xEtherealx

I purchased a junkyard LQ9, and just pulled the pan to check the internals. I'm not experienced with this at all but I know the cylinder walls should show a crosshatch pattern. They do below the piston ring contact area but above that, only slightly. Can I get your opinions on whether the cylinders should be honed? If so I'll probably use a dingleberry hone.

Plans for the engine are to not remove the heads at this time -- to get the wiring and programming, sensors etc. straight so I can drive it and then figure out what to do with it; it'll be NA and I'm cheap so I'll probably stick with stock heads too.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

Any info on mileage or running condition before purchase? Compression test? Based on the very little bit I can see, I would run that engine if the rest looked similar.

Once an engine has even a few miles on it, the cylinder area that gets ring contact is not going to look like the undisturbed honed area. In my book for a budget build, if you can see a little cross hatch and you trust the history of the engine, go for it. If the history is sketchy and you want confidence, pull the heads and have a better look. If on a tight budget, you can use cheaper graphite gaskets and standard replacement bolts. There's a lot of cylinder you can't see from the bottom.

xEtherealx

I was told 90k on the engine but you really never know... however the outfit the engine came from was a rather large operation and usually those guys don't bother trying to rip people off. I did a compression test but the start had a hard time turning the engine over -- I attribute that to me connecting the starter with some jumper cables, the connection probably wasn't good enough to provide the current required. I got 150-160 on all cylinders. I don't have a leakdown tester but put air into the cylinders to listen for blowby and had one intake valve that gave some concern, but I think it's most likely due to carbon buildup and I think if I lap the valve it'd hold well.

I really don't want to have to scrape and clean a graphite gasket more than once so if I pull the heads it's going to have some consequences on my wallet For example, if I pull them I'll probably want to get MLS gaskets. Then if I'm doing that, I might just figure why not get a whole gasket set to redo the entire engine. Of course with the heads off I might as well drop in some ebay studs and that's another $90... and what if I decide I need to have the heads or block machined!

I guess what I'm saying is that if I can run the engine as it is now, I'd rather defer the cost until later -- not only because I'm cheap but also because I don't really know enough about the LS platform yet to not throw money away on suboptimal stuff only to have to redo it later. To be honest, I don't know my end goals and probably won't until I get the engine in my truck and get a seat-of-the-pants feel for how much more power I want.

On the other hand, given that the engine is not super clean, and I don't trust it's actual history I *am* tempted to pull the heads to inspect and clean the carbon off, maybe lap the valves.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

Run it!

63novalq9

Looks like myLQ9 that had 95000

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

run it. Run 100 miles of ATF through it with a fresh filter afterwards if you want to clean the crap out.

xEtherealx

Running ATF through an engine isn't a good idea -- modern oils have more detergents in them than ATF anyway, and I think this is just an old wive's tale.

I do think I'll run it though

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

Agreed. Really just running good oil and frequent changes will clean an engine up in fairly short order..at least the parts that matter.

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

It's not a good idea, it's a GREAT idea.

CattleAc

iTrader: (7)

That engine looks really clean compared to some of the junk I drag home...button it up and beat on it like it owes you money...

truckdoug

iTrader: (25)

yeah that thing is minty fresh. no 1/2" of burned oil on the bottom of the piston!

zraffz

iTrader: (1)

It most certainly is not an old wives tale. Have you ever taken apart a transmission? Do you notice any stains in the aluminum? I have poured ATF on sludge and it comes right up... not as good as kerosene works though.

Plenty of technicians across the country run 1 quart of ATF through a car with noisy lifters. Drive it gently for a short time and drain the oil when it's hot.

Would I do it in anything I cared about? Absolutely not. You run the chance of clogging the pickup screen too.

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

I have a 5gallon pail full of a 50/50 diesel/ATF mix for parts washing. It's glorious.

Mercier

iTrader: (15)

One quart is a different story. That may work on a sludged engine but this seems to be in decent shape. The way your post read, it seemed you were suggesting a full pan of ATF. Hence the WTFs.

zraffz

iTrader: (1)

It wasn't me that originally said anything about ATF. I am getting ready to run 1 quart ATF in a 2500HD to flush out the motor. I just picked it up from a junkyard and physically removed about 3lbs of sludge from the heads, pan and valley. I shot it all down with brake clean (with the motor upside down) to ensure the minimal sludge made its way anywhere.

I should state this motor has a 6 month warranty so if it starts to knock, I'm not out any money.

I have ran about 50% ATF in the oil in a demo derby car that had a damaged oil cooler though lol.

joecar

I have a tub of ATF brake cleaner mixture for cleaning small components (soaking lifters for a few days), it works wonders, disolves crusty deposits, lubricates, protects against rust.

mattcrp1

I don't like how reflective that one cylinder was (pic 1). I would do a cylinder leak down on it. It will probably run fine but that cylinder looks pretty polished.

zraffz

iTrader: (1)

I think it's just the picture because I still see cross hatching. When a cylinder shows zero marks that a hone was present is when I start to worry although I always do a quick ball hone/rings when it doesn't need to be bored.

handyandy496

iTrader: (9)

The compression is within tolerance. Its good for another 100 thousand. That's exactly what the walls are supposed to look like too. I wouldn't try and clean it. It looks just like my ls1 (115,000) after I pulled it for the new ls2. It ran great! Got to find a jeep for that thing somewhere.

DietCoke

iTrader: (18)

I was suggesting a full pan of atf, as I have run many times before, because it works.