Sleepy664

Hello, '98 Z28 here.

I found tiny metal flakes (more like a dust) on the dipstick, sometimes a small, almost invisible hair-like copper colored piece would appear. Looks like a tiny amout, but I don't have a place to look in the oil pan. Also there is a slight oil pressure drop under throttle.

No weird sounds, everything else appears perfectly normal.

So I guess it's almost time for an engine rebuild. As I want this to be my daily driver (and I'm not on unlimited funds), I'm looking for a stock build. What ballpark figure should I expect including R&R?

Thanks.

(I'm not in the US, but I guess/hope prices will be quite similar over here...)

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

Miles?

Metal in oil is never good

Sleepy664

64000 miles.

It's not much, but I'm not the first owner, so anything could happen in history...

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

It's a mystery until you tear down and look at your bearings.. All of them.

wildcamaro

iTrader: (15)

Oil pressure dropping under acceleration is not good at all...2 choices... Run it til it spins a bearing then rebuild, or pull it now and rebuild it...64000 is pretty low for that year so it must of been not taken care of properly in its past life

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

Yep, I would run it till it lets loose..

03Sssnake

iTrader: (20)

copper in the oil, definitely bearings...You could run a high volume/high pressure melling oil pump and go a little heavier weight oil to get you by a little longer...Though I would probably start saving for a rebuild/and or new motor.....

Sleepy664

Thing is I'm already saving for a new transmission. (Is it even possible it's related? Dying trans – ballooning converter – thrust bearing shot?).

OK, worst case is all bearings are dead.


In the US, can a rebuild be made under let's say 3000 bucks? Using stock or slightly better parts, R&R included? I found a local speedshop and to be honest I'm quite worried what they would tell me and I want to be prepared...

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

Boom here

http://www.thompsonmotorsports.net/p...&products_id=9

They have other options as well, but this is a stock short block replacement..

SShep71

iTrader: (5)

DONT RUN IT TILL IT DIES! Everyone says that then bitches when they find themselves replacing rods, crank, BLOCK, etc. If its a bearing then replace the bearing. If its a component then replace the component.

Burken01

iTrader: (88)

The labor and parts will be over 1k.. A short block for $1,700 is a bargain..

Plus it has a warranty! He should sell his short block for a few hundred and move on, or else run it and change the oil every 1,500 miles and he can prolong that engines life..

itsslow98

iTrader: (18)

I couldnt agree more. If you bite the bullet now and be patient you might make out really cheap in the end. If you window the block and tear up the crank your just throwing money in the trash.

Sleepy664

I won't run it till it dies – only first two gears are working, it would be no fun

OK, once I got a new transmission, I'll drive it to a "local" (100 miles away) speedshop for a rebuild Next week I'll call them to get a ballpark figure.

JakeFusion

iTrader: (7)

Local speed shops won't be any cheaper than Thompson. You're looking at 1k or so just on labor.