Lets try this again, What LT1 engines have failed locally?
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,251
Ok since you guys are talking about me I might as well join in. 
Actually Matt, the lifters weren't reused. I have the originals at home. The pushrods and the rockers weren't reused. The only thing that I remember that was reused was the guides that the lifters go into. However, it seems that Richmond put stock components back in. I do remeber asking him about putting 1.6 RR etc in more than once and he said don't bother "especially for the cost of them". I told him that I wanted ~350 to the rear wheels, I don't have it. I gave him a budget, purposely low, which he still went over. I told him to build me a 383, I got a 355. Now this point needs clarification. I asked him whatit would cost for a 396. he said 12-14 grand. 
<---where the looks on my face. So I said "a 383 is what about half that?" he said yeah about that. So i said here's my budget, give or take a bit. I want ~350+ to the rear, I want decent driveablity, and I want DEPENDIBILTY. I stressed that part of it. I told him that I want the power, and I also use it as a daily driver, I also want to be able to jump in it and take off to Calgary without worrying.
I think I got decent power, his way of getting me over the 350 mark was to give me 4 botl mains and forged pistons, etc, and tell me to do a ~150 shot. I wanted it NA. but oh well.
I don't think I got dependability.
Also, Mike, a feww months ago when my rocker nut busted, it also put a groove in the rocker stud (ARP). Richmond gave me a free rocker and I paid for the labour to get it fixed. This time it wasn't just one rocker that went it was 4, including the original one. Also the one beside the original is the one with the bent valve and busted spring. So I'm frustrated. Next week I'm going to talk to him about it. I already know what he's going tosay and that is that i overrevved it. I'll get into that later. I just want to be more educated as to what and why it happend and to see what can be done to prevent it from happening. I',m not a hater until I can prove tha someone hated on me. time will tell. And thanks for the help Mike, I'll be calling you!
Hope this helps clearing up my issue.
Actually Matt, the lifters weren't reused. I have the originals at home. The pushrods and the rockers weren't reused. The only thing that I remember that was reused was the guides that the lifters go into. However, it seems that Richmond put stock components back in. I do remeber asking him about putting 1.6 RR etc in more than once and he said don't bother "especially for the cost of them". I told him that I wanted ~350 to the rear wheels, I don't have it. I gave him a budget, purposely low, which he still went over. I told him to build me a 383, I got a 355. Now this point needs clarification. I asked him whatit would cost for a 396. he said 12-14 grand. <---where the looks on my face. So I said "a 383 is what about half that?" he said yeah about that. So i said here's my budget, give or take a bit. I want ~350+ to the rear, I want decent driveablity, and I want DEPENDIBILTY. I stressed that part of it. I told him that I want the power, and I also use it as a daily driver, I also want to be able to jump in it and take off to Calgary without worrying. I think I got decent power, his way of getting me over the 350 mark was to give me 4 botl mains and forged pistons, etc, and tell me to do a ~150 shot. I wanted it NA. but oh well.
I don't think I got dependability.
Also, Mike, a feww months ago when my rocker nut busted, it also put a groove in the rocker stud (ARP). Richmond gave me a free rocker and I paid for the labour to get it fixed. This time it wasn't just one rocker that went it was 4, including the original one. Also the one beside the original is the one with the bent valve and busted spring. So I'm frustrated. Next week I'm going to talk to him about it. I already know what he's going tosay and that is that i overrevved it. I'll get into that later. I just want to be more educated as to what and why it happend and to see what can be done to prevent it from happening. I',m not a hater until I can prove tha someone hated on me. time will tell. And thanks for the help Mike, I'll be calling you!
Hope this helps clearing up my issue.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 473
From: Victoria, BC, Canada
OK, so 4 failed LT1 rebuilds. How many successful ones? Knowing that there were 4 that failed means nothing to me unless I know the total number of LT1 rebuilds or the number of successful rebuilds.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,201
From: Montreal, Canada
Here is a even better point. Call up an engine shop and ask them how much it will cost to do a 383 on a SBC, L98, etc.. Get a price then phone the same shop back the next day and ask them how much it would cost to do a 383 on any year LT1. Eh? 
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Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 1,884
From: Surrey, B.C, Canada
Originally posted by NiteRider
Here is a even better point. Call up an engine shop and ask them how much it will cost to do a 383 on a SBC, L98, etc.. Get a price then phone the same shop back the next day and ask them how much it would cost to do a 383 on any year LT1. Eh?
Here is a even better point. Call up an engine shop and ask them how much it will cost to do a 383 on a SBC, L98, etc.. Get a price then phone the same shop back the next day and ask them how much it would cost to do a 383 on any year LT1. Eh?
Call High Performance Engines
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,213
From: North Vancouver, BC
Originally posted by NiteRider
Here is a even better point. Call up an engine shop and ask them how much it will cost to do a 383 on a SBC, L98, etc.. Get a price then phone the same shop back the next day and ask them how much it would cost to do a 383 on any year LT1. Eh?
Here is a even better point. Call up an engine shop and ask them how much it will cost to do a 383 on a SBC, L98, etc.. Get a price then phone the same shop back the next day and ask them how much it would cost to do a 383 on any year LT1. Eh?
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,201
From: Montreal, Canada
Originally posted by Draco
Yes, please call and find out the prices so you can backup this rather strong assertion you just made.
Yes, please call and find out the prices so you can backup this rather strong assertion you just made.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 319
From: Burnaby, B.C. Canada
Originally posted by Tw!tchb!tch
This is true . Ill go to a shop that SPECIALIZES in my ls1 if I ever need major work done . I would do the same with the LT1 if I was so equiped . It just makes sence to me . The online sponsors have there reputation on the line . If you have an engine built from a reputable sponsor and it chews itself up you have recourse . Word travels so fast online its crazy and there is pressure on the sponsors all the time . There always being watched . Its harder to go public againsed a local builder . . . . how do you get the word out to enough potential customers to put the squeze on there buisiness . kinda scary
This is true . Ill go to a shop that SPECIALIZES in my ls1 if I ever need major work done . I would do the same with the LT1 if I was so equiped . It just makes sence to me . The online sponsors have there reputation on the line . If you have an engine built from a reputable sponsor and it chews itself up you have recourse . Word travels so fast online its crazy and there is pressure on the sponsors all the time . There always being watched . Its harder to go public againsed a local builder . . . . how do you get the word out to enough potential customers to put the squeze on there buisiness . kinda scary
I had 100% confidence in them, they took me into the shop and educated me, showing all thier equipment and what it's used for. I also got to know a guy there, and he was really helpful, and thier prices were good. I did sell that setup to Craig, which he flipped. So I don't have any first hand experience (my T/A's LT1 is still stock) But if your looking to build a stroker LS1 or LT1 I would have confidence in them.
I don't think local shops are the problem, becuase an LT1 is basically a SBC. Now the LS1 has it's differences, but I would assume that the lack of tuning knowledge is causing some of the "local" LT1's to fail.
My $0.02
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