Nate's Z28 Project

[JoeliusZ28]

Wow, I've never seen the surface of a piston looking like that. Lifter valley doesnt look TOO bad for 177k, but I think your assessment is correct...

[hoogiesngrinderz]

It really isn't that terrible, I've seen much worse with less miles. Without knowing piston to wall clearances, bearing clearances, etc, I'd say slap it back in


(I'm kidding)

What was your budget for this? Get the bores checked by an honest shop and get them in print or writing. I'm curious to see what they measure with that many miles.

[nascarnate326]

Holy hell that's a mess

You rebuilding it or having it done?

Not sure. Im going to call the local engine shop that cleaned up the heads for me and see just what they can do. I would like to drop off all the parts and have it assembeled for me....but I really want to learn how everything goes together and works so that I can say "I built that engine".

The other part of me says **** THIS, buy a 5.3, have the trans modified, buy a wiring harness and just ditch the LT1. Thats not going to happen though.

Wow, I've never seen the surface of a piston looking like that. Lifter valley doesnt look TOO bad for 177k, but I think your assessment is correct...

If it ran as good as it did like this, should be quite an improvement once its back together. Thanks again for helping.

It really isn't that terrible, I've seen much worse with less miles. Without knowing piston to wall clearances, bearing clearances, etc, I'd say slap it back in


(I'm kidding)

What was your budget for this? Get the bores checked by an honest shop and get them in print or writing. I'm curious to see what they measure with that many miles.

Budget is whatever it takes within reason. I want a FUN, reliable car. I could probably afford to build a wicked GM847 car but thats not really my style, and I want to keep improving our home too.



Im not sure what they are called but you can still see the cross x marks in the block on a few parts. None of the pistons visually look, or feel sloppy but a machine shop would have to measure it to really know.

The valves on the one side that are both black confuses me. Injector? Plug?

[hoogiesngrinderz]

I'd say do a proper strip down and have the block measured. If the bores are tapered and/or out of round beyond service specs, that's when you hide your credit card(s)

That one valve is a little puzzling...could be blow-by, leaking valve seal, maybe nothing

[mcalus]

For the machine shop I took mine to it was $1000. That was them supplying pistons, new bearings, boring it .030 over, polishing the crank, resizing the rods and assembling the shortblock. (I knew the owner so I got $200 off)

I supplied the arp rod and main bolts and the cam.

[meissen]

For the machine shop I took mine to it was $1000. That was them supplying pistons, new bearings, boring it .030 over, polishing the crank, resizing the rods and assembling the shortblock. (I knew the owner so I got $200 off)

I supplied the arp rod and main bolts and the cam.

Funny how spot on that is - the engine work I had done when I spun the two bearings was $1200 and was basically the same thing.

[nascarnate326]

you guys are killing me lol.

I looked at prices of getting another LT1 and to get anything that I would consider usable would be insane. Ill deff be getting this one cleaned up.

[JoeliusZ28]

I feel for ya buddy! I'm getting tired of my "scope creep" in my little projects too.

[cptinjak]

That one valve is a little puzzling...could be blow-by, leaking valve seal, maybe nothing

I agree. That is odd.

Jack

[Dummybait]

Seafoam FTW lol

But yeah like Nate said, despite the looks, especially on the pistins, the motor ran real smooth.

[c0ncEpT]

In all honestly it doesn't look that bad. Did you take the oil pan off?

[hoogiesngrinderz]

I'm not advising this, but you could probably get away with a fairly cheap engine "rebuild", maybe around $400-500

Knock out the freeze plugs
Remove the oil galley plugs
I pay to have blocks cleaned - Kenowa charges me $40
Get a "block kit" (that's what I call them anyway - cam bearings, freeze plugs, etc) $28
Put in new cam bearings - Kenowa charges me $25 to install cam bearings
Flex hone the bores - I bought one, so nice to have!
Wash the block with hot water/dawn then rinse, rub the bores with some Marvels to prevent rust.

Now you have a Hollander block that's ready for a re-ring kit $275-350 for one depending on what kit you get.

[nascarnate326]

after making a trip to the motor shop, guess its not as bad as I thought.

decisions, decisions..

[meissen]

What all did they say?

[nascarnate326]

Mostly what I already knew. They can do anything from mild to wild.

Going to bring in my motor early next week and have them check everything over.

Going to try and do a light hone, all new bearings, polish crank, and reuse pistons with new rings.

Honestly until they see it making a plan is kind of a waste of time.