I bought a 97 Z28 SS three weeks ago, the car has 67,000 miles, inside and out look like new.

I had both the rear and front seals replaced, but they are both still leaking, found out a bad balancer caused the front seal leak, the shop will redo the front seal for no cost! But i hear i could have a bad crank causing the new rear seal to leak again.

So if the engine needs tearing down for the crank i just as well have the motor built up!

Whats the best way to spend around $5000, for a rebuild, like cam heads and so on??? I'm new to the LT-1.

Other than leaks the car runs very strong with no other problems, but the water temp seems kinda high, around 210 to 220.

Chas

It will be hard to do a bottom end and a heads/cam package for 5000$.

if you wanted something fast (as in to your doorstep and not waiting for a rebuild), go to Victory Racing Engines (supporting Vendor) and then spend about $700 or $800 on some used ported heads.

You will obviously be cutting corners on the heads since you have to believe them on the flow numbers, but as I see it, you could do it for $5K if you stretched it and maybe came up with a little more money.

Golen makes a short block too for a little less than Victory. Both have good reputations. LE1 heads and cam is 1100$. Then you will need to supporting mods and gaskets. VERY hard to do on 5000$.

I built my motor for under $5000, 383 Eagle forged crank, Eagle h-beam rods, SRP forged pistons, Hellfire rings, 4 bolt splayed main conversion, Custom grind cam, ported heads, new springs, and a canton oil pan. All for about $4200.

Thats even with all the things you needed? Tell me how you do this Yoda.

So where did you have your motor done? Did you put it together yourself as far as crank, rods and bearings or did a machine shop do that for you?

I would have the shortblock rebuilt by someone reputable and then purchase some Nitrous for your time being. Your motor will handle it fine and it will be fairly quick when you want it to and then when you can save more $$ buy a head and cam package.

I could go higher if neeed like around $7000, or just drive the engine the way it is, until it blows or whatever.

Or maybe just add a LT4 hot cam and have my heads ported or get new heads.

I would like a soild 350 to 400 hp, i just dont see a need to tear the engine down if the crank is bad, and not do some mods while the motor is apart.

I'm not looking for super HP like 500 or more!

Chas

The RMS wont leak because of a bad crank, never heard that one before. Chances are the back of your intake is leaking like just about every one does, and makes it look like your RMS is leaking. Pull the intake and reseal the china walls with a nice bead of black RTV and Id bet your leaks are gone.

I doubt you have a "bad crank"...

Your oil pan gasket could be leaking as well. There's where my leaks were coming from, not the RMS.

If you can swing 6000 you can do it easy. Bottom end from Golen and LE1 h/c package and all the extras can be had for that much.

These days you can buy a shortblock for the same price as having someone build it it seems.

I will try to dig my hand behind the intake and feel around for any oil, kinda a tight fit back there!

Chas

It's easier from the passenger side. Up over and around the EGR.