What to do with Damaged LS3 block
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From: Coastal Mississippi
What to do with Damaged LS3 block What it was:
4.065 stock bore, stock GM crank
Callies Compstar 6.125 rods, Autotec -10cc pistons
Ported Ls3 heads, comp push rods/springs, trunion rockers
PT76/75 CEA turbo @10-15#
Full fuel system with 60# injectors, 80# injectors on the workbench
Made 710/695 @15#/12°, thru an unlocked 4L60E and 9"
What happened:
#5 injector failed/clogged
#5 piston melted at the top ring gap and melted the piston
#5 cylinder liner was damaged at the location the piston melted
Had #5 cylinder cleaned up to see how bad it was. Took .020" to clean up the bore. Now minimum bore is 4.085"
What to do:
Would like to just bore block to 4.085" and buy a set of 4.085 pistons for a stock stroke. Have not found an off the shelf piston for this.
Cost would be- Machine work to bore all cylinders to 4.085 + New pistons
Possibly have block bored to 4.085" and use TSP 418 rotating assembly.
4.0" stroke with TSP/Wiseco 4.085" pistons
Cost - Bore work + TSP rotating assembly
Buy new block and one new piston and reassemble as it was before.
Cost - LS3 block + one piston + new rings
Anyone have any info on stock stroke 4.085" pistons?
I could rebuild this as a NA motor and put it in the wifes GTO if the 4.085" bore is not safe on the boost.
4.065 stock bore, stock GM crank
Callies Compstar 6.125 rods, Autotec -10cc pistons
Ported Ls3 heads, comp push rods/springs, trunion rockers
PT76/75 CEA turbo @10-15#
Full fuel system with 60# injectors, 80# injectors on the workbench
Made 710/695 @15#/12°, thru an unlocked 4L60E and 9"
What happened:
#5 injector failed/clogged
#5 piston melted at the top ring gap and melted the piston
#5 cylinder liner was damaged at the location the piston melted
Had #5 cylinder cleaned up to see how bad it was. Took .020" to clean up the bore. Now minimum bore is 4.085"
What to do:
Would like to just bore block to 4.085" and buy a set of 4.085 pistons for a stock stroke. Have not found an off the shelf piston for this.
Cost would be- Machine work to bore all cylinders to 4.085 + New pistons
Possibly have block bored to 4.085" and use TSP 418 rotating assembly.
4.0" stroke with TSP/Wiseco 4.085" pistons
Cost - Bore work + TSP rotating assembly
Buy new block and one new piston and reassemble as it was before.
Cost - LS3 block + one piston + new rings
Anyone have any info on stock stroke 4.085" pistons?
I could rebuild this as a NA motor and put it in the wifes GTO if the 4.085" bore is not safe on the boost.
What to do:
Would like to just bore block to 4.085" and buy a set of 4.085 pistons for a stock stroke. Have not found an off the shelf piston for this.
Cost would be- Machine work to bore all cylinders to 4.085 + New pistons
Possibly have block bored to 4.085" and use TSP 418 rotating assembly.
4.0" stroke with TSP/Wiseco 4.085" pistons
Cost - Bore work + TSP rotating assembly
Buy new block and one new piston and reassemble as it was before.
Cost - LS3 block + one piston + new rings
Would like to just bore block to 4.085" and buy a set of 4.085 pistons for a stock stroke. Have not found an off the shelf piston for this.
Cost would be- Machine work to bore all cylinders to 4.085 + New pistons
Possibly have block bored to 4.085" and use TSP 418 rotating assembly.
4.0" stroke with TSP/Wiseco 4.085" pistons
Cost - Bore work + TSP rotating assembly
Buy new block and one new piston and reassemble as it was before.
Cost - LS3 block + one piston + new rings
With that being said. You already said what you want to do. (Option #1)
If budget wasn't a concern, I would sell the crank and rods and go bigger. (Option #2)
Option #4 : resleeve damaged cylinder?
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 274
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From: Collierville, TN
Option 1 for cost savings...... A custom piston would not be all that much of an up charge for your application and I'd bet they (Wiseco) could do it pretty quick. That said, I'd be a little nervous about sleeve thickness if you continue to run the turbo. Might be fine but I'm paranoid. FWIW.
Option 3 wouldn't cost you a bunch more then 1 because you could recover a good chunk of money by selling your existing block (perfect re-sleeve candidate). I'd go this route because you get to keep the turbo.
Resleeving the damaged cylinder works too. ERL or RED.
Option 3 wouldn't cost you a bunch more then 1 because you could recover a good chunk of money by selling your existing block (perfect re-sleeve candidate). I'd go this route because you get to keep the turbo.
Resleeving the damaged cylinder works too. ERL or RED.
Last edited by FLYZNTN; Sep 13, 2014 at 12:30 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Coastal Mississippi
Option #1: I have inquired with Racetec and Wiseco about custom pistons to work with the stock stroke and 4.085" bore. Will check on prices to finish boring the block and re-balancing the rotating assembly on Monday.
I might put this block back together and keep it on low boost until I get another engine built. Then swap it in to my wife's GTO as a NA street motor.
Option #2 revised: I am looking at the possibility of buying a short block for my car. This is not the cheapest route but would be the best solution.
Option #3: This would not be available if I can go with #1.
Option #4: I think re-sleeving would be to high cost option. Shipping both ways, parts, machine work. Would be cheaper to to LSX block.
I might put this block back together and keep it on low boost until I get another engine built. Then swap it in to my wife's GTO as a NA street motor.
Option #2 revised: I am looking at the possibility of buying a short block for my car. This is not the cheapest route but would be the best solution.
Option #3: This would not be available if I can go with #1.
Option #4: I think re-sleeving would be to high cost option. Shipping both ways, parts, machine work. Would be cheaper to to LSX block.
lowest cost option, would be to have Racetec make you a 4.085 piston for that one hole, and request it to be weight matched to the other 7
saves you rebalance etc and they can do this.
saves you rebalance etc and they can do this.
For reference, I just did option #4 for an LSA block with similar damage two weeks ago but mine would not clean up. The ductile iron sleeve was $135 and the install with the hone back to 4.065 was $165 plus cost of the stock piston and ring in my case. No rebalance. I'm sure Autotec/Racetec could supply a single piston to match your other one, they are easy to work with.
I bought the sleeve and had it installed at LA Sleeve's facility as they are local to me but you can buy the sleeve and have a more local shop probably do the install for probably a little more. Livenois uses their sleeves along with Dartons in there big bore LS3 blocks.
I bought the sleeve and had it installed at LA Sleeve's facility as they are local to me but you can buy the sleeve and have a more local shop probably do the install for probably a little more. Livenois uses their sleeves along with Dartons in there big bore LS3 blocks.
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From: Coastal Mississippi
For reference, I just did option #4 for an LSA block with similar damage two weeks ago but mine would not clean up. The ductile iron sleeve was $135 and the install with the hone back to 4.065 was $165 plus cost of the stock piston and ring in my case. No rebalance. I'm sure Autotec/Racetec could supply a single piston to match your other one, they are easy to work with.
I bought the sleeve and had it installed at LA Sleeve's facility as they are local to me but you can buy the sleeve and have a more local shop probably do the install for probably a little more. Livenois uses their sleeves along with Dartons in there big bore LS3 blocks.
I bought the sleeve and had it installed at LA Sleeve's facility as they are local to me but you can buy the sleeve and have a more local shop probably do the install for probably a little more. Livenois uses their sleeves along with Dartons in there big bore LS3 blocks.
What brand sleeve did you use and where did you buy if from? I will have to check on who can change it in my area ( South Ms ).
I am not sure about changing the one piston to the larger bore, but Racetec can make me one!
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Don't even worry about it, I took your block and moved it outside... it rained. 
I like the idea of rebuilding it for NA with the one piston slightly larger for your wife's GTO, but I'm not sure how I'd feel about one larger piston that weighs the same as the others in your TA. That seems like a recipe for a repeat under the conditions you run your car.
I like the idea of rebuilding it for NA with the one piston slightly larger for your wife's GTO, but I'm not sure how I'd feel about one larger piston that weighs the same as the others in your TA. That seems like a recipe for a repeat under the conditions you run your car.
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Verdad Gallardo The sleeve manufacturer is LA Sleeve. They have been around since 1945. The part number is FL-3344 Molly2000 ductile iron performance sleeves, stronger then stock, for a 4.065 bore with an OD of 4.300. Livenois uses these along with the Dartons, better known on this board, in their LS3 blocks when they do the complete dry sleeve block.
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From: Coastal Mississippi
The sleeve manufacturer is LA Sleeve. They have been around since 1945. The part number is FL-3344 Molly2000 ductile iron performance sleeves, stronger then stock, for a 4.065 bore with an OD of 4.300. Livenois uses these along with the Dartons, better known on this board, in their LS3 blocks when they do the complete dry sleeve block.
I missed that you mentioned LA sleeve. I have used them many times in the past on race quads. I will check out the sleeve and see what it will cost me to get it installed.
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From: Coastal Mississippi
Sleeve is on its way to the machine shop where the block currently is.
All I need now is to get the weight of my piston so I can order a new one. Wonder how I am going to get this done as I will be away from home for a little while.
TheMealOnWheels, any idea of how I could get the piston weighed?
All I need now is to get the weight of my piston so I can order a new one. Wonder how I am going to get this done as I will be away from home for a little while.
TheMealOnWheels, any idea of how I could get the piston weighed?
Glad that it is working out. Are you going to have them rehone the whole block, if not make sure they check the bore next to the one they sleeve as LA Sleeve told me it will sometimes need to be honed as it can possibly distort a bit.
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The sleeve will be honed after install. The other cylinders are in great condition but will be brushed with the hone to clean up the bores.
Still looking around for a spare short block. Hoping to find a LS3 or LSA built for boost that some one is not going to finish.
Still looking around for a spare short block. Hoping to find a LS3 or LSA built for boost that some one is not going to finish.
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From: Coastal Mississippi
LA Sleeve states that the sleeve is a higher grade material than the stock liner. It will be pressed in and held just like the factory one, and the heads will clamp it in place.
I have ran LA sleeves in drag ATV's in the past with no trouble at 14:1+ CR.
This will be my first re-sleeved V8, will keep everyone posted.
I have ran LA sleeves in drag ATV's in the past with no trouble at 14:1+ CR.
This will be my first re-sleeved V8, will keep everyone posted.
Has anyone else ran a repaired/sleeved Aluminum block under more than 10psi ?
I have an extra LS3 block that cracked the #7 sleeve. My local shop said not to stroke it OR go over 10-12psi.
I have an extra LS3 block that cracked the #7 sleeve. My local shop said not to stroke it OR go over 10-12psi.
I have not yet put mine under boost but it is being built with the intent on running 15 lbs boost . It is a LSA block with forged internals, TF TEA 235 heads and currently twin GT2871r turbos on E85. When I went to LA Sleeve they stated it will be fine for boost. As mentioned the sleeve is far stronger than the stock one and once installed there is no chance of movement. If I had the extra funds I would have had the entire block sleeved and gone larger bore under boost. I will be using ARP head studs so the thick deck heads will not be moving .
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Last edited by ondatrack; Sep 27, 2014 at 04:26 PM.
