I have a '99 Z28 with 104k miles and its starting to loose oil pressure. Do i just rebuild it or put an LQ9 in it ? What ever i do will get an MTI X1 cam put in it that i already have. Any opinions?

 

Rebuild/stroke

 

well, the oil pressure problem is simply an oil pump, replacing or rebuilding the engine is an austronomically more difficult job than replacing the pump, and if you wanted a considerable amount of extra power thats going to be astronomically more expensive too with pistons rods bearings at least and then custom balancing, gaskets, bolts, ect ect ect ect ect ect ect

 

I hope that it will only need an oil pump. It wouldn't go over 50psi no matter how high it was reved and it has 20psi at hot idle. today it will not go over 40psi period.

 

Have you replaced your oil/oil filter? my lt1 has almsot 150k but they generally run lower psi than an ls1. I was idling under 20psi, and wouldnt go above 35psi. I changed the oil/filter and upgraded to 10w40 and now it idles about 30psi and runs at around 55psi.

 

just get a ported ls6 oil pump and go from there.

 

start cutting your filters apart, if your loosing pressure that fast you have bearings taking a crap on you. look for copper colored metal shavings in the oil

 

Bad news. I drained the oil today and found metal stuck to the drain plug. Looks like its time for the 6.0 or rebuild the LS1

 

Is it your only car? I say build the motor and swap when it goes. My duramax was diagnosed with a blown headgasket in July, $4500 to replace extra $1500 if heads were damaged. I laughed and said i'll just stick a used engine in for that. It's been 24,000 miles later hauling a 12,000lb machine behind it and it doesnt lose anymore coolant than the first day it started happening.

I dont think 20 psi is absoltely horrible for idling. You did find metal, but that doesnt mean it's going to blow up tomorrow. It could last a month or so, plenty long enough to build another motor and leave car with minimal downtime.

 

I have another car and truck but i just got it back from being painted and i was going to do a 6 speed swap and have it ready to drive to the Alabama A day spring practice game. That in 6 weeks but there is no way i could get it going that fast

 

Sure there is man! You can rebuild that LS1 in no time. Advanced auto sells the crank and bearings for like $260 as a whole kit and they can have it next day. The most labor is going to be removing and installing the engine/trans which shouldnt kill you time wise. A solid weekends work.

 

This has be debating on if i should just put the LQ9 in it and be done then part the LS1 out