Ls1 Rebuild Failure
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Ls1 Rebuild Failure So i just rebuilt my ls1 because i bought it for $2000 with a bent rod. I replaced all the bearings, piston rings, 1 new piston/rod and all new gm high performance gaskets. I used engine assmebly lube on the bearings not lithium grease. I put royal purple 5w-30 in stupidly. So i drained it and put 10w-30 break in oil and its smoking really bad still. It is white smoke and smells like burning oil. It burned 2 quarts of oil in 5 miles on oil and there is oil coming out of the exhaust. On a cold start it doesnt smoke quit that bad, but as soon as i rev it to 1500 rpm it fills the entire neighborhood up with smoke. It even pours through the interior air vents and fills the car up. I am completly stumped... If anyone could give me any ideas as to what to do from here i would really appreciate it..
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From: Turnin' Wrenches Infractions: 005
Well oil is entering the chamber through the rings or valve seals most likely. My vote is rings bc of the large amount of oil consumption. What exactly did you do with the rings and bores during the rebuild?
Last edited by 01ssreda4; Nov 30, 2010 at 08:33 AM.
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Don't take this the wrong way, but have you ever done a motor rebuild before? Things like honing the cylinders are pretty standard things to do when rebuilding an engine. Also making sure the rings are spaced right is another "no brainer".
I'm just curious why you would go through all the work if you didn't really know how to rebuild a motor? Or at least get a manual or dvd on how to do it. They are cheap enough and would have saved a ton of extra work.
Having said that, I agree that it is probably because you didn't hone the cylinders. Although if you are really going through that much oil I'm not even sure honing will help that much. Did you look at the cylinder walls? I bet they are gouged pretty bad for you to be burning all that oil. 2 quarts of oil in 5 miles is crazy.
I'm just curious why you would go through all the work if you didn't really know how to rebuild a motor? Or at least get a manual or dvd on how to do it. They are cheap enough and would have saved a ton of extra work.
Having said that, I agree that it is probably because you didn't hone the cylinders. Although if you are really going through that much oil I'm not even sure honing will help that much. Did you look at the cylinder walls? I bet they are gouged pretty bad for you to be burning all that oil. 2 quarts of oil in 5 miles is crazy.
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Probally bore and rings! I bet you have other issues like bad valve seals too! Bore size is very important in a rebuild, if its not truely round the rings will not seal, you will also have issues if the cylinders are to large, smooth like glass, or have scrathes in them other the honing marks. Your bound to have sevral issue's from what you have described. Not trying to bag on you but if your not sure always seek proffesional advise. I am far from a pro but I have learned alot doing things the hard way from bad advice and waisting lots of dollars...
For that kinda money you could have got a new long block. 2k plus the other new parts... It still amazes me what people will pay for a used LS1. They haven't used them in a production car in like 6 years...
For that kinda money you could have got a new long block. 2k plus the other new parts... It still amazes me what people will pay for a used LS1. They haven't used them in a production car in like 6 years...
Last edited by 1FastBrick; Nov 29, 2010 at 11:01 AM.
Probally bore and rings! I bet you have other issues like bad valve seals too! Bore size is very important in a rebuild, if its not truely round the rings will not seal, you will also have issues if the cylinders are to large, smooth like glass, or have scrathes in them other the honing marks. Your bound to have sevral issue's from what you have described. Not trying to bag on you but if your not sure always seek proffesional advise. I am far from a pro but I have learned alot doing things the hard way from bad advice and waisting lots of dollars...
For that kinda money you could have got a new long block. 2k plus the other new parts... It still amazes me what people will pay for a used LS1. They haven't used them in a production car in like 6 years...
For that kinda money you could have got a new long block. 2k plus the other new parts... It still amazes me what people will pay for a used LS1. They haven't used them in a production car in like 6 years...
I assumed he bought the car with a bad motor for $2K. 
Well, not staggering the rings is major, considering that you will have to tear down the motor to fix that problem. As you've learned, a basic rebuild includes not only replacing things that are worn, but using certain techniques such as honing, staggering the rings, machining the deck/heads, etc. Personally, if I were to try and rebuild a motor I would farm out the machine work but assemble it myself...
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I paid 2 grand for the entire car. And ive helped rebuild a few engines but havent taken the task on myself before. Its a learning experience and i will pay better attention next time. Im not pulling the motor just going in from the oil pan and staggering the rings and honing it out with the heads off. And theres a lot of no brainers, but if its your first time those "no brainers" may just not hit you. But it will be alright. It was a good learning experience.
So i just rebuilt my ls1 because i bought it for $2000 with a bent rod.
No mention of having heads rebuilt i.e. Seals, check guides for ware, VJ and so on...
If it had a bent rod and damaged piston, I can only imagine the carnage.
The whole thing would need to be gone through esspecially if peices of the piston or if it chewed up the bearings and sent debrey through out the engine. these blocks have also been known to crack when severe damage or over heating occurs.
Last edited by 1FastBrick; Nov 29, 2010 at 06:45 PM.
I paid 2 grand for the entire car. And ive helped rebuild a few engines but havent taken the task on myself before. Its a learning experience and i will pay better attention next time. Im not pulling the motor just going in from the oil pan and staggering the rings and honing it out with the heads off. And theres a lot of no brainers, but if its your first time those "no brainers" may just not hit you. But it will be alright. It was a good learning experience.
You have come this far why not pull the rotating assembly out and hone it properly. Then you can clean the debry out from honing so you dont ruin the entire motor. Plus you will not get the entire cylinder which means you will still get blow by.
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Are you sure you put the right size piston back in it? Like i posted above staggering the rings will do nothing as they rotate as the engine runs anyway. From your discrption of how bad it smokes are you sure there just isn't oil in everything burning off? I assume you replaced the rings with new ones, are you sure you got the proper size? With the engine running pull the oil cap off and tell me what happens.
Last edited by O2Form; Nov 29, 2010 at 08:29 PM.
If you got an LS1 car for $2K, and you're shortcutting the hell out of fixing your motor, you'll end up spending a lot more buying another LS1, and then your $2K deal just went out the window. Pull the motor and fix it right, that's just my opinion.
