Blew the engine on my '02 LS V8....recommendations?

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FALECF4

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So I think I put a rod right through the block. You can check the story on my other thread where I was changing the VCG's, plugs, and coils.

So I am looking for suggestions on where to go from here. I owe on the car more than it's worth and I've only had it for 18 months. Do I buy a new engine, get a short block and try to rebuild, find a used engine? I don't want to get rid of it since it is still in good shape otherwise and because I owe so much. I could let the company that holds the loan take the car back but that is just a whole new batch of issues. Is there a warranty on these cars that would have transferred when I bought it used from a dealership? It's an '02 with almost 95K on it.

I'm sure I'll get some smart a$$ comments but any serious suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

(maybe I could just drop in a different engine with a manual tranny and make it a race car...)
 
Just replace engine with used one. There is guy on here selling his whole smash car with good drive train. Look for thread called "best way to scrap car" Also there are no rebuild parts for this. Try finding rod or main bearings for the 3.9 nothing I looked. Gipp Jegs would not have his 3.9 they cater to the race crowd 302/351 SB/bb chevy
 
^+1 I didnt even think about the other smashed car for sale. Here is the link to the thread: http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=51956

Only issue with this engine is that it TOO needs the valve gaskets replaced and a few coils replaced. I dont think he will sell just the engine, you will most likely have to pick up the whole car.

And I know Jegs caters to the race crowd, but hey he said he may want to turn it into a race car =P
 
How sweet would it be to totally race out an LS?! Just gut it and either supercharge it or drop in a bigger engine. Did they make any of the V8's with manual transmissions? I've never heard of one, just a few of the V6's. If I did decide to make it a race car I'd sell all the parts I didn't need to help pay for it! Seats anyone? How about a moon roof? J/K

I did think of that thread with the guys scrapping the LS first thing. Well good news is that the gaskets, coils, and plugs should all still be good on mine! It's just the bottom end that is demolished. I'll PM him in the morning to see what he's asking. Where is he located again because transporting that might suck!
 
TDUB said:
Let me know if you decide to get a new engine, I'd be interested in some parts from this one.
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I don't think I will be getting a new one just because of the cost, but what kind of parts were you looking for? I PM'ed randatola about the car he is scrapping so we'll see how that goes. My concern about that is the distance I'd have to trailer it. Although I'd have an engine plus a ton of other spare parts for less than $2500!
 
Too bad the price of scrap metal dropped so low otherwise I'm sure an all aluminum engine block would be worth a few bucks.

Would this be the time to try to build the engine up a bit and maybe do the supercharger upgrade? I might think so!
 
FALECF4 said:
Would this be the time to try to build the engine up a bit and maybe do the supercharger upgrade? I might think so!
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it would but no one makes any parts for it, check out the "land speed ls" thread in the high performance section
 
FALECF4 said:
Too bad the price of scrap metal dropped so low otherwise I'm sure an all aluminum engine block would be worth a few bucks.

Would this be the time to try to build the engine up a bit and maybe do the supercharger upgrade? I might think so!
Click to expand...

how do you plan on buying a $3000-$5000 supercharger kit if you can't afford $2500 for a new engine and the car isn't paid off? IF I were you, I would find a wrecked LS, pull what you need from it and sell the rest off as parts, you could most likely break even or better yet make money off the deal. I've been looking to buy one for awhile but unfortunately it seems they're a little hard to come by in my neck of the woods.
 
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You are right. I just like the idea of having a supercharger. What you said is basically what I planned on doing.
 
You wont find any crate engine for an LS on Jegs.

Find a junkyard engine, replace the Timing chain tensioners on it and drop it in. Or more accurately, drop the car on it, since it has to go in through the bottom. :p
 
97stscaddy said:
Or more accurately, drop the car on it, since it has to go in through the bottom. :p
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Oh jeez, didn't realize that. I was going to have a shop do that part anyway. I don't really have the time or place or tools to do the job of putting in an engine on an LS. I did it for my '87 Marquis but I could also sit in that engine bay.
 
Yeah that's one of the reasons I haven't pulled my engine out for a rebuild yet. I also just think it would be better to buy a parts car and just to pull the engine to build it up because that way there is no real rush to get it done and I can still use my LS while I'm building it.
 
What do you plan on doing to "build it up"? I want to make sure that any engine I put in my car is going to last and maybe even be able to handle some power adders.
 
Ported heads, reground cam etc. etc. and then forced induction. My car has 107000 miles, the engine was swapped out under warranty at about 35,000 I do believe but I would feel safer and better about going forced induction if I built up the engine first.
 
Ok so making it breathe better. Reground cam? Are you changing the cam profile? What about the bottom end? Any upgrade in pistons or rods? Knife edge the crank (I think that's what's its called.) for a lighter rotating assembly? Has anyone put an aftermarket ignition setup on an LS or is the stock system good enough and an aftermarket would just be more hassle than it's worth? Isn't there also something that can be done to the block where you get better cooling and oil flow? I think they run air through the passages at high speed and then add sand or some particle and it actually smooths it out and makes everything flow better.
 
The sand process your talking about is called "Extrudahone". It is a highly abrasive puddy that is forced thru openings(ports) at huge pressure. This takes off material from everywhere and opens up port and super polishes it. One thing is it removes material everywhere where hand or CNC head porting removes more metal from certain areas(ie shortside radius) and not others. Also extuda is not cheap to do. Also can't be done to LS 3.9 intake because its plastic. Thats where Extruda is great on intakes because you don't have to cut open intake and port then reweld back together. Thats cuz EFI intakes are so long and whinding extruda gets in all the nooks and crannies.
 
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