Next week the ATI D-1SC goes on, going to be setup to run 8lbs of boost...

I'm changing cams, putting in a 214/218 .540/.550 114lsa cam..

I'm running MTI Stage II heads (2.055/1.60) valves, 10.3:1 compression (I believe) thats whats stock for MTI suppously...

The motor has 15,100 miles on it now, I have always changed the oil, usually every 2000-2500 miles....

Will it hold up running around on 8lbs of boost for a while, I need to get enough $$ gathered up before I can start building the bottom end...

 

If you watch the tune close, I'd say you can expect 9-12 months, possibly longer if you are lucky. I'd keep the rpm's down and shift no higher than 6500. Fuel, Timing and Detonation are key.

 

Yea, I plan to shift around 6300-6400, Hope it holds together long enough to rebuild the bottom end, what would be the first thing that would go out...rod bolts/rods?

Also my motor is not beat on often, I don't go to the track a lot, I really don't beat on it that much on the street either, I stretch its legs more now though...

My car has probably seen about 20 passes down the track... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

TTT

 

where do you base your 9-12 months time frame from????

I'm only currently running 6psi but have been for two years without issue.

Why would you say a properly tuned engine will only last a year?????

Just curious, no flame.

 

i say 1 week before things go boom <img border="0" alt="[bomb]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bomb.gif" />

 

9-12 Months the way I drive. I'm WOT from stoplight to stoplight. LOL! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_images/icons/tongue.gif" />

It all depends how you drive. If you keep it below 3000 rpm and shift at 2500, might last a little longer. <img border="0" alt="[angel]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_angel.gif" />

How hard do you drive? How do you define that? It's kinda impossible. I think if you 'plan' for your engine to live 1 year only w/stock bottom-end, you'll be prepared for what could happen.

I plan to keep a close eye on my tune. I'd be very happy if I make it 1.5-2 years before my next rebuild. Trying to keep my expectations low.

 

I drive my car easy most of the time, just usually cruise, then if I get a wide open road I will usually stomp on it... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Or if a certain car has to pull up next to me... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

I think that the stock bottom end will hold up for quite a while:

1) If you have a good tune.
2) You monitor the car and are careful of knock retard.

I have been beating on my car for the last year 4.5-10psi and I drive aggressively and I have had no problems at all.

I have the ScanMaster on the car all of the time and when I see knock I take my foot out of it and try to analyze why it occurred and fix the problem ASAP.

Another good example of tuning being directly related to the stock short living at high boost/high horsepower is Harlan's car...he had something like 25,000 miles on his shortblock...and I am sure that they were HARD miles! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

I would agree, i don't believe that Harlan put easy miles on that car, i mean it was a daily driver, and he ahd fun with the car, i've been out a few times with those guys, and i must say, the old combo was impressive, with the exhaust uncorked, it was like driving next to a dam Jet, those thing whistled sooo much, i would have to say that with a good tune, and a smart driver, low boost, you should get a couple of years out of the car, depending on the amount of driving time, hell, up here in Michigan you could probably et a good 3/4 summers in, as long as you knew when to get out of it before it knocked itself apart. Be smart, and drive smart, and you'll enjoy that stock shortblock for awhile, but my advice, is shop now for parts, if you find a deal on stuff, grab it up, and store it, till you have accumulted a spare motor's worth of parts.

 

Its hard to predict how long the motor will last like that, its like playing hot potato if you know what I mean. <img border="0" alt="[bomb]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bomb.gif" /> But if I put a supercharger on my car I would toss on a set of ported truck heads (6.0) to drop the compression a bit. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> I am sure you can get a decent buck for your heads on this site and then buy a nice set of ported truck heads from a sponser. <img border="0" alt="[judgement]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_judge.gif" /> IMHO I think I would ditch the ATI (which I have nothing but high <img border="0" alt="[worship]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_hail.gif" /> for) and go with a turbo kit from speed inc. You will pay about the same amount for the kit and at least you can controll the boost and run only a few psi on the street so you are easier on the motor. Plus durin normal drivin as long as you don't get on it the turbo shouldn't even kit in (even less stress on the stock motor). But as soon as you need it, turn that dial to max boost and have fun with your fully upgradable turbo kit. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

 

Life span of any motor, be it stock or otherwise, will ultimately come down to the tune. Barring other mechanical problems that is.

FWIW, i turbo'd the car at 14k miles. And i pulled the stock longblock at 40k miles to go bigger and better. Not because i had any issues, but i wasn't comfortable pushing the stock pistons as far as i wanted to go the next summer. I ran it hard, all the time. Hell, most of the summer before i yanked it I ran a mix of 110 and 94 all the time and ran 10+ psi. Set on kill at all times, you never know when you'll run into something interesting <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

When i tore the motor down, it all looked great. So much infact that i reused the crank and block for the buildup. The pistons, and particularly the ringlands were perfect. Yes, the rings were not typical 40k mile wear, but I expected that much. No pits, no obvious spots of metal purification (ie melting piston <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> ), etc. The bearings looked new.

The built motor lasted a whole 1k miles. Spun 3 mains, destroyed the block, crank, and 3 billet mains. Still don't have a solid reason for the failure, but i have a thought in my mind that the line hone on the billet mains was suspect. That motor went 130+ and mid 10's on 93 pump gas.

Fast forward 3 weeks, the newer motor is in the car. Same rods and pistons as the first, new block, crank, and stock PM mains. Studded on both ends. The motor makes 700+ RWHP on 110 and 15 psi, and goes 140+ and bottom 10's. Same setup as before, minus the billet mains, and add main studs.

just food for thought <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

An agressive tune will get you good ET's but for how long? Is 1 MPH worth it??

If you are conservative on the tune, it will last awhile. Don't push for that extra degree of timing when you don't really need it. The LS1 is a fast burn chamber and doens't need alot of timing to make power.

With a 10+ CR motor, don't expect more than mid-teens on advance with 7 to 9 psi. You'll make good power like that, just don't push it

<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

 

Thanks for the imput Harlan, Yes I am planning on running around 8 psi I pump gas, I probably won't see it though, I will see when it gets on the dyno.... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

Harlan makes good sense.
I'm about to run the Vortech V9 G-trim kit with my heads & cam using the 3.125" pulley supplied with the kit, and the conservative Superchips tuning. When the motor starts to head south, or when I'm ready (whichever comes first), I'll drop in forged internals and change to the 2.85" pulley, 42lb fuel injectors and custom tuning. I also started mixing a can of NOS Octane boost racing formula with every tank.

I won't be as fast as Harlan, but then again, he's all the way out in Michigan. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

Well I have 13k on my car with turbo and not one problem with the engine.

 

oh my timing is at 14-15 degrees to show harlans point.

 

Good to hear Harlan.
What RPM where you shifting the stock motor at?

I've got LS1Edit and an LS1 Scanmaster ready to go. Just wanting to be prepard cuz I break everything. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

Trust me dude, your bottom end will hold up for more than a year. All you need to do is baby her more. Change the oil when needed, plugs, wires will help, and A/F ratio. If you keep those things in mind you'll be supprised how long it will last.

 

Yea, thats what I'm hoping for, I will take good care of it.. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

I have the V9 vortech kit with mms heads and cam. I have put 40k miles on the car since i put on the supercharger without any problems. I currently have 525rwhp at 6.5 lbs of boost. If you take care of your car it will last.