blow head gaskets. So I guess that means I need to hope for a head crack. Anyone have some advice on this? This is my daily and I want it back on the road. What should I do, help please..

Get a second opinion

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CobraBob · Jul 18, 2020

Most definitely get a second opinion. You'd be a fool to throw $4K into that shop's diagnosis without verifying it's correct or justified. You also should have asked for more specifics on exactly what tests were done, along with documented test results. I'm feeling unsettled about what they told you, which is why a second opinion is so highly recommended. Also, research any shop you intend to use if possible. You want to find a good, recommended shop in your area.

hotcobra03 · Jul 18, 2020

To bad your far away I would look at

I’m one who has had head issues over the years.

Drivers head 3 times. 60k/120k/200k

I was clueless but had no choice and learned.

Did all the work myself with help from the service manual

Really in the end is was easier than thought to be

zredfire04 · Jul 18, 2020

That seems high.

At $100/hr, they're saying it's 40 hours?

I could do it in half that time on my driveway

Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

WOW thanks to all the answers, it's what I was kinda thinking myself. One last thing. Can the heads be removed with the engine in the car? I've worked on my vehicles before, just never this much stuff to remove to get to the heads to remove. So I am not a top mechanic.

Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

grantbp said:
Get a second opinion

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Thanks. Can the heads be removed without taking the engine out?

MG0h3 · Jul 18, 2020

Fred'S'nake said:
Thanks. Can the heads be removed without taking the engine out?

From what everyone else has said, it’s not worth it. Easier to just pull the engine

“You’re full of $#!+”
Joe Biden

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hotcobra03 · Jul 18, 2020

Heads can be done over fender.

But removing engine is easier.

Than remove up or down is a debate.

For me it was all old school.
Had 0 tools.

In dirt driveway.

Used tree branch and come along to pull straight up.

Was able to leave transmission in car

Rolled car back

Made a floor and lowered onto engine stand.

Removed heads and sent to machine shop.

2nd time around I did over fender only drivers side

Piece of cake if done right.

During my first time while waiting on heads I pulled Pan off to see inside
And I ended up cleaning out the oil suction tube to oil cooler.

I found so much junk.

Chunks of old silicone and shreds of plastic I assume was from timing chain tracks

This was something I think was important and would be missed doing over fender

Any way you go it isn’t going to be cheap.

4sdvenom · Jul 18, 2020

Second opinion or tackle it yourself.
Engine out would be the easiest.
First of all though I would get it back and read up on how to do a compression test and a leak down test and do them yourself. I don’t like to rely on what a mechanic may or may not say what’s wrong with it.
FYI I’ve dropped my motor out the bottom every time it’s been removed. Took me about 4-5 hours the first time I did it until I seen what actually did and didnt have to come apart. Now I can do it myself in less than 3 hours once the car is in the air. That’s with just a floor jack, jack stands and an engine hoist (to support the engine and lower it) with a floor jack under the transmission. Find a sturdy and low profile 4 wheel cart with casters to drop it onto and roll out through the wheel well fully assembled.

Do yourself a favor and do it yourself, you and your wallet will thank yourself later. Borrow a car if needed

Oh and yes they do blow headgaskets. Mine did.

Ken

Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

4sdvenom said:
Second opinion or tackle it yourself.
Engine out would be the easiest.
First of all though I would get it back and read up on how to do a compression test and a leak down test and do them yourself. I don’t like to rely on what a mechanic may or may not say what’s wrong with it.
FYI I’ve dropped my motor out the bottom every time it’s been removed. Took me about 4-5 hours the first time I did it until I seen what actually did and didnt have to come apart. Now I can do it myself in less than 3 hours once the car is in the air. That’s with just a floor jack, jack stands and an engine hoist (to support the engine and lower it) with a floor jack under the transmission. Find a sturdy and low profile 4 wheel cart with casters to drop it onto and roll out through the wheel well fully assembled.

Do yourself a favor and do it yourself, you and your wallet will thank yourself later. Borrow a car if needed

Oh and yes they do blow headgaskets. Mine did.

Ken

cool. thanks for all the info. This might give me the urge to do it.

Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

hotcobra03 said:
Heads can be done over fender.

But removing engine is easier.

Than remove up or down is a debate.

For me it was all old school.
Had 0 tools.

In dirt driveway.

Used tree branch and come along to pull straight up.

Was able to leave transmission in car

Rolled car back

Made a floor and lowered onto engine stand.

Removed heads and sent to machine shop.

2nd time around I did over fender only drivers side

Piece of cake if done right.

During my first time while waiting on heads I pulled Pan off to see inside
And I ended up cleaning out the oil suction tube to oil cooler.

I found so much junk.

Chunks of old silicone and shreds of plastic I assume was from timing chain tracks

This was something I think was important and would be missed doing over fender

Any way you go it isn’t going to be cheap.

Cool. thanks, lots of info to digest. I'll have to make a decision on this, but not right away.

Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

MG0h3 said:
From what everyone else has said, it’s not worth it. Easier to just pull the engine

“You’re full of $#!+”
Joe Biden

svtperformance.com mobile app

Thanks for all you guys for the info. I was afraid everyone would say it is easier to take the engine out. Dont have a place yet, or tools. Working on that now. Thanks again.

Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

CobraBob said:
Most definitely get a second opinion. You'd be a fool to throw $4K into that shop's diagnosis without verifying it's correct or justified. You also should have asked for more specifics on exactly what tests were done, along with documented test results. I'm feeling unsettled about what they told you, which is why a second opinion is so highly recommended. Also, research any shop you intend to use if possible. You want to find a good, recommended shop in your area.

Thanks bob, appreciate the help.

CobraBob · Jul 18, 2020

NP. The other guys detailed how relatively easy it is to remove the engine and do the work yourself. Sounds like when the time is right you’ll go that route. You can do it.

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Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

CobraBob said:
NP. The other guys detailed how relatively easy it is to remove the engine and do the work yourself. Sounds like when the time is right you’ll go that route. You can do it.

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Yeah, just not super confident. Still tracking down tools and a place. I will push hard to do it myself if at all possible.

03cobra#2 · Jul 18, 2020

I did a similar job in my garage without removing the engine. Yes it can be done but it was a lot of work. I didn't have a engine hoist or the room to pull the motor so I had no choice.

If you have the time and don't have to rush it you can do it without pulling the motor.

roy_1031 · Jul 18, 2020

Buy a pos $1500 beater to daily and go wild on the cobra while you’re in it.

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Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

roy_1031 said:
Buy a pos $1500 beater to daily and go wild on the cobra while you’re in it.

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Hey, I hadn't thought of that. I just need to stay diligent to stay on point with upgrades and such on the Cobra, thanks man, that's a cool path to take.

Fred'S'nake · Jul 18, 2020

03cobra#2 said:
I did a similar job in my garage without removing the engine. Yes it can be done but it was a lot of work. I didn't have a engine hoist or the room to pull the motor so I had no choice.

If you have the time and don't have to rush it you can do it without pulling the motor.

Cool, I know what you are saying. Thanks for the encouragement.

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