Piston Removal With Engine in Car
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 15
From: New Hartford IA
I'd bet cracked ring land. Thats what happened to my z years ago. Funny that you made a blank plate to check compression with the head off as I made one back then also. If you support the engine, drop the cradle, pull the piston/rod, change piston and/or rings, ball hone cylinder and it might run another 100k if you keep everything clean.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I still like the LS6 long block option mentioned in post #9.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 782
Likes: 45
From: Toronto Ontario
I once changed out the crank, a rod and piston with the engine still in the car. It wasnt a C5, but it's not really much different car to car. The very biggest issue I had was keeping everything clean. Theres no room inside bearings for crap off the garage floor. I had 5 main and 6 rod bearings to worry about, plus I had three pistons already in position when I bench pressed the crank in. Very hard to keep everything spotless. But it worked, and ran like a top for years. It can totally be done, and in the OPs case, is a much easier job. I'd pull the one piston FOR SURE, rather than the whole block. Assuming there are no surprises and you have all your parts ready, that engine could be running in one weekend. Summer is almost here.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Downers Grove IL
UPDATE: Cradle is ready to be lowered. All pan bolts are out and it appears that all I need is a couple of inches to slide the pan out. I plan to lower the cradle Monday night and push number 5 out to get a better idea of the problem. I plan to hone that cylinder if everything else looks ok. I appreciate that this is not ideal for an engine of this calibre and I may still go with the LS6 upgrade, but right now the engine has challenged me and I plan to win the challenge. It is encouraging to hear from others that have conquered the challenge. I once hand fit an oversized rod bearing to a scored crankshaft on a Cavalier. It didn't run real long but the knock went away.
Will let you guys know how what I find.
Rich
Will let you guys know how what I find.
Rich
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 15
From: New Hartford IA
If it aint "all" broke don't fix it "all". To many people go crazy with fixes that would have been served well by a inexpensive little fix. The time to clean up that cylinder, dd new rings, etc is way less thn pulling the engine and replacing everything. If you were in the mood for a big upgrade I'd pull it, but if you are content with how the car was just patch it up and run it. Just make sure to keep the crank clean and wash out all the little stuff from the hone.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Downers Grove IL
Thanks but it not just me. Besides this forum I have the support of all of my gear head buddies and family. I restored a 57 Vette from literally a box of rocks and while I love that car it ain't no C5. I am doing this for all the guys out there that managed to get enough bucks to buy thier dream Vette, only to suffer a devastating failure like mine and need the confidence to tackle the challenge. I will comment tonight on what I find and how I feel about it.
Rich
Rich
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Downers Grove IL
Verdict is in: broken ring land, cylinder wall is fine, bearing is fine. How lucky can a guy get, rings kept broken land pieces in place. Could this be from piston slap???
Plan is to replace one piston and rings sell car and buy a C6 with a manual.
Plan is to replace one piston and rings sell car and buy a C6 with a manual.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Open an account on a photo hosting site such as www.photobucket.com then upload your pictures there. Once you have them in their system, you can click on each one individually and get the "Direct Link" which is a hyperlink to the picture. Come back here, type your message as desired, then touch the "Insert Image" icon right here in the text entry window. That will show you a "HTTP:"....replace it with the direct link. If you have more than one pic, just go back and forth adding each direct link as desired to the text entry window here in the forum. Then submit normally.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Le Mans Master
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Tech Contributor
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
No clue. Assuming you saved them on whatever site you used and assuming you used specically the "Direct Link" http address to them, they should be showing up here. Now did you use the "Insert Image" icon right here in the message block, replacing the default in there with your direct link http address for each image?
