Long story short took my 97 with 60K on the clock to have a STS installed. Shop called said it put down 300hp to the tire stock with just a Corsa catback. They said it was the strongest LS1 stock they had seen. Also found it was number 246 off the line as was used as a promotional car at one time,sticker from GM in glove box. They call me back after turbo install and say head gaskets blew. I gave go ahead to fix them as I figured that would be the weak link in the motor. Couple of days later they call and say something else is wrong and that they are yanking the engine. Owner says we will work it out and he will make sure I am more that satisfied, so I am cool as I believe that he will take care of me on it. As of this moment I have NO issue with shop and I want to be clear on that! I stopped down there today and they said two rings on 2 of the pistons blew off and that two connecting rods are bent. The kicker is it wasn't on the dyno when it happened. It was being rough tuned when it happened. Valvetrain shows no signs of damage,they have no clue what happened? Anyhow now the engine is in pieces,block at the machine shop. I would like to make upgrades without getting too wild dollars wise. I figure forged pistion and rods and maybe a Z06 cam if I can find a used one somewhere. Might as well do a clutch upgrade as well. I really want to keep this build under 600hp as I am not a hard core racer and would rather not start breaking parts. Any suggestions? How about donation of a Z06 cam and springs...lol! Anybody use those Spec Clutches on ebay? Should I keep this a stock crank engine or stroker crank,I have heard keeping it short stroke works better with turbos and longevity. Thanks for any suggestions or ideas!

 

Check out this build and the parts we used on this C5. http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com...Car.php?car=54
We kept the factory crankshaft and used better rods and pistons, and a Spec Stage 3+ Clutch assembly. Bob

 

Sounds like a bunk tune......gone bad.

pistons/rods/lifters/freshin up heads or replace/arp bolts/arp studs/good rings/more fuel/etc

 

I have my theory that too much fuel was being used to keep it "safe" at first and it hydrolocked it..is that possible?

 

Looks as if I have be able to get my hands on 01 Zo6 cam for just shipping...people on this board are so cool! Anyhow being this is a low dollar build and again 600RWHP is the tops I am shooting for, should that cam,stock heard and forged rods and pistions get me there witout a lot of issue. Any suggestions where to pick up forged rods and pistions on the cheap? What is the biggest bore for stock stroke in the LS1 block?

 

new rods = 600
new pistons = 500
new rings = 150
balance = 200
new bearings = 100
machine work = 800
new main bolts =50
total = 2400.00

new short block 2899.00 - 500 (sell old stuff) = 2399.00
now a warrenty and peace of mind + 1 dollar cheaper. Even without selling the old stuff the 500 would be well spent too me.

rebuilding vs buying a short block has not made much sense to me for a long time.

More Tan Zero

 

No, that didnt happen, my gut would say it was the other way around and leaned it out.

 

I just pray your getting a rough idea of what this shop is going to charge you for labor.

I have seen people take their car to the shop and starts as this and that and ends up being this that and then some. Most times its not the shops fault labor just adds up quickly when other stuff is breaking. And its not so much the parts but the labor goes through the roof. I would make sure your getting good GM MLS head gaskets and not some nappa graphite brand. By the sounds of things shop is putting alot of time into the car now. I hope you know what the labor cost is up to including today so you can figure how much more it may be. It may even be worth it to go down there and square up labor cost to date so it doesn`t feel like a brick hit you...

 

Here's my set up after I lost my rings!

I went with a forged bottom end along with my TFS heads and Comp cam I had in the motor before it went BANG!

Check the list for the parts and it was a relatively inexpensive rebuild on the bottom end.

Keep it the 346 (347 after overbore) and you'll have a blast and a safe 550-600 RWHP Vette!

Matt’s 1998 Corvette LS1 A4 with Heads/Cam
Forged 347 and P1SC ProCharger

Parts List as follows:
Car: 1998 Corvette Coupe/ Black on Black “BLHKPRL”
Front Tires: 245/40/18 GoodYear F1 Run Flats
Rear Tires: 285/35/19 GoodYear F1 Run Flats
Block: Forged 5.7 LS1
Fuel Octane: Pump 91
Displacement: 347 CID
Horse Power and Torque: 639 RWHP & 540 RWTQ - With Methanol
Compression: 10.0:1
Horse Power and Torque: (Est @ Crank) 780 HP & 658 TQ
Heads: TFS Heads 215's
Valves: Stainless
Camshaft: 224/228 581" 588" lift 114 LSA
Rocker Arms: Harland Sharp 1.7 RR's
Pistons: Manley Forged/ A&C Rings
Crankshaft: Stock/Polished/Balanced
Rods: SCAT Forged
Intake manifold: LS6 Manifold
Throttle Body: Stock Ported and Polished by LAPD
Fuel Injectors: LUCAS 42lb Injectors (Flow Matched)
Fuel Pump: LPE Fuel Pump W/ MAGNAVOLT BAP
Ignition: Stock Coil Packs/ MSD Wires/ NGK TR55’s
Cooling: MEZIERE Electric Water Pump/180* Stat
Engine Management: Stock PCM W/2-BAR MAP Sensor/Hp Tuners by Charlie @ RPM Motors
Air Filter: K&N from ProCharger
Power Adder: P1SC-1 - W/3.2" Pulley and A&A 2nd Gen Bracket
Maximum Boost: 11.8 PSI of B@@ST
Intercooler: ProCharger Twin Intercoolers W/ AlkyControl Methanol Kit
Exhaust: KOOKS Headers 1 3/4"/Hi-Flow Cats/X-Pipe/Titanium Z06 Exhaust
Transmission: Stock A4 (New Solenoids/3 Trans Flushes)
Torque Converter: YANK 3200 Stall
Driveshaft: Stock
Rear End: 3.42 Rear Gear
Front Brakes: Wildwood Drilled and Slotted
Rear Brakes: Wildwood Drilled and Slotted
Front Suspension: C6 Z51 Sway Bars/ C5 Z51 Shocks/ Stock Springs
Rear Suspension: C6 Z51 Sway Bars/ C5 Z51 Shocks/ Stock Springs
Wheels: C6 Z06 Replicas 18x9.5 Front / 19x11 Rears
Current Mileage: 89,000


Thanks,Matt

 

Good advice and good luck.

 

Block is good...Looks like we are going with 347ci.,stock crank, Scat forged rods and Speed-Pro forged pistions. A member at Corvette forum is donating a 01 Z06 cam and matching valvetrain with only 5K miles on them. Figure its apart so Spec 3-4 clutch also. Anyone see 550-600 RWHP being a problem on conservative tune? I would like to avoid meth injection if at all possible as this is more of a weekend toy than anything else. Again we are using a STS twin setup that has a large intercooler, stock exhaust manifolds and no cats! It is going into a 97 Vette Z-51 6 speed ...I believe 3:42 gears. Any guesses on actual RWHP and what it should run in the 1/4?

 

I would toss the 97 block in the scrap heap and go with a new block/rotating assembly.A decent one costs 3200-3600.

 

Looks as if all said and done I am looking at STS system installed and 346 stock crank,scat forged rods, speed pro forged stock replacements (I will explain at end),balanced,stock heads w/afr bolts, (donated) 01 Z06 springs and retainers, 01 Z06 cam (donated),timming chain and gears and oil pump (also donated for 01 Z06 with 8K miles),New Spec 3+ clutch,Stock manifolds ,No cats...$10,300...installed. Going with stock compression to keep more power under the curve. Anyone care to comment on what power one could expect with conservite tune. Had also considereed E85 tune but would need bigger injectors! Mind you I didn't have to turn a bolt to get to this point. Does it seems like a fair resolution to the above situation? Thanks for your opinions!

 

if this includes the price of the STS kit then it is a great deal if not then you are spending about 6k on labor which IMO is high, but then you seem bent on doing what you are doing so I will not comment any more about that part.

if you are running the stock 6 psi springs on the STS kit you should be able to get 500rwhp out of it.

Good Luck

 

also if you are talking about a 97 block you do know that the 97/98s are the weakest ls1 block out there? the 99/00s are the strongest followed by the ls6 (all replacment blocks and post 2000 blocks).

just FYI

 

This does include the STS twin turbo kit with intercooler and a few other upgrades,and them pulling,building and installing new motor. Then of course they are going to put in a new clutch and tune it. We were at $6K to do just the STS before engine blew.