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Would you pay $227 for this 5.3L Engine

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Old Feb 21, 2017 | 07:32 PM
  #21  
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Alright so, diagnostic report is in,

So here it is sideways, you can see the dipstick crushed.
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Open with the windage tray and pickup removed.
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I noticed that the pistons seemed to have this piece missing, the ones i could see. I think its a normal thing, but I wanted to double check with you guys,
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So anyways, onto the results...
Nothing was blocking the rotating assembly like I thought maybe was... instead I just worked the motor back and forth and eventually it freed up enough to use a starter. So I put the pan back on, put oil in it, put a starter on it, a new filter, and proceed to compression test.
Cyl 1, 3 have 100psi
Cyl 5 have 30psi
Cyl 7 has a solid 160psi
Cyl 2 also had 30psi~

I stopped at that point because it wasn't going to matter what came next. If I have to guess, its either a bunch of broken pistons (unlikely) Or a bunch of valves that don't seat. I pulled a valvecover to be sure the rockers were going, valve opening at least or appear to be. I want to avoid pulling a head off an engine at this point, so I am swapping the motor for a next one and will go from there. Should be here tomorrow... third time is the charm!

And... it rained all day. Motor arrived but I cant open it or do anything until the rain stops. maybe tomorrow it will stop? In other news, 4l80e arrived as well. Trans shop is opening it and putting in the transgo HD2 shift kit for me if it looks good inside.
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Last edited by kingtal0n; Feb 22, 2017 at 04:34 PM.
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Old Feb 23, 2017 | 09:25 PM
  #22  
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Well third engine is in, results are:

Cyl1- has a bad piston/ring: it spat oil constantly and gave the typical climbing compression, but not quite good enough
Cyl2- 165psi
Cyl3- 135psi
Cyl4- 40psi
Cyl5- 55psi
Cyl6- 165psi
Cyl7- 165psi
Cyl8- 40psi

So, another bad engine. Are they all going to be this way? Am I expecting too much?
And some other news, I got my full refund for the rusty engine and the seller never picked it up. I think he abandoned it!
So, I think that is my first spare parts engine, and it was free...
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Old Feb 23, 2017 | 09:37 PM
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1 outta 3 ain't bad
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Old Feb 23, 2017 | 09:39 PM
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I am going to try a head gasket job on an engine, most likely next week. I wanted to make sure that the specs are still:

22ft*lbs on the 10x head bolts,
then 90* on all 10x of them,
then 90* on the first 8,
followed by 50* on the last 2

Then install the other bolts nearby to 20~ft*lbs

I bought the 5.7 MLS GM gaskets, and new head bolts

Last edited by kingtal0n; Feb 23, 2017 at 11:48 PM.
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Old Feb 23, 2017 | 11:59 PM
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Engine #2 had gen 3 rods/pistons, not the gen 4 stuff. Yes, seeing the rings from the bottom of the piston is normal.

Your torque specs confuse me. Are you doing 2 90* torque turns on some of them?
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Old Feb 24, 2017 | 12:03 AM
  #26  
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At this point you might as well spend $1500 on an entire running/driving truck and pull the engine yourself so you know its good.
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Old Feb 24, 2017 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by JoeNova
Engine #2 had gen 3 rods/pistons, not the gen 4 stuff. Yes, seeing the rings from the bottom of the piston is normal.

Your torque specs confuse me. Are you doing 2 90* torque turns on some of them?
I read this,
http://ls1howto.com/index.php?article=3

And it says 90* then another 90*

"Now, using the sequence illustrated above, turn all 10 15mm bolts an additional 90 degrees using a large socket wrench and a lot of muscle. Try to get as close to 90 degreees as possible...you may have to do multiple turns of 30 degrees or 2 turns of 45 degrees. When done all the lines on the bolt heads should be totally vertical.

Next, again using the sequence above, turn bolts 1 through 8 another 90 degrees. "

This is why I asked though, it might be for older engines or something. Remember this is my first LS motor, sigh... motors. I'd rather trust JoeNova over an internet article any day, you could say torque them to cat feet pounds times cotton candy and I would probably attempt it. ;D
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