ouch! engine went boom!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 205
Likes: 2
From: buffalo center iowa
ouch! engine went boom!
Was fracturing a couple laws a few weeks ago in my d1sc 402 vette and, well, got it apart and it ain't good. The pistons in the block were never ment for boost (slp 402 I didn't build it, bought it this way) and two of them let go and a couple other had the ringlands going to hell. took out the block and one of the heads, crank and rods are ok I guess. My question is, do I just buy a whole new short block or use what parts are good? I got an estimate and it is painfull to say the least. I got the money, thats not the issue. Are a set of custom je pistons really 1500 bucks? I think I could get a really good shortblock for 5k, couldn't I and have all new again. I don't want to put the price of the estimate on here. The place giving me the estimate is very well know and they seem like really nice guys.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 205
Likes: 2
From: buffalo center iowa
well, they want 13500 to fix it, 1895 of that is a rps clutch. I am seriously thinking about putting it back to stock right now, it is a rare car. I just can't get my mind around spending that much for a block, pistons, and heads. I could completely restore my 71 camaro for that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 3
From: port Orange FL
well, they want 13500 to fix it, 1895 of that is a rps clutch. I am seriously thinking about putting it back to stock right now, it is a rare car. I just can't get my mind around spending that much for a block, pistons, and heads. I could completely restore my 71 camaro for that.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,066
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Buy a short block have it build for what you are going to be using it for. Then sell the parts from your motor that are good. Will come out better like this. 
This way you know what the bottom end is and not someone that says they can build you a short block, and really dont know **** on putting one of these bottom ends together..... Just my 2 cents
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
Buy a short block have it build for what you are going to be using it for. Then sell the parts from your motor that are good. Will come out better like this. This way you know what the bottom end is and not someone that says they can build you a short block, and really dont know **** on putting one of these bottom ends together..... Just my 2 centsYour motor probley blew do to a bad tune like 95% of the ones I see destroyed on here.
Pick up a meth kit and then enjoy 800 rwhp and call it a day.
Last edited by Wicked C5; May 1, 2009 at 09:42 PM.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 205
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From: buffalo center iowa
car has meth on it, I think the tune was good, it had 700rwhp. without the clutch its 11500 basically. 1500 in and out charge, 1000 to machine new block, 1900 to cnc heads and put in ss valves, 600 for valve springs, 1500 for je pistons and rings, 850 for fabrication (which it doesn't need). I will call and discuss this with them, I can get a whole ls6 for 6k, put it back to stock and be done with it. The slp pistons never were ment to have any boost, that is what led to the problem, ringlands gave out.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
car has meth on it, I think the tune was good, it had 700rwhp. without the clutch its 11500 basically. 1500 in and out charge, 1000 to machine new block, 1900 to cnc heads and put in ss valves, 600 for valve springs, 1500 for je pistons and rings, 850 for fabrication (which it doesn't need). I will call and discuss this with them, I can get a whole ls6 for 6k, put it back to stock and be done with it. The slp pistons never were ment to have any boost, that is what led to the problem, ringlands gave out.
$600.00 for valve spring
$1500 for JE pistons
I told you don't need those crazy heads. You can pick up Lq9's like mine for $250.00
Check around you can get back and running for under 5k and have 800rwhp especially if your running meth. Less if don't want that much power.
I am willing to bet meth pump failure or tune failure. Your motor should not of died unless you were doing something stupid.
Was your car tuned to pull timing in the event of no meth being pumped?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
My 403 with Callies and Wiseco, new oil pump, cam, bearings, LS7 lifters, new lifter cups, ARP, head gaskets, machine work, balanced and blueprinted was ~4300. Good set of used Patriot heads with SS valves, good springs, and Crane rockers and pushrods I found for 1000.00. Shop around and you will get what you need for much less than you're being quoted. Then sell your old parts and recoup some of your$$. The machine shop bought my old block and crank for 500.00. I sold my old Manley rods for ~400.00, one old head for 100.00, my old cam, timing set and lifters for 350.00. You can make this work for you!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 205
Likes: 2
From: buffalo center iowa
wicked, I don't know about pulling timing without meth, this is rangerobs old car, I think mti did the work. I actually don't know if I was into the boost enuff to even be spraying the meth. The slp pistons are junk from those that know of them, very cheap forging with the ringland way to high for 10-12lbs of boost. The car has always used too much oil also. It sw /modred 01 (1of 137) so going back to stock might not be a bad idea.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 205
Likes: 2
From: buffalo center iowa
I need to get this all figured out this weekend, it is at a shop tore down waiting for me to tell them what the heck to do. I hate to have to go up there and load it up and take it elsewhere ( i am iniowa, not sure where I woulod take it).
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
Mine went boom last month pushing 12-14 psi on stock block, but it lasted 9500 miles of very hard boosted driving. Cracked the sleeve, toasted #7 and was puking like a volcano out the breather hose. Having a forged 346 built now and when all said and done short block with replacement block, rods, pistons, blower cam, ARP head bolts and such will be under $3900. Throwing some better valve springs on the stock heads and I'll be ready to go again pushing 12-14 psi. Will be well under 5K for complete ready to go engine.
I knew pushing that much boost on stock engine would do it in but I wanted a forged engine anyway so wasnt too disappointed it went boom...
I knew pushing that much boost on stock engine would do it in but I wanted a forged engine anyway so wasnt too disappointed it went boom...
Last edited by briann510; May 1, 2009 at 10:06 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
If you sell the blower kit it might not be to bad to go back to a LS6. Good luck. Btw the way I love the white Z06's
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
I would ditch those heads since you have the motor apart. Go with 317's same as your 243's but a bigger combustion chamber with lower compression. Since you do your own tuning you'll find it will be much easier to run more timing without detonation and it will help cut down the chances on boom factor.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,795
Likes: 616
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
My 403 with Callies and Wiseco, new oil pump, cam, bearings, LS7 lifters, new lifter cups, ARP, head gaskets, machine work, balanced and blueprinted was ~4300. Good set of used Patriot heads with SS valves, good springs, and Crane rockers and pushrods I found for 1000.00. Shop around and you will get what you need for much less than you're being quoted. Then sell your old parts and recoup some of your$$. The machine shop bought my old block and crank for 500.00. I sold my old Manley rods for ~400.00, one old head for 100.00, my old cam, timing set and lifters for 350.00. You can make this work for you!
And of course an excellent forged professionally built stock cubed LS1/6 short block motor can be built for $4,000 no problem currently using top notch parts (Callies rods, JE/Diamond/Wiseco Pistons, etc.)
Last edited by Mopar Jimmy; May 2, 2009 at 11:10 PM.