engine missing after new intake gasket install

[MickA]

Hi All, I need some advise on what to do next.
I recently replaced the intake manifold gasket, to correct an oil leak at the back of the engine. I put everything back together and it fired up and idled as normal. I took it for a short drive and it suddenly lost power and it sounded like it miss fired, and continued to run that way.

I turned it off then tried to start it again and it made a horrible grinding noise and idled up and down almost stalling. I removed the plugs and found one to have the tip bent down to the electrode. I replaced all the plugs and still it doesn't want to start properly. When I give it some throttle it will start but only just. I took it for another drive and there is a squeak which sounds like a slipping belt coming from the engine itself.

My mechanic seems to think I have dropped something in the engine but i'm 99% that's not the case.

Any suggestions?

TIA

 

[SquareRoot]

Ya, accept the 1% possibility you dropped something down the engine.

 

[Backfoot100]

Ya, accept the 1% possibility you dropped something down the engine.

The only way a plug gets smashed like that is by something in the cylinder that aint supposed to be there.

 

[DirtyDYT]

Buy a cheap borescope/endoscope on Amazon and see what you can find. Plugs don’t do that on their own.

The only other explanation from the above I can think of is that someone installed incorrect plugs that protrude farther into the combustion chamber and kissed something they shouldn’t have. That’s really bad news too.

 

[Snoots]

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[Backfoot100]

Buy a cheap borescope/endoscope on Amazon and see what you can find. Plugs don’t do that on their own.

The only other explanation from the above I can think of is that someone installed incorrect plugs that protrude farther into the combustion chamber and kissed something they shouldn’t have. That’s really bad news too.

Agree with getting a cheap borescope. I hear that they're getting to be very reasonable. Probably should invest in one myself.
As to the longer than normal plug possibility....could be a reasonable assumption but my thinking is that more than one cylinder would be affected if that truly happened.
Maybe pull the valve cover off really quick and see if theres anything obvious with the valves for that cylinder. Maybe a spring keeper let go and dropped a valve?

 

[Crispy]

It sounds like something dropped in that cylinder. I'm going to second getting a borescope from Amazon or someplace where maybe you can return it if you dont have a need to keep it. Also pull the valve cover as mentioned and examine the valvetrain over the cylinder with the bent plug.

Prepare yourself for a teardown.

 

[SquareRoot]

Check your Craftsman socket set and see if your missing a 19mm socket. Dead giveaway.

 

[QBuff02]

Check your Craftsman socket set and see if your missing a 19mm socket. Dead giveaway.

I thought it was always the damn 10mm socket that sneaks off into hiding?! Lol

 

[SquareRoot]

I had the bright idea to magnetize my sockets and screwdrivers to make getting things started in tight places a little easier. Now I'm missing half my **** because they're stuck to the frame, radiator support and other places I set them.

 

[bucket]

I thought it was always the damn 10mm socket that sneaks off into hiding?! Lol

Lol, I once found a 10mm deep well socket inside of a header primary tube. Having known the guy that put the engine in the car, it wasn't really a big surprise

 

[QBuff02]

Lol, I once found a 10mm deep well socket inside of a header primary tube. Having known the guy that put the engine in the car, it wasn't really a big surprise

 

[QBuff02]

I had the bright idea to magnetize my sockets and screwdrivers to make getting things started in tight places a little easier. Now I'm missing half my **** because they're stuck to the frame, radiator support and other places I set them.

That's just guaranteeing that you're well prepared in the event of a breakdown..

 

[Crispy]

I found a 10 mm ratcheting wrench in the bumper of a car I was working on once. I said a prayer and lit a candle thanking the wrench gods for the bounty laid upon me.

 

[QBuff02]

I found a 10 mm ratcheting wrench in the bumper of a car I was working on once. I said a prayer and lit a candle thanking the wrench gods for the bounty laid upon me.

Unicorn! haha