i have a 01 ta 6 speed. i recently blew it up i think?? smokes like crazy at high rpms and scan tool says cylinder 7 missfire, i put new plugs in to have them fool out with oil all over them. i have been looking for a replacement, everything from a used one on ebay?? ( hard to trust that thought) to sending mine off for a rebuild. i also have been looking at the zl-402 short block. also my local machine shop tells me that they can bore it out, so i can rebuild it from there. But like everyone else i am looking for the most bang for my buck. hey its the american way lol. so any suggestions would be very helpfull. also i have some rods nocking so would it be a good idea to get them ported to ls6 specs. and rebuild them or buy a set? i was looking at the patriot heads they seem to be affordible, i have a budget of $4000.00 and under. help please i want to get all i can with the little cash i have to spend. thanks....... oh yea one last question if i get my local machine shop to bore and hone it can i make it a 383 with the stock crank?? also if the sleeves are not in to bad of shape can they reuse them or will i have to get it resleeved to? i dont wont to get ripped of>>>>> thanks

 

Rods knocking refers to the connecting rods, which has nothing to do with your cylinder heads or valve train. If you broke a push rod and it is ticking, then all you would have to do is replace the pushrod and you're fine. Thats a 4 dollar fix for a stock PR + shipping. If it is a broken intake push rod that would cause it to smoke, all the time. I know because I broke one. I would take off the valve cover and remove the rockers for #7 and pull the push rods. Roll them on a flat surface to make sure they are strait, like you would with a pool stick in a bar. If there is a bend to it, or if the rounded tip is broken off then it will need to be replaced. If a rod is knocking then a rebuild is in order.
Keep us posted
AJ

 

If you are looking for some good bang for your buck, I would look at the 402 long blocks from sdpc or texas speed or hpe (sponsors on the right). I'm not a big fan of slp....

 

i pulled the v. cover ans checked the push rods, they are in goood shape. A couple of things i did notice though. the driver side back exhaust port, there is oil comeing and leaking out of my headers ( loose header bolt .... fixed). also, my oil pressure has droped, holding around 40, and a little below.

 

what color was the smoke you saw coming out of your car?

 

sounds like the shortblock is done.. I bet you pull the heads and #7 has big area of missing ringland.. ask me how I know LOL.


if the cylinders aren't too scored up and you don't need teh car immediately, I'd think about pulling the motor and having it rebuilt, maybe go to a 383 stroker setup. If you rebuild it and reuse your stock crank, just put in all new bearings, new pistons and rods, that would be your cheapest bet. A new oil pump, that sort of stuff shoudl be done at the same time while it is apart too... stud the whole motor, maybe make a cam change, check the lifters,etc.etc.

If you pull the motor and bring it somewhere to be rebuilt, then reinstall it yourself you might be able to pull that off for 4000... but this type of thign can get expensive in ways you can't imagine... again ask me how I know.

 

it was blue