blew up LT-4
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 12
From: Chicago Executive Airport, formerly known as Palwaukee
No-IL Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
The LT4 has a different crank than the LT1....a different GM part number anyways...along with all the top end stuff. Not sure about the pistons/rings/rods.
There is a chart somewhere on the web that lists all the differences between an LT1 and LT4.....now where did I see this at????????????
There is a chart somewhere on the web that lists all the differences between an LT1 and LT4.....now where did I see this at????????????
You are correct. Crankshaft, pistons, rings, rods...are all different.
They are designed differently and some are made of different materials.
If you do not mind using an LT1 shortblock, you can make the engine work.
Cheaper to go LT1 route.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,674
Likes: 751
From: NEwhere Ohio
I know you are looking ahead, but let's look back at what caused this.
If the situation that caused this is not corrected, it could possibly happen again..
Oil system?
Fuel system?
Bad pcm? Or spark control?
How many miles on it?
Any mods?
Can you share with us what caused this?
I've been on this forum 10+ years and catastrophic bottom end failures are rare.
If the situation that caused this is not corrected, it could possibly happen again..
Oil system?
Fuel system?
Bad pcm? Or spark control?
How many miles on it?
Any mods?
Can you share with us what caused this?
I've been on this forum 10+ years and catastrophic bottom end failures are rare.
Again, Id like to know what caused this?
A mis-shift (ex. you were trying to go into 5th gear and got 3rd by mistake) ? mechanical mal-function else-where in the system?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: PA
I have the chart on the differences between the LT-1 and LT-4 engines. same block, forged crank in the LT-4, and all the other differences are in the heads and cam.
Oil temp got too high and that's what caused the motor to go... the car was maintained and the oil changed regularly. the car did have 120k on it. Not sure why the oil temp climbed that high or if it was just my lack of monitoring it during the day, when I asked someone about it, the reply was that they ran oil temp one time to 300... now with my past experience I find that hard to believe.
been trying to find a used LT-1 since then, most of what I found has 150k plus on it, still looking but getting disappointed. I did not tear the motor down yet as I don't have the facility to do so right now, soon though.
what's a car like this worth with a blown engine?
Oil temp got too high and that's what caused the motor to go... the car was maintained and the oil changed regularly. the car did have 120k on it. Not sure why the oil temp climbed that high or if it was just my lack of monitoring it during the day, when I asked someone about it, the reply was that they ran oil temp one time to 300... now with my past experience I find that hard to believe.
been trying to find a used LT-1 since then, most of what I found has 150k plus on it, still looking but getting disappointed. I did not tear the motor down yet as I don't have the facility to do so right now, soon though.
what's a car like this worth with a blown engine?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Again, Id like to know what caused this?
They just arent meant to do that for very long.
Keep us posted on the new motor.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
I have the chart on the differences between the LT-1 and LT-4 engines. same block, forged crank in the LT-4, and all the other differences are in the heads and cam.
Oil temp got too high and that's what caused the motor to go... the car was maintained and the oil changed regularly. the car did have 120k on it. Not sure why the oil temp climbed that high or if it was just my lack of monitoring it during the day, when I asked someone about it, the reply was that they ran oil temp one time to 300... now with my past experience I find that hard to believe.
been trying to find a used LT-1 since then, most of what I found has 150k plus on it, still looking but getting disappointed. I did not tear the motor down yet as I don't have the facility to do so right now, soon though.
what's a car like this worth with a blown engine?
Oil temp got too high and that's what caused the motor to go... the car was maintained and the oil changed regularly. the car did have 120k on it. Not sure why the oil temp climbed that high or if it was just my lack of monitoring it during the day, when I asked someone about it, the reply was that they ran oil temp one time to 300... now with my past experience I find that hard to believe.
been trying to find a used LT-1 since then, most of what I found has 150k plus on it, still looking but getting disappointed. I did not tear the motor down yet as I don't have the facility to do so right now, soon though.
what's a car like this worth with a blown engine?
I'll guess you were doing a track day or an auto-x. If so, there are plenty on this forum that have grenaded the bottom end of their LT1s/4s due to oil starvation. High performance street tires or R-Comp tires, a sweeper, and a stock oil pan don't mix.
What the car is worth depends on condition. mileage, etc less the cost of a new or rebuilt engine.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: PA
Thanks everyone for your input. still looking for a motor... will keep you posted... found another LT-4 but with 140K on it,,, still looking for an LT-1 with less mileage and maybe build it up a little.
thanks.
thanks.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
Mileage may not be that big a factor; as a backup "plan B" I got a LT block from a Z28 off of Craigs List for $75.00; don't know the mileage, but the bores appear darn near perfect; be forewarned; not all LT blocks have the 4.00 inch bore.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Better buy two if you continue to run a stock oil pan during track days and/or auto-x with high speed sweepers. Just sayin...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,178
Likes: 15
From: Montreal Quebec
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
You have a couple of options...
As many others have said - you can use an LT1 Bottom end, but FIRST you need to find out what you've got to replace. This means the motor has to come out, and get disassembled. So that should really be step 1. You may have lost a valve spring, and the piston to valve contact caused the rod to fail - this certainly wouldn't be the first time an LT motor had a spring or retainer failure. No way to know what you need until you open it up and look.
If you are planning on tracking the car - something built a bit better than a stock shortblock may be a good idea. One source of LT Motors is Golen Engine Supply. Chad knows those motors darn well !!!
http://www.golenengineservice.com/en...lt1lt4-engines
I firmly agree with the other posts - if driving around a road course at speed is going to be in the car's future after the engine replacement that either a aftermarket oil pan or an Accusump (or both) should be in yor plans. Canton makes s nice pan for the C4's.
As many others have said - you can use an LT1 Bottom end, but FIRST you need to find out what you've got to replace. This means the motor has to come out, and get disassembled. So that should really be step 1. You may have lost a valve spring, and the piston to valve contact caused the rod to fail - this certainly wouldn't be the first time an LT motor had a spring or retainer failure. No way to know what you need until you open it up and look.
If you are planning on tracking the car - something built a bit better than a stock shortblock may be a good idea. One source of LT Motors is Golen Engine Supply. Chad knows those motors darn well !!!
http://www.golenengineservice.com/en...lt1lt4-engines
I firmly agree with the other posts - if driving around a road course at speed is going to be in the car's future after the engine replacement that either a aftermarket oil pan or an Accusump (or both) should be in yor plans. Canton makes s nice pan for the C4's.
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 78
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Just get an L98, stock form you cannot reach 6K rpm easily. As well, you have a 6spd tranny and preferably 3.45 rar. With the six speed you can easily manage to stay in the peak rpm torque of the L98 which is higher than the LT1 and 4.
As well, on your next engine, put some additive in or change the oil more frequent and definately use full synthetic.
Good Luck
As well, on your next engine, put some additive in or change the oil more frequent and definately use full synthetic.
Good Luck