Motor Replacement
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 64
Likes: 45
From: Nokomis Florida
Weighing out my options replacing/rebuilding.
02 z51 with 110k.. has new balancer, new upper and lower oil.. new o ring in oil pump.. full catback exhaust, cai.. new pads and tie rods, new f14 wheels new continentals.. just some of the things I done to her.. lifters probably need replaced, tapping like crazy now. Thought it was piston slap, maybe it is but it’s gotten way worse. Doesn’t fully go away when warm anymore, matches rpm too. Did a flush, different oils etc.. But runs like a champ, no oil pressure issues or metal shavings in oil. Everything looks solid. But she’s tappin away.
considering rebuilding the original motor, dropping a fresh ls1, or dropping in an ls3. Including cam, heads.. Would be hiring a friend to do it as I don’t have the ability to myself. I can work on her but doing all of that correctly, I’d prefer he does it. Just lookin for some opinions regarding best move to make/cost etc
02 z51 with 110k.. has new balancer, new upper and lower oil.. new o ring in oil pump.. full catback exhaust, cai.. new pads and tie rods, new f14 wheels new continentals.. just some of the things I done to her.. lifters probably need replaced, tapping like crazy now. Thought it was piston slap, maybe it is but it’s gotten way worse. Doesn’t fully go away when warm anymore, matches rpm too. Did a flush, different oils etc.. But runs like a champ, no oil pressure issues or metal shavings in oil. Everything looks solid. But she’s tappin away.
considering rebuilding the original motor, dropping a fresh ls1, or dropping in an ls3. Including cam, heads.. Would be hiring a friend to do it as I don’t have the ability to myself. I can work on her but doing all of that correctly, I’d prefer he does it. Just lookin for some opinions regarding best move to make/cost etc
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,469
Likes: 4,312
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'm sorta in the same position. !999 Z51, 188k miles, owned since new, in excellent condition except the MN6 tore itself up last week. This Vette has more of an emotional tie to me than the resale value. My wife and kids say open my checkbook and fix what needs to be fixed. Estimated cost from my shop is $6kish for MN6, torque tube and I will still have a 188k miles motor?????? ps, I'm 77yo.
Now, if you’re thinking what the hell, let’s rock, then have your motor rebuilt and add a A&A blower and you’ll have over 500hp to the wheels and your 3.42s will do the job with that power. That would be a beast worth handing down, you know, like maybe 20 years from now… 😀
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,659
Likes: 683
From: Pingree Grove IL
I'm sorta in the same position. !999 Z51, 188k miles, owned since new, in excellent condition except the MN6 tore itself up last week. This Vette has more of an emotional tie to me than the resale value. My wife and kids say open my checkbook and fix what needs to be fixed. Estimated cost from my shop is $6kish for MN6, torque tube and I will still have a 188k miles motor?????? ps, I'm 77yo.
you can get gears and a trans for that price at the right shop.
