Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
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Old Aug 17, 2010 | 06:21 AM
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Default Bad rings

Well I just got done putting my car back together, put a LQ9 bottom-end under my head and cam package I had on the LS1 that fell apart.. after everything is said and done, the car is making decent power, but feels alittle weak.. Runs 11.83 at 116mph.. at 3400DA so.. I was thinking it was alittle off, was looking for low 11s, and 120mph.. I take it to put it on the rollers, and get a better look at my tune.. I have been tryin to tune the car myself, which I think screwed it up.. but that is another story.. when I get there, Nate, the guy who is tuning it, tells me that its missing.. we pull the ECU fuse, and take the oil cap off.. and crank her.. she is puffin smoke like a train.. it ran decent enough, and I didnt drive up there, to not see what was going on.. so we went ahead and got some numbers.. 404hp.. 365tq... I took it home.. happy that we broke 400, but needing to see how bad this cyl is.. I do a compression check, and I am sitting..

Cyl PSI
1 220
2 195
3 230
4 250
5 140
6 210
7 100
8 195

So I have two bad holes.. LOL.. I made 400hp on 6 good cyls!!

Well now I am going to have to drop this motor out, and put together a 408... Time and MONEY!!!

Let me know what yall think..
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Old Aug 17, 2010 | 07:01 AM
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And those 2 are right next to each other. Mmmhm interesting, sure its not a head gasket??
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Old Aug 17, 2010 | 02:47 PM
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You could give it a leak down and listen or feel for air coming out of one of the ports or pop off your oil cap and see if you can hear air just filling up your crankcase. Should let you know where your losing it.
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Old Aug 17, 2010 | 06:12 PM
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Head gasket was my thought too.. but with the oil getting burnt up, and after each pull the oil in throttle body, I have to think more along the lines of rings.. I am going to do a leak down, just to be sure, but I am kinda set on the rings..
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Old Aug 17, 2010 | 06:21 PM
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STRONG numbers for 6 cylinders tho lol.. good luck getting it all sorted out.. just outta curiosity what heads/intake/cam you running with the LQ9? stock LQ9 is 364ci right?
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Old Aug 17, 2010 | 09:10 PM
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im having the same problem!! i took my heads off and drop them at the machine shop to have them inspected and im just waiting for the results!! my engine was also smoking but it was because it had no valve seals my double springs took out my valve seals and i only had like 2 left!! what head gaskets are you running? I have Cometic and like you said if my bottom-end is bad i will make 408 cid with the 6.0L iron block!!
Cyl PSI
1 210
2 didn't check
3 155
4 150
5 150
6 didn't check
7 didn't check
8 didn't check
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Old Aug 18, 2010 | 04:31 AM
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Heads are MTI 2E heads, basicly ported 853s, and I am running a MTI X-1 cam.. its mild.. with a tight LSA.. so it sounds alot bigger than it is.. but makes power, where it is needed.. so I am happy..

I am using MLS head gaskets, have never seen any issues there.. but who knows..

yeah, this set-up, is going to run a few more times, and hopefully it holds together. Then over the winter, I am going to build the 408.. might even build a turbo kit.. I have the truck manifolds, and I can weld.. so I might as well try..

Might be a turbo 408 come from this.. who knows..
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Old Aug 18, 2010 | 06:18 PM
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I was told that some valves were not seating properly because i had burned valves because of too much fuel and i think is true because every time i went full throttle i saw black smoke!! I will be installing my heads these weekend and checking compression again, so check into that
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Old Aug 18, 2010 | 09:20 PM
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Keep me posted.. I hope the best for you, it would be alot cheaper to re-cut valve seats, and put the heads back together, than to have to rebuild the whole motor..

Good luck.
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