Project Vette Power!

[LSxDreamer]

The only other thing it could be(which I highly doubt because it REALLY looks like a remote start box I used to have) is something airbag related, yellow wires around the steering column are usually airbag.

I called the last owner and he thinks is a remote start box too even though he never received the remote for it.

Anyways sorry about the lack of updates. I had planned to have the whole engine out on Saturday but with people stopping by and other things getting in the way it didn't come out until Sunday night. But enough talking I'll let the few pictures that I took do the talking.

Here is how she started on Friday:


Here is where she was Sunday night:





Here are all the interesting things that I found out along the way:

Broken Starter Tab, looking for a used on because I am not paying $175-$200 for a new one:



Dented Headers with Hole. I am not sure if these are repairable or not and am pretty sure this will effect performance. Anyone know how to fix these... Also here is the Y-pipe and I-pipe. I might make a new one depending on if I keep the headers or not. I'll probably sell the headers and y for $150 to anyone that wants to fix them:










And last but not least is the most amazing find of all. I went to drain the coolant and not as much came out as usual so I thought about it while I did some other stuff. Then I decided to drain the oil and as soon as that plug was out it was like a tidal wave of coolant and oil coming out! So needless to say it is a little more than a spun rob bearing, but it doesn't matter because I don't need that block anyways. I then proceeded to take the Throttle Body off and found small metal pieces all on the inside, the intake seems to be fine though. When I got the engine out I took the intake off and found some metal pieces in the # and #7 intake runners of the heads. I wanted to get the heads off to asses the damage but it was too late in the night and I was tired. So I continued on Monday and managed to bust my 1/2 inch socket up on the ARP head bolts so I need to go get a new one. I'll be getting that tomorrow and will post some pictures of the carnage. Anyways here are the few pictures I have of it:




On a good note though my TRG-001 Converter box, knock sensor adapter, LS3 timing chain dampener, and Katech Rod bolts all showed up today. Just waiting on the Gasket/Bolt kit, LS3 Valves, and LS3 timing cover to show up and then it's down to business!!!

[c0ncEpT]

Great progress man. I would also say he had a little bit more than a spun bearing haha

[meissen]

Looks great man! And yeah - the metal doesn't sound good. I'm honestly really afraid of what I'm going to find when I do an oil change on my car just because of all the work I did to the LT1 and hope it was all done right!

[LSxDreamer]

Yeah I can't wait to get home from school and get those new sockets, it's killing me not knowing! I'm pretty sure though that there is a HUGE hole in one or two of the cylinder walls. Depending on if it can be resleeved or not my dad might take the block and rebuild it to put it in his '62 vette.

Brian I'm sure that oil is going to be DIRTE, haha! Whenever I rebuild engines or atleast have the top end off I always change the oil a few hundred miles afterwards so the stuff left from working on it gets out.

[Boost Addict]

Nice progress. When do you figure it will be done?

[LSxDreamer]

I am really shooting for it to be done by May 14th as that is when my car insurance payment is due and I would really like to drop the Ford beater truck. But I will definitely be done by the M&G!

I also got some more parts in today! Bolt/Gasket kit and the TEA Dual Spring kit. Once I get everything I'll take a picture of all the nice new parts!

[LSxDreamer]

CARNAGE!!! I'll let the pics do the talking:








Does anyone think the heads could be redone. I have seen people get heads redone after some carnage like this...

[MunsterZ28]

looks gnarly, idk bout fixing it, but i think DetriotMuscle had his heads looking like that and fixed em? i think maybe? lol wait for him to chime in

[c0ncEpT]

You have the old disappearing piston trick going on there haha


Also are you willing to sell those heads as is?

[LSxDreamer]

You have the old disappearing piston trick going on there haha


Also are you willing to sell those heads as is?

Haha! And some how magically it's coming back in a new block and bigger and shinier than ever!

Yea I am willing to sell the heads as is. Just shoot me a PM.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

My heads were not nearly as bad because I only demolished a part of my piston but those look trashed IMO it'd be cheaper to pitch them than have them try to be welded and then made flat again.

[LSxDreamer]

My heads were not nearly as bad because I only demolished a part of my piston but those look trashed IMO it'd be cheaper to pitch them than have them try to be welded and then made flat again.

It doesn't really look like a lot of material was taken out from the piston exploding. The blob you see towards the bottom I think is the valve metled to the head which I think might have helped in protecting it. I could be way wrong but that's what it looks like to me, granted I know you are looking at a picture and I would agree with you based on the picture alone.

If you don't mind me asking how much did it cost you to get the head fixed and where did you have it done? I would like to try and salvage it because it is a stage 2 port and polished head.

[meissen]

Yikes - that's some carnage alright! Keep us updated on what you end up doing.

[LSxDreamer]

Just to clear it up, because I think there might be some confusion, I'm not going to be using those heads. I have brand new L92 heads, I'll get some pictures up. I've had the heads and shortblock for a little while and was actually trying to sell it until I came across this car.

The reason I wanted to know if they were salvageable is because my plan was to sell them so I could get some money back towards the project.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

Going from this



To this cost me $250 and Dave at Enginecraft did it for me, I was very pleased with his work. As I mentioned though mine didn't seem nearly as bad, he actually only did minor welding and polished up the rest of the dings.