[Healeys] Sprite Lovers in Las Vegas

[Bob Spidell]

Huh? Twasn't me called them average mechanics (note the quotes in my message). 

I believe the original post was referring to the mechanics that diagnosed the problem; i.e. Rusty Nuts (great name), the only mechanics of any sort--average or otherwise--that were on the show. Presumably, they heard the noises in the engine and dropped the pan and main bearing caps (probably did compression checks and borescoping first). If I missed the intent of that message I apologize. 

Like I said, I must have watched a different version of the show. Rick bought a box Sprite without even seeing it run--he trusted the seller who 'drove it down here'--surprising behavior for Rick (usually a real skeptic). He had to charge the battery to even get it to start, drove it to the shop where it was diagnosed by some guys who looked--based on what I could see in the show--to be (very) professional mechanics. 

Nobody--average mechanic or pro--can definitively diagnose the cause of a noise without doing the proper diagnostics (but anyone can speculate). To diagnose main bearing and crank issues you have to drop the pan (AFAIK--an oil analysis might hint at bearing problems). 

Rick was quite complimentary about Austin-Healeys and the 'fan clubs.' 


bs 


-------------------------------- 
Bob Spidell - San Jose, CA 



Sorry Bob, 

If I (i.e. an average mechanic) was interested in this car, how would 
I be able to tell it had the problems described while looking at it in 
someones driveway? Or could I? 

Phil 

Sent from my iPhone 

On Apr 6, 2010, at 6:59 AM, Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote: 

> Should have said 'pointed to A crankshaft hanging on the wall' ... 
> I'm not sure it was their crank (looked too shiny). 
> 
> Anyway, you can diagnose a spun bearing and shot crank by dropping 
> the pan and pulling the bearing caps, no? 
> 
> 
> bs 
> 
> 
> Bob Spidell wrote: 
>> Anybody see the same show I did? 
>> 
>> The 'average garage mechanic' was a restoration specialist ('Rusty 
>> Nuts Rods and Customs'). They said a main bearing was spun, 
>> pointed to the crankshaft hanging on the wall and said the journals 
>> in the crank were shot (probably the major expense to rebuild the 
>> engine). 
>> 
>> They left it at 'I don't know what to do with this car.' I bet 
>> they follow up on it in a later episode (they made a big deal out 
>> of the father/son conflict). 
>> 
>> bs