[shadow20092003]

All right, so go easy on me because I'm not a mechanic and I don't know much about cars. I just started getting interested in all this technical stuff.

About a month ago, I bought a 1972 Mustang from a private seller. He said that he hadn't done much for it, except for buying a new carburator because of thick smoke coming out. It started right up when he turned it over, and it ran perfectly fine when I drove it up to the gas station. The man said that as far as he knew, everything was all right, although it had sat around for four years (He started it up regularly, but I'm not sure if he drove it anywhere). So I didn't bother checking for anything, which was stupid on my part. After we got it filled up, we got it about fifteen miles until it started shaking a little bit and then died. The oil pressure and alternator lights came on in the dash, so my friend and I tried turning it over and got nothing. We checked the oil and it was pretty much black, and there was a lot of sludge build up. We drove into the nearest town and bought some Penzoil, put that in, then tried to start it up again. It did end up starting but there was a loud knocking noise, and it wouldn't rev up. Then after that, it wouldn't start. It just made a loud clank noise, like it wants to turn over but it's stuck.

So, ever since towing it home, there have been a LOT of different allegations as to what might have happened, and I really don't know which one I believe. This includes problems with the starter, the alternator, a piston being shot through the engine, and other things that I started to lose track of. I would take it to a mechanic, but I'd rather do the work myself. It's a lot cheaper that way. I would hate to have such a good-looking vehicle go to waste, considering it's in great condition, and I didn't pay much for it. I am willing to save up for a new engine, but I'd like to have it running right now.

Any ideas on how to fix it? The only option I really have right now is to buy a new engine, and I don't have the money for that. I'm pretty much screwed on rebuilding it, because I don't have the right equipment to properly get it out and work on it. Any, and I mean any suggestions are welcome.

[andrewmp6]

Sounds like your up a creek it needs to have the engine tore down to see how deep the damage is.

[Print Dad]

Hello shadow20092003,
The first thing you need to do is get a mechanic to look at the car
and tell you what is wrong. It is pretty much impossible to tell what is happening.
Sure you could have a rod through the block, cracked head, etc. These things are unlikely. The motor could have lots of issues but you need to know what you are up against.

I would talk to people that know cars and ask them to look at the car.
If you can't find someone, I would pay a mechanic that you trust to look
at the car. He/she can run a few test like compression, vacuum etc.

I must admit the loud knocking noise concerns me....but because you are limited
in skills, what you think is a knock could be a broken belt slapping or any number of things.

Have a mechanic tell you what is wrong and then we can help.

Print Dad

[Gary 69 mach I]

Im sure you can call around and make an appointment for a free look over.But try to stay with your car @ all times.Also i would not put Penzoil in again.Just my 2 cents. Good luck