Engine Damage
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 33
From: Charlotte Michigan
Engine Damage
Yesterday I finally got to check out my '93 Ruby for overheating back in June. I did try to start it and run it for a few seconds to mix oil for the sample I was taking. First observation was water being blown out of the surge tank under pressure letting me know that I have a blown head gasket and when I drained the oil water came out first. So now I will need to look for another engine rather than rebuild to get it back on the road. Other years of engines may be LT1's but each year are not the same as well as those from other GM vehicles. I want to keep it stock and as economical for the repair as possible. My failure to fully check things over and my stuborness to press on while driving it when it became hot has led to my circumstances I now find myself in. I suppose it would be an opportunity for a higher horespower engine plus costing more maybe the only choice I may have, or selling it as is and take a loss. So some idea's from others ??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 33
From: Charlotte Michigan
Have 100,481 miles on the car. I am worried about heads being warped. Oil temp reached 312 degrees. When I had it started yesterday there was no oil pressure for the 20 seconds i ran it but sensor may have melted. We do have a good engine shop (Dowkers) that builds a lot of race engines for dirt tracks, but is usually pretty busy doing that and may not want to work on a LT1 engine, seems like they are becoming extinct.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,082
Likes: 50
From: Palmdale CA
I would drain all fluids, remove both heads for a good inspection/rework.
Your oil pressure coming up slowely could be that the oil pump was trying to pump pure antifreeze that was laying on the bottom; below the oil. This would Raise concerns about bearings...but just give it a try. Worse case you do the bottom end later.
Don't let it set or you will have corrosion problems.
Your oil pressure coming up slowely could be that the oil pump was trying to pump pure antifreeze that was laying on the bottom; below the oil. This would Raise concerns about bearings...but just give it a try. Worse case you do the bottom end later.
Don't let it set or you will have corrosion problems.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Warping is nt a big deal easily fixed. Make sure they are not cracked some overlook that only to put it back together and have it leak.
One member here has had his apart a few times over that
Hope youre bearings are Ok. Water has no lubricity
One member here has had his apart a few times over that
Hope youre bearings are Ok. Water has no lubricity
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: South Lake Tahoe CA
Keep the motor. You will have to pull the entire engine down, inspect the engine, more than likely you will need to quickly run a hone through the cylinders, I'm willing to bet you have about 0.020 warp on at least one of the heads. If you got water coming out the drain plug, you have a good chance of washing the bearings. You can check the head surface with any true straight edge. I start by going end to end and sliding across the head, then check corner to corner.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,008
From: Texas
Pull the heads, have them checked, resurfaced, cleaned, and bolt them back on with new head gaskets. $800-$1000. You can do this over the course of two weekends....1st weekend: half day to remove the heads and another half day to clean everything up. 2nd weekend: half day to reinstall. Take lots of pics so you know where parts go (especially the brackets that bolt to the exhaust manifolds and the vacuum lines & sensors on the intake).
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Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Callaway MD
Just went through this on a 92 C4 I inherited (Grirl friends car) and it had 132K on the motor. Was pumping about a gallon of antifreeze out every 50 miles. I drove it like that just to get it home. Everyone in the area quoated me $2k to just R&R the heads. Did some shopping around and found a complete LT1 at a Corvette salvage yard for $2k which included shipping. The motor only had 60k on it, seemed like the best bang for my buck not know the condition of the old motor thinking I had pretty much toasted it driving it that way. Spent 4 days swapping engines and it now runs great. Tore the old motor down and all I found was bad gaskets. No cracks and minimal warpage that a good machine shop can fix. Even the bearing on the crank and rods wearn't bad, thank synthetic oil for that. Already have a buyer for the old motor and it will be gone for $400.00 bucks this weekend. Counting the spare parts I received with the new motor, starter, A/C compressor, Alt, I'd say it was a good deal and the car is back on the road.
Terry
Terry