Lt1 still down

[klrlt1]

This link might help you guys out http://shbox.com/page/index.html

[Rome]

SO i don't know where you got your opti....but. i just had mine replaced twice, yes TWICE. the first one that i bought(Directly from chevy) was bad straight out of the box. so we went to chevy argued a little and they swapped it for me. new one went in perfect started right up and ran like a bat outta hell. so it might be that simple

[Phantom409]

Timing problem?

Computer controlled Darren

Sounds like the opti is on wrong if the plug wires are right.

[.DetroitKing.]

I think i have hopefully ended my search in finding my problem thanks to kyle ( phantom 383 )
Heads are warped from the motor over heating on the old head gaskets, so i am having the heads sent out to be decked again this Tuesday if all goes well

[Phantom409]

Have the valves and all checked too.

That compression is going somewhere??

[Phantom409]

And so everyone knows why we/I think the heads are bad is because he had the wrong head bolts and I believe with the car over heating that it warped the head's.

Then unbolting them let them spring and then he torqued them down again.
I believe that they are not making a good seal.

[JoeliusZ28]

id say you guys are on the right track, nice work.

[98blackbeauty]

which bolts did he use torque to yeild, or hardend bolts, or wrong bolts that were to long?

[98blackbeauty]

Interesting story, I'm assembling my bird and passenger side head goes on No Problem, torque to 65 lbs on 3rd pass. Drivers side I'm torqueing the 3rd pass and snap "new head bolt" breaks. WTF this is why I bought new bolts. So pull head and there was enough jaged edge that I carefully used a punch and taped bolt end out. so decide to use on old head bolt and proceed. Old bolts were tempered grade 8. Doing 3rd pass another fu*%^n head bolt breaks. This on was in different position. Now I am really PI$$ed off. 1. because I had 2 bolts break and 2 because I bought a good brand and not ARP's. So now I look closely at the bolts and the first set is grade 8 hardened bolts. the 2nd set is part hardened (the short ones) and part no marks (reg bolts). So I take them back to Auto Parts Store and they look at that set and was like WTF. They refunded my money on the set of bolts, gave me new head gaskets, to be safe since I sort of compressed the 1st set, and gave me a can of brake cleaner and copper spray. I was impressed that they went the extra step to make up for the defective bolts, even though it wasn't their fault. That was good customer service! something we don't see a lot of today. So now I am reinstalling head.
EDIT: before I did original install I had run a tap down and made sure the bolt holes threads were clean.

[.DetroitKing.]

wow larry that's a pretty unfortunate head bolt story, haha.

The problem was though i re-used tty bolts ( first problem )
and these kids helping me kinda jammed the LONG bolts into the ends of the cylinder head where the two MEDIUM bolts go. 8-O

[Phantom409]

wow larry that's a pretty unfortunate head bolt story, haha.

The problem was though i re-used tty bolts ( first problem )
and these kids helping me kinda jammed the LONG bolts into the ends of the cylinder head where the two MEDIUM bolts go. 8-O

And that is why I don't let peeps help me build motors.
You can watch and learn but you can't touch.

[Gottork]

wow, I know how frustrating new engines can be though.. good luck to you..

[.DetroitKing.]

Yesterday kyle (mp81) and I busted our ass and got my heads off in about 2 1/2 hours! just got back from dropping them off at the machine shop and had them check the deck on them .. im not even going to say how bad it is but it IS fixable, I was only charged $45 a head and they will be ready for pickup by tomorrow! im picking up new head gaskets again tomorrow and Tuesday im planning to put everything back together and fire it up again finally. Kyle took some pictures during all this because we know how everyone loves pictures

[MP81]

Yeah, I'd saw we made some good time getting those heads off starting with a full engine...and I thought it'd be a lot harder, but it wasn't too bad.

Here's the pictures:

Valvecovers, rockers and pushrods all off:


The car sitting jacked up, taking a break:


Ready to take the heads off:


Intake, tools, and bolt organization:


Driver side head off:


His heads have Herpes


Optifail:


Cylinders, driver head removed. Coolant alert!:


Both heads off now:



Check out the valve discoloration...




Passenger side cylinders:


Awaiting new heads:

[Gottork]

good luck