Thread: Chipped pistons options

Originally Posted by Bio248

if you take the bottom end apart youre looking at a lot more work then just buying the short block.

That's not the point and do you think I don't know that already? Short block or not the bottom end is coming apart.

it runs and being right are 2 totally different things.

Originally Posted by Thinkmoto

it runs and being right are 2 totally different things.

Sorry... if the bottom end is ****ed, the car generally doesnt run well or at all...

Originally Posted by matt5112

Sorry... if the bottom end is ****ed, the car generally doesnt run well or at all...

Iit actually purred like a kitten after the plugs where replaced. Then it shed more aluminum and rattled away.

Originally Posted by blowfishRus6

i think what he is trying to say is, he rather pull it apart and inspect everything then just throw it in there.

he has 2 chiped pistions but the car was still running. hence running, and being right are not the same thing.

Thats exactly what I'm saying. Haste makes waste especially in this situation.

I still have to pull the pistons and rods to inspect them. With the amount of chunks in the pan I'm worried all the pistons and bearing surfaces are toast. Time will tell when its apart.

i checked on rings for these motors , damn, almost $120. but , if i'm doing bearings, i'm doing rings too. if i found a good short block, then that may do.

do ya'll like how that sh!t rhymed?^^

Morad has a L32 155K miles short block for $300+shipping. I passed on it because of mileage,so my search continues.

Update

Finally got the motor on the stand and flipped over. Found my pan full of aluminum source. The #1 piston chunked out almost the whole piston skirt upto the oil ring. The other 5 appeared to be in one piece on the bottom side.

So has anyone else had the pistons break on the skirt also? Kinda makes me want to email GM and Pontiac about this quality piece of engineering here

They don't do this unless your car is knocking.

So yes, GM could have designed a better exhaust, but the key is, nothing but 91+

Originally Posted by matt5112

They don't do this unless your car is knocking.

So yes, GM could have designed a better exhaust, but the key is, nothing but 91+

When did exhuast systems effect the cars ability to handle detonation? Don't these cars have knock sensors? Secondly I'm not sure if the car ever had 87 ran in it, I trust my ex enough that she didn't. i believe the proper term you want to use is pinging.

The correct term is detonation. Also, don't call the knock sensor a knock sensor if you don't think it should be called knock...

If the exhaust is too restrictive, which the stock manifolds are, then your engine wont flow enough to safely handle the amount of air being pushed into the engine.

These cars do have knock sensors but if you push the engine hard when its knocking, theres nothing it can do. Sure it will pull timing, but its not a guarentee it will be enough.

Lets put it this way, you don't build a high compression or boosted engine, then push it on 87 octane... In simpler terms, you don't put street gas in a car designed for race gas then run the quarter mile.

Personally I'd like to know of a boosted car that can handle detonation.

Originally Posted by matt5112

The correct term is detonation. Also, don't call the knock sensor a knock sensor if you don't think it should be called knock...

If the exhaust is too restrictive, which the stock manifolds are, then your engine wont flow enough to safely handle the amount of air being pushed into the engine.

These cars do have knock sensors but if you push the engine hard when its knocking, theres nothing it can do. Sure it will pull timing, but its not a guarentee it will be enough.

Lets put it this way, you don't build a high compression or boosted engine, then push it on 87 octane... In simpler terms, you don't put street gas in a car designed for race gas then run the quarter mile.

Personally I'd like to know of a boosted car that can handle detonation.

Sorry I'm getting irratated by this problem. I just don't by the exhuast system being too restrictive because name a car from the factory that isn't restricted? I did notice a lot of heat checking on the front bank manifold which is no good,but still is that really the root cause of the problem? What about the ring gap theory? That makes sense too me under heavy loads and high heat. This car I have apart wasn't beat on....inless my ex was running 87 for a long time i just can't see what would do this kind of damage. The #1 piston is bad, I have seen worse but *******.

And yes I understand the octane requirements,I've owned plenty of cars that required premium from the factory. I've also built a few atv's that needed 110+ minimum octane.

Its called... an intercooler.

Pretty much all factory boosted cars have them cept ours because GM is too cheap. They made it run, but not safely. A fair number of stock cars knock even on 91.

Originally Posted by matt5112

Its called... an intercooler.

Pretty much all factory boosted cars have them cept ours because GM is too cheap. They made it run, but not safely. A fair number of stock cars knock even on 91.

Ummm I know that,but even if it was intercooled would that seriously prevent the pistons from chipping if they are gapped too tight? yes when timed incorrectly any motor will ping.