[Z06] I Need Help.... ?? Blew a Piston Ring
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
I Need Help.... ?? Blew a Piston Ring
Yesterday my engine light came on while cruising on the highway. I took it to my friends shop and put the scanner to it. It gave me the po300 and po654 and it showed a severe misfire on #7. I I replaced the spark plugs, wires, and coil packs and nothing, still lit the ses and showed a misfire on #7. I checked my oil and was 1qt low.
Next a compression test on all the cylinders, average was 135 till I got to #7, it showed zip zero. The original plug out of that cylinder had oil on it as well. I took it apart today, I just got to removing the head and everything looked good. I did the water test on the valves and passed with flying colors. I went on to the water test on the cylinders and guess what, #7 swallowed it immediately.
This is what I need to know:
Any help you guys can give me will be greatly appreciated. I'm very mechanically inclined, but this will be my first experience with a vette.
Next a compression test on all the cylinders, average was 135 till I got to #7, it showed zip zero. The original plug out of that cylinder had oil on it as well. I took it apart today, I just got to removing the head and everything looked good. I did the water test on the valves and passed with flying colors. I went on to the water test on the cylinders and guess what, #7 swallowed it immediately.
This is what I need to know:
- Part number on the rings for a 2003 zo6
- Where can I get them asap besides the dealer
- can I use the same metal head gasket
- are they stock replacement or is there file fitting involved?
Any help you guys can give me will be greatly appreciated. I'm very mechanically inclined, but this will be my first experience with a vette.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Has your car been tuned? Many so-called tuners tune these cars too lean and you break the rear pistons because they get the most direct shot of air from the intake manifold.
I'd have said it was a valve spring breakage (far more common issue), but sounds like you've covered that.
I'd have said it was a valve spring breakage (far more common issue), but sounds like you've covered that.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
Has your car been tuned? Many so-called tuners tune these cars too lean and you break the rear pistons because they get the most direct shot of air from the intake manifold.
I'd have said it was a valve spring breakage (far more common issue), but sounds like you've covered that.
I'd have said it was a valve spring breakage (far more common issue), but sounds like you've covered that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA
Being an engine builder...
I absolutely hate the idea of replacing the piston in the car. Seems like more R&R shops have been doing this lately. The new rings wont break in properly if you don't have a nice cross hatch/hone job on that cylinder bore. Unfortunately for people on a budget, they will not pay the price to have it done correctly. If this were my vehicle, I would tear down the entire engine, and rebuild it. Assure all new machine work is applied before I spend money on fixing the problem.
As for the head gasket, I would suggest replacing it.
I absolutely hate the idea of replacing the piston in the car. Seems like more R&R shops have been doing this lately. The new rings wont break in properly if you don't have a nice cross hatch/hone job on that cylinder bore. Unfortunately for people on a budget, they will not pay the price to have it done correctly. If this were my vehicle, I would tear down the entire engine, and rebuild it. Assure all new machine work is applied before I spend money on fixing the problem.
As for the head gasket, I would suggest replacing it.
Last edited by Wicked_Z06; Oct 25, 2007 at 03:40 AM.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
Done deal, I'm going for a new motor.. Found out the piston blew the oil ring and landing and bent the rod as well. The search is on for the best place to purchase.
Dogface
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 25,974
Likes: 120
From: At the Beach, FL
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
If you want a crate type deal. Take a look at Scoggin Dickey. They have great prices for GM Performance crate motors. Last I checked a complete LS6 was under 6K.
Last edited by dwjz06; Oct 25, 2007 at 06:30 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Dogface
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 25,974
Likes: 120
From: At the Beach, FL
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 1
From: Central Florida
If you want a crate type deal. Take a look at Scroggin Dickey. They have great prices for GM Performance crate motors. Last I checked a complete LS6 was under 6K.
Good call replacing the motor. Certainly the right thing to do.
Or, Gene is selling them for $4795 right now. Just check my previous post.
Kewl, I was just trying to save bonestock some $.
Ok, so another update.. I decided to pull #8 (bent rod), #5 (bent rod) and #6 (looked fine). I stopped there, I couldn't stand to watch anymore. I think this was caused by a hard downshift a couple of weeks ago and it just finally caught up with me. It's the only thing I can think off .
Thanks again guys, the search continues..
I will post pics for you guys later on tonight.
Last edited by BonestockZ06; Oct 25, 2007 at 01:48 PM.
Dogface
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 25,974
Likes: 120
From: At the Beach, FL
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Ok, so another update.. I decided to pull #8 (bent rod), #5 (bent rod) and #6 (looked fine). I stopped there, I couldn't stand to watch anymore. I think this was caused by a hard downshift a couple of weeks ago and it just finally caught up with me. It's the only thing I can think off .
Moderator
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,787
Likes: 2
From: Wildomar CA
You could save yourself some money and go with a 383 stroker rotating assembly since it sounds like your block is ok. Have the machine shop do the honing and rebuild it yourself, they go on ebay for $1300-2000 for a forged 383 rotating assembly, and Tbyrne sells them for less than $2700. Even $3000 with machine work is less than a new crate block, and everything will be forged with more cubic inches of displacement.