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OP: out of curiosity, how the hell did you convince the dealer to let you keep the old engine? Unless things have changed in the 25 years since I worked for GM Parts, they always wanted the warranty items back.
He had to keep it a couple of months after they put in my warranty engine. GM didn't want it back, and he didn't want it to continue have it laying around. I guess GM has several LS7s returned with rod bearing failure or valve guide failure. They didn't need another one, especially since cars aren't produced with that engine anymore.
Score!
He had to keep it a couple of months after they put in my warranty engine. GM didn't want it back, and he didn't want it to continue have it laying around. I guess GM has several LS7s returned with rod bearing failure or valve guide failure. They didn't need another one, especially since cars aren't produced with that engine anymore.
Score!
Score indeed, and that is really good to know. Back when I was there, they wanted every single part back, no exceptions. If things have changed it is time to give my friend in the business a call and have him snag a LS7 for me.
Score indeed, and that is really good to know. Back when I was there, they wanted every single part back, no exceptions. If things have changed it is time to give my friend in the business a call and have him snag a LS7 for me.
I should mention that I'm real good friends with the service manager, and good friends with the owner of the dealership.
It's a small town.
I finished the tear down today. Like I said, the LS engine is different. The engine is tight, even after 7000 miles. It was very difficult to rotate the engine with pistons, rods, and Cam. But after removing the pistons, rods, and camshaft, it still took 60 lb ft to rotate the crank. There are six bolts for every main cap! Take a look at the rod bearings and the crank main bearings. It doesn’t look like the other rod bearings were going to last long. The middle main cap has a larger bearing like what is usually in the back of a gen 1 small block. Is the thrust bearing in the middle of the block?!!!! The two rods that discolored don’t look bad! Can they be reconditioned? The crank looks great except where the rod bearings spun. My next step is to see if the crank can be saved and repaired, and the same for the two rods. Then I’ll have the block lightly honed and cleaned. Look at the tiny rod bolts.
Those should be titanium rods. You might find that the dark color is baked-on oil and it comes off when they're run through a blast cabinet. Crank looks like it will take a turn, no big visible grooves cut into it.
Make sure you have that block line honed before it goes back together!
Good for you, being able to keep it. That's several thousand dollars worth of parts, even unassembled!
Just curious on what the root cause of this is. I don't spend much time over in the other forums or LS forums but is this common on the LS7 motors? what is the fix if this is an issue. That crank on the rod journals looks ugly. Hopefully it can clean up.
Save a few dollars on rod bearings vs replace LS7 long blocks? Obviously not one of GM better ideas. Yikes!
No kidding! At least I don't have that worry with my 10C6Z06....just exhaust valves breaking and blowing the LS7 engine. Mine has 4,200 miles on it and I have to get to the head fix one of these days.....
Save a few dollars on rod bearings vs replace LS7 long blocks? Obviously not one of GM better ideas. Yikes!
Hey Gordon!
Actually GM wanted to sell the 2013 427 Corvette Convertible in Europe, so only the 2013 LS7 has "lead free" rod bearings. These bearings are failing at a phenomenal rate, some say 25%. Of course mine failed one week after I purchased it, because I put my foot all the way into it. Fortunately, the car was still under the original warranty, and they put a new Z28 Camaro LS7 in with leaded bearings. I guess the cheap thing GM did was not to test these lead free bearings. They should do the right expensive thing and recall all 2013 LS7s and replace the rod bearings. I'm told its not if they will fail, but when they will fail.
Bee Jay
Hey Gordon!
Actually GM wanted to sell the 2013 427 Corvette Convertible in Europe, so only the 2013 LS7 has "lead free" rod bearings. These bearings are failing at a phenomenal rate, some say 25%. Of course mine failed one week after I purchased it, because I put my foot all the way into it. Fortunately, the car was still under the original warranty, and they put a new Z28 Camaro LS7 in with leaded bearings. I guess the cheap thing GM did was not to test these lead free bearings. They should do the right expensive thing and recall all 2013 LS7s and replace the rod bearings. I'm told its not if they will fail, but when they will fail.
Bee Jay
A couple things. I wonder how all the European manufacturers deal with this same bearing material restriction.
I agree that there's probably going to be others who will have or had the same luck/experience with this issue. But also, there's no shortage of Corvette owners who buy these things for the image (and the ability to carry a bag of golf clubs), and these cars are rarely ever going to see any serious hard driving, so I would be surprised if your engine failure experience isn't in the minority of owners.
...and they put a new Z28 Camaro LS7 in with leaded bearings
Please fill us in on this - I was under the impression that the ONLY car that ever got an LS7 was the Z06...never heard of a Camaro getting one from the factory.
Please do. Interested. Also going to run up the bill getting all the added dry sump pieces and all the "rest" of the motor. It will be worth it though. I would have the heads cleaned up and put in a better cam. You will easily have over 600HP.
Please fill us in on this - I was under the impression that the ONLY car that ever got an LS7 was the Z06...never heard of a Camaro getting one from the factory.
2006–2013 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
2008 Spada Codatronca
2013 Corvette 427 Convertible
2007 CSV GTS
2008 HSV W427
2012 New Zealand V8SuperTourer
2014-2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
Vertical Hummingbird helicopter[14]
2012–present Falcon F7
2014 Korres P4
Please do. Interested. Also going to run up the bill getting all the added dry sump pieces and all the "rest" of the motor. It will be worth it though. I would have the heads cleaned up and put in a better cam. You will easily have over 600HP.
One tank and two lines is all I need. I’ll put the tank here, where my Accusump is now.
02-07-2018, 02:04 PM
