Phase 7 - Disaster
As alluded to in Phase 6's video, the engine stalled because it was running hood rich. While building my LT1, we upgraded the injectors to 30# injectors but I let it run for a total of 15 minutes (on and off heat cycles) without the proper calibration in the tune for 30# injectors. Furthermore, while we had the engine apart, we did not check the bearing's health. We know it was running rich, all we can assume is that the engine running with the 30# injectors on a 24# tune allowed the engine to wash the cylinders with fuel ruining the piston ring's fit.
Being new to engines, I did not know that after your first start up and letting it run for a few minutes to heat cycle that it was necessary to drain the oil and change it. Being a newb, I didn't change the oil at all... After getting the PCM calibrated for the 30# injectors, I drove out to the local cruisin' strip, Woodward with my new engine. Within 80 miles of the new build, disaster struck. The engine seized, and I had to be flatbedded home.
April 25th, 2009
Upon checking the oil, I noticed the oil was far above the fill line and smelled strongly of fuel.
Imagine my lack of surprise when I found my oil looked like this:
Bearing dust:
But isn't it supposed to have gold glitter in it?
Back up she goes:
Getting to be pros:
"Oh dear god..."
"That doesn't look good..."
"Nor does that..."
"Oh f@#$..."
At this point, all you can do is move on. We contacted a local engine shop and arranged to get the engine cleaned, cylinders bored, and short block rebuilt.
May 13th, 2009
We got it back bored 0.040 out. A 357ci LT1.
May 15th, 2009
May 16th, 2009
May 17th, 2009
So you might be wondering - why the dates? Well, May 30th, 2009, was the date of my website's annual car show. Everyone knew my car was down for the count, no one knew my engine was being rebuilt except for a select few. We built it back together as quickly as possible, this time remembering to change the oil after it heat cycled a few times, and I immediately had it tuned proper.
May 30th, 2009
