L98 Rebuild?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Springboro OH
Re: L98 Rebuild? (gpagaduan)
I feel your pain as I am working on my L98 right now. I had a gavalanic reaction in my drivers side head, I would assume yours is the same thing or a blown head gasket (I had one of those also). What you should do is what many have said, take the plugs out turn the engine over and see if there is water in a cyl. My guess is yes. From there check the compression, and then pull the heads. Take them to a competent shop and have them check for cracks, etc. Then check the deck height of the pistons, if yours is within a few thousands and the compression was relatively close your bottom end is probably ok. From there focus on the top end, new or rebuilt heads, new cam etc. This assumes that you dont want to go for a new motor, if so follow the great suggestions above, maybe a ZZ-4?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 554
Likes: 1
From: CA
Re: (scorp508)
I took a look at the ZZ4. I'll do some price shopping online tonight and get some magazines tomorrow to find some ads. Can anybody suggest a few places to get a good price on this engine?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: (gpagaduan)
Oh, and one other thing...is this engine legal in California? We have this thing about emissions over here. Thanks
Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
Re: L98 Rebuild? (gpagaduan)
i also have a '90, has about 90k on the engine same thing happen. one cold morning thw smoke was a little thiker than usual. when i got out of class that day it wouldn't start. engine was flooded i guess. used up about a gallon to fill the coolant back up. took it to a shop, expected worst case (new engine) but they did and inspect pulled the head replaced gasket and haven't had a problem yet. it beed about 7 months. hope yours is just the gasket. goodluck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: Bowie MD
Re: L98 Rebuild? (eddieL98)
I found that after researching, all the adds and websites (keyword zz4) that Jim Pace dealership, who advertises in magazines alot and on web, had best overall price when shipping was figured in. I also got a new long water pump, a fuel pump block off plate, new serp belt and water hoses. If you feel after diagnoses that the bottom end is ok, and you think rings and bearings are ok, and that the water didn't cause some other damage to bearing surfaces like crank, cam lifters. Then, maybe you could get by with just a head job and a new head gasket. I knew I was driving another 100k on my corvette and wanted to start fresh and powerful.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 554
Likes: 1
From: CA
Re: L98 Rebuild? (corvette1990)
I just drained the coolant and the oil...and the oil looked like chocolate milk. Hey, when you guys say "bottom end" and "top end", what are you refering to? Is the top end everything inside the valve cover and the bottom end everything inside the engine block? :confused:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: Bowie MD
Re: L98 Rebuild? (gpagaduan)
The dreaded choclate milk syndrome - meaning antifreeze/water got into your oil, and was pumped around through bearings. Antifreeze eats bearings. Hopefully a professional mech is lookin at your engine. You need one for either the rebuild or crate installation. The top end is your Heads and intake. The bottom end is your oil pump, crank, cam , lifters, pistons, rings, cylinderwalls. etc. hope that clears it up as clear as choclate milk. :crazy:
Pro
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
From: Auburn Georgia
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: (gpagaduan)
I took a look at the ZZ4. I'll do some price shopping online tonight and get some magazines tomorrow to find some ads. Can anybody suggest a few places to get a good price on this engine?
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