Can a modern car engine fit inside an old car? If it does, can it work?
Fitting the engine in won’t be a problem. As you noted, older cars are larger with plenty of space in the engine bay. The problem you’ll have is making the newer engine work in the older car. Newer cars have multiple sensors, computers, and subsystems for traction and stability controls, transmission controls, anti-lock braking, and in some Cadillacs, even electronic controls for the shock absorbers.The bummer part is that if you remove some or all of these subsystems, the engine management system may not function properly to run the engine normally.A better option for your purpose would be to buy what is called a “crate motor”, which is a motor specifically designed to be used in multiple types of vehicles. GM makes crate motors, and sells them through Chevrolet dealerships. Here’s one that might interest you:LSA Crate Engine - Race EngineThe LSA V8 is the same motor used in the Cadillac CTS-V, and if you add the “connect and cruise” option, it would be relatively easy to drop this motor into an older car.
I have a 2005 Lincoln Town Car. It has no forward gears but has reverse ones. Someone told me it was a sensor but most people say the transmission is shot. It is 4.6 litre V8 with 132,000 miles. Is the transmission shot or could it be a sensor?
Unfortunately, it can not be a sensor. You can unplug every sensor on the transmission including the electronic pressure solenoid and it will still engage at least.Two possibilities that come to mind: The forward clutch is burnt/ or not engaging. (my bet)The forward one-way clutch has failed.A couple of things that I want you to try: Check fluid level and smell. If you detect a strong smell of burning, It needs rebuilding.The next thing that I want you to try is to pull the shifter down into "1" or "L". If it then moves forward, your one-way clutch has failed. Either way, I believe that it needs internal work. Sorry.
What is overdrive and how should I choose between putting my car in drive or overdrive?
All the answers here are good for describing what overdrive does, but don't really give examples as to when you should use or not use overdrive.Most have said overdrive is good for highway use to reduce the RPM's of the engine and therefore conserving fuel. This is true as that is what it was designed to do.Additionally, overdrive would be safer in slippery situations where ice or wet roads may be a factor as the drive wheels would be much less likely to see a sudden acceleration from loss of grip.However, when do you not want to use overdrive?A good rule of thumb for this situation is to compare it to situations where you would find it beneficial to down shift in a manual transmission.These may include:When you are preparing to switch from a slower moving lane of traffic to a faster lane. Passing. Extended downhill grades, to prevent having to ride the brakes.Extended uphill grades to maintain power Hills when you are having trouble maintaining speed.Curvy roads where engine braking would be beneficial.TowingHopefully this helps.
Liberalism? Conservative? What do these really mean?
Wow...good job! Pretty much sums it up and yeah...prepare to be attacked with namecalling. I'm sure they are on their way!
How long can I drive my car with bad coil packs?
It is not a question of how long you can do it. It is more a question if you should.The answer is you should not. You can drive the car until it breaks down completely (and it will). While doing so you will, as pointed out by other answers, run the risk of damaging the converter but you also run the risk of fire.If the coil is faulty very bad things can happen. Car fires are usually related to causes associated with fuel, and/or electrical. Once a fuel part starts leaking while a car is running, a fuel drip can be the formula for fire if you get sparks from a spark plug wire or an ignition coil that is faulty. Something like this could be the end result. (the image is from the web, I am just using it to illustrate a possible scenario, I do not know what happened with the beamer) But I have seen a Lancia catch fire from a faulty ignition coil.So, why risk it? Yes, they are not cheap, but you really should get a new one. By trying to "save" a few bucks you may end up having to spend a lot more.
What happens if I put 20-50w oil in an engine that needs 5-30w?
It would really depend on exactly what temperature you operated the engine at.A lesson on oil viscosity. Years ago you could only buy oil at a set viscosity. Viscosity refers to how thick or thin the oil is. Thinner oil flows better but thicker oil lubricates better.So in old engines the manual might specify 30SAE oil which was a compromise between oil thin enough to run in the engine when it was cold, yet thick enough to provide lubrication when the engine was running hot.Chemists invented additives to oil that change the oils viscosity with changes in engine temperature. An Oil might have a weight of 5 SAE when cold, but as the engine warms up it ‘thickens’ up to a weight of 30 SAE. No longer having to compromise, the oil now changes to suit whatever temperature the engine is running at.New engines have an ideal range of oil weights they operate under from cold to hot. Therefore the manual will specific an oil, say 5W-30, that is the perfect range the engine designers think the engine will operate best under.Putting 20W-50 in an engine designed for 5W-30 won’t kill it right off. What will happen is that the thicker oil will be difficult to pump when the engine is cold and the motor will experience excessive wear on startup. The colder the outside temp the more wear & tear the motor will experience. At the high end of the engine operation the oil ‘could’ thicken up to the point where it can’t get in between the high tolerance parts to properly coat them. After a time this could lead to excessive wear and tear due to improper lubrication.Many hot and fast motors now use the 5W-30 range of oils because the engines are super efficient and have very low and strict tolerances that require an oil to be thin enough to get in-between them.In short, your engine won’t ‘grenade’ on you with the wrong oil, but that scenario you outlined will lead to excessive engine wear, especially operating in a really cold climate.
Why is my transmission shuddering in my 97 Crown Vic Interceptor?
I have a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. Just the other day I was driving at 30 mph, and between 30 and 40 mph the transmission was shuddering. Driving at higher speeds than 40 mph, I have no problems at all. About 6 months ago, I had brought my car to an auto shop to have the transmission drained, flushed, and filter replaced. When I got my car home, the trans pan bolts and gasket didnt look like they were touched. Today I drained the fluid and replaced the filter, only to find that the transmission fluid was as red as ever, and everything was fine on that end. I read on some police interceptor message boards, that often the spark plugs could cause a shuddering. Is this true? I'd like to hear some experience opinions on what might be causing this problem.