New engine time?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 13
From: Pasadena, CA
New engine time?
My 05 has a about 214,000 miles on the clock and is getting a little tired... leaking a little oil, slight knocking when cold, low oil pressure when hot. Amazingly it still runs pretty strong. The car is an automatic and I recently got a new transmission a few months ago and the drivers seat reupholstered.
So as far as the engine is concerned, do I go with a new crate engine, LS2 or LS3? or have existing LS2 rebuilt? Basically I'm asking for suggestions on the most practical and cost effective route to take as well as reputable shops or dealers here in SoCal that can do the work right the first time.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions and recommendations.
JIM
So as far as the engine is concerned, do I go with a new crate engine, LS2 or LS3? or have existing LS2 rebuilt? Basically I'm asking for suggestions on the most practical and cost effective route to take as well as reputable shops or dealers here in SoCal that can do the work right the first time.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions and recommendations.
JIM
Last edited by Jimbeaux; Nov 7, 2018 at 03:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,307
Likes: 32
From: Trabuco Canyon CA
I was recently faced with a similar issue, and ended up doing my own labor and had TurnKey Engines in Oceanside build my new LS2. I had less than a pleasurable experience at the 'go to' So Cal shop that is often referenced on here after being lied to over a few hundred bucks. I wasn't about to leave my car there for a $8K+ job if I can't completely trust them.
Ryne @ CMS tuned it and its perfecto!
Ryne @ CMS tuned it and its perfecto!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
Likes: 1,600
From: Honolulu HI
Hard to make a suggestion without knowing what your endgame is with the car. Is this a forever car? Or keeping it the next 5+ years? Or wandering eye and looking to trade up relatively soon?
The mileage suggests its your DD at around 15K/yr...and if you plan to keep the car a longtime, a new crate engine with a warranty would probably be a good idea. Just remember that other parts can start to age as well. At some point it becomes diminishing returns to keep throwing money at a car.
The mileage suggests its your DD at around 15K/yr...and if you plan to keep the car a longtime, a new crate engine with a warranty would probably be a good idea. Just remember that other parts can start to age as well. At some point it becomes diminishing returns to keep throwing money at a car.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 13
From: Pasadena, CA
I purchased the car new in 05. Transmission is new, upholstery is great, body is perfect, I do most of the other work like brakes, shocks, springs, alternator etc. myself. No way do I want to get into new car payments. $10,000 for a LS2 crate motor with 5 year 100k mile warranty makes a lot of sense to me.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Cost effective meaning cheap? You can always try Omar at Coast motor supply in Canoga park. Nothing custom fancy or high end but rebuillt with warranty (If they install it I believe).
Also, The Balance Shop in Reseda, or call West Coast heads and ask for Rex's number. He does them 1 at a time been at it since the LSx came out.
QMP racing in Chatsworth does some nice stuff also.
Small part of me says pay a lil more and get a GM crate at least you know what to expect.
Also, The Balance Shop in Reseda, or call West Coast heads and ask for Rex's number. He does them 1 at a time been at it since the LSx came out.
QMP racing in Chatsworth does some nice stuff also.
Small part of me says pay a lil more and get a GM crate at least you know what to expect.
Last edited by cv67; Nov 9, 2018 at 07:52 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,270
Likes: 81
From: Riverside CA
St. Jude Donor '12
Have the LS2 rebuilt, go with a smog friendly cam, a set of LS3 heads and intake manifold, and some C6Z manifolds and h pipe. It will all pass smog, give you a nice bump in HP to over a stock LS3 and it will be the cheapest route. I have the LS3 top end in my garage waiting to go in my 06. 
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 1,270
From: Harbor City California
We are a full Automotive Performance Machine shop as well as once of the premier Corvette specialty shops in the Country!
We can do both the Removal and Reinstall of your engine as well as rebuild your old engine to whatever specs you are looking for (street, track, boost, etc...).
We build & ship several of our LS engines all over the United States every month.
We can do anything from a basic blueprinted rebuild to a Bulletproof Race Build. All depends on your budget, intended usage and goals.
We even have a brand new in house Superflow SF902s engine Dyno!!!
https://www.yelp.com/biz/american-he...ce-harbor-city
https://www.americanheritageperformance.com/
We can do both the Removal and Reinstall of your engine as well as rebuild your old engine to whatever specs you are looking for (street, track, boost, etc...).
We build & ship several of our LS engines all over the United States every month.
We can do anything from a basic blueprinted rebuild to a Bulletproof Race Build. All depends on your budget, intended usage and goals.
We even have a brand new in house Superflow SF902s engine Dyno!!!
https://www.yelp.com/biz/american-he...ce-harbor-city
https://www.americanheritageperformance.com/
Last edited by American Heritage; Nov 17, 2018 at 09:19 PM.
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It's great to hear you got that mileage out of it.
I'm at 90K on my C5 LS-1 and it runs as strong as the day it was new.
Having gone through this situation on my C1 (inherited from my dad), I would recommend getting the motor rebuilt, or refreshed if you can.
Keeping the stock motor with the car may sound corney... but there are LOTS of older vette owners who wish they had the original motor!
Leaks don't really mean anything. The knocking and low OP could be serious... but maybe not??
Compression test? Leakdown test?
Fred
I'm at 90K on my C5 LS-1 and it runs as strong as the day it was new.
Having gone through this situation on my C1 (inherited from my dad), I would recommend getting the motor rebuilt, or refreshed if you can.
Keeping the stock motor with the car may sound corney... but there are LOTS of older vette owners who wish they had the original motor!
Leaks don't really mean anything. The knocking and low OP could be serious... but maybe not??
Compression test? Leakdown test?
Fred
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 181
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From: Northridge CA
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
When I was faced with this decision I got quoted $18k for the LS3 engine build I wanted and instead got a new C5 with a supercharger and only 18k miles for $20k. At your mileage, if you want a C5 forever like I do, it's certainly better to trade up to one of those garage queens that are for sale. Great prices on them right now.
