LT1 Piston Failure
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 267
From: Houston Texas
LT1 Piston Failure
This customer drove this car from Austin to us (Houston) with broken ring lands. We are seeing this happen more and more. This is why we stop a 600hp with the LT1.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
ttt
Well may have to lower my rwhp # on the car. These dam c7 pistons no close to what the c5 & c6 stock pistons are. I really don't want to have to go into the short block of my car... Robert
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 267
From: Houston Texas
These LT1s are nothing like the LS2/3. We have a hand full of those living for years at 800 at the wheels. Not trying to scare you guys. If you guys do a cam, do pistons as well.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,064
Likes: 95
From: MI
Thx for sharing. I am running a 2.9 whipple on the wife's L86 (6.2l) truck. I am very tempted to turn up the boost, but its a tow rig as well as her daily...so resisting the urge for now. Have you/other tuners been able to connect the dots on what is causing these LT1/L86 pistons to pop when boosted: too aggressive tune, bad gas, aggressive use, etc.? Again, thks for posting this...win/win for everybody, tuners/builders get more $ for builds & satisfied customers and customers get better infor re: risk/blue print for increased safety and reliability...
Last edited by Earl H; Feb 13, 2018 at 11:55 AM.
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Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 267
From: Houston Texas
We push the 6.2 trucks to the same 600hp as the LT1. So far no problems. The ring gaps are very tight on these engines. Thats what we think causes this to happen.
Thx for sharing. I am running a 2.9 whipple on the wife's L86 (6.2l) truck. I am very tempted to turn up the boost, but its a tow rig as well as her daily...so resisting the urge for now. Have you/other tuners been able to connect the dots on what is causing these LT1/L86 pistons to pop when boosted: too aggressive tune, bad gas, aggressive use, etc.? Again, thks for posting this...win/win for everybody, tuners/builders get more $ for builds & satisfied customers and customers get better infor re: risk/blue print for increased safety and reliability...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,064
Likes: 95
From: MI
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 267
From: Houston Texas
Very true, but the top ring end gap is only .012. Thats very tight for a boosted motor.
Last edited by Billy@MTI; Feb 14, 2018 at 02:36 PM.
I'm Batman..
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,142
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From: Lehigh Acres FL
Tech Contributor
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 102
From: MD
That's a real bummer. And it makes sense, a ring gap that tight can close from expansion with enough heat and eventually expand further with no where to go putting pressure against the ringlands.
The more I read these Forced induction forums, the more it seems that C7's are a lot less mod friendly then the C6's.
The more I read these Forced induction forums, the more it seems that C7's are a lot less mod friendly then the C6's.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 308
Likes: 89
From: Belmont Ontario
I had my ringland fail on cylinder 8. My car drove and ran as it did normally. I didn't even know, thats the worst thing about having it fail.
Only reason i caught it, is because i knew engine was living on borrowed time and i did leak down test when i noticed more oil in catch can and small small misfire at 50mph.. I bet you i drove 300miles with broken ringland.. ( i am guessing i broke it at track )
Only reason i caught it, is because i knew engine was living on borrowed time and i did leak down test when i noticed more oil in catch can and small small misfire at 50mph.. I bet you i drove 300miles with broken ringland.. ( i am guessing i broke it at track )
Thread Starter
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 267
From: Houston Texas
Even when we do a comp test. Sometimes it won't even show a hurt cylinder. If you don't run a catch can it would blow oil out of the froont seal.
I had my ringland fail on cylinder 8. My car drove and ran as it did normally. I didn't even know, thats the worst thing about having it fail.
Only reason i caught it, is because i knew engine was living on borrowed time and i did leak down test when i noticed more oil in catch can and small small misfire at 50mph.. I bet you i drove 300miles with broken ringland.. ( i am guessing i broke it at track )
Only reason i caught it, is because i knew engine was living on borrowed time and i did leak down test when i noticed more oil in catch can and small small misfire at 50mph.. I bet you i drove 300miles with broken ringland.. ( i am guessing i broke it at track )
