Rebuild my LT1?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: PA
Rebuild my LT1? Last June I was driving my 97 Camaro SS and saw my oil pressure go to zero with the check gauges light on while I was at a stoplight. The motor builds oil pressure with revs but goes down to about 3 psi at idle (checked with a mechanical gauge)
Since then I had it at a performance shop to check it over and they told me the cam bearings were the problem.
At this point I'm planning on rebuilding the motor if its the cam bearings are causing the low oil pressure (100k miles on the motor).
But before I go through a whole rebuild, I'm wondering if I should just drop the oil pan and replace the oil pump to fix the low oil pressure?
Suggestions on what to do? thanks
Since then I had it at a performance shop to check it over and they told me the cam bearings were the problem.
At this point I'm planning on rebuilding the motor if its the cam bearings are causing the low oil pressure (100k miles on the motor).
But before I go through a whole rebuild, I'm wondering if I should just drop the oil pan and replace the oil pump to fix the low oil pressure?
Suggestions on what to do? thanks
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
I'd listen to the shop you went to. Bad bearings are a cause of loss in oil pressure and if they are reputable they will know what they are talking about. Save your money and keep your current oil pump.
I had the same problem a few years ago. I installed a junk yard motor from a large y-body/f-body junk yard and had no oil pressure at low rpms but got up to 45-50 at high cruising rpms. when I pulled the motor and had it rebuilt they told me the cam bearings were pretty worn.
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OP is your engine all stock or has a cam swap been done? sometimes during cam swaps the cam bearings get messed up which could cause the problem. I had a similar issue with my 94 Z28 184xxx miles I noticed the op was starting to get low at idle 10# then go up to 25-30 under power so I stopped driving the car and built a new engine and sure enough the bearings were going, good thing I caught it when I did so I didn't have a rod leave the block.
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Banned
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas
I bought my used intake and LT1 parts from a guy that had lost oil pressure in his Z28, replaced the pump, still no oil press, replaced the eng, still no oil press. Oil press gauge in the dash had died.
Always verify low oil press with a mechanical gauge.
cardo
Always verify low oil press with a mechanical gauge.
cardo
Just bolting up a new oil pump will do you no good. If you have low oil pressure issues which have been verified it's time to find out why by taking the engine apart.
Ninety-nine-point-nine-percent of the time the bearings get damaged from a cam swap is due to a dirty, hurried install. When the timing cover is off the block and the oil pan is still attached it acts like a catch-all for any engine gunk, dirt, pebbles, debris, hunks of ****, etc...
What part of this:
Did you not understand?
What part of this:
Did you not understand?
Last edited by SS RRR; Jan 22, 2014 at 08:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: PA
After I saw 3 psi on the mechanical gauge I figured it needed a rebuild, just wanted a second opinion before pulling a motor, that's all. The car does not have a cam swap so it's just wear I assume on the cam bearings, I'll find out when the motor is apart. Thanks for all the responses guys, second opinion helps. Now it's time for a rebuild to get ready for this spring!
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: PA
After the mechanical gauge showed 3 psi, I figured it was time for a rebuild at that point, I just wanted a second opinion before pulling a motor, that's all. The car did not have a cam swap, so I assume it's just wear on the cam bearings. Thanks guys for all the responses, second opinions help. Now it's time for a rebuild to get ready for this spring!
I would say about 17 years and 102,000 miles based on what the OP said unless I missed something.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 588
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From: Las Vegas
So i missed the OP's "(checked with a mechanical gauge)" in his first post. What damage did that do??? Now i have to read half dozen bad mouth posts from sorry azz clowns. But i can say im sorry to the OP anyways.
Nice example here of hypocrisy. Its ok when u error in reading is it??? Give me a brake.
cardo
You have pink screen name.
I am so sorry, mr. cardo. Will you please forgive me? I think you are one of the most informative and educated members on this forum, and I do not know why you are hassled so much. 
I mean the mere fact that it is not known whether or not you even own a f-body, much less have worked on it or raced it does not matter here!
So i missed the OP's "(checked with a mechanical gauge)" in his first post. What damage did that do??? Now i have to read half dozen bad mouth posts from sorry azz clowns. But i can say im sorry to the OP anyways.
Nice example here of hypocrisy. Its ok when u error in reading is it??? Give me a brake.
cardo
Nice example here of hypocrisy. Its ok when u error in reading is it??? Give me a brake.
cardo
I mean the mere fact that it is not known whether or not you even own a f-body, much less have worked on it or raced it does not matter here!