Well on my way home from work Thursday, it started to make noise, and by the time I got home (It is like a 5 minute drive) the wife came out of the house to ask what the horrible noise was. Yep it was that bad. Terminal I was sure. But I was pretty tired. Been working way to many hours. Well I paused, came in the house, and took a break, and got on the local forum. Right a way the offers came in to see if I needed help and would I like them to come look at it. Well after a couple of the guys came over and everyone agreed it must be a rod knocking I knew it was terminal. I just let it sit. It was quiet at idle but if you gave it the least about of gas Knock Knock Knock. So it sat in the driveway nosed in. Well I always back it into the garage to make it easier to get in and out, and in just starting it, and backing down the 20' driveway, and turning around in the street, and backing in the garage, it is now two rods knocking. I am sure just the rod right next to the the one knocking as the bearings destroy themselves. I plan on not starting it again until a couple of weeks from now. I have had offers of use of a couple of guys lifts, and shops so I can get it out and see what is wrong. I am taking it to a guys shop, and am going to pull the engine, and trans. Was planing in the offseason to do a torque converter, and also going to see what I could do about the trans and the engine and all. I do take it to the strip off and on, as well as drive it on the streets.

It is a 1990 with the stock L98. I am going to tear it down and see what all is wrong. I have had quite a few offers for parts and am going to wait till I see what is wrong before I decide what to do. Thought I would share the bad, that way as I update this thread with pictures, and all, it will put even more weight to the damage. Then as I decide what I am going to do, and as it is done, I can post pics of the build up, and then results as once it is broke in, I plan to take and put it on a friends Chassis Dyno so we can see horsepower, and then I will also take it to the track in the spring to show what it can do there.

Any thoughts from the guys on hear are welcome as well. Again I do not know where it will go, but we will see.

 

How many miles on the engine?

 

Just hit 79,000 on it. It spent a ton of time sitting in the California sun before I bought it. On top of that, even though I do drive it back and forth to work just about every day, it is not that far either way.

and yes the oil pressure is High, on the guage it is almost 80% at idle when cold and as it is up to operating temp it goes to about 65% on that guage. It is in the garage so I do not remember how high it is. But the oil pressure never dropped, and it is full, and there is no water in it what so ever.

 

Let me give you a piece of advice. Don't restart an engine that is making that much noise unless you are just curious to see how much worse it can get!

 

Just to confirm, pull the dipstick and check for metal flakes in your oil.

R/Noland

 

Actually the oil is clear and clean. I think there is less than 50 miles on the oil change. No metal flakes, but then I have no intentions of starting or moving the car for a couple weeks. Then I will start it long enough to get it on the trailer from the garage, and then from the trailer to the lift to pull it out. I am positive it is done. I know this sound and it is BAD! Besides to quote Tim Allen isnt it time for MORE POWER anyway?

 

That sucks. It's an chance to make your car faster with a new engine. Were you at the track Friday?

 

I went to the track Friday yes, but in my suburban, and just hung out in the pits and watch the runs. It happened on my way home from work, doing less than 30 miles an hour.

 

Hah. So true..

"What is that?"

"Hey boys, come over here have a listen"

"Rev it up a little dad, see if it goes away"..

-- Joe

 

don't start it !!!!
its difficult to do it
but its rule #1 !!!
Been there,done that