rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

but on the plus side...
1000HP!
silver linings, Jason!

CCColtsicehockey

not thinking my current mods will get me that high. Hoping for around 525-550whp. Taking a realistic approach and anything else will be icing on the cake. That and having a car in good working condition as well.

On another note they say that there is no way this thing was making the power it is supposed to in the condition it is so that might be why I can't break the tires lose. Maybe.

cu2wagon

That's probably why.

Majofo

This sounds like bs.. she rode fine before all this right?
LSA is bulletproof.

Majofo

I tested it...

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

Ugh man that absolutely blows. But, silver lining, you caught it and it's being beefed up, so at least it didn't crap the bed while you were out having fun somewhere unaware that the issue was there. So they think bad seal between the SC intake and engine valley?

Majofo

Seriously though.. the the V has a lot of blowby, just check that vid. I don't think you have ring seal leak.
I'm guessing the previous owner wasn't good on oil changes and did city commutes with a lot of lift. I really doubt anything else is going on.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I think Joe and I are pretty good testaments to the bulletproofness of the LS
Honestly, this is why I don't want to go down the rabbit hole...
I can still let the wife drive the car and not be too scared but still have some fun.

Majofo

I'm just saving for that lower, upper, intake, headers, injectors, and eCutouts.. I'm not scurred.
I'm paying stacks on these kids mang!
They eating my food too.. might need to sell the blower.

Majofo

So fucking crazy you can throw just a few thousand at this thing and you're on another planet.

cu2wagon

The same can be said for cough syrup. But there's less chance of blowing up your engine with cough syrup.

But I think this engine way is probably more fun to here over the internet... so I guess you keep doing that and I'll just buy more cough syrup.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I like mine stock

Majofo

I put tussin in her too.. a cap a tank.. don't want to overdo it.

JT4

Sorry to hear about the issues, but as you know there are a lot of CTS-V's with 80K plus miles running 600 to 700HP with no issues (so they say). Is it possible the previous owner was really tough on her??

Good Luck with the rebuild....

CCColtsicehockey

I have no idea. I bought the first V I test drove so I have nothing to compare it to. No check engine lights yes but that doesn't mean it was down on compression which it now turns out it is.

I will definitely be beefing everything up that is for sure.

This isn't these guys first time with a V. They have built tons of them and tons of vettes and comaroes as well. Check out JHR Performance GM Performance LS Specialists ? GM Performance LS Specialists

Well this is definitely causing me a little concern now that I am this far in but there is no turning back now.

Yeah definitely not worried about it being reliable after this cause I won't cut corners. Don't want to get so crazy though to the point of new heads or block.




So answered a bunch of questions but left the full story till now. They did the compression test and it failed. It failed badly on several cylinders. I forget the exact numbers but they are going to email me over the numbers along with the quote of what we believe is wrong so far. We know it failed the compression test I believe in 3 or 4 of 8 cylinders. They were still holding some but letting between 40-50% escape. So the plan right now is new rings and seals all around, pistons, cam since we might as well with this much apart, new valves and springs, and a new oil pump. Turn around time will be between 4-5 weeks with what they already have booked on their schedule. This is a small shop. Just 3 guys and they do lots of work.

Some pictures I grabbed.



You can see all the oil build up in the runners on the right side.


Coolant leak it appears the previous owner tride to fix. Except it is also leaking from the metal down below.

Majofo

That's a lot of oil, but it's burnt.. almost like sludge.
That's what's really concerning.

Where's the coolant leak from? Is it from the hose or the connection?
Also, you say it's down on compression, what are the numbers?

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Damn J... sorry to hear. I feel like you've been fighting this car since day one.

Hopefully these guys can get everything settled so you can enjoy it for a loooong time... trouble-free

CCColtsicehockey

Exactly. The stuff I cleaned out before was like a sludge as well from the supercharger cover.

The coolant leak is from the metal tube where it is bolted on to the block. The plastic connector was also broken on the left side and they just attached the hose back to it with a hose clamp. The plastic connector is fine on the right side though.

I didn't take a picture of the compression numbers they wrote down but if I am remembering correctly these were the loss number in no particular order. 50, 50, 40, 40, 30, 15, 15, 10. I was told GM says that anything up to 30 is technically ok but the shop said they don't like to see anything more than 5-7% loss. They are going to be sending me the numbers and which cylinder they were from when they send me my estimate later today or tomorrow.

I feel like I have been fighting it since day one. I really want to hope the previous owner didn't know anything about any of this when he sold the car but part of me is really starting to wonder. Just glad I didn't completely blow the thing up because of this. Yes I need trouble free as I still have 4-6 more years planned for this car.

Majofo

I'm a little skeptical.. especially with uniform loss down the chain. Did they block off the intake tract and remeasure the first few with added oil? Did the numbers go up?
Did they do a leakdown test too? I'm wondering if the uniform loss may be headgasket.. could explain coolant in the oil mix as well. Is that 50 / 40 psi or kPa?
I'm guessing PSI.. that's not great considering the CR is 9.1.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

This makes me nervous, J...
I should go back to a j series car then?

Majofo

Maybe that's why Colts hasn't been sideways yet and thought his pop's Audi was a rocket

Majofo

Pussy! Those pics just make me want to tear mine down and cam it! Fuck yeah!!!

Majofo

Someone local was selling their LSA cams for like $100.. I was tempted. Regrind!

Majofo

Dude.. Colts.. I think you have a blown headgasket/s

Majofo

Has your S/C ever been serviced? There's talk that the techs often fuck up the coolant line.. Also that T connection leak seems to be common..
It must all be related.. I know you say that shop knows their shit, I just hope they can put all the pieces together (not literally, I mean problem solve.. well literally too)

CCColtsicehockey

Those numbers were in no particular order that I listed. I am not even 100% I remember them correctly. I will have the actualy correct numbers and the cylinder they go with later on today or tomorrow morning.

No you shouldn't. I feel fairly confident I have a bad apple or bought a bad apple to start with.

I really actually thing this is the reason. I push my cars hard enough I should have been more than easily sideways by now. Heck I break traction in the supercharged TSX more often than I have in the V if that tells you anything.

That could possibly be. We shall find out when they tear it down. I am just hoping and praying nothing is wrong with the heads or block cause that will really blow the budget out of the water at this point.

I too hope they can put the pieces together and figure a definitive root cause of this was. Repairing it all is one thing but I want to know what caused it really. I don't know if it had ever been serviced but I know the snout had been removed once to have a slightly smaller pulley and solid isolater installed which is when I imagine that the collant line was broken.

If the amount of business they do is any indication everytime I have been there they have had at least 2-3 other Vs in for work, 3-4 Comaros, and a Vette or 2. I understand it doesn't mean they are a great shop but I have seen some of the regulars from my area on the V forum post about having used them with great success too.

I am now shooting myself for not getting this thing dynoed right after I bought it.

Majofo

A busy shop is sometimes the worst place to be.. *cough*Hennessey*ahem*
I'm sure you're fine.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Damn Jason, I'm sorry to hear dude That's heartbreaking.

It looks like the car is in great hands! I've heard of that shop before.

Majofo

Only heartbreaking to the wallet..
Btw colts.. how much are they charging for the tune?

CCColtsicehockey

Yeah don't want to be in that situation

Yeah definitely killing me. I was bummed to not have the car a week while they did the other stuff. The now 4-5 weeks is going to be rough.

The wallet hit will be even more rough than the wait.

$550 for the tune. They will be primarily street tuning with some final full pulls on the dyno afterwards. I told them I was not after the highest numbers but instead the best driveability and power across the band as I much more like back roads and possibly road courses to going in a strait line at a drag strip.

thoiboi

d-d-d-d-ddouble post


Sorry to hear Colts.. but hope they figure it all out!

TylerT

iTrader: (1)

Sorry to hear bud

I'm with Todd on this one, I'm glad you found it EARLY and it didn't go kaboom.

on the new build.

Majofo

I would just want the tune to be all-around conservative.. more fuel!

CCColtsicehockey

Thinking with all these extras I might want to get a gauge to constantly monitor that now with all the added boost and what not.

Majofo

I like the analog clock.. but it's a sweet location for a AFR gauge

Majofo

Here's the aeroforce gauge.. overkill.. a simple AFR gauge would suffice.. but the install is clean on this one.

CCColtsicehockey

Yeah that is my dilema as I like the clock too.

WeaponX has a kit for one that goes in the little cubby where the front 12v socket is.

CCColtsicehockey

It is definitely overkill but also a very cool guage.

Majofo

I'd do a thin LED segment line.. (rich) green yellow (stoich) orange red (lean)
and stick it near the top of the gauge cluster hood

Majofo

Similar to this gauge, but only the color LED strip. It would be an easy project.