I read the 98 ls1 heads were recalled on z28.com, but can't access information due to their link being bad. Is this true????

 

I remember a TSB about spark plug ports not being machined correctly, but it was something that could be fixed with the heads on the motor (i.e. heads not replaced).

Hadn't heard anything else about '98 LS1 heads.

 

Is this something you had to take in for repair on yours, and is it something that gave a noticable difference?

 

Looks like there were very few LS1's that had that problem. In fact I have never seen one and I work on them all the time <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">CAMPAIGN: IMPROPERLY MACHINED CYLINDER HEADS #98022
NOTE: GM Canada version located below U.S. version.

********************* U.S. Version

PRODUCT CAMPAIGNS 98022 JUNE, 1998

PRODUCT RECALL CAMPAIGN

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN

SUBJECT: 98022 - IMPROPERLY MACHINED CYLINDER HEADS

MODELS: 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTES AND CAMAROS AND PONTIAC FIREBIRDS

GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT CERTAIN 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE AND CAMARO AND PONTIAC FIREBIRD MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.7L (LS1) ENGINES MAY HAVE AN EXHAUST GAS LEAK BETWEEN THE SPARK PLUG(S) AND THE CYLINDER HEAD BECAUSE OF IMPROPER MACHINING OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE LEAK(S) MAY CAUSE NOISE AND, IF NOT CORRECTED, COULD RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE FROM PREIGNITION.

TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING, DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE ENGINES FOR THE BUILD DATE OF THE CYLINDER HEADS. IF THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE STAMPED WITH BUILD DATES OF 02/21/98 THROUGH 03/13/98, THE SPARK PLUG SEATING AREA SHOULD BE REPAIRED PER THE ATTACHED SERVICE PROCEDURE.

VEHICLES INVOLVED

INVOLVED ARE CERTAIN 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE AND CAMARO AND PONTIAC FIREBIRD MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.7L (LS1) ENGINES AND BUILT WITHIN THE FOLLOWING VIN BREAKPOINTS:

YEAR DIVISION MODEL PLANT CODE FROM THROUGH 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE BOWLING GREEN "5" W5120633 W5123548 1998 CHEVROLET CAMARO ST. THERESE "2" W2133255 W2138721 1998 PONTIAC FIREBIRD ST. THERESE "2" W2219643 W2223082

NOTICE: DEALERS SHOULD CONFIRM VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY THROUGH VISS (VEHICLE INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEM) PRIOR TO BEGINNING CAMPAIGN REPAIRS. NOT ALL VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE BREAKPOINTS MAY BE INVOLVED.

INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. COMPUTER LISTINGS CONTAINING THE COMPLETE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, CUSTOMER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA HAVE BEEN PREPARED, AND ARE BEING FURNISHED TO INVOLVED DEALERS WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN. THE CUSTOMER NAME AND ADDRESS DATA FURNISHED WILL ENABLE DEALERS TO FOLLOW-UP WITH CUSTOMERS INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. ANY DEALER NOT RECEIVING A COMPUTER LISTING WITH THE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN HAS NO INVOLVED VEHICLES CURRENTLY ASSIGNED.

THESE DEALER LISTINGS MAY CONTAIN CUSTOMER NAMES AND ADDRESSES OBTAINED FROM STATE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION RECORDS. THE USE OF SUCH MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION DATA FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE IS A VIOLATION OF LAW IN SEVERAL STATES. ACCORDINGLY, YOU ARE URGED TO LIMIT THE USE OF THIS LISTING TO THE FOLLOW-UP NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN.

PARTS INFORMATION

PARTS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS CAMPAIGN ARE TO BE OBTAINED FROM GENERAL MOTORS SERVICE PARTS OPERATIONS (GMSPO). PLEASE REFER TO YOUR "INVOLVED VEHICLES LISTING" PRIOR TO ORDERING REQUIREMENTS. NORMAL ORDERS SHOULD BE PLACED ON A DRO = DAILY REPLENISHMENT ORDER. AN EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE ORDERED ON A CSO = CUSTOMER SPECIAL ORDER.

PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QUANTITY/VEHICLE 12553617 GASKET - SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PIPE 2-CAMARO/FIREBIRD NONE-CORVETTE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION

CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS CAMPAIGN ON THEIR VEHICLES BY GENERAL MOTORS (SEE COPY OF TYPICAL CUSTOMER LETTER INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN - ACTUAL DIVISIONAL LETTER MAY VARY SLIGHTLY).

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY

ALL UNSOLD NEW VEHICLES IN DEALERS' POSSESSION AND SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN MUST BE HELD AND INSPECTED/REPAIRED PER THE SERVICE PROCEDURE OF THIS CAMPAIGN BULLETIN BEFORE CUSTOMERS TAKE POSSESSION OF THESE VEHICLES.

DEALERS ARE TO SERVICE ALL VEHICLES SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN AT NO CHARGE TO CUSTOMERS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE, AGE OF VEHICLE, OR OWNERSHIP, FROM THIS TIME FORWARD.

CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED VEHICLES SOLD FROM YOUR VEHICLE INVENTORY, AND FOR WHICH THERE IS NO CUSTOMER INFORMATION INDICATED ON THE DEALER LISTING, ARE TO BE CONTACTED BY THE DEALER. ARRANGEMENTS ARE TO BE MADE TO MAKE THE REQUIRED CORRECTION ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS BULLETIN. THIS COULD BE DONE BY MAILING TO SUCH CUSTOMERS A COPY OF THE APPROPRIATE DIVISIONAL CUSTOMER LETTER ACCOMPANYING THIS BULLETIN. CAMPAIGN FOLLOW-UP CARDS SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE, SINCE THE CUSTOMER MAY NOT AS YET HAVE RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION LETTER.

IN SUMMARY, WHENEVER A VEHICLE SUBJECT TO THIS CAMPAIGN ENTERS YOUR VEHICLE INVENTORY, OR IS IN YOUR DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO BE SURE THE CAMPAIGN CORRECTION HAS BEEN MADE BEFORE SELLING OR RELEASING THE VEHICLE.

SPECIAL TOOL

DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 8, 1998, EACH DEALER WITH AFFECTED VEHICLES OF RECORD WILL BE SHIPPED A SPECIAL TOOL FOR FORMING A SPARK PLUG SEAT, J-43676, FOR USE AS NEEDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. THIS TOOL IS BEING FURNISHED AT NO CHARGE. NOTE: THIS TOOL WILL DRESS 200 SPARK PLUG SEATS.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. INSPECT THE CYLINDER HEADS FOR THE PROPER DATE CODE. THE DATE CODE IS LOCATED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DECK OF THE CYLINDER HEAD (LEFT FRONT AREA FOR THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, RIGHT REAR AREA FOR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE). ACCESS TO THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD DATE CODE AREA OF THE CAMARO/FIREBIRD MAY BE EASIER TO VIEW IF THE VEHICLE IS ON A HOIST. IF THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE NOT WITHIN THE 02/21/98 THROUGH 03/13/98 DATE CODES, PROCEED TO STEP 38. IF THE CYLINDER HEADS ARE WITHIN THE 02/21/98 THROUGH 03/13/98 DATE CODES, PROCEED TO STEP 2.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

 

What exactly is the fix for this? My car falls between the break points! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />

 

It sounds like a tool is used to finish or spot face spark plug hole so gasket will sit properly when tightening spark plug against cyl. head.
Not too big a deal IMO.

 

From my understanding of reading the entire recall... It appears that the spark plug sealing surface on the head is inadequate to make a complete seal on certain engines. Its not the spark plug threads that seal, its the tapered seat of the plug where it meets the matching taper on the cylinder head. Some engines have used metal gaskets to seal this area before. I have not seen the special "tool" that repairs the heads, but I assume it looks like a tap, and threads into the spark plug hole, in turn cutting a new sealing surface as you tighten it. The heads do not have to be removed, just the spark plugs. I wouldn't worry about it unless you are having problems with a hard to find exhaust leak <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

PS: Jack if you give me the last 8 of your VIN I can have it checked to see if this repair has been done already. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

<small>[ April 13, 2002, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: -Joseph- ]</small>

 

yeah, I remember this one real well.
Cyl #7 had this probelm on my 98.
I ended up using a washered plug until the 1st time I pulled the heads and fixed it myself.
There was no taper cut into the head on that 1 cyl for the plug to seat.