Engine blocks rarely sponeously crack. I've never heard of an inherent problem of cracking ls1's. If all else fails you can get a used engine.
Its worth the extra money before buying in to that scam. 
engine block cracked
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
engine block cracked
purchased new 2002 corvette convertible with ls1 v8 engine from local gm dealership on july 2002. drove it on weekends and only had 18000km on it. while driving on oct 25,2007 the computer alerted to "coolant over temp". towed vehicle to dealership and later told engine block had a hairline crack and needed to purchase new engine.the vehicle is out of warranty and i am in dispute with dealership. has this happenned to anyone else? is it possible gm has sold me a defective engine? what could have caused this? can any one help thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 14,440
Likes: 3
From: MD
St. Jude Donor '11
Wow, sorry to hear that. I hope everything works out for you. Corvettes are mechanical devices and unfortunately things do break. I would highly suggest you get someone else to look at it. I knew simular things like this could happen so I bought a good extended warranty before my factory one ran out. My car has done very well, however my warranty has saved me dollars and paid for itself. Good luck on this.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Argyle Tx.
St. Jude Donor '08
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
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From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Where are you located?
Was the weather cold - tell us the temp?
Have they shown you the 'crack' - where is it located?
Was the weather cold - tell us the temp?
Have they shown you the 'crack' - where is it located?
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 127
Likes: 1
From: Riyadh
If you are going to change the whole engine at least concidure changing the block to the below one
GM C5R 7.0 GM Race Block
it goes for 6995.00 but it is worth every penny.
that is what i would do if i had the same issue... BTW if the coolant over heats the only thing that would crack is the heads seal not the block, that is what happened with my Blazer.
GM C5R 7.0 GM Race Block
it goes for 6995.00 but it is worth every penny.
that is what i would do if i had the same issue... BTW if the coolant over heats the only thing that would crack is the heads seal not the block, that is what happened with my Blazer.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
I would be leary of such a quick diagnosis.... I would want to see the heads first..
The car was not giving you ANY symptom of a problem.. No blue or white smoke coming out the back? No 'burning' type smell...like coolant spewing before or on the ground when you looked.
Did temp gage rapidly shoot up or gradually creep up, or do you recall looking at it..
Sound very odd to me.... But what the hell do I know?
The car was not giving you ANY symptom of a problem.. No blue or white smoke coming out the back? No 'burning' type smell...like coolant spewing before or on the ground when you looked.
Did temp gage rapidly shoot up or gradually creep up, or do you recall looking at it..
Sound very odd to me.... But what the hell do I know?
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
I don't buy it. Unless you drove the p*ss outta the car while the coolant was WAY low... I beat the hell out of a LSx that had a pushed head-gasket (didn't know at the time) and overheated it twice on a long trip. When we tore it down, it was perfect. I've also never heard of a LSx engine splitting from too much HP stress. You either have horrible luck, or the dealership is guessing...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
All I'd say is that engines that fail at 10000 miles must have a manufacturing fault unless theyve been overheated or run without oil.
I'd press GM.
I'd press GM.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
i live in toronto canada. the day i had the alert "coolant over temp" while driving the temp outdoors was a warm 25 c it was the last time i was going to drive the vehicle before storing for winter like i always have done. i was only 1 km from home so i drove it home and called for the flat bed towtruck the following day. the car was not diven for about a week before this occured and when i started the vehicle i did smell a little burning odor in garage for a few seconds. there was no coolant on the garage floor . hope this shed more light on what happened. if you can think of anything else please reply. thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,209
Likes: 33
From: Texas-out west
get another opinion, if it is cracked it probably can be welded since it is aluminum, depends on where crack is. also new block from GM is around 1400 bucks (US) and new zo6 motor from SDP in lubbock texas around 5400 (US), other places nearer to you should be the same. good luck and sorry to hear of your misfortune.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 464
Likes: 2
From: New Bern NC
I had a similar experience with a dealership in my old 88 vette. Car overheated so I took it to a dealership. They told me I needed a whole new engine. I didn't believe them so I took the heads off and found a small crack in the heads where the exhaust was leaking into the coolant port. I think that most dealerships would rather just replace the engine before digging into it to see whats actually wrong with it. From their stand point it will take just as long to replace the engine as it will to figure out whats really wrong with it. Even though it will cost you a lot more to replace the engine, but they don't care its not their money.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
It could be a blown head gasket, defective coolant or heater hose, or a cracked head. I certainly would not take the stealership's word for anything and would take someone knowledgeable with me to have them show what is wrong. Good luck on the outcome. 
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 10,804
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From: PORTLAND OR
St Jude Donor '15
purchased new 2002 corvette convertible with ls1 v8 engine from local gm dealership on july 2002. drove it on weekends and only had 18000km on it. while driving on oct 25,2007 the computer alerted to "coolant over temp". towed vehicle to dealership and later told engine block had a hairline crack and needed to purchase new engine.the vehicle is out of warranty and i am in dispute with dealership. has this happenned to anyone else? is it possible gm has sold me a defective engine? what could have caused this? can any one help thanks.
Inger67
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Title town, Champs live here.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Get a qualified (certified) mechanic for a second opinion. and Good Luck