Help! What should I do.

[shEck3lls0]

Was driving the other day and the rear slipped out on me when I hit some wet/ice. (I hadn't put my winter tires on) I spun out and went into a curb. Bent my rim up pretty bad but no body damage, besides ripping the lip off. The oil pan broke and i had pieces all on the ground. Anyway, I decided to start it back up to get it out of the road and down the street to a safe spot... about a mile or so. This was idiotic of me. Towed it home from there, but now it wont even turn over. What should I do? Is my engine done? And I dont need comments telling me I'm an idiot for trying to limp it down the street... I know that. Just need some help here. Thanks.

[slammin.e28]

Can you turn it over by hand?

If not, it's probably toast.

[shEck3lls0]

Pretty sure it's done. What swap should I start looking into. Trying to keep it somewhat cheap. and something that wont take years.

[Massimo]

Just rebuild the M42! Why is everyone so scared to rebuild them?

While you are at it get an M44 crank to bring it up to a 1.9lt. Then there is no fucking around with a swap.

If you want to do a swap it really depends on how much you already know.

If you don't know anything then you will need about a week of down time reading other swaps and DIYs. Then you need to source a motor and trainny. If it is a M50 swap you need a E21 brake booster. Then you need to install it all and hope you wired it up right.

Personally the M42 rebuild seems like a more easier path. Unless you really want more power.

[slammin.e28]

If you wanna get rid of the M42 I'll come haul it away no charge. Gitcha an M30B35. Or just get a new M42, in which case I'll still come haul the old one away, free of charge of course.;)

[ubernasty]

Hold up, is this the guy i just met the other day and took photo's with? If so that didn't last long haha.

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=193891

[shEck3lls0]

Yeah bro. Right on loch raven dr...... right past the dam. I wish i had put my winter tires on. Those ones dont do well in any wet at all. Pretty pissed about it.

[ubernasty]

damnnn, no good man. i knew i should have asked to buy your wheels when i saw you... haha

[shEck3lls0]

Yeah... nothing bad though... I am just an idiot for starting it back up and trying to drive anywhere.... too bad you werent still following me. Could have prevented me from being an idiot. I will be kicking myself about this for awhile... Least now i have the excuse to do a swap.

[shEck3lls0]

Think I'm just going to do an m20. Not too hard(as I have been reading) and won't cost me crazy amounts of money and time. Anyone else have advice on this? As massimo has said... should I consider a rebuild? What do you guys think?

[3bvert]

not knowing where you were, sometimes you have to bite it and fire things up and get out of the way
but yes, if you pull the plugs and cant spin it by hand , your done
swaps are nice, but for me, these lite little cars do just fine with a m42
then again, IM an old fart and dont stop light race or drive it over 100..................
but the balance, power, this old car will kick butt on a lot of stuff
(P.s....not stock in suspension or a few other engine goodies)

[shEck3lls0]

Yeah. I had some plans for this. I'm going to make sure it is done, but otherwise im going to pull it and just put in an m20. Rebuild might be too time consuming and not on my level. If I can find another m42 I may go with that. Time is of the essence in my case... I am busy everyday and really only have saturday afternoons to spare. Otherwise I am either working or at school. Engine swap could take 2 or 3 weekends, so that isn't too bad. And the i'm not looking for insane power or speed. It's my daily and I just want a good fun car. The m42 was fun and was enough for me. Just thought i'd upgrade. I'm going to still look around for awhile and see what others have done and their thought.... also what I can fine engine wise and time and budget involved in all of this.

[AndrewBird]

An M50 will probably be your best bet if you want to do a swap. I really don't see the point in swapping in an M20 unless you found one for cheap or are swapping in a stroker ($$$). If money is tight, rebuilding the M42 is going to be your best bet. You might even get lucky and not need to bore the cylinders or get new pistons/rings. It's hard to say though until you pull it apart.

[shEck3lls0]

Well you tell me. I found a m20 long block that has 90k with new head and gaskets and oil pan for 500. Doesnt sound too bad. Going to look tomorrow. You tell me what you think. And how much more work is the m50 swap going to be? And the engine coming out this weekend, still not sure if it's complete toast.... just hope nothing is bent... then may go with a rebuild.

[bernzpeed]

Well you tell me. I found a m20 long block that has 90k with new head and gaskets and oil pan for 500. Doesnt sound too bad. Going to look tomorrow. You tell me what you think. And how much more work is the m50 swap going to be? And the engine coming out this weekend, still not sure if it's complete toast.... just hope nothing is bent... then may go with a rebuild.

Hey where did you find the engine? I've been looking for an M20 for almost a month now. Let me know if they still have stock.