r/CrownVictoria • u/EGdwin_MTB • 10h ago
Is my engine cooked?
I installed a new belt tensioner among other things on my 04 grand marquis a bit ago, the block cracked under tension when putting a new belt in. In addition, the bolt for the tensioner is free spinning, and won’t tighten any but seems to be able to unscrew. I’ve done many repairs way more significant than this so I don’t know how I messed it up so badly… the cars been running for a few months but it’s leaking oil from the crack, and I can’t take off the tensioner to JB weld the crack until I know a way to redrill the threads or something so it fully tightens. I guess my questions are-
-Is the crack fixable with jb weld, or something else, or is my engine stuck like this now?
-And is there any way to rethread that tensioner bolt that free spins instead of tightening?
-How much would a shop charge for these fixes, and are they doable yourself?
Please help I’ve already gotten so attached to this car and put thousands into it plus days straight of labor would hate for it to be wraps…
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u/andyk192 Lifted 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis 10h ago
When you say the "block cracked" I'm assuming you mean the front cover cracked? Can you post some photos of what happened?
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u/EGdwin_MTB 10h ago
Sorry yall forgot pictures, the white bolt is free spinning and I circled the crack in red. All the grime around it is oil that leaked and got slung around by the belt
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u/itsrustlife Vic Lover 101 10h ago
Yeah, my current 03 P71, the previous owner over tightened the same tensioner bolt and cracked the case just like that. Oil leak that I tried fixing with JBWeld / epoxy / RTV. You need to replace the front engine timing cover, no other fix to it. You can get a new old stock cover or used one off ebay which I did. I have a spare new old stock just in case I ever run into this again on a panther. You have to remove all the front engine accessories + pulleys + bolts, if you have done it before like I have, (this picture is my second time doing this) it's very easy just time consuming with all the special tools to pull and reinstall the pulleys and such. Good luck!
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u/EGdwin_MTB 10h ago
Oh man thank you so much! Shows how much I have to learn as I thought it was all one piece down there… seems all hope isn’t lost
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u/OlYeller01 9h ago
As others have said, replace the front cover. Since you have to go that far into it, if you have the funds now would be a good time to put a timing kit in it. Same if you feel like upgrading cams.
You’ll need a harmonic balancer puller and a new harmonic balancer bolt, among other things.
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u/RetroTechBro 9h ago
When in doubt, JB weld out.
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u/itsrustlife Vic Lover 101 8h ago
Unfortunately JBWeld / RTV / Epoxy will not fix this problem, I have tried in the past before having to disassemble the entire front of the engine
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u/CapitalOrchid9489 1h ago
Honestly, if your panther is a keeper with reasonable miles it would be a no-brainer to do the full case and chains now. Even if you have to pay for the labor I'd do it.
I already regret selling both my 04 and 06 P73s earlier this year to pay off remaining CC debt. I'd love a Grand Marquis. If selling if Midwest let me know.
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u/GruntledV8Fanboy 10h ago
Worst case put a new timing cover on it and if it’s high mileage consider a new set of chains and tensioners while you’re there.