ok sounds like you kinda got a handle on it. now im wondering what it is so be sure to take pictures and give us a play by play. you will want to pull the motor from the bottom.

 

If the bearing do not showing scoring then you did not run with zero oil pressure. If you did run with zero oil pressure then from a financial point of view the motor is not worth repairing. It will cost too much to fix everything. Find a used lower miles motor that did not have a failure and rebuild that or just find a used one that is in good shape and use it. I found a 93 LT1 with 32K on the clock what just had the gaskets replaced 18 months ago for $1000.

 

here is where Gorn and I may be heading in the same direction but take different paths to get there.

I'm not a fan of used motors unless you are confident in what you are getting or don't care about longevity. It's a cost-benefit thing with me. If I buy a used engine my assumption is that it needs to be rebuilt in order to be reliable enough for me

with that said, I'd drop the engine in your car, bring it to a reasonable machine shop and pay them $200 for their opinion and diagnosis.

Perhaps it can be rebuilt for $2,000 (including a 3 angle valve job)

It all comes down to what your machine shop charges and needs for profit margin to operate

then, you will be armed with the best weapon you can have, complete information and with that, you can make an informed decision as to which way to go and it may well be the path suggested by Gorn.

 

You guys are AMAZING ok now im ready to tackle this stuff. probably be next weekend after though because its st.pattys day and i wont be sober enough to work on pulling motor but i will tackle this the weekend after and do some serious picture taking so i guess just take a peek at my pics is bout a week and a half and TY to everyone and GORN great advice on the bearings ill check that first thing and im praying to God there is no scoring. Anyways ty again everyone and you will hear from me soon enough.

 

Another good investment is the GM shop manual. I think I paid 60ish for mine on Ebay.

I always tear down used motors far enough so I can see they are as advertised. You pop the intake and oil pan off a used engine and it is all clean with no sludge and no debry and your sure no one else has been in there you have a real good chance of having a solid runner.

 

just bought my engine stand i will be ready to tackle this come next monday i cant wait

 

this is what a unhappy motor looks like..



takin motor out

 

looks like hoisting body up is easiest way i have a 6 speed anything i nees to do when raising body up like is shifter mounted to floor or just comes up through with boot cover over it? just getting idea before i go into it and accidently break linkage or something.

 

You'll probably want to take the shifter out the trans incase you need to shift the trans back or to the front for any reason. It's about a 10 min job to take out. I would also drain the tranny fluid before you start also or you'll have all over the place.

 

well guys i know its been a long time but i finally got motor pulled and the crank and cam and everything is ok i got it lazer lined but the bearings did get wiped out and i had to fresh rebuild it. Once i get her all back together i post some pics of some burnouts