katrina damage

i have a 1988 chevy s10 and it was flooded in the hurricane is there any way i can salvage the engine? or any of the electronics. before i evacuated i disconnected the battery for what i dont know but ya any suggestions would be greatly appriciated.

its a toatl, sorry, if it was up over the moter bay its done for, you can rebuild it, but it will need an overhaul, and what a lot of sleezy sotherners do is sell and re-register the car in Iowa because for some fu*ked up reasoning, the car will go from ornge back to a green (clean) title, and then once again re-sell to someone living north the mason dixie line and the unsuspected buyer is in for nothing but trouble

The electronics would make it a nightmare to even attempt if has been completely flooded. You would have to test every wire, every circuit, and replace most sensors, computer, the works. Goof it up and ruin a new computer. Saw this done on a neat show that used to be on some time back(Shade Tree Mechanic) and they got the car running, but it was a real pain. I would not attempt it. Not to mention fuel lines, tank, interior, etc. If was not totally flooded, well, maybe. But only if it was not submerged like most vehicles I saw on TV and only for a short while. Things like your starter and alternator might be brought back using CRC products Electra Clean and 2-26, as well as clean water. I would forget it and get something else. The used car and especially truck market has deteriorated a lot. You can pick up some good deals on used trucks / SUVs with gas being so darned high.

Was it completely covered or how much was?

i was submerged up to the top of the wheel well

Hard to say what to do. If the computer was not flooded you could try washing the engine area with clean water, pulling and cleaning sensors, pull the starter and disasemble enough to spray some clean water, CRC Electra Clean, and CRC 2-26.(CRC has directions availalble for flooded electric motors, would be best to read up first) Replace the plug wires and spray the 2-26 on any other wires to dislodge water on them. Dump the oil, dump the gas, be sure no water in fuel lines. Dry as much as possible and see if it starts at all. Hopefully your alternator was out of the way. If not you would have to do it the same way. I have never had to do this myself and unsure if I would try it, unless the computer and most of the motor was spared. Good luck. Perhaps there will be better opinion given by others.

i have a 1988 chevy s10 and it was flooded in the hurricane is there any way i can salvage the engine? or any of the electronics. before i evacuated i disconnected the battery for what i dont know but ya any suggestions would be greatly appriciated.

your best bet is to think smart and go all out if possible change all oils and filters drain gas tank and flush it out and lines and change the fuel filter as for the wires and sensors one word (Either) starting fluid and air compessor with a blow gun unplug one thiung at a time and spray the either in or on it and blow it of then plug it back in a sfor the starter altenator and coils and stuff do the same way the either will dry all the water away. As for the feul system carb or throtle body or even efi usr carb cleaner on it do your front end and rear ends and transmission and tranfer case and grease up your entire vehicle after you get it up and running do not over look anything as for the computers and moduels if you disconected the - batery terminal and you have not put voltage on to the system then that stuff is still ok as long as it has had time to dry out before you put the power back on it duh! good luck and be paitent after you get it up and running again there will be suprises sneak up on you just solve them as they come up p.s. if you are not familar with the system that well get you a hyanes repair manuel for reference to all the sensors and stuff the check engine light will be on scan the system and work tham out as well lots of time but be worth it in the end
Kentucky Mechanic.

just getting going a '93 2.8L that was in Rita.
2WD 5spd, and beaten up and water half way up on 15"s.

flushed ALL fluids, and changed fuel filter on frame, and with a little coaxing, she's up and runnin', pullin' debri, and moving supplies.

as long as water did not get into upper engine, you should be ok,
BUT
change ALL fluids; oil, trans, diffs;
because water in ANY component=BAD.
and like the others pointed out, disconnect any elec connections that were submerged, and spray clean with wire dryer, brake cleaner, even carb spray, that will assist in drying out moisture.
might even disconnect the tailpipe prior to the cat, and allow to drain (if anything's there) and leave it disconnected while firing;
if water is trapped in any pipe, would rather it spray out, than be sucked back into engine by valves and backpressure.
good luck with yours;

hope this helps,
chris
nrt racing

We just finished drying out a fleet of delivery vans in New Orleans. If the water never got above the intake then all you should need to do is drain and refill all the fluids. You will also need to dry out any electrical connections that might have been under water as well. I too highly recommend that you disconnect the convertor as well.