Discussion
I think my LS1 needs a rebuild but what to do?? I have a Harrop HH122 fitted (9psi)
When I bought my ute it was smelling a bit rich which I thought could be easily fettled, I later found out it has a lumpy N/A cam fitted and I think it has been thinning the oil as the motor is breathing badly and kicking oil out the breather pipes and running into the air filter. I have only noticed it since I have been running my diff in so 50mph tops.
Not sure whether to get mine rebuilt, or rebuild will forged pistons and rods and a set of heads, or get a create engine and bung my s/charger on it. Mine is supposed to be 522rwhp but I was talking to an engine builder and he said 'no way not on his dyno'! Maybe 535 at the flywheel.
Would my HH122 fit an LS2 with the existing LS1 s/charger inlet, exhaust manifolds etc??
I have even thought about an LS376/525 to drop in as long as exhaust manifolds fit.
Plus my box has a bearing on it's way out too! When it rains it really does
poor.
When I bought my ute it was smelling a bit rich which I thought could be easily fettled, I later found out it has a lumpy N/A cam fitted and I think it has been thinning the oil as the motor is breathing badly and kicking oil out the breather pipes and running into the air filter. I have only noticed it since I have been running my diff in so 50mph tops.
Not sure whether to get mine rebuilt, or rebuild will forged pistons and rods and a set of heads, or get a create engine and bung my s/charger on it. Mine is supposed to be 522rwhp but I was talking to an engine builder and he said 'no way not on his dyno'! Maybe 535 at the flywheel.
Would my HH122 fit an LS2 with the existing LS1 s/charger inlet, exhaust manifolds etc??
I have even thought about an LS376/525 to drop in as long as exhaust manifolds fit.
Plus my box has a bearing on it's way out too! When it rains it really does
poor. bonesxu1 said:
I think my LS1 needs a rebuild but what to do?? I have a Harrop HH122 fitted (9psi)
When I bought my ute it was smelling a bit rich which I thought could be easily fettled, I later found out it has a lumpy N/A cam fitted and I think it has been thinning the oil as the motor is breathing badly and kicking oil out the breather pipes and running into the air filter. I have only noticed it since I have been running my diff in so 50mph tops.
Not sure whether to get mine rebuilt, or rebuild will forged pistons and rods and a set of heads, or get a create engine and bung my s/charger on it. Mine is supposed to be 522rwhp but I was talking to an engine builder and he said 'no way not on his dyno'! Maybe 535 at the flywheel.
Would my HH122 fit an LS2 with the existing LS1 s/charger inlet, exhaust manifolds etc??
I have even thought about an LS376/525 to drop in as long as exhaust manifolds fit.
Plus my box has a bearing on it's way out too! When it rains it really does poor.
Dont sound like your having much luck with that , it has ran some good speeds to be fair & made good power & had a box replacement & another one rebuilt I believe When I bought my ute it was smelling a bit rich which I thought could be easily fettled, I later found out it has a lumpy N/A cam fitted and I think it has been thinning the oil as the motor is breathing badly and kicking oil out the breather pipes and running into the air filter. I have only noticed it since I have been running my diff in so 50mph tops.
Not sure whether to get mine rebuilt, or rebuild will forged pistons and rods and a set of heads, or get a create engine and bung my s/charger on it. Mine is supposed to be 522rwhp but I was talking to an engine builder and he said 'no way not on his dyno'! Maybe 535 at the flywheel.
Would my HH122 fit an LS2 with the existing LS1 s/charger inlet, exhaust manifolds etc??
I have even thought about an LS376/525 to drop in as long as exhaust manifolds fit.
Plus my box has a bearing on it's way out too! When it rains it really does
poor. bonesxu1 said:
I think my LS1 needs a rebuild but what to do?? I have a Harrop HH122 fitted (9psi)
When I bought my ute it was smelling a bit rich which I thought could be easily fettled, I later found out it has a lumpy N/A cam fitted and I think it has been thinning the oil as the motor is breathing badly and kicking oil out the breather pipes and running into the air filter. I have only noticed it since I have been running my diff in so 50mph tops.
Not sure whether to get mine rebuilt, or rebuild will forged pistons and rods and a set of heads, or get a create engine and bung my s/charger on it. Mine is supposed to be 522rwhp but I was talking to an engine builder and he said 'no way not on his dyno'! Maybe 535 at the flywheel.
Would my HH122 fit an LS2 with the existing LS1 s/charger inlet, exhaust manifolds etc??
I have even thought about an LS376/525 to drop in as long as exhaust manifolds fit.
Plus my box has a bearing on it's way out too! When it rains it really does poor.
if it's breathing heavy and using oil...it's probably busted pistons.When I bought my ute it was smelling a bit rich which I thought could be easily fettled, I later found out it has a lumpy N/A cam fitted and I think it has been thinning the oil as the motor is breathing badly and kicking oil out the breather pipes and running into the air filter. I have only noticed it since I have been running my diff in so 50mph tops.
Not sure whether to get mine rebuilt, or rebuild will forged pistons and rods and a set of heads, or get a create engine and bung my s/charger on it. Mine is supposed to be 522rwhp but I was talking to an engine builder and he said 'no way not on his dyno'! Maybe 535 at the flywheel.
Would my HH122 fit an LS2 with the existing LS1 s/charger inlet, exhaust manifolds etc??
I have even thought about an LS376/525 to drop in as long as exhaust manifolds fit.
Plus my box has a bearing on it's way out too! When it rains it really does
poor. I know this car.
It has a 122 not a 112 and yes it will make 522 at the wheels easy. Oil ingestion as said, is a major problem anyway, and worse with a blower, you need a (big) catch can if not already fitted.
All your bits will fit on to an LS2 as the cathedral ports are the same as LS1.
Don't use that engine builder as he is obviously talking bks!!!
The engine is running rich because that's the way the bloke who tuned it keeps them safe.
It has a 122 not a 112 and yes it will make 522 at the wheels easy. Oil ingestion as said, is a major problem anyway, and worse with a blower, you need a (big) catch can if not already fitted.
All your bits will fit on to an LS2 as the cathedral ports are the same as LS1.
Don't use that engine builder as he is obviously talking b
ks!!!The engine is running rich because that's the way the bloke who tuned it keeps them safe.
Edited by MyM8V8 on Tuesday 17th May 12:41
ArnieVXR , Box is a little noisy bearing wise but not horrible by any means, and motor is pushing oil along the breather pipe and dribbling out of the throttle body into the air filter. I only noticed it by the oil on the floor of the garage. I have ordered a catch can that is tuneable and puts the fumes back into the inlet and oil in the base of the can.
gsd2000 , Yep sure is.
Hello Craig, I know Dynos can vary from place to place and I have seen similar speced LS engined Holdens for sale with similar dyno figures too. I'm still loving the ute even though I have had a few bits and bobs to sort out. Nothing has gone wrong yet engine wise, it is burning a bit of oil but I put that down to it running so rich. Saying running rich it burns my eyes and I can't drive with the window down or I feel ill for hours after driving it, I noticed it when I first drove it home. I thought I noticed a little rattle from the bottom end the other day but I may just have needed to change down a cog. I'll give it an oil change to see if that helps.
Hello Gary, I have a printout somewhere with 170mph on it, I've put a 3.9 crown wheel and pinion in it now with a Kaaz LSD, not sure that it would do 170 now. Do you still have your ute?
Stevieturbo , I'll give it a compression test once I find out who I lent my compression tester to.
MyM8V8 , Maybe LS2 upgrade, sounds good. The cam is for N/A motor and I would have thought there would be too much valve overlap, it comes on cam at about 4000rpm .
ringram , I think you could be right there.
gsd2000 , Yep sure is.
Hello Craig, I know Dynos can vary from place to place and I have seen similar speced LS engined Holdens for sale with similar dyno figures too. I'm still loving the ute even though I have had a few bits and bobs to sort out. Nothing has gone wrong yet engine wise, it is burning a bit of oil but I put that down to it running so rich. Saying running rich it burns my eyes and I can't drive with the window down or I feel ill for hours after driving it, I noticed it when I first drove it home. I thought I noticed a little rattle from the bottom end the other day but I may just have needed to change down a cog. I'll give it an oil change to see if that helps.
Hello Gary, I have a printout somewhere with 170mph on it, I've put a 3.9 crown wheel and pinion in it now with a Kaaz LSD, not sure that it would do 170 now. Do you still have your ute?
Stevieturbo , I'll give it a compression test once I find out who I lent my compression tester to.
MyM8V8 , Maybe LS2 upgrade, sounds good. The cam is for N/A motor and I would have thought there would be too much valve overlap, it comes on cam at about 4000rpm .
ringram , I think you could be right there.
Does sound like an unhappy engine and gearbox 
On the PCV set-up, you can change where the breather pipe feeds from. LS1s take their feed from the rocker covers. This was changed to the valley cover on LS2s (onwards), as there's less oil mist in the fumes in that part of the engine. The modification is a bit awkward, but not that expensive. Have a look on the web, as it's well documented.
The fumes issue does sound like an excessively rich mix, maybe compounded with the oil ingestion problem. I can't see a big, aggressive cam helping either. And, as Stevie says, you may have some damaged parts.
I wouldn't go for the LS376/525. That's been covered many times on here. You should be looking for a nice crate motor with forged internals and a blower friendly cam.
One thought on the gearbox: When was the last time you checked/changed the spigot bearing?
On the PCV set-up, you can change where the breather pipe feeds from. LS1s take their feed from the rocker covers. This was changed to the valley cover on LS2s (onwards), as there's less oil mist in the fumes in that part of the engine. The modification is a bit awkward, but not that expensive. Have a look on the web, as it's well documented.
The fumes issue does sound like an excessively rich mix, maybe compounded with the oil ingestion problem. I can't see a big, aggressive cam helping either. And, as Stevie says, you may have some damaged parts.
I wouldn't go for the LS376/525. That's been covered many times on here. You should be looking for a nice crate motor with forged internals and a blower friendly cam.
One thought on the gearbox: When was the last time you checked/changed the spigot bearing?
bonesxu1 said:
I'm still loving the ute even though I have had a few bits and bobs to sort out.
Hello Gary, I have a printout somewhere with 170mph on it, I've put a 3.9 crown wheel and pinion in it now with a Kaaz LSD, not sure that it would do 170 now.
MyM8V8 , Maybe LS2 upgrade, sounds good. The cam is for N/A motor and I would have thought there would be too much valve overlap, it comes on cam at about 4000rpm .
You will always have a few bits and bobs to sort out but it should be worth it.Hello Gary, I have a printout somewhere with 170mph on it, I've put a 3.9 crown wheel and pinion in it now with a Kaaz LSD, not sure that it would do 170 now.
MyM8V8 , Maybe LS2 upgrade, sounds good. The cam is for N/A motor and I would have thought there would be too much valve overlap, it comes on cam at about 4000rpm .
I dont know why you would want a 3.9 in it with that power unless you are going to do some 1/4 mile stuff.
That cam coming on at 4 grand is not a bad strategy actually, as the 122 blower will give you good inherant off idle torque. Only down side is possible overlap, it would be nice to see the cam spec. It does make the car a monster though.
NB The previous owner went from that SS to a Ford F150 and got his come uppance with that LOL.
If its running that rich maybe something has gone wrong and affected the fuelling? (Sensors?)
There is no evidence it is running rich...just speculation.
The cam, "lumpy n/a cam " is rather non descript. It could be anything in there.
But the only solid info I've taken from the post is heavy breathing and using oil, presumably that means before this time it had been running ok and not using oil with no changes having been made in between.
It all just shouts broken pistons
And agree, 3.9 sounds like a crazy short diff for anything making 500+
The cam, "lumpy n/a cam " is rather non descript. It could be anything in there.
But the only solid info I've taken from the post is heavy breathing and using oil, presumably that means before this time it had been running ok and not using oil with no changes having been made in between.
It all just shouts broken pistons
And agree, 3.9 sounds like a crazy short diff for anything making 500+
^ OP did say this though:
"Saying running rich it burns my eyes and I can't drive with the window down or I feel ill for hours after driving it, I noticed it when I first drove it home"
I've experienced similar albeit many years ago. Like you suggested though, a compression test would be useful. I wonder if the tail pipes are sooted up or the spark plugs. We'll know soon.
"Saying running rich it burns my eyes and I can't drive with the window down or I feel ill for hours after driving it, I noticed it when I first drove it home"
I've experienced similar albeit many years ago. Like you suggested though, a compression test would be useful. I wonder if the tail pipes are sooted up or the spark plugs. We'll know soon.
Boosted LS1 said:
^ OP did say this though:
"Saying running rich it burns my eyes and I can't drive with the window down or I feel ill for hours after driving it, I noticed it when I first drove it home"
I've experienced similar albeit many years ago. Like you suggested though, a compression test would be useful. I wonder if the tail pipes are sooted up or the spark plugs. We'll know soon.
True...but still not a reliable indicator. And if it genuinely was that rich, it'd be going through fuel something shocking, probably running like crap and maybe even smoking badly."Saying running rich it burns my eyes and I can't drive with the window down or I feel ill for hours after driving it, I noticed it when I first drove it home"
I've experienced similar albeit many years ago. Like you suggested though, a compression test would be useful. I wonder if the tail pipes are sooted up or the spark plugs. We'll know soon.
Arnie I don't know when the box was last replaced or out , I should have posted this earlier when I had the s/charger off I could have modded the breather but I would say it wouldn't be to hard to convert. I had a look on the net and job looks pretty straight forward. If you have any suggestions on a crate motor I'm all ears, are there many people in the U.K that sell crate engines?
MyM8V8 The cam is a Comp cams XR cam so I was told but I don't know anymore than that apart from the cam comes on cam at 4k. As for the 3.9 diff, I find the ute nicer to drive with the new ratio and it seems to be perfect for Manx roads, no motorway over here. I was talking to Dave about his F150 a few months back, I'm sure you know how it goes, we pays our money and we takes our chance. I'm sure you know what I mean.
What sensors would you be suggesting? I replaced both lambda sensors as I knocked one off the bench and broke it internally so I thought I would buy a pair.
As far as I am aware it isn't smoking and it is very thirsty, as far as I can remember as I haven't been driving it that much since buying it something like 150 miles ish to a tank. But that is driving it not sitting in traffic etc and we have no problems with giving it the full beans on our roads.
MyM8V8 The cam is a Comp cams XR cam so I was told but I don't know anymore than that apart from the cam comes on cam at 4k. As for the 3.9 diff, I find the ute nicer to drive with the new ratio and it seems to be perfect for Manx roads, no motorway over here. I was talking to Dave about his F150 a few months back, I'm sure you know how it goes, we pays our money and we takes our chance. I'm sure you know what I mean.
What sensors would you be suggesting? I replaced both lambda sensors as I knocked one off the bench and broke it internally so I thought I would buy a pair.
As far as I am aware it isn't smoking and it is very thirsty, as far as I can remember as I haven't been driving it that much since buying it something like 150 miles ish to a tank. But that is driving it not sitting in traffic etc and we have no problems with giving it the full beans on our roads.
stevieturbo said:
There is no evidence it is running rich...just speculation.
The cam, "lumpy n/a cam " is rather non descript. It could be anything in there.
But the only solid info I've taken from the post is heavy breathing and using oil, presumably that means before this time it had been running ok and not using oil with no changes having been made in between.
It all just shouts broken pistons
And agree, 3.9 sounds like a crazy short diff for anything making 500+
The cam came from one of Craigs NA stroker builds. Take it from me, its lumpy and the combination makes for one mental ute!The cam, "lumpy n/a cam " is rather non descript. It could be anything in there.
But the only solid info I've taken from the post is heavy breathing and using oil, presumably that means before this time it had been running ok and not using oil with no changes having been made in between.
It all just shouts broken pistons
And agree, 3.9 sounds like a crazy short diff for anything making 500+
stevieturbo said:
True...but still not a reliable indicator. And if it genuinely was that rich, it'd be going through fuel something shocking, probably running like crap and maybe even smoking badly.
It probably is. If it's making him feel sick it's running mega rich. Plugs out, colour check, compression check, engine and fuelling check etc. 
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