LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil?
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Safety Car
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From: Austin Texas
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil?
I may be purchasing a 1996 Corvette lt-4 that was converted into a 396 Stroker. The guy says it burns about a quart of oil every 500 miles. Is this normal or do you think there is a bigger problem? He had the rings replaced but it still burns oil. The engine was rebuilt in 1997 with 5000 miles on it. The car now has 34,000 miles. Any advice would be appreciated.
Michael :confused:
Michael :confused:
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From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
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Re: LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil? (meyre1)
:nono: :nono: NO GOOD
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From: Chicago Suburbs
Re: LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil? (meyre1)
Chances are the builder did not finish the cylinders smooth enough. In the old days they didn't use moly rings which are softer. The machine shop obviously didn't know this was a newer motor with moly rings and put to corse of a finish on the bores. A ring gap check will tell if the rings are worn out and to do this requires tearing down the motor. :cry
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil? (weracemo)
Chances are the builder did not finish the cylinders smooth enough. In the old days they didn't use moly rings which are softer. The machine shop obviously didn't know this was a newer motor with moly rings and put to corse of a finish on the bores. A ring gap check will tell if the rings are worn out and to do this requires tearing down the motor.
Thats a GROSS MISCONCEPTION. Trust me, any engine shop working on an LT-1 is not doing it 'old day' style. Due to the stroker pistons high pin height and thin piston top, they are using very thin racing rings, yes, they are more than likely moly...I would bet you won't find any NOT moly. Bore finish makes little difference...in fact, a moly ring will seat better with a rougher finish than a smooth finish.
This all leads us to the real problem...they are using racing rings, as they are the only ones that will fit! That means low tension designed for racing...which translates to low mileage motor that gets torn down weekly or monthly, NOT the best design for a street engine with thousands of miles.
Im sure that a perfectly machined block with the right stroker pistons and exceptionally good ring set (means you got a lucky batch) may work fine for 10, 20 or even 30K miles...but thats even pushing it.
[Modified by BBA, 8:17 PM 11/17/2002]
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From: Chicago Suburbs
Re: LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil? (BBA)
Ok while I disagree about the finish of the bore with (BBA) as it is very important to finish the bore as to the piston ring manufacturers recommendations, I have my motors finished with Sunnen C30-C03-81 stones in a power hone and I polish the walls smooth making sure to use head plates with head bolts torqued to exactly what spec will be used on the car. (It helps to make friends with a machine shop)
In any case we both agree it is the rings and that is the point so :crazy:
get that car and get the motor out and fix it...he he he
In any case we both agree it is the rings and that is the point so :crazy:
get that car and get the motor out and fix it...he he he
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Houston TX
Re: LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil? (388 SOLid RoLLeR)
probably has wrong rod/stroke ratio. causing piston to have problems sealing. as him what rod length is in it.
Everyone has addressed ring seal, insofar as the final hone on the cylinder walls. How about ring end gap? Too loose, you smoke. Too tight, you get a broken ring, and you smoke. It's a possibility. Either way, I wouldn't pay a dime for that engine.
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From: Mississauga ONT
Re: LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil? (fullboogie)
ok maybe rod/stroke ratio was the wrong term i was reffering to. What i meant was that theres a reason Lingenfelter reccomends a certain rod length for LT1 motors. After speaking to him, he reasured me that using a xxx inch rod on my 388 would indeed cause it to burn oil.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Jacksonville Fl
Re: LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil? (388 SOLid RoLLeR)
After speaking to him, he reasured me that using a xxx inch rod on my 388 would indeed cause it to burn oil.
Melting Slicks
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From: Murrysville PA
Re: LT-4 396 Stroker burning oil? (ski_dwn_it)
More Performance told me that under normal driving conditions I can expect to burn about a quart every 800 to 1000 miles. He uses a low tension oil ring. The compression rings on the 396 are both 1 /16". They are Speed Pro-file fit with a .017" gap on top and a .015" gap on the second one (or vice vera I have to check the build sheet). Piston to wall clearance is .003".
I burn about a quart every 500-800 miles or so but I run this thing hard.
I burn about a quart every 500-800 miles or so but I run this thing hard.
