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

Replacing one piston and rod?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 8, 2005 | 09:04 PM
  #1  
jxaxsxoxn's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 873
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
Default Replacing one piston and rod?

Just got a '98 trans am with a broken #2 rod, nothing is damaged enough to take the engine completly apart.

What do you guys think of just dropping the pan to replace one? I don't even want to take the other head off. Before disassembly the compression was 180-200 psi in all the other cylinders.
It has 113,000 miles, bone stock.

Where could I find just one?

Anyone take the pan off?
My manual says to lift the engine up AND loosen the engine cradle bolts, take the trans pan off. Sounds like a lot but I really just want to get it running as easy as possible.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2005 | 09:06 PM
  #2  
Grimes's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,636
Likes: 2
From: Northern NJ
Default

I think you could definitely do it that way. You'd probably save some major cash too. I'd just make sure that the walls are definitely okay. Otherwise the galled up wall will trash the new piston.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2005 | 10:24 PM
  #3  
SUX2BU's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
From: DFW, TX
Default

I'm not sure you can break a rod and not have ANY other damage anywhere. if by some miricale you don't have any other damage you should still definatly take out the motor, put it on an engine stand and clean the ever living **** out of it. there has to be some metal from the brocken rod all up in there.
Belive me if you half *** it it WILL come back and bite you in the ***.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2005 | 10:28 PM
  #4  
Hi-Po's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 712
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Default

ABSOLUTLY agree. there will be repercussions(sp) from half assing this. theres a time a place but i dont think this is one.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2005 | 11:40 PM
  #5  
schultzsj's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Default

I broke a rod in a 396 years ago and it broke to bottom of two pistons and chewed up the bottom of the cylinder walls slightly but a little blending and a re-hone cleaned it up. I removed the motor and cleaned it up real well but I did not pull the other pistons.

BTW - You can't replace a rod by just pulling the pan because the piston will not come out the bottom and you have to remove it to put the new rod on. You will have to at least pull the intake and one head - after all this it may be almost as easy to remove the motor since working it on a stand is so much easier.

As has been stated, it us unlikely that there no other damage and it would be next to impossible to clean it well enough in the car.

Steve
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2005 | 06:07 AM
  #6  
jxaxsxoxn's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 873
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
Default

Man you guys really make me out to look like a dumbass. I know you can't pull a piston from the bottom, I already have the one head off, there is a notch knocked out of the bottom of the cylinder, the big end is still on the crank and spins free, not loose not tight, theres no coolant in the oil, hell I drove the car to my house when I bought it.

I've rebuilt blown engines before, check out the picture of the one with the hole in it, that was in a 427 big block, metal from that went accross the intake into other clyinders, the rod bent, the cylinder wall cracked. I had it sleeved and built it back up.

The 454 here at the bottom of the page was blown up by someone else.
Yea, this is too much to fix.
Theres also a picture of the LS1 piston (NOTICE HOW IT'S SITTING ON AN LS1 HEAD AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACK GROUND YOU MIGHT SEE THE INTAKE).
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2005 | 04:13 PM
  #7  
krexken's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: longview, tx
Default

Can't help you on the pan deal but make sure you solvent check the valve seats to make sure the valves are straight. Hard to imagine the piston slamming the head and not bending the valve somewhat. I've also cracked heads when connecting rods let go. Good luck.
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2005 | 04:26 PM
  #8  
SUTTERERMAN85's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (42)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 2
From: North Fort Worth
Default

i understand what you are saying. if the large end of the rod (the one on the crank) is not messed up then you could just patch it. i would consider that if $ was tight. so if the crank aint messed up and cylinder is good to go i say run it with another rod and piston. check ebay or the wanted forum. might get luck so post up something. no sure about getting the pan off though. havent got that far or had to on the ls1's yet. i have done this sort of a thing back in the day on a few BBC's and older SBC's. BTW did the car have good oil pressure when you driving it? if not then i would go ahead and rebuild.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

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

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 9, 2005 | 05:12 PM
  #9  
jxaxsxoxn's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 873
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
Default

I just got the car not even a week ago. The oil pressure sender was broken off and leaking so I filled it up and drove it 5 minutes to my house.

This all doesn't even matter now, I can't get the title for the car so as it sits right now the engine is ready to pull. Took me 4 hours maybe 5, thought it would be more difficult than it was.
I'm going to pull the rear too.

I may rebuild it and put it in my 2000 S10.

So I'm not going to change just one piston if I do that.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:20 PM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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