Hello everyone here. I just recently was told by the dealer about my Z's engine problem. Take ya back a bit. A few weeks ago. I broke down after the hose leading from the water pump to the radiator blow a very small hole and puked coolant all over the creation. Heat spiked as I was driving. I shut it off as quick as I could. Ok got that fixed . Last night, I had to get towed home again, I was told cylinder #7's gasket blew. My options are for $1900, the the heads shipped out , looked over for signs of warping, with a 1 year guarantee on it, or get a new engine which they'll install for , get ready, $8,000, yes 8 grand.. This is the second LT1 , the first blew after the thermo stuck on me warping everthing in sight.. I love my car, I love the LT 1's punch, but I'm sick and f'n tired of the BS technology GM decided to try out. I have had 4 Opti's , a water pump and every 80,000 or so on a engine the dear ole reverse flow cooling goes to crap.Typing this has me so upset guys , I'm sorry about the length, just a little venting, but , any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

for 8 grand you could buy a bad *** forged motor. The other option besides the $1900 for the heads is go to eportworks.com and look under a stage one or stage 2 kit. Since you are going to be replacing the head gaskets, you might as well change the heads as well, especially for that price.

 

towing your car to a performance shop would be the best option, they would let you bring your own motor you found, or they would probably help you find a motor for you. and the cost would be alot less than a dealer ship.

or just find a motor and install it yourself

 

pm sent to you

 

I had my engine installed at the chevy dealership. Labor was only like 900$ I supplied my own engine.

 

To recon the heads is about $400.00.If ya got a lot of miles I wouldn't recommend a valve job, as it will probably start changing its own oil.
$1500 seems high to R&R a set of heads.

 

I have this for you if interested
Shoot me a PM.

it's complete with pully system and all. needs nothing, plug n play.
I ened up going with a 454 with the 6/speed

 

Thanks for the posts. I have ordered a re-manufactured LT1. this has 4 bolt mains, so I suspect it was a ex-Corvette motor. I take care ofthe car. Mobil 1 every 4K miles and it's that cooling system and it's fickleness that bring sit down. I feel like breaking someone's jaw at GM over this

 

What did you pay for this 4 bolt motor if you don't mind me asking? I would suggest getting a good short block built, using the stock crank with new rods and pistons. Then get a set of ported heads from Ai or Eportworks with a cam and have a wayy better motor than some over priced reman motor IMO. Maybe its just me but I would rather do it right the first time, rather than risking a poor reman jobber.

FWIW all these 'cooling' issues you had with those last 2 motors sounds like it could have been prevented with a little more care. Might want to get a failsafe T-stat in this one and throw a brand new waterpump on it before you install the motor