Need Engine Advice - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

H8Rain · 08-07-2023, 12:07 PM

History: I have a 2011 Camaro 1SS LS3. Fair weather car, no track.70k miles. Last year I installed a Whipple SC. Whipple provided the tune for my car. No other mods except Borla exhaust. For the past year everything has been working great. Was thinking of doing a CAM, headers, CAI and getting a custom tune. Until last week when things went horribly wrong.

To make a long story short, car had CEL on, Service Stabilitrac, very low oil pressure at idle (10 psi). My ultimate findings are in the photo below, scope inside of cylinder #8. When I manually turned the crank, the piston just sat there on the bottom. Obviously a broken connecting rod, which tore a gapping hole in the side of the block and piston. Engine is toast!

So I need a new engine, which is where I need some advice. The goal would be to reuse my Whipple of course. Also I would like to use my stock wiring and ECM, etc.

I was looking at Summit Racing and they have a couple options. First, what looks like a direct replacement https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19434644

They also have what looks to be that same replacement but upgraded to 525HP https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19434648

The upgraded 525HP seems to give me the CAM upgrade I was after and added power. Would everything else work with it? I'm guessing my ECM and wiring could be used but would need reprograming/tuning accordingly, yes?

I would truly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. I live in CT so I was thinking about contacting Jannetty Racing to get their thoughts and if they could help with final programing/tuning.

Thanks for you time!

H8Rain · 08-07-2023, 12:11 PM

well apparently I don't know how to add pics. one more try.....

[IMG]

2023-08-07_12-26-56 by Mark Krumenacker, on Flickr[/IMG]

gtstorey · 08-07-2023, 12:24 PM

At you mileage, I would probably inspect your heads and if not damaged, spend a little more and get a forged bottom end motor and freshen up you existing heads. Something like this.
https://www.thompsonmotorsports.net/...rgd-pis-stge-2.

With a basically stock crate you still have the weaker piston/rods and probably a smaller ring gap.

morepowerjoe · 08-07-2023, 09:27 PM

I was looking along these lines when I rebuilt mine but decided to forge mine as a l99 vvt engine. But If your heads are good which I kind of doubt it with all that carnage you could go with one of these just pick your compression ratio basically.

https://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...0002&langId=-1

Good luck sir.

H8Rain · 08-08-2023, 07:24 AM

Hmmm…. Those prices aren’t bad. So I would need to get heads and a cam to go with one of these.

This is certainly going to be a learning experience!

morepowerjoe · 08-08-2023, 07:44 AM

Yes sir unless your heads are still good.

jeff657756 · 08-08-2023, 07:45 AM

With the fact that you will be boosted, i wouldnt mess with any of the gm crate motors. Check out Texas Speed, Thompson Motorsports, AMS racing, etc and get a forged short block. Have your heads checked and if they are still good, then use them.

RupertPupkin · 08-08-2023, 08:41 AM

I was originally going to go with Thompson when my engine blew, but by the time I pulled the trigger the price increased 10-15%. I was able to get a forged long block for 8800. Not bad imo.

racesloth · 08-08-2023, 09:27 AM

$7K and you trade up to a dart iron 427:

https://cnc-motorsports.com/cnc-comp...ymetrical.html

Your Whipple will be happy sitting on top of it...

gtstorey · 08-08-2023, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racesloth

$7K and you trade up to a dart iron 427:

https://cnc-motorsports.com/cnc-comp...ymetrical.html

Your Whipple will be happy sitting on top of it...

Depends on what you are doing with the car and whether you want the additional weight of the iron block.

morepowerjoe · 08-08-2023, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtstorey

Depends on what you are doing with the car and whether you want the additional weight of the iron block.

That's what I was thinking about. And doesn't the 427 usr different heads than the ls3?

RupertPupkin · 08-08-2023, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morepowerjoe

That's what I was thinking about. And doesn't the 427 usr different heads than the ls3?

You can use ls3 heads.

jeff657756 · 08-08-2023, 10:07 AM

Whatever you decide to do, save some money for your fuel system, clutch, drivetrain, etc.

H8Rain · 08-08-2023, 11:36 AM

This is all VERY helpful. I looked at Thompson and they are really expensive. I think if I were tracking or racing the car that would be a great option, but I'm just fair weather driving and jumping on it occasionally to beat the guy next to me.

So I think an aluminum black with forged piston and rods should be a good upgrade. I need to figure out the whole compression thing to see which I want to go with. Also need to figure out a cam that will be street drivable but provide that nice blub-blub-blub at idle.

When you say check my heads, do you mean for them being warped? I have never overheated so I'm thinking they should be good. Maybe use the heads but upgrade the valves, springs, pushrods, etc?

Do you think I should run a high-pressure oil pump?

I will be replacing the entire clutch as it was just starting to slip.

Thanks so much for information! I greatly appriciate it!

08-07-2023, 12:07 PM	#1
H8Rain Drives: Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: CT Posts: 12	Need Engine Advice History: I have a 2011 Camaro 1SS LS3. Fair weather car, no track.70k miles. Last year I installed a Whipple SC. Whipple provided the tune for my car. No other mods except Borla exhaust. For the past year everything has been working great. Was thinking of doing a CAM, headers, CAI and getting a custom tune. Until last week when things went horribly wrong. To make a long story short, car had CEL on, Service Stabilitrac, very low oil pressure at idle (10 psi). My ultimate findings are in the photo below, scope inside of cylinder #8. When I manually turned the crank, the piston just sat there on the bottom. Obviously a broken connecting rod, which tore a gapping hole in the side of the block and piston. Engine is toast! So I need a new engine, which is where I need some advice. The goal would be to reuse my Whipple of course. Also I would like to use my stock wiring and ECM, etc. I was looking at Summit Racing and they have a couple options. First, what looks like a direct replacement https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19434644 They also have what looks to be that same replacement but upgraded to 525HP https://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-19434648 The upgraded 525HP seems to give me the CAM upgrade I was after and added power. Would everything else work with it? I'm guessing my ECM and wiring could be used but would need reprograming/tuning accordingly, yes? I would truly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. I live in CT so I was thinking about contacting Jannetty Racing to get their thoughts and if they could help with final programing/tuning. Thanks for you time!

08-07-2023, 12:11 PM	#2
H8Rain Drives: Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: CT Posts: 12	well apparently I don't know how to add pics. one more try..... [IMG]2023-08-07_12-26-56 by Mark Krumenacker, on Flickr[/IMG]

08-07-2023, 09:27 PM	#4
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,111	I was looking along these lines when I rebuilt mine but decided to forge mine as a l99 vvt engine. But If your heads are good which I kind of doubt it with all that carnage you could go with one of these just pick your compression ratio basically. https://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...0002&langId=-1 Good luck sir. __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

08-08-2023, 07:44 AM	#6
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,111	Yes sir unless your heads are still good. __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

08-08-2023, 07:45 AM	#7
jeff657756 Drives: 2014 SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: United States Posts: 660	With the fact that you will be boosted, i wouldnt mess with any of the gm crate motors. Check out Texas Speed, Thompson Motorsports, AMS racing, etc and get a forged short block. Have your heads checked and if they are still good, then use them. __________________ https://instagram.com/jp_1le/

08-07-2023, 12:24 PM	#3
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,155	At you mileage, I would probably inspect your heads and if not damaged, spend a little more and get a forged bottom end motor and freshen up you existing heads. Something like this. https://www.thompsonmotorsports.net/...rgd-pis-stge-2. With a basically stock crate you still have the weaker piston/rods and probably a smaller ring gap.

08-08-2023, 07:24 AM	#5
H8Rain Drives: Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: CT Posts: 12	Hmmm…. Those prices aren’t bad. So I would need to get heads and a cam to go with one of these. This is certainly going to be a learning experience!

08-08-2023, 08:41 AM	#8
RupertPupkin Drives: 2014 Camaro SS 1Le Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: IL Posts: 1,606	I was originally going to go with Thompson when my engine blew, but by the time I pulled the trigger the price increased 10-15%. I was able to get a forged long block for 8800. Not bad imo. __________________ 2014 SS 1LE Money Pit/ Forged 402 CAM 22X/24X, .619/.617, 113 LSA/ LS9 Heads FIC 1200cc/DSX Aux Pump//McLeod RXT Clutch 730whp: 630Trq

08-08-2023, 09:27 AM	#9
racesloth Dan Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS IOM Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Georgia, USA not the other one Posts: 1,041	$7K and you trade up to a dart iron 427: https://cnc-motorsports.com/cnc-comp...ymetrical.html Your Whipple will be happy sitting on top of it... __________________ Dan 2010 IOM SS YSI-B, Pat G Cam, Ported CTS-V Heads, ARH LTs MBRP 3" exhaust http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...&highlight=ysi

08-08-2023, 10:07 AM	#13
jeff657756 Drives: 2014 SS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: United States Posts: 660	Whatever you decide to do, save some money for your fuel system, clutch, drivetrain, etc. __________________ https://instagram.com/jp_1le/

08-08-2023, 11:36 AM	#14
H8Rain Drives: Chevy Camaro 2SS Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: CT Posts: 12	This is all VERY helpful. I looked at Thompson and they are really expensive. I think if I were tracking or racing the car that would be a great option, but I'm just fair weather driving and jumping on it occasionally to beat the guy next to me. So I think an aluminum black with forged piston and rods should be a good upgrade. I need to figure out the whole compression thing to see which I want to go with. Also need to figure out a cam that will be street drivable but provide that nice blub-blub-blub at idle. When you say check my heads, do you mean for them being warped? I have never overheated so I'm thinking they should be good. Maybe use the heads but upgrade the valves, springs, pushrods, etc? Do you think I should run a high-pressure oil pump? I will be replacing the entire clutch as it was just starting to slip. Thanks so much for information! I greatly appriciate it!