Hey guys, I've been doing a lot of thinking. What I have for a plan is to swap my LT1 and 4L60E into my 91 formula. The motor has 198,000 miles and runs low 13's all day long. My question is, if i were to do this should i at least get the rings and bearings replaced? I'm on a reeeaaaalyyyy tight budget here. How much would the breakdown in parts and labor be if i brought it to a shop? I'm having the transmission rebuilt. I'm going for the cheapest/best way for my situation right now until i can afford a complete shortblock. Another question is where could i get a used cheap, low mile short block if possible? Thanks in advance guys, appreciate it.

Zach Horn
A.C.S.

 

as much of a major PITA it is to get an lt1 running in a 3rd gen, i wouldn't do it without a complete rebuild. 198,000 probably wont last long if you are racing it. if you are on that tight of a budget, don't even do anything yet. there's all kinds of hidden costs in any project.

 

Yep, as the other said, there are quite a few hidden costs that add up pretty quick. I tore mine apart and just did rings and bearings. The machine shop bill was about 700 in labor. I assembeld the motor myself. I just pulled my oil pan last night to find bearing chunks in my pan. The #4 main bearing (bottom half) failed. It did not spin. That explains why my oil had a gold film to it. The bearing had a little babbit left on the outsides and the inside was totally wiped away. The crank is ruined. The other mains I inspeced were in great shape. The rod bearings were good. #1, and 2 had minor wiping but I think that was because I re used the rods. I heard they get a little obb long shaped. But the machine shop machined new bolts in them, and they said they looked fine. But my rod clearences were 21 thousandths side to side. So I won't ever rebuild again as cheap as I can, I am going to end up spending more in the long run. I am probably only one of the few that has problems, but it sucks being one of the few. Do you feel lucky. I only had 107,000 miles originally. I owned the car from day 1.

ZMAN

 

Damn ! All that work.
If you don't rebuild, what are you going to do ?