C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Terrible pinging at operating temperature

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Old Sep 10, 2006 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by DarkMatter
Think I should chuck the original in and see what's up??

-DM
I would.
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 08:49 AM
  #82  
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Well, I swapped out the PCM's. It runs rougher at cold start-up, but settles the pinging down. It doesn't completely kill it off though. She starts up again and the knock sensor kicks in with the oil temps up around 230. Also, the oil temp is 230 while the coolant is still 200-ish. That seems like a pretty big disparity.

I'm going to do a compression test on her in a little bit. Will report back the readings.

-DM
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Old Sep 12, 2006 | 09:44 AM
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Cylinder 5: 215 PSI
Cylinder 2: 211 PSI

Engine temp 215-ish



-DM
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Old Sep 14, 2006 | 08:48 AM
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And what are they meant to be?? A 4 psi difference doesnt seem all that important to me.

EDIT: I just looked in my service manual, it says none should be under 100psi, and the lowest should be within 70% of the highest. So just so i know why youre about yours, what sort of pressure are you expecting??

Last edited by Casethecorvetteman; Sep 14, 2006 at 09:14 AM.
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Old Sep 14, 2006 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by DarkMatter
Cylinder 5: 215 PSI
Cylinder 2: 211 PSI

Engine temp 215-ish



-DM
Those are fine.
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Old Sep 14, 2006 | 12:15 PM
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From memory, the rule of thumb is the difference between the highest reading and the lowest reading shouldn't exceed 10%.

The actual readings (numbers) depend on several variables, such as camshaft overlap, compression ratio, ring seal, etc.

Jake
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Old Sep 14, 2006 | 02:36 PM
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OK. Did the math. With a 58cc head,.064compression height and a -12cc piston, you should have 10.21:1 compression. If the heads are SMALLER by 5cc youd get 10.92:1. Either way it aint too high on comp. BTW, do we have a scanner on this thing yet? We cant tell nuthin without some scan data. Get a scanner on that thing before you aint got no pistons left. Stop messin with it till you do.
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Old Sep 14, 2006 | 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
And what are they meant to be?? A 4 psi difference doesnt seem all that important to me.
Within 4 pounds is great. That is WAAAY less than 10%, but the readings are about 30 psi too high. My best guess is that the cam isn't installed properly.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Sep 14, 2006 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
Within 4 pounds is great. That is WAAAY less than 10%, but the readings are about 30 psi too high. My best guess is that the cam isn't installed properly.

RACE ON!!!
If the cam was installed too far advanced, by let's say by 4 degrees, that could account for the higher readings.

Jake
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
Within 4 pounds is great. That is WAAAY less than 10%, but the readings are about 30 psi too high. My best guess is that the cam isn't installed properly.

RACE ON!!!
Thanks mate, thats what i thought
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
Within 4 pounds is great. That is WAAAY less than 10%, but the readings are about 30 psi too high. My best guess is that the cam isn't installed properly.

RACE ON!!!
Hmmm, too kigh? That's about the same readings I'm getting from my stock short block heads/cam LT1.
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by STL94LT1
Hmmm, too kigh? That's about the same readings I'm getting from my stock short block heads/cam LT1.
215 psi? A stock LT1? Maybe your cam needs to be degreed, too, or maybe it's time to buy a new compression gauge.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 02:03 PM
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I think he means his short block is stock, and the heads and cam upgraded parts.
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by STL94LT1
Hmmm, too kigh? That's about the same readings I'm getting from my stock short block heads/cam LT1.
Thats normally what we see. 225-230
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Casethecorvetteman
I think he means his short block is stock, and the heads and cam upgraded parts.
You may be right. It is hard to be sure the way it is written,

Originally Posted by STL94LT1
Hmmm, too kigh? That's about the same readings I'm getting from my stock short block heads/cam LT1.
I assumed an "and" after, "short block". You are saying to assume a "with". It could have been more clearly written.

I have to admit to not taking compression reading from many fresh engines. Leak down tests, yes, but not compression tests. Still 215 psi cranking pressure, and up, sounds like a way too high dynamic compression ratio. I still think if it isn't a poorly selected camshaft, it is poorly installed.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 03:15 PM
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I've seen 9:1 motors with baby cams have 230 psi cranking. I've also seen 12.5:1 motors with racing cams have 175 psi cranking. We dont place too much value in the actual #s, more in that they're all the same. For diagnostic purposes its more about HOW it makes compression, usually first pulse amount. Leak down testing is also very valuable info, but not really pertinent (typo?) here. I think we're on the wrong path here. I'd definately like to see some scan data. Whats the fuel trim #s? if it pings on 100 octane, its got serious problems. I could see the quench area being an issue, but its definately not too much comp.
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
215 psi? A stock LT1? Maybe your cam needs to be degreed, too, or maybe it's time to buy a new compression gauge.

RACE ON!!!
A few cylinders were 220. I'm pretty sure the compression gauge was accurate. I borrowed it from Jim Mason a Boeing Engineer that is pretty **** about his tools.

To be a little more clear: Stock short block, CNC ported heads, Imp. SS head gaskets, 224/230 605/622 112+2 camshaft. Normally when people say heads/cam, they mean the heads have been ported and the camshaft was changed. At least that's my understanding of the term.

-Mike

Last edited by STL94LT1; Sep 15, 2006 at 04:47 PM.
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 04:42 PM
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What have your spark plugs been looking like through all of this? Are they all the same, bone white? Do any of them look very different from the others? Have you seen any "pepper" specks on them? Are you using a plug with the stock heat range?

I don't know very much beyond tuning for an L98, but it sounds like it needs to be tweaked, especially if you are seeing a difference when you install the stock PCM.

Does it continue to do this only when the engine is hot?
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 09:33 PM
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Originally Posted by STL94LT1
Normally when people say heads/cam, they mean the heads have been ported and the camshaft was changed. At least that's my understanding of the term.

-Mike
I agree,but when someone says:
Originally Posted by STL94LT1
from my stock short block heads/cam LT1.
With no commas or clarifying words, like "with", it appears that "stock" refers to the short block, the heads and the cam.



edcmat-l1 I've seen 9:1 motors with baby cams have 230 psi cranking. I've also seen 12.5:1 motors with racing cams have 175 psi cranking.
I said it first, that the compression ratio is the lesser factor in the cranking pressure, but I have a 9:1 engine with a baby cam that has 170# cranking pressure. Admittedly with little experience checking the compression on fresh engines, it seems like 215# and up indicates too high a dynamic compression ratio for regular street use on pump gas. Too many people think that is wrong, so I will withdraw the point.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Sep 15, 2006 | 09:58 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
I agree,but when someone says:With no commas or clarifying words, like "with", it appears that "stock" refers to the short block, the heads and the cam.



I said it first, that the compression ratio is the lesser factor in the cranking pressure, but I have a 9:1 engine with a baby cam that has 170# cranking pressure. Admittedly with little experience checking the compression on fresh engines, it seems like 215# and up indicates too high a dynamic compression ratio for regular street use on pump gas. Too many people think that is wrong, so I will withdraw the point.

RACE ON!!!
I'm still not convinced though. With a short enough cam, a small enough chamber, a thin enough HG and the cam advanced you MAY see those numbers, but based on what I've so far, they still seem high to me.

Jake
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