Pulled heads and need advice L98
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Pennsville NJ
Pulled heads and need advice L98
Today I pulled the heads( lot of work for a novice) anyhow the head gaskets were eaten up both sides. The #7 cylinder has a score running up one side it is visable and I can feel it. A little history- last week went to start up and the starter bound up then after a minute she turned over fine started the blew alot of white smoke,#7 must have been full of antifreeze. My machinest who is good and done work for me in the past won't be in until Monday. Has someone here any idea what I might be in for? I have a "89" L98 with 93K I was planning to have the heads gone over and tested, now I guess the motor must come out.Thanks for any thoughts! Pete
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,589
Likes: 0
From: DrunkDefender
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
CI-IV AutoX Champ
CI-IV Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '07-'10
If you can feel the groove in the cylinder wall you're gonna need to go through the bottom end. How much you sink into it depends alot on your ability and access to tools and some friends with mechanical ability. I'm pretty sure that Superior Chevrolet and Scoggins-Dickey have L98 shortblocks for $1350 or there-abouts. You could allways go that route and have your heads mildly worked, mild cam and go back with the stock intake for now, then swap it out later. You're gonna have to have your heads checked out anyways. They're probably warped slightly and need to be milled. Might as well have em do a mild street port joband a 3 angle valve job, new seals, guides etc on them if your machine shop is any good. If you did all the other work yourself you could get out easy for under $3000. If you've been smoking the go fast crack pipe and have the horsepower addiction like many of us you could do a 383 right about now too. You can get a decent eagle rotating assembly for about a grand, then figure machine work and assembly, bearing, freeze plugs and a few other minor items. You could possibly build a budget 383 shortblock for under $2000 that has pretty decent internals.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
If you can feel the score with your fingernail, that is not a good sign. If you can grab the score with your fingernail fairly well, you'll need an overbore. Costs go up from there.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,532
Likes: 7
From: Lahaina Hi
You broke a piston ring and maybe spunn a bearing.
Bore the block 30 over to a 355 or bigger.
Install a 4340 forged crank and pistons ,rods.
Install cam and go racing after heads ported and polished.
Junk the bottom end and order a long block and your done.
Bore the block 30 over to a 355 or bigger.
Install a 4340 forged crank and pistons ,rods.
Install cam and go racing after heads ported and polished.
Junk the bottom end and order a long block and your done.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Pennsville NJ
Thanks for all the reply's!
I am going to take the motor out and have things looked over. Then see where to go. I believe a stroker is in order. What would be my best bet and should cam, lifters and springs be upgraded to?
