LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Engine died with boom and puff of white smoke ---

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Old May 17, 2008 | 09:46 AM
  #1  
AlwaysCode390's Avatar
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From: STL
Exclamation Engine died with boom and puff of white smoke ---

I havent had time to do anything besides try to start it and look it over for holes, lol.

I was going 25mph , shifted from 1st to second then BOOM (exhaust backfire I think) and the cop said a BIG puff of white smoke out the exhaust.

No holes or leaking of fluids.

When I try to start it , it cranks WAY faster than normal. It backfired one time, pretty small ... out the exhaust after about 30 seconds of cranking (that should rule out the opti right?). If its the head gasket check the oil?

Does it sound like a busted timing chain? The guy told me it was replaced, but he has lied about other things ... and the car has 143k miles.

If it is the timing chain did I damage the internals? I have all new ones purchased already for my le2 build that I keep stubbing my toes on. Now is a great time to get that installed, hahah.

Thanks for the help ---
Old May 17, 2008 | 09:56 AM
  #2  
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Sounds like you have it figured out. I would check to see what is broken before you start it again. I would guess your ok if the timing chain broke and thats all.
Old May 17, 2008 | 10:24 AM
  #3  
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It doesn't sound like a timing chain.
Old May 17, 2008 | 04:07 PM
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I'd rotate the crank and check that all pistons are moving by removing the spark plugs and putting some rope in there.
Old May 17, 2008 | 06:49 PM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by Stl94LT1
It doesn't sound like a timing chain.
Sounds exactly like the timing chain to me
Old May 17, 2008 | 06:50 PM
  #6  
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From: putnam, Ct
Originally Posted by mrmint69
Sounds like you have it figured out. I would check to see what is broken before you start it again. I would guess your ok if the timing chain broke and thats all.
Depends on whether th LT1 is an interference engine or not. I know when the chain let go in the 3.1 in my Cavalier, a piston came up and slapped a valve.

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...t=timing+chain

Last edited by 95LT1conv; May 17, 2008 at 07:09 PM.
Old May 18, 2008 | 12:10 AM
  #7  
Dave1980's Avatar
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Just pull a valve cover and see if the rockers move when cranking.
Old May 22, 2008 | 05:26 PM
  #8  
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From: Akron, OH
you could've blown up your opti. friend of mine did that a few times and the same thing happend. try checking for spark, or get on shoebox and do the opti test
Old May 22, 2008 | 05:32 PM
  #9  
Dadic 78's Avatar
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From: Victoria, B.C.
Mine did something similar when my opti died recently. I was going about 35MPH at the time, and got some KILLER backfire. Don't know about the smoke though. Try a scan, see if you get the lo-res pulse code for the opti, or pull a plug, ground it, and test for spark.
Old May 22, 2008 | 08:30 PM
  #10  
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From: South East Detroit
Thats sounds like exactly what happened when my opti went, i was going 90MPH down the interstate and then it sounded like a shotgun went off under my hood and white exhaust came firing out the back. Check to see if ur throwing sparks where it shouldnt be going, and i also recomend some new MSD cords and new plugs
Old May 22, 2008 | 09:56 PM
  #11  
1963SS's Avatar
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Well what was it? The suspense is killing me. A mighty boom and a puff sounds about right if you're talking about a cannon but it sounds not so good for an engine. The booms and puffs are supposed to be inside the block.
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