Can anyone confirm this is a knocking LS1?

[Eagle]

HELP! Please tell me my car isn't knocking... nice 82* day today, so I decided to do some MAF tuning.

My car has always been very solid. Never had any issues. Took about a 25mi drive. Right near the end I was running out 1st going for 2nd and missed it (had a big mcdonalds drink in the damn console) and rev'd it up to 6300RPM. I thought I got out of it before the rev limiter kicked in, so it didn't go too high.

After missing 1st I did a 4th gear pull up to 4800RPM (I live in the country, very little traffic out here) and everything seemed fine. But when I pulled up to the next stop sign and drove off, I heard the motor making a noise that sure sounded less than ideal.

Here is a sound clip from the garage after I got back:


Its obviously NOT happy, so I'm looking for tips on what to do next. Right now I'm waiting for it to cool off before I start checking simple things like plugs and such. Oil level is right at the top of the hashes at running temp, just changed the oil maybe 3 weeks ago.

This so sucks. Great time to have motor problems - just as the weather is getting nice out!

-Eagle

[Kup98ss]

I hate being the guy to ruin your day........But that sounds bad. That is the worst one I have heard.

[89LX]

Get a stethoscope and figure out if its internal or an accessory.

[0rion]

I've listened to it a few times and it sounds pretty bad to me.

[chuckie669]

Sorry bro, let us know how it comes out...

[blackSS01]

I am no expert but I hate to say it but something is def not right there. I am sorry bud, do like advice earlier and find out if its internal. Super sorry. Hopefully it turns out to be nothing.....

[Snakes4]

Hey dude, Im new to LS1 forum but I have a 96 TA WS6 that had a similar sound right before the engine froze up. We haven't broken down the engine to find out what happened. One mechanic said it was probably a wrist pin and the other said it was a rod bearing. Im now currently finishing off an LS1/trans conversion that Im doing to it now. I know my 96 had an LT1 in it and yours is an LS1 but my engine sounded the same way before it said goodbye and mine did it last July! Good Luck and I wish you the best cuz dude I feel your pain.

[cruzc5frc]

cringes... again...

[squee]

Damn dude...Definately a rod. I feel your pain man...Just happened to my truck a couple months ago. Unfortunately it was RIGHT after I put a new engine in it...(rings were bad cause it was a new shortblock but sat for something like 20 years which let gas by them and thinned the oil thus when it went up to about 4000k it spun a rod bearing. More like 4 actually...)

[WS-6]

That sucks man Im sorry to hear that, well its time to pull it out and rebuild with some hp goodies.

[Eagle]

Well just got back from getting my engine lift and stand. Its definitely in the bottom end of the engine. Totally feeling rod bearing as the culprit.

Tomorrow I'll start pulling off everything needed to drop the engine out the bottom of the car with the K member and front suspension all in one shot...

SO not looking forward to this...

-Eagle

[blackSS01]

Sorry man, just gives you a reason to go big with some go fast parts, if money isn't a problem.

[Zboner]

wow sorry to hear that man

[Eagle]

I've listened to it a few times and it sounds pretty bad to me.

Oh yeah, I agree! I worried about starting it again to back it into the garage! Everything worked out though and I'll begin on it tomorrow.

Questions are:

Once I get it out and all - how do I go about identifying the problem?

Any tips on getting the clutch hose out?

Anyone out here done the engine drop out the bottom of the car WITHOUT a lift?

How can I ensure certain components (block, crank, rods, etc) are ok or not?

-Eagle

[Snakes4]

Hey Man:

I had to have someone drop my LT1/trans for me when I replaced it with the LS1/Trans. It cost me about $1300 including a part the mechanic had to replace on the LS1, a hose or something to that effect. That figure is conservative too. If you have someone else do it for you make sure you check around on prices first. If you know any mechanics that are willing to come and look at your car before you bring it to a garage they may be able to give you a more precise idea of what the issue is. I talked to a friend of mine who owns a 2002 TA WS6 and he just found out that 2 of the 3 camshaft bolts worked themselves loose. He told me that this is a common problem with the LS1's, but I personally don't know this to be a fact. This could be your problem, but my gut after hearing your engine is that it is similar in nature to what happened to mine.

I have seen someone on line that dropped their LT1 from the bottom without a lift by using their garage header as a hoist by lifting the body up after disconnecting the front suspension and other items necessary to do so. Im not necessarily recommending this because you really need to make sure that your header and equipment you use to hoist it is strong enough to do this. Plus you need to make sure you connect to the right spots on your car. I think the dude attached it to the strut tower area but Im not for sure. Safety first. Just an option if you don't want to pay someone else to do it.

The other option is called the happy hooker. I would have probably done this if I had a garage to do so and if I planned on keeping a LT1 in it. This option is probably much safer to be honest with you and you don't have to drop the engine from the bottom. You still need an engine hoist and it basically attaches to the intake manifold on a LT1 and on a LS1 you have to take the intake manifold off to attach it. It basically allows you to pull your engine out of the engine bay by pulling it straight up and then turning it 90% to get it out. You have to disconnect certain things first, including your trans. Just make sure your trans is supported properly if you don't plan on taking it out too.

Good Luck and just have patience, if you don't it will drive you nuts and yes it sucks it happened during the summer time frame.