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V1 Mikes Extended, Full Frame Goblin - 2009 Cobalt LS with 135k donor

G
Compression checking will only show a badly blown head gasket. Leak down test would probably be better but even that won’t show a small coolant to cylinder leak. And then sometimes it will leak when cold but not hot and sometimes the opposite.
 
M
Now, back to the drawing board. What options do I have? I have a running LAP, with harness,... a LSJ with harness and damaged head gasket,...

Putting any more money in this motor does not make sense. I will find out what the seller says. Honestly a total nightmare! He send me the wrong harness, missed the AC compressor, Gas pedal adapter,... A nightmare from the beginning. I will see that I recover at least the financial burden I had from this.

Depending on the outcome, I could either use the blower on my LAP, and look for a new LSJ or rebuild the LSJ myself ( have never done that).
I am not building ever again a wiring harness for a Goblin. And dealing with all, what you guys deal with, stripping a donor,... is also not what I am willing to do. Maximum would be getting a LSJ donor and just get the engine out, that's it. I like to drive that car and not build it. Maybe back to the drawing board and selling the Goblin all together and get an Ariel Atom?

This is really one of the worse days of being around cars / motorcycles in my life.
 
Desert Sasqwatch
Put the LAP back in, drive your Goblin and enjoy it. In the meantime work the rebuild on the LSJ - as your funds and patience allow - and make the swap in the future. Remember a Goblin is really never finished, there's always something to tweak or upgrade! :D
 
M
Yeah, this is not a question of funds. I may spend $10k in lawyer costs just to make a point with the seller. There's just to many things which don't line up here.

It's a question of time. I spend 3 month getting to this point. If I put the LAP back in and work on the LSJ then we talking about 12 month plus. Plus an unknown outcome. Is it the head gasket alone? Does the head need to be machined, is the head cracked?

I really like the Goblin I have. There are others for sale, that would be an option too. But I have seen another Goblin and I can say those are not cars I wanted to drive. The guy who build my goblin did just a phenomenal job. He just put the wrong engine in it. I mean it's great, but it's not as fast as it should be.
 
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G
Blue prints?

Take it to a good automotive machine shop and let them check it.

How did you determine if it’s leaking at the head gasket. I mentioned it as a possibility, not a fore gone conclusion.

Try the chemical head gasket check in the coolant.
 
Joebob
Have you ruled out if the heat exchanger system in the intake manifold is not leaking and sucking in coolant into the engine? If no water in oil and no oil in water, you have another source of water with the HE system.

Joe
 
A
mike_sno said:
Yeah, this is not a question of funds. I may spend $10k in lawyer costs just to make a point with the seller. There's just to many things which don't line up here.

It's a question of time. I spend 3 month getting to this point. If I put the LAP back in and work on the LSJ then we talking about 12 month plus. Plus an unknown outcome. Is it the head gasket alone? Does the head need to be machined, is the head cracked?

I really like the Goblin I have. There are others for sale, that would be an option too. But I have seen another Goblin and I can say those are not cars I wanted to drive. The guy who build my goblin did just a phenomenal job. He just put the wrong engine in it. I mean it's great, but it's not as fast as it should be.
Click to expand...
Mike, I understand you are angry at the seller but I always council patience! There are sources that will sell a virtually new motor with a warranty but usually quite a bit more expensive. You mention quitting and buying an Ariel Atom! Sounds great! Have you priced an Ariel Atom? They are expensive by comparison to building a Goblin.
Patience, have a pro mechanic/shop diagnose this one before you tear it down. You have limited experience with this engine system, a shop with more experience may find something you have overlooked. And the lawyer will need professional info.
Though IMO lawyers always make sure they get paid! And sometimes they actually fix something. (One I hired, later was headed to jail for not giving his clients their winnings. The night before he was to turn in and go to jail, his Mom made him dinner. He killed his Mom that night and went on the loose for 2 years! He got caught for not renewing his car tag!)
 
M
ah.b.normal said:
Mike, I understand you are angry at the seller but I always council patience! There are sources that will sell a virtually new motor with a warranty but usually quite a bit more expensive. You mention quitting and buying an Ariel Atom! Sounds great! Have you priced an Ariel Atom? They are expensive by comparison to building a Goblin.
Patience, have a pro mechanic/shop diagnose this one before you tear it down. You have limited experience with this engine system, a shop with more experience may find something you have overlooked. And the lawyer will need professional info.
Though IMO lawyers always make sure they get paid! And sometimes they actually fix something. (One I hired, later was headed to jail for not giving his clients their winnings. The night before he was to turn in and go to jail, his Mom made him dinner. He killed his Mom that night and went on the loose for 2 years! He got caught for not renewing his car tag!)
Click to expand...
Yes, I looked into an Ariel Atom even before I bought the Goblin. And I agree with lawyers making sure they get paid. But I have a good friend and business partner, I will discuss with him today what the best way of moving forward is. Sometimes it's worth spending a lot to getting a little bit. If people get away with selling a motor and describe it was working great and it is clearly damaged, this is a case where it's beyond money.

Anyway, the car mechanic stopped by. Diagnosis at this point is best case just the head sealing, worse case cracked cylinder head. Next step is take the head of to determine more.
 
M
Gtstorey said:
Blue prints?

Take it to a good automotive machine shop and let them check it.

How did you determine if it’s leaking at the head gasket. I mentioned it as a possibility, not a fore gone conclusion.

Try the chemical head gasket check in the coolant.
Click to expand...
I am just asking, I have access to a good cnc milling machine at my company with a probe. I could the head being probed.
 
LLBenJ
Mike

I was in a similar boat, decided to build, but will still own an Ariel Atom (in that process now). I would agree with the others that it's worth getting the Goblin on the road and maybe purchasing a new long block or another gently used LSJ. New crate motors are available, quite a few LSJs have popped up on Ebay, and Copart/junk yard pulls are always an option.

If I don't sell my Goblin I'll end up sourcing another complete powertrain for parts. They will eventually start to dry up. Stick with it. You'll enjoy the car you "built" much more than the one you bought.
 
G
mike_sno said:
I am just asking, I have access to a good cnc milling machine at my company with a probe. I could the head being probed.
Click to expand...
It just needs to be flat without taking off to much and raising the compression, although that might be compensated for with thicker head gasket, if available.
 
M
Gtstorey said:
It just needs to be flat without taking off to much and raising the compression, although that might be compensated for with thicker head gasket, if available.
Click to expand...
Google told me that they usually take 0.005in off. Guess that would be then something to keep an eye on.

Did you leave the engine in the car? I'm on the fence, I think I could swap the engines in about 8h. Then I have a running goblin again. Somehow I prepared the wiring harness with plugs for the lights. That turned out to be helpful. But it would also stretch this project quite a bit. Lol
 
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