Blown engine
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
GM Grate Motors installed by the dealer are warrantied for 3 yrs or 100k miles.
In your situation that is absolutely the best way to go.
Further, having the warranty on the motor is golden if you were to decide to sell the car.
Down side is it will cost you about $7k
In your situation that is absolutely the best way to go.
Further, having the warranty on the motor is golden if you were to decide to sell the car.
Down side is it will cost you about $7k
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
This is Putnam Chevrolet in Burlingame, CA. It's located South of San Francisco.
I still have a bike I've had for the last few months. I was thinking that I might have make it into my daily rider for now until I figure things out.
I still have a bike I've had for the last few months. I was thinking that I might have make it into my daily rider for now until I figure things out.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,119
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
I think your best deal is a LS3 crate engine from GM performance Products, About $6K but then I like to know what happened to the old engine? Why did you continue driving with the 'Check Engine light' on ? and doing so is asking for trouble.I would stay away from 'Custom' built engines as you have no idea what the engine build was like and what purpose was the engine intended for. A GM Crate Engine comes with a good warranty and that alone should be the over riding concern. You wanted to return your Corvette to as it was, before the whole engine problem time.
Last edited by killain; Jul 31, 2009 at 05:28 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Uncasville CT
I think your best deal is a LS3 crate engine from GM performance Products, About 6K and then I like to know what happened to the old engine? But continuing driving with the 'Check Engine light' on is asking for trouble.I wouls stay away from 'Custom' built engines as you have no idea what the engine build was like and what purpose was the engine intended for. A GM Crate Engine comes with a good warranty and that alone should be the over riding concern. You wanted to return your Corvette to as it was, before the whole engine problem time.
Charlie
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
The problem with that is even good shops are closing down and it is very hard to find a "good" independant performance shop who stands behind their work.If you are 300 miles away and have a problem,can you go to the nearest Chevy dealer? For a dailey driver that means a bunch!
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Uncasville CT
The problem with that is even good shops are closing down and it is very hard to find a "good" independant performance shop who stands behind their work.If you are 300 miles away and have a problem,can you go to the nearest Chevy dealer? For a dailey driver that means a bunch!
I just think the OP should make a few calls to some shops around. Even if a crate motor is chosen, it can be installed by an authorized GM service station (if I read the warranty information correctly) and still keep the factory warranty intact. I would trust my car to Corvette specialist before I would trust a dealer JMHO.
Whatever happens I would not keep my car at that dealership. If I am reading correctly (correct me if I am wrong) the dealer started the car, ran it for some amount of time, and the only thing that shut the car down was a hole in the side of the block!
With dealerships like that I think if I got stuck 300 miles from home and the option was take it to a local dealer or find a way to get it home...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa Ontario
As a "stealership" Service Manager I can tell you to go with the LS6 crate motor. 3 year parts and labour warranty and excellent quality that would be hard to beat with an independent shop. The warranty is nation wide, just make sure you keep all your oil change receipts etc and your covered. As for price talk to the Parts and Service Managers and I can tell you they will work with you on getting a fair price.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
They're not telling me what happened to the engine. They're saying that it would cost a lot of money to pull it apart and figure it out, but all they do know is that it will require a new one. I'm in my late 20s, laid back, and tend to trust people. When it comes to money, I've been ripped off many times before. I hope this is not another case.
My only other ride is a Motorcycle.
My only other ride is a Motorcycle.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 640
Likes: 0
From: Wappingers Falls New York
Tough situation...If the oil spilled out I would say you need a new block.
You may want to look into some of the vendors we have here for prices on getting a new engine. Then again, if the warranty means something to you then have GM handle it.
Listen to steveovette if you're going with a GM engine as the service manager should be able to get you some kind of deal.
You may want to look into some of the vendors we have here for prices on getting a new engine. Then again, if the warranty means something to you then have GM handle it.
Listen to steveovette if you're going with a GM engine as the service manager should be able to get you some kind of deal.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Uncasville CT
I would get the car out of there and take it to a trusted shop or dealership. I'm sure the members here that are in your area have good suggestions. If oil dumped all over the floor and they can't tell you at least where it is coming from... get out!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
As a "stealership" Service Manager I can tell you to go with the LS6 crate motor. 3 year parts and labour warranty and excellent quality that would be hard to beat with an independent shop. The warranty is nation wide, just make sure you keep all your oil change receipts etc and your covered. As for price talk to the Parts and Service Managers and I can tell you they will work with you on getting a fair price.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 2
the car has been engineered and tested with the LS6. If you want to keep an semblance of reliability I would think the best plan would be to put a stock replacement LS6 GM crate motor in it.. and this probably goes without saying.. but next time when the light comes take it in right away.,, or at the very least pull the codes and post them on the forum to get some idea of what the car is trying to tell you..
hope all goes well for you and your pocket book!!
hope all goes well for you and your pocket book!!
All GM engines that you could put in your car will run with the same reliability as the LS6. Better in some cases. You will need a competent tuner to change the PCM tune for the new engine if it's not an LS6, but c'est la vie.
Look into a short block, as most likely your top end is fine (depending on what exactly they were doing when it blew up).
Also, no real way to say this nicely... Take it to a place (be it a reputable dealership, or a performance shop) that has an effin clue about cars and is not out to screw you. The stealership you took the car too doesn't meet that criteria.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 2
As a "stealership" Service Manager I can tell you to go with the LS6 crate motor. 3 year parts and labour warranty and excellent quality that would be hard to beat with an independent shop. The warranty is nation wide, just make sure you keep all your oil change receipts etc and your covered. As for price talk to the Parts and Service Managers and I can tell you they will work with you on getting a fair price.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
Sorry to hear that. First, I think I would find out exactly what "blew" means. Siezed? Or is there a window in the block? If you don't plan on doing any crazy mods to the car I would say rebuild the block with some good internals and put it back in... providing it is not damaged.
If you get it to good shop they should be able to pull the motor, rebuild the bottom end, freshen the heads, and reinstall for less than you probably think. Using better components than stock won't cost much more money and if chosen carefully can bring a nice little increase in hp.
You can swap in a newer LS engine but this will cost you more. Trust me, once you start down the mod path it never ends!
Whichever way you go, I am of the opinion that you should go with a reputable shop and have them take care of it. I would have them build the short block and not purchase a crate engine. IMO you can get better parts and attention to detail with a hand built engine.
Good luck and make sure the next time that light comes on... you get in to the shop!
PS. WTF was the dealer doing running the car "for some time" with an obviously unhealthy engine?
Charlie
If you get it to good shop they should be able to pull the motor, rebuild the bottom end, freshen the heads, and reinstall for less than you probably think. Using better components than stock won't cost much more money and if chosen carefully can bring a nice little increase in hp.
You can swap in a newer LS engine but this will cost you more. Trust me, once you start down the mod path it never ends!
Whichever way you go, I am of the opinion that you should go with a reputable shop and have them take care of it. I would have them build the short block and not purchase a crate engine. IMO you can get better parts and attention to detail with a hand built engine.
Good luck and make sure the next time that light comes on... you get in to the shop!
PS. WTF was the dealer doing running the car "for some time" with an obviously unhealthy engine?
Charlie
DEFINITELY get your car away from a GM dealership!!! They screw up cars BIG time and don't answer for it. I stopped taking my car to dealerships the second I noticed the pattern of things breaking immediately after I left.
Take the car to a reputable shop near you. Let them diagnose the problem. It's possible that the dealership either lied to you or made things worse. For the same amount of money GM would charge you to put in an ls6 crate motor, you can get an ls3. I don't think the LS2 is worth it at all since you're going to make the same power in the long run. If you're not modding your car, the LS6 will be better and the LS3 will be the best.
If the block is OK, rebuild with stronger parts. And while you're at the shop, TUNE it. A good tune will keep a motor running forever.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,205
Likes: 2
From: Chicago-NW Burbs Illinois
My first step would be to get your car out of the dealer. I would go with a forged 347 or even 402 depending on your budget, and have a reputable shop do the install.
Just a couple options to consider:
http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item...id=42&catid=27
http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item...d=684&catid=28
Good luck!
Just a couple options to consider:
http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item...id=42&catid=27
http://www.texas-speed.com/shop/item...d=684&catid=28
Good luck!
Last edited by black98c5; Jul 31, 2009 at 04:52 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,581
Likes: 252
From: SE TEX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
Yep... Looks like it's a unanimous opinion that you should get your car away from the stealership.... I mean dealership.
Texas speed is pretty good about their prices. But go to a good shop first before you buy anything and let them help you because it's likely they can get either better prices or offer you something better in the first place.
Texas speed is pretty good about their prices. But go to a good shop first before you buy anything and let them help you because it's likely they can get either better prices or offer you something better in the first place.