Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

What would you do in my situation?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 07:51 PM
  #1  
DREAMZ28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA
Default What would you do in my situation?

So my car has a knock after some burn outs a few months ago, its been sitting since then. I charged the battery and it was knocking pretty loud, I determined that the breakage was due to a low oil level + abuse. Stupid stupid stupid yes I know. You live and you definitely learn.


Pulled the valve cover and Checked the driver head and all was well, but never got around to checking passenger due to work. The only time i started it after the night it broke, it sounded like the knock was coming from the passenger side head. But it could've easily been coming from the bottom end as well.

Just towed it to a family friends shop and he's going to let me know what the damage is.


I have no experience with building/rebuilding motors, but if it's a spun rod bearing, what all would be involved with repairing that? New motor? Machine work? New crank? What about if it's a broken valve spring/rocker? I was thinking if its just a valvetrain issue, I'd just get a set of 243s off here and swap them, and get a nice 15-20 whp gain in the process. I'm trying to see what my options are here. Budget is a priority, I don't have the money for a new short block, I was thinking maybe an lq9/4 swap? Also time is important as this is my only car and I can only get rides to work for so long.

What would y'all do with budget and time being a main concern?
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 07:57 PM
  #2  
HCI2000SS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,137
Likes: 20
From: Howell & Fenton MI
Default

Well in my case I spun the #6 rod bearing and pretty much trashed eveything except the top end. So I got a 370 LQ9 from Thompson Motorsports, and reused my top end, but with a bigger cam. It really depends on the extent of the damage. Have you checked the oil for metal?
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 08:01 PM
  #3  
springer_4's Avatar
On The Tree
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: NW Ohio
Default

Pull it and Rebuild it, Better, Stronger and Faster
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 08:05 PM
  #4  
Orange Juice's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 2
From: Hamilton Ontario
Default

You're sure you didn't just blow out a header fitting?
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 08:07 PM
  #5  
DREAMZ28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA
Default

Originally Posted by HCI2000SS
Well in my case I spun the #6 rod bearing and pretty much trashed eveything except the top end. So I got a 370 LQ9 from Thompson Motorsports, and reused my top end, but with a bigger cam. It really depends on the extent of the damage. Have you checked the oil for metal?
What did your knock sound like? I know these types of things are hard to describe, but I'm sure a broken valve spring is a dramatically different sound from a rod bearing right?

And yes its definitely going to be stronger better and faster after this, my taxes will be going to work on this one!
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 08:11 PM
  #6  
HCI2000SS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,137
Likes: 20
From: Howell & Fenton MI
Default

Well it was like a deep knock that was somewhat dependent on rpm, but not always. Here is what you can do...start it up and listen from the top then from the bottom...if it's noticeably louder on the bottom that's not good
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 08:30 PM
  #7  
DREAMZ28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA
Default

Originally Posted by Orange Juice
You're sure you didn't just blow out a header fitting?
Not sure on that one, I have a tendency to think worst case scenario. Well see what he says tomorrow. I did notice a vacuum leak which might've been what caused it to die when I was limping it home that night. It died coming up to a stop light.
Reply
Old Feb 10, 2014 | 08:37 PM
  #8  
DREAMZ28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA
Default

Originally Posted by HCI2000SS
Well it was like a deep knock that was somewhat dependent on rpm, but not always. Here is what you can do...start it up and listen from the top then from the bottom...if it's noticeably louder on the bottom that's not good
I don't have the car or I would do this. But it was completely Dependant on rpm. The first night it was more of a slight tick, I really had to lean in the engine bay to hear it. When I started it a few weeks later, it was pretty cold out, and that same small tick became a knock that you could hear standing 10 ft back from the car. Not sure if since it was at operating temp vs 30 degrees would cause such a difference though.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-4

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-8

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
Old Feb 11, 2014 | 02:00 PM
  #9  
DREAMZ28's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Hampton, VA
Default

Well its been determined its a rod/rod bearing. So I'm looking at doing an LQ9 swap.
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2014 | 02:06 PM
  #10  
HCI2000SS's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 11,137
Likes: 20
From: Howell & Fenton MI
Default

Damn, sorry to hear that! I had a feeling unfortunately! I had this happen to me last year, so I know what it's like lol
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:52 PM.

story-0
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-4
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-5
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-6
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-9
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE