Blown engine?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2021
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Blown engine? OK. Several years ago I got a barn find. 2002 Orange WS6 convertible. Someone had done extensive work under it with custom frame rails, exhaust etc. Seller told me it had not been started in 14 years. Weve had it setting in garage 2 years now, changed all the fluids, fuel pump, cleaned tanks etc etc etc Did nothing to injectors or anything else. With empty tank it turned over and made no bad noise so we thought we made a buy! Today put in fresh fuel and it started in an instant but sounded like someone was beating a milk can full of cats with a sledge hammer. Knocking was horrible. Shut it off after about 3 seconds. This was for my daughter. Paid $6,000 for it. Interior black leather, cloth top etc all great shape. WS6 wheels . Usual clear coat coming off. She is heartbroken. Im saying its a rod. Cant think of anything else that would be that loud a knock.. I know you all cant hear it but it was heavy, deep clanging knock, Im betting it could have been heard 200 feet away. Based on that description. what do you think it is? And, to try and start it again to record it is taking a chance of huge damage, correct? My daughter is into it about $6,600 total at this point. Any idea what a rebuild costs on an LS1---I know there is NO WAY of knowing what all it needs but assume cyl isnt scored from piston. Probably crank grind, new (at least one) rod/s, I guess I could buy a low mile newer stronger LS engine but that and labor would be around $7,500 That would be about 14,000 into a car that needs paint. Should we scrap it to try and get some of her 6,000 back or invest in it?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2021
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Well we were told it had belonged to a soldier who was killed in action then his parents died a few years later, then the house was in foreclosure for years until a distant relative go it, and this car was spotted in the barn , bought for cash, sold to another person who sold it to the person from whom we bought it, and that the whole time it wouldnt start was a dead fuel pump. Turned out to be true on the pump. I had believed it because we couldnt hear the pump when trying to start it. Now---interesting thing is it cranked without any type of bad noise. It was only under power two days ago that the knocking was heard. Would there have been noise just cold cranking it? We changed the oil but didnt put any in the cyls--could damage have occurred in a few seconds? BIG question is should I start it to record the noise? IMHO that could be taking a chance to blow it up. Transmission was brought up---we had drained the tyrans by using a suction pump but didnt get it all. Looked like we got out well over a gallon. I put a full new gallon in. Trans sound? I doubt that---I was beside the engine when it started and it sounded like deep engine---not a lifter or valve train. I know this is almost not worth discussion since none of you can hear it. Now we are trying to decide if it should be torn down to see if needs rebuilt or just ebay an ls1 out of a wrecked car for about $4,500
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 90
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After sitting so long, maybe the lifters have pumped down and a couple were stuck?
Definitely drain the oil and cut the filter open and look for any material. That's going to be the easiest and cheapest option to start with. If you don't have a oil filter cutter I've poked a hole through the side wall and used tin snips before.
Definitely drain the oil and cut the filter open and look for any material. That's going to be the easiest and cheapest option to start with. If you don't have a oil filter cutter I've poked a hole through the side wall and used tin snips before.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
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I didnt think about that Oh man I cant believe I didnt think of that. Is it possible to have damage bad enough to make that huge racket without having and metal in pan or filter? Going to check it now. I didnt mention that the oil plug is magnetic and I thought there was a slight bit of almost hair fine sprouts on the tip. Oil was old and dark and it all rubbed off in a paper towel. Could have been fine ground metal I guess. Will check now and report
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Thread Starter
Teching In
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AHA my daughter video'd this. Remember this is inside windows up---outside it was 4 times that loud. https://youtube.com/shorts/c8EblhwuMMg?feature=share
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2021
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Yes a couple other people tell me the same thing. Crappp. Now its got to be torn down for complete inspection. Wonder if I should just buy a low mile LS1 or LS6. Both under 5,000. I have no idea what costs are to do crank, bearing, MAYBE rods, etc.
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2017
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First thing to do would be to open it up in as non-destructive a way as possible, to identify the REAL problem. Not jump straight to "got to be torn down for complete inspection".
Posting frantically on the Internet in a panic, jumping immediately to the worst possible conclusions, and so forth, are NOT constructive.
Whatever is wrong with it, It Is What It Is. All this frenzy and emotion won't change it, won't repair it, won't make it cost less, NOTHING.
Do your research. A borescope camera for example might truly be your friend. Opening up the oil filter is another such thing. When you did that, what did you see?
Posting frantically on the Internet in a panic, jumping immediately to the worst possible conclusions, and so forth, are NOT constructive.
Whatever is wrong with it, It Is What It Is. All this frenzy and emotion won't change it, won't repair it, won't make it cost less, NOTHING.
Do your research. A borescope camera for example might truly be your friend. Opening up the oil filter is another such thing. When you did that, what did you see?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 37
Likes: 4
First thing to do would be to open it up in as non-destructive a way as possible, to identify the REAL problem. Not jump straight to "got to be torn down for complete inspection".
Posting frantically on the Internet in a panic, jumping immediately to the worst possible conclusions, and so forth, are NOT constructive.
Whatever is wrong with it, It Is What It Is. All this frenzy and emotion won't change it, won't repair it, won't make it cost less, NOTHING.
Do your research. A borescope camera for example might truly be your friend. Opening up the oil filter is another such thing. When you did that, what did you see?
Posting frantically on the Internet in a panic, jumping immediately to the worst possible conclusions, and so forth, are NOT constructive.
Whatever is wrong with it, It Is What It Is. All this frenzy and emotion won't change it, won't repair it, won't make it cost less, NOTHING.
Do your research. A borescope camera for example might truly be your friend. Opening up the oil filter is another such thing. When you did that, what did you see?
Borescope good idea. Im 69 years old---an old world smallblock guy. Dont have experience with these injected engines and dont even know how to look into cyls. They have a hole like a spark plug engine? lol. Anyway-I have the mental acuity to tear these down but had polio and now at my age the ol hands just shake too much. I wanted to have this thing ready for her before September, hence the possible just buying a good used replacement. I would be running blind--dont know if it needs 1 or more bearings, rods, crank grind, etc etc etc You know the picture. My thought is at this point a new grind, new full bearing set, checking rods, pins, pistons vales yadda Im betting that costs a bunch. So as I said, just trying to figure out the least expensive way and get it done within a month.
So--tore open oil filter.It had residue almost like charcoal or graphite. Not lots but in folds of filter material. It did stick to a magnet so that aint good. No telling how long the old owner had it running that way so cant tell if metal is throughout system--hoping the filter got it all. Stuff was very fine, almost powdery. Im thinking of calling Wongs in Vancouver WA tomorrow. He is one of the best around, I hear. That means tow fees, whatever he charges to look in it, etc etc -vs- just saying heck w it and ebaying a low mile used engine for an average of $4,500.
How many miles are on this body? $6k for an 02 WS6 vert still isn't a bad deal even if it needs an engine rebuild. This isn't 10 years ago and prices have gone way up on these things.
Second this. Clean Fbody rollers with low mileage I'm sure could fetch at least your original 6k, if not closer to 10K for a WS6 'vert. That's assuming the body and interior are still in very good shape and not filled with mouse poop, severe undercarriage rust from sitting over moisture or peeling paint. If you can find a decent mileage running LS1 to swap in, you'll still end up ahead of the game.
Thread Starter
Teching In
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Its got 64,000 miles. Again has welded extensive frame strengthening stuff and 1,400 exhaust system. Has LS1 Motorsports decal on air cleaner. May have been worked over internally but who knows. What do you guys think about this? I can have it for $3,500 including shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/12579718607...&ul_noapp=true
Thread Starter
Teching In
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Just found an LS6 400hp with 80K on it for 3500. Will that fit in? This is very confusing, I talked to Wongs in Vancouver, Eastco in Portland, a very well thought of machine shop, and a couple others. All said do NOT try to start it again no matter what. And, without tearing it down nobody can tell even close to what costs are. Machine shops tell me that if I bring them the engine they can diagnose it all for under $500 but Im left with just a cart of parts cuz they may just say I need a new short block or head work or etc etc etc. My roadblocks here are limited budget, mainly, Im tempted now just to get an ebay engine or order a short block and pray all else is good. At any rate, I cant take it out myself, and I have no place to work on it or I could save a lot of labor. How about a custom swap with a 7.3 Ford/international diesel in it just for fun? Think of the torque.