Cylinder Wall Scratches!!! Please help!

**Candice** · 06-07-2007, 01:37 AM

Ok here's how it looks like (last two is same as first two, but edited for better detail):

(Click for bigger images)

I just pulled the heads off to change lifters&gaskets, and this is what i found. This one is the worst of the cylinders. I have only been able to see 4 of the cylinder walls so far because i didn't turn the crankshaft yet. I think one of the cylinders was without scratches, but the other 3 had varying degrees of scratches.

The scratches are not very deep, but enough to get stuck when dragging the nails over them.

Is it a complete disaster?

Do i need to hone, bore, resleeve?
Do i need new pistons, rings?

I haven't owned the car that long, so i don't know the history of it. What can have caused this? Only dirt/metal in the oil, or could it be something else?

Last time i drove the car it performed normally. I never noticed anything strange with it during the few hundred miles i drove it.

The car has been stock since i owned it, but i can not tell if that was not the case before i bought it.

**wnmech** · 06-09-2007, 03:24 AM

I have rebuilt quite a few engines over the past 30 years and most of them when torn down have the same appearance as yours. I have never tore down an LS1 yet but I am sure it should be the same. I would consider it normal wear unless your plugs are fouling or you are burning excessive oil. Put it back together and enjoy the car. When it comes time for overhaul a machinist will check the bore and either hone out the scratches or will oversize the hole.

**INMY01TA** · 06-09-2007, 03:02 PM

I've seen some metal shavings on my drain plug during recent oil changes. Mine prolly look like yours.

**mrr23** · 06-10-2007, 09:46 PM

nothing unusual. just the side of the piston skirt sliding on the wall. i wouldn't worry about it.

question - why are you changing the lifters?

**Candice** · 06-11-2007, 12:01 AM

Thanks everyone.

mrr23 - i was advised to change the lifters because the car has 80k miles on it and i am changing cam, valve train, timing chain and oil pump anyway.

**Spaz** · 06-11-2007, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Candice

Ok here's how it looks like (last two is same as first two, but edited for better detail):

(Click for bigger images)

I just pulled the heads off to change lifters&gaskets, and this is what i found. This one is the worst of the cylinders. I have only been able to see 4 of the cylinder walls so far because i didn't turn the crankshaft yet. I think one of the cylinders was without scratches, but the other 3 had varying degrees of scratches.

The scratches are not very deep, but enough to get stuck when dragging the nails over them.

Is it a complete disaster?

Do i need to hone, bore, resleeve?
Do i need new pistons, rings?

I haven't owned the car that long, so i don't know the history of it. What can have caused this? Only dirt/metal in the oil, or could it be something else?

Last time i drove the car it performed normally. I never noticed anything strange with it during the few hundred miles i drove it.

The car has been stock since i owned it, but i can not tell if that was not the case before i bought it.

nothing to worry about... maybe hone the sleves... i would also check to make sure a piston ring didn't go... is it eating any more oil than usual?

**mrr23** · 06-11-2007, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Candice

Thanks everyone.

mrr23 - i was advised to change the lifters because the car has 80k miles on it and i am changing cam, valve train, timing chain and oil pump anyway.

ok, makes sence. didnt mention that in your inital post.

**2001hawk** · 06-12-2007, 07:38 AM

Candice had a post a while back "please advise on upgrades" last post on June 1. I am not sure that we helped much.

**Candice** · 06-13-2007, 11:41 AM

Thanks for help all. I was abit too worried by the scratches to just let them stay there, even tho it probably would have been fine like you said.

I took the engine to a machining shop. The guys there looked at it, and said that most of the scratches was pretty light, but there was some deeper that couldn't just be honed away. So i decided to bore it to 3.908" and go with a set of Mahle pistons for it.