I've been pushing this with the most common excuse (I'll do it next weekend). We had excellent weather in SoCal today and I got off my *** and started this issue. Since my rebuild, I had a small oil leak. Yes, it was/is from the infamous LT1 location. This engine has 8,000 miles since its rebuild.

Started with draining the Dexcool and yes, I made a heck of a mess

After I remove the basic; air ducts, disconnect all plugs it was time to remove the Camber Brace. If you have
one, you know how delightful it can be.



SONOFA8ITCH



The lovely water pump bolt behind the PS pump pulley.



H2O Pump out



This is the H2O pump oil seal. I installed it wrong to begin with. I did it wrong on my 95 3 years ago and I did it wrong
in my 96. I did not use the special tool, if you dont use it, the seals bends backwards and it doesn't seal...duh!



You will wonder why I dont get the balancer out of the way. The LT4 balancer is thicker that all others LT engines
and to remove it completely, you have to loose the rack & pinion. I was not going to do that today.



LT engines 92-96 Cancer



Obviously the Opti oil seal was leaking oil.







The J39087 Special Tool. "Shaft Front Cover Seal Protector"






New H2O Seal





Don't forget to install the new O-Rings for the H2O pump's shaft and the Opti's shaft.



Oil Seals Installed, no RTV. Yes, it was a PITA to do it with the engine inside.



I've done this few times, I got the opti in at the first intent. YEAH Baby--



The balancer is back up, tighten 3 bolts to 63 lbs ft.



I'll finish tomorrow. Its going to leak again anyways

 

Great write up Pete.

 

Great job Pete. There's always tomorrow.
And no, it won't leak. I've put the canine mojo on it for you.

 

Good job Pete!

 

Nice job FWIW, you can remove the damper by raising the engine an inch or so. Just remove the engine mount nut on each side, jack the engine, and out comes the damper.

 

Thanks Jim. This is good to know for the next time. Freaking LT engines, reminds me of the only animal on earth that bleeds every 28 days.

 

Hope you got it this time Pete! Sure makes me glad I went with the EWP though.

 

If this sucker leaks again, I'm going EH2OP for sure. That would be major surgery because I'll have to remove the timing chain to remove the shaft but, I'm a C4 surgeon anyways.

 

...14 days later thanks to the cold and rain finished it today.

This were I left of, the H2O pump was installed and torqued to specs.




The Camber Brace would not fit, I had to raise the Vette at the crossmember for it to "stretch" and for the shim to fit.



Water hoses and connections up.



Fill up with Dexcool, bleed system and test drive.



I'll drive more tomorrow then, I'll inspect and find out if this "surgery" was a success or fail.

This was my Christmas present.

 

You do nice work Pete.

 

Were the oil seals leaking and thats why the bottom of the opti was greasy?

 

He said that his waterpump & opti seals were leaking.What happens is oil from that location leaks down & gets on crank balancer & the spinning of the balancer throws the oil thus causing bottom of opti to be wet & I'm sure there was oil thrown on the ground & in the engine compartment

 

What no drain line for the weep hole so the opti doesn't get a bath one day.

 

great write up. Thanks!

 

Pete, you are truly an LT guru!

 

Yes

It happened right away. I either installed the seal wrong or it came defective.

no



I love working on LT engines.

"Since 1997"

There is one thing I have not done yet...

Remove an Automatic Transmission

My 95 is auto, they day "may" come.