Quote:
Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS
Thinking about picking up a local TDT wagon. What should I know about this engine? Thank you valued experts!
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I love this engine. Have an '87 wagon, going to move the drive train over into a '94 wagon.
Weak points, mostly already covered, are:
1) Head, original #14 prone to cracking.
2) Vacuum pump, prone to failure which dumps ball bearings into timing chain area, resulting in broken chain / engine destruction.
Ask to see the car with engine stone cold, after at least an overnight rest. First thing pop open the hood and see if the radiator hose is pressurized. If yes, then the head is cracked. Check the casting number, #14 was original, #17 and later are preferred. I think the last version is #22.
Look at cover on the vacuum pump. Original was a crimped on cover, upgrade / later version has screws holding the cover on. The upgrade version is redesigned so that it won't drop ball bearings into the timing chain upon failure.