parroteyes

Hi folks, I picked up an 07 Z06 this summer in VY and all has been great until last week. I was driving home and noticed the oil pressure was low, around 20 psi at 1700rpm and 13 psi at idle. I immediately pulled over and shut her down. The car was low on oil and I noticed some oil dripping on the ground. Long story short, the car is at 21st Century Muscle Cars and is going to need a bottom end rebuild. Any suggestions on next steps? I'm a little blown right now and nervous about my savings account!!

Mordeth

What would immediately necessitate a "bottom end rebuild"? To rebuild the bottom end the motor needs to come out of the car. What is the cause of the leak? Has this been diagnosed? Need more details on the diagnosis/source of the leak and what specific damage was caused.

MTPZ06

Depends...whats the condition of your bottom end? Is it a simple refresh, or do you need to source a new short block and sell off yours, etc.?

Dirty Howie

This has to be better than another hole in the block ...........



DH

Brian71

The exact thing happened to me 2 weeks ago, except my car didn't leak any oil. They checked the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge at the bottom of the motor. It was normal. The reading at the sending unit (by the intake) was 6 pounds. They bypassed the oil cooler and replaced the oil filter, nothing changed.
They think it's a bearing issue. The engine is coming out this week and then they can find the problem.
The heads were done 2 years ago.
Good luck, I know what you're going through.

RamAir972003

What did Matt or John say I'm close by, call me I can help.....972-824-0793..was there damage to the motor because if you shut her down and she was running could be a number of things.....

C2Racer

Well, I'm doing this exact thing right now too. My 07 is at Quality with Patrick. Only difference is I heard big time metal to metal sounds. Crank bearings are all scorched and the short block just went back together. Get that check book out and warm it up Sorry, not a good Christmas gift.

Steve

parroteyes

Appreciate all the replies guys! I am going to be getting some more information from Matt and John soon. As of now, all I know is that there was a large oil leak, and Matt said I would need a new short block or might be able to get away with replacing the bearings, rings etc. Once they are able to diagnose the exact cause of the oil leak and low oil pressure, I will update the thread. If it does need a new short block or new parts, I would like to get some input from the community so that I make the most of my money. I'm glad to see some support from the community!

parroteyes

Hey Ram, appreciate the offer. I'll give you a call once I get more info. When the car came in John said it could be a number of things, from a leak in the dry sump system to scorched bearings and a hole in the block! When I shut her down everything sounded normal enough. Was pretty low on oil though, about 3 quarts to get it up to full. Only noticed a small amount of oil in my garage so a bit confused until the diagnosis comes in.

RamAir972003

Well I doubt you have a hole in the block, I def would pull heads and look at the bearings. And replace what's leaking. Adding 3 quarts will not put harm on motor....most likely you need refreshing on seals and ect......

Pull heads check lifters, then check bearings might as well refresh things....lmk good luck

parroteyes

21st is pulling the motor today/tomorrow and will assess the damage. Depending on what they find, the plan is to send the block off to Thompson Motorsports to get the crank turned, block honed, oversized pistons and rings, bearings, oil pump etc. Estimated 8-10k all in. Diagnosis of the cause of the bearing issue is still pending the motor coming out.

On the side I'm going to put in a new clutch, different cam, and msd intake.

I should have some pictures tomorrow, I'm going to go check out the carnage.

C2Racer

Unfortunately that's the number. I added a valve job as I don't trust any of the previous owners work now. We put a new harmonic balancer on and a throw out bearing. My Katech dual disc clutch fortunately was new looking and fine. Get mine back next week after 2 months.......

Good luck.

Steve

Brian71

I'm in the same boat, the engine is being removed today or Monday.

Racingswh

Just throwing it out there and maybe it helps. I thought I saw that Joe Aquilante at Phoenix Performance has/had a fresh LS7 long block for sale. Looked like a good price!

RamAir972003

I can get you a good deal at reher Morrison if your block is still good I paid half of what there going to charge you and I got cp pistons in....lmk

lamboworld

You can get a lot more for what you are paying. If I were you, I would sell my bare LS7 block for 2k, which is easy to do. Then I would give Horsepower Research a call and have them build you a darton sleeved shortblock. You can either reuse your LS7 rods and crank and they can spec some pistons or just use new forged rods and crank.

I would not bore/hone the LS7 sleeves because they are already thin and I also would not use the LS7 crank if it needs to be turned to fix it.

I am also not sure what you are paying for labor, but my local tuner/installer pulled and disambled my engine, reassembled the long block, installed and broke in the engine and tuned it for less than 2k.

You should be able to get a brand new darton sleeved short block installed for less than 10k and even less if you reuse your rods and pistons and then you get 2k back for selling your bare block.

HPR is in McKinney, TX and you can also save on the shipping fee.

C2Racer

That's a first..a deal at RM?

RamAir972003

Yes they will work with me very good people there just busy but yes lmk we can set this up.....i roughly paid pistons balancing ect and already had the heads so no charge on that if I remember 4600.....and used the same block.....motor will be a 429 I didn't have to sleeve the block either...doesnt run hot or nothing.... Forgot install and reinstall plugs oil pump TChain 3000k. Then tune and MSD..... Lifters and trays,so it came out to 8600.....just trying to help I know people on here will tell you otherwise trust me....

C2Racer

What you guys are missing is its $2.5K to 3K to R&R the motor. Then you start working on it. I like many people just don't have a place nor the time to pull a motor even though I would like to. In my youth I would take on big jobs in my parents driveway but that was then and this is now. Smarter I think now?

lamboworld

I just rebuilt my LS7, not because I had to but because I wanted to run a bigger shot of nitrous. Here is a breakdown of what I spent.

Remove and disassemble motor: $750
Darton Sleeved block: $2,000
Sold my LS7 bare block for $2,000
CP Pistons meant for LS7 rods: $700
Machine and build shortblock with shipping back to me: around $2,700
Assemble Long Block: $450
Install Long Block in car: $750

My total was less than $5,500.