Yup, got just enough water in one cylinder to give enough "knock back" to break my starter and gave the smallest chip off my block!!



Does anyone have an idea what I should do? I dont have the money to buy the LSX Build right now (saving for a downpayment on a house)

I talked to a nearby welder but he was two weeks busy, looking at the car I wanted to get your alls opinion on what I should do

1) Should I have someone well with the motor in?? This is a common break point, so has anyone had this welded with the motor IN?

2) Do I have to yank the motor for this to be completed? (If this is an absolute than the smarter thing to do is just replace the motor completely right?

I dont have the time right now to do anything, until probably september.

Im only 22 and I feel a house is more important than a 10k motor build. I figure get the house and everything else set, then comes the motor later, but I also dont want the vette to sit like this.

Thanks anyone
And thanks Bill C as I hope to hear more about your experience.

 

SMALL CHIP!!! it broke off half the entire bolt hole and threads! SMH

 

Damn

Call Joe at Phoenix Performance. He has or can get slightly used LS1, LS6s, and LS2s

I think there is an LS6 short block for sale in the Auto-X and RR forum

 

i would think something like that could possibly be welded and rethreaded rather than getting a whole new block... that's kinda bs

 

Due to the limited working space, it might be necessary to pull the motor though.

I do, however, respect the OP's desire to get a house first, then mod the car....

 

The big question is = do you have the piece that broke off ?? If so, a competent welder can restore and re tap the hole easily. If not the job becomes a much more complicated project to fab up the piece and reinstall. In either case, much less expensive than a new sort block. Not going to be an easy job with the engine in the car.

 

Not to get off subject but how did you get water in the cylinder? The reason I ask is because if the engine needs further repairs it may be better just to pull it. Do you know no rods were bent, etc...

 

JB Weld it!

 

It's not going to get fixed in car. The motor needs to be pulled. Since you got water in the cylinders I would also take the heads and oil pan off to inspect for damage.

I blew a headgasket once racing on the bottle. As soon as I saw the white cloud of smoke I let off and shut the motor down once I got to the side of the road. Yanked the heads, replaced the headgasket and all seemed well. The motor locked up a month later. Enough water got in the cylinder that it bent the rod and later bent enough to lock up. I would of found it if I would of taken off the oil pan. Live and learn.

 

Send a PM to Bill Curlee as he had this exact same thing happen. He was able to get it welded and if I understand correctly, he's still driving!

 

HOLY CRAP! I know

E X A C T L Y

how you feel!!!! Been there, got the T shirt and survived!!!!!



So,,,,,,,,, YES, it can be weld repaired!! I had mine TIG welded and the results were friggen outstanding. DO NOT try to EPOXY or take ANY short cuts! IT WILL NOT WORK!

I borrowed my buddies Miller Synchro Wave 200 TIG welder! That saved the day! Please tell me that you have the small part that broke off!! That will make the repair MUCH EASIER!

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/syncrowave_200/


We accomplished the repair with the engine in place. I did have the drive train out because I was also doing a clutch replacement and that made it easier and provided more room.

My buddy is a Nuclear welder and he felt very confident that the repair would be 100% I asked him to add some extra weld in the areas where the part broke.

Here is what mine looked like before it was repaired. Looks JUST LIKE YOURS!




I had a small flaw in one of my heads that allowed coolant to very slowly leak into the #1 intake port. When the valve opened, the coolant would flood into that cylinder and allow it to hydro lock. When the piston tried to compress that coolant charge ((I have 11.5:1 compression) BAM,, the starter busted off the engine.



You know that you can secure the starter to the block with some wire and PUSH START the car to get it to the shop or where ever you need to work on it at. That’s what I did. I made sure that the cylinder was dry and used my JEEP to drag start it. Its fired right up and ran fine!

Here is the engine on first start after the repairs (OPEN HEADERS) I was also making sure my NEW Spec II dual disk clutch didnt have any vibrations (click on the movie to start it):



You can see how less carbon is in the #1 cylinder as compared to the others due to the coolant being consumed.



I will PM you my number!

Bill

 

Thought about that IF I have to yank the motor. I still have to make the hardest decision. Powerful Big CI NA ITB or Twin Turbo Big CI lol


I agree with you 100% man

Yea I know Im too young to be buying a house now, but gosh, with this kind of housing market in front of me!!! Come on! haha

Im sorry I didnt post that up, I do have the piece actually lol





Honestly had the intake off but on the car and just enough water must have gotten in cyl. #4, other cylinders were fine. Im moving for a job so Its gonna be hard working on the car. Just want to get a rough Idea to be prepared ya know?

Thought about it, but heard that its not strong enough.

I feel tearing into a 125k mile motor is pointless. Idk. it wasnt much water thats what sucks. it was literally JUST enough lol.



Thanks Bill, Ill give ya a call sometime. Once I figure out what to do. I dont have crazy experience welders near me. The only good one I know of cant come to me, which I really wish he could, even though you are right I could push start it. hmm. wish I could like use a power tool to start the motor to get around hahaha till I figure out what to do lol

 

Same problem happened to me on my LS1. Had a welder weld the piece back on and have not had a problem since. Was welded with engine in car.

 

Thank you for the confidence boost

 

This happened to AJ, "Junkman" on the other forum. Check it out, there is a long thread on it. It seems that replacing the starter with another model from a Chevy truck will prevent this from happening again.

 

I concur the repair can be done with the motor in the car. I had the same thing happen to mine late last year. I found that one of my heads had a thin area from the porting that was done by the previous owner. I have a new set of 243 heads that Advanced Induction is currently working for me.
If you do some searching you will find that this is a fairly common issue causing the block to break. Good luck with your repair.

 

Bill is always great help. He helped me get thru the steering rack removal. Good luck on the repair. Keep us up to date.