My LS1 finally dumped me
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 700
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From: Utah
My LS1 finally dumped me Some might have seen my post in the "Sponsor Feedback" section, but here goes.
Stock LS1 block with 147K miles
Stock heads w/ comp valvetrain
9psi
544rwhp 529 tq
A/F 11:3-11:5
Timing 22 degrees (way to much)
# 7 cylinder. There was detonation on cylinders #5, #7
New motor is in the works:
6.0 Iron block
Forged LS3 internals
-Arias pistons
-Callies rods
-ARP rod bolts
L92 Heads
-ARP head studs
Comp valvetrain
Comp 226/232 568/.574 lift LSA 115 Cam
Stock LS1 block with 147K miles
Stock heads w/ comp valvetrain
9psi
544rwhp 529 tq
A/F 11:3-11:5
Timing 22 degrees (way to much)
# 7 cylinder. There was detonation on cylinders #5, #7
New motor is in the works:
6.0 Iron block
Forged LS3 internals
-Arias pistons
-Callies rods
-ARP rod bolts
L92 Heads
-ARP head studs
Comp valvetrain
Comp 226/232 568/.574 lift LSA 115 Cam
Been there, back in January actually and still finishing up my rebuild. I was running 15psi of boost, but only 13 degrees of timing.
How do you know you were getting detonation? Did you check data logs and see KR?
How do you know you were getting detonation? Did you check data logs and see KR?
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Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 700
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From: Utah
To answer everyone's question, I have 60lb injectors, lonnies performance fuel pump kit (255 walbro, re-wire kit) and that's what the tuner tuned it(timing) at on pump gas. I wasn't aware that the timing was that high 
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Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 700
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From: Utah
Well, I was...am still ****ing pissed. That motor was in great shape and ran fine when I dropped it off. To be honest, the car ran into problems at the shop the day after tuning. I went to pick up the car and was told it was eating coolant. Long story short, the shop took a wheel to the surface of the block to clean it...scracthed the block to hell. Then I was told the heads were re-machined and they were, but not great quality. Basically I dropped off a perfectly running car and got this in return.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 700
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From: Utah
Ouch that hurts. If it makes you feel any better, I did the same thing to mine, but not from too much timing, but too much boost.
At least I knew that I had built a ticking time bomb and no-one else was involved or to blame. The reason I ask about the knock was I too never saw knock and I left my sensors alone. Mine was a result of just too much power on a stock piston/ring combo. I measured my rings and they were in the 0.009-0.012 range which is way too tight for a motor making 600+ to the wheels.
Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. It's these kinds of stories that led me to doing as much on my own as possible. If i didn't know how to do something, I learned, and then had only myself to blame if something happened.
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From: Joliet,IL and Las Vegas 50/50
I guess what I'm getting at is not all tuners/shops are created equal and trust your gut. If you don't like the tune then find someone else that has a good reputation.
OP, did you vent the rear of the heads or no? Reason I bring it up is that there was a thread recently where it was being discussed and seemed to lean toward heat building up in the rear of the head causing #7 failure.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 700
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From: Utah
Ouch that hurts. If it makes you feel any better, I did the same thing to mine, but not from too much timing, but too much boost.
At least I knew that I had built a ticking time bomb and no-one else was involved or to blame. The reason I ask about the knock was I too never saw knock and I left my sensors alone. Mine was a result of just too much power on a stock piston/ring combo. I measured my rings and they were in the 0.009-0.012 range which is way too tight for a motor making 600+ to the wheels.
Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. It's these kinds of stories that led me to doing as much on my own as possible. If i didn't know how to do something, I learned, and then had only myself to blame if something happened.
At least I knew that I had built a ticking time bomb and no-one else was involved or to blame. The reason I ask about the knock was I too never saw knock and I left my sensors alone. Mine was a result of just too much power on a stock piston/ring combo. I measured my rings and they were in the 0.009-0.012 range which is way too tight for a motor making 600+ to the wheels.
Sorry to hear about your misfortunes. It's these kinds of stories that led me to doing as much on my own as possible. If i didn't know how to do something, I learned, and then had only myself to blame if something happened.
Ouch, sorry to see your in my boat. I do most of my work myself...except tuning. I understand it, but to be honest. This is my first modified V8...coming from the import world where I did all the work except motor and machining. I do have HP, but haven't really played around with tuning. I guess its a confidence issue being that I don't know what kind of a/f's and timing these motors like.
Fact is, GM made these motors very efficient from the factory, which translates into a tight ring package. Too much heat, which we all know that horsepower and heat are directly related, causes the rings to expand too much, closing that gap, and then binding in the cylinders. That's the beauty in running meoh/water injection because it helps cool the pistons, rings, and chambers. Knock also has a way of taking apart pistons. Heat leads to knock, as well as too much timing.
Again, sorry to see this happen. I'd be pissed if someone else programmed my car with that much timing and took no responsibility for the outcome.
