Engine issue

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Discussion

impVXR888

Original Poster:

98 posts

121 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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Last Friday there was a nasty knocking coming from the top end of my s/c LS2. So took it to the garage and left it there to be looked at, we were hoping that it would be a push rod or rocker issue.

The car's done 120k now so I'm expecting to have a few issues.

Upon closer inspection today it seems that number 3 cylinder (Passenger side 2nd back from front pulley) is lower on compression that the two cylinders either side of it. My garage had a chat to the Fish and they have suggested that it could be cracked ring landings on the pistons, which they have seen a few of in the past. We will find out tomorrow if that is the case as the heads are coming off to check.

So if that is the case what options do I realistically have? Depending on if there's any other damage obviously. Car is used daily and has been reliable engine wise for the last 70k miles.

Current setup is 6.0 LS2 with Harrop 122 charger.

I was thinking something along the lines of either:

Uprated rods,pistons and valve train (If so what would people recommend and where from? Rough cost?) Should I throw a cam in at the same time?

I've seen a 6.6litre stroker kit available with crank, rods and pistons (Would this be suitable? And still be ok with the charger?)

Are there any other options available? Would love to drop the LSX 454 in, but it wouldn't work with the charger I believe or the current exhaust headers, which is a great shame.

Thanks in advance for any advice/options

Isaac

ARAF

20,759 posts

222 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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I'm guessing you use it a little hehe so would suggest you keep it street friendly. Anything but a small cam will make traffic driving a chore.

How about a crate LSA from Oz, and use selling your charger to fund the inevitable engineering problems with the install?

Manual http://holmart.com.au/online/prod1795.htm

Auto http://holmart.com.au/online/prod1782.htm

smile

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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Find out what is wrong first, and how far any damage extends.

raving

1,183 posts

189 months

Tuesday 28th July 2015
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Then speak to John Sleath

DRC72

651 posts

185 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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raving said:
Then speak to John Sleath
John Sleath is just down the road for me.

MyM8V8

9,456 posts

194 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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impVXR888 said:
Current setup is 6.0 LS2 with Harrop 122 charger.



I've seen a 6.6litre stroker kit available with crank, rods and pistons (Would this be suitable? And still be ok with the charger?)



Isaac
Isaac.

A 122 struggled to fill my LS2 so it would definitely struggle to fill the stroker.

Let us know what is wrong with the motor first. Shouldn't take long to pull the heads off.

If the piston has gone but everything else is OK, I would plump for a set of forged pistons and a small cam. I'm still running stock rods and crank in mine which has run 600rwhp.

There's a couple of guy's on here called Wormus and S800VXR who can advise you about the pros and cons of building supercharged strokers.

Edited by MyM8V8 on Wednesday 29th July 21:10


Edited by MyM8V8 on Wednesday 29th July 21:12

wormus

14,509 posts

202 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
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MyM8V8 said:
There's a couple of guy's on here called Wormus and S800VXR who can advise you about the pros and cons of building supercharged strokers.
I wouldn't bother going through the pain of increasing stroke if it's supercharged, you don't need the extra torque and that blower will struggle to fill the cylinders without causing AIT heat issues. Hopefully all you'll need is a set of pistons so assuming you don't want more power, this is the cheapest way to get you back on the road.

LSA crate engine won't fit under the bonnet of a Monaro and the LSX will go straight in but you'll need to buy an intake and probably end up with about 580hp.

impVXR888

Original Poster:

98 posts

121 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
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wormus said:
I wouldn't bother going through the pain of increasing stroke if it's supercharged, you don't need the extra torque and that blower will struggle to fill the cylinders without causing AIT heat issues. Hopefully all you'll need is a set of pistons so assuming you don't want more power, this is the cheapest way to get you back on the road.

LSA crate engine won't fit under the bonnet of a Monaro and the LSX will go straight in but you'll need to buy an intake and probably end up with about 580hp.
Thanks for all of your replies. I'm waiting for the heads to come off before making a full decision. But by the looks of it a striker kit wouldn't be the best idea. Although a larger charger would be.
I had been looking at WP high boost cog drive kit, a cam and Uprated fuel system, as unfortunately I will always want more power.
So if the piston/s are damamaged it will be minimum of an Uprated set of rods and Pistons.
Charging the 454 LSX would be a nice solution, but think that's not really an achievable option at the minute for my R8.

I will update you all as soon as I know more on the issue.

Isaac

wormus

14,509 posts

202 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
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If you are going to stick with FI, don't go with the 454lsx, it's not built for boost as the cylinder walls are too thin. Instead go for the LSX 376 B15 and a pair of turbos. For the cheapest route to more power in a tried and tested package, get a set of forged pistons, rod bolts and a TVS heartbeat supercharger. Look in the classifieds, minime is selling one.

Don't bother with overdrive kits, they just make heat and you'll be left disappointed.

Edited by wormus on Thursday 30th July 17:52

ArnieVXR

2,449 posts

182 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
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A damaged piston can chuck bits all over the engine and even into the charger. Worse case the whole combination is toast. Even if the damage looks minimal, you'll be stripping the whole thing down prior to a full rebuild. You may need to sort out bore damage by opening the bores up a little. It all gets very expensive, very quickly if you're paying someone else to build it for you.

Stroking you motor and then plonking a 122 on the top won't net you any extra power. I'd stick to pistons and rods if I were you. LS3 CNC heads are are smart addition and a blower specific cam would be nice too. Do the sums first though, I have a 6.8 LS2 sitting on a crate that cost almost as much as an LSA to put together

wormus

14,509 posts

202 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
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To be fair it still runs so let's not jump to conclusions. If I were (again) faced with an engine bay of scrap, I'd go with the LSX 376 crate engine and turbos with a target of 1000hp.

impVXR888

Original Poster:

98 posts

121 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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After much deliberating and discussing. The engine is out and has been taken to Tim Adams Race Engine in Market Drayton, which is only 25 miles from me.

They are going to strip it all down and rebuild it for me with a few nice upgraded parts, e.g Pistons, Rods, Push Rods, Rockers LS7 Cam, possibly some head work too while they're at it.

Should be back in a few weeks and then back in the car with my new X-Force headers from Aus. Then off for some mapping.

Hopefully all be back on the road in time for my trip to Spa at the end of the month for the Classic 24 hour race.

Will keep you all updated.

Isaac

snowwolf

11,503 posts

174 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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Glad its all being sorted, sounds like some nice mods smile

impVXR888

Original Poster:

98 posts

121 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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As mentioned in an other thread I'm also selling my reconditioned T56 and nearly new TR6060 to fund a Magnum, as we also discussed an LS9 based motor for the future. But that could be something rather special.

Well_Fans

4,193 posts

223 months

Saturday 29th August 2015
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impVXR888 said:
As mentioned in an other thread I'm also selling my reconditioned T56 and nearly new TR6060 to fund a Magnum, as we also discussed an LS9 based motor for the future. But that could be something rather special.
When you get around to it and have adverts up for the gearboxes send me a pm, might be interested in a spare to add to my collection of bits. Probably the one thing I dont have in my shed atm.