Finding more weak spots on the ZL1

[Kevlar382]

"Finding more weak spots in the ZL1." I think you are finding more weak spots in the people that work on your car. Send it to Lingenfelter or one of the other great tuners out there, there are a lot of them, before there is nothing left to it.

[Tmick5jr]

my car is a v6 but for the first second of startup i get a puff of smoke but its black. Im not tuned or anything. Ive been running 93 octane sine day one and have been using a catch can since day one. but this only happens on warm starts

[Nor Cal ZL1]

Originally Posted by Chrispy

Sounds like a couple of things might have happened/happening.
1 - You might have lifted the heads/warped slightly when you killed the plugs and went lean
2 - Crankcase pressure
3 - I'd have the shop do a compression check You may have hurt a ringland(s).

The ZL1 is very strong but as others said not invulnerable.

This

Melted plugs = lean condition
lean condition = possible detonation
that can crack ring landings which will pressurize the crankcase and blow seals.

Have someone do a leak down test.

[jessrayo]

Hmmm, sorry to hear about this James but it sure sounds you do have too much crankcase pressure and blew the rear main. When you get over 700 crankshaft horsepower and actually run the engine for any time you really need more crankcase ventilation. The good catch cans help and you can really open up the size of the vents to the cans for more flow. Sounds like your mechanics are figuring it out as they go. I have one can on each bank for better ventilation.

I may have to agree with Kevlar on this one. That is why my car goes down to Dallas.... but now that I'm over 1400whp we are getting into issues that have never show up before.... like my tranny breaking... I think just change the rear main seal and add some catch cans and you will be good.

[unstable vic]

I would get a new tuner.

[JamesZL1]

Originally Posted by jessrayo

Hmmm, sorry to hear about this James but it sure sounds you do have too much crankcase pressure and blew the rear main. When you get over 700 crankshaft horsepower and actually run the engine for any time you really need more crankcase ventilation. The good catch cans help and you can really open up the size of the vents to the cans for more flow. Sounds like your mechanics are figuring it out as they go. I have one can on each bank for better ventilation.

I may have to agree with Kevlar on this one. That is why my car goes down to Dallas.... but now that I'm over 1400whp we are getting into issues that have never show up before.... like my tranny breaking... I think just change the rear main seal and add some catch cans and you will be good.

I have added a crankcase filter (for now) and Monday I am ordering a Catch can. I am also going to take it to a shop for a leak down test and have the cylinders scoped for some piece of mind. Thanks for every ones input. I also think that when I replace the rear main seal I am going to throw a Stall Converter on it...

[jessrayo]

Originally Posted by JamesZL1

I have added a crankcase filter (for now) and Monday I am ordering a Catch can. I am also going to take it to a shop for a leak down test and have the cylinders scoped for some piece of mind. Thanks for every ones input. I also think that when I replace the rear main seal I am going to throw a Stall Converter on it...

I have never had an auto transmission in my ZL1 but I have heard that those stall converters can be a bear to tune if you don't have a lot of experience with them......

[NicKey]

One properly set up catch can is more than adequate for his application and just because excess crank case pressure forced oil out of the rear main seal, doesn't necessarily mean that it will need replaced.

[JamesZL1]

Originally Posted by NicKey

One properly set up catch can is more than adequate for his application and just because excess crank case pressure forced oil out of the rear main seal, doesn't necessarily mean that it will need replaced.

That is what I am hoping for...I will clean the area once I put it on and then inspect it periodically.

[hognutz]

hmmm I think I would find a new tuner. you are overboosting you combo IMO.

I mean where is you limiter? that is like 25,500 blower rpm at stock redline. now if they dropped the reline back a tad. I thought like 23,500 was kind of the safe rule of thumb on this blower according to lingenfelter anyway.


I mean with that much boost, stock fuel system, and no cooling system upgrades that combo is just not going to work well IMO. especially on 91 octane.

what are you IAT2's on a 1/2mile pull?


I would drop back to 8.6 lower, get the catch can installed, get some kind of HX upgrade or chiller on the car. the blower is this car is not as bad as some make it out but the stock intercooler system at 25,000rpm is not going to cool well.

then again I am a bit conservative as I like my cars to have safty margin in them.

[NicKey]

Hognut makes a very good point, especially if your running 91 Octane. Based on your signature " Metco 9.55" Crank Pulley, Metco 2.5" You might have too much boost for the gas your using, depending on how your combination is working / bleeding off cylinder pressure. This can be very dangerous to the health of your engine. Also at max rpm you are spinning the blower faster than most would recommend.

Anything beyond a 2.55 blower pulley and an 8.6 crank pulley then we recommend a larger supercharger.

[EvilZL1]

I would drop from 9.55, spinning the blower past 23k is not recommended nor healthy for the blower