VS Caprice. Worn out V8? Rebuild? Crate? Advice and thoughts appreciated.

[simmons001]

Ok, here is the story

Took car (Series 1 VS Caprice V8 HSV 185kW option, 166000 kays) to Holden dealer for paint (friend runs the paint shop). They have it for a week or so. The fire it up to give it back to me and oil light on. Fair enough, it has the odd oil leak, put more oil in it. But then drive it for 10 minutes and oil light comes back on. "Oil pick up" they say. Flush flush, check oil pump, change oil, flush flush etc. Car will idle forever no problems, but drive it for a bit and up comes the oil pressure light. "Oil pick up they say, take car home and get fixed, we too expensive" Fair enough I thought, except for the fact it had no problem before it went in. But these things do happen like that.

So i save the money and drop it in to local mechanics saying "Holden say oil pick up". Fine says mechanic.

So they put the mechanical oil pressure guage on it and get 7 psi at idle, 20 with a rev, which slowly decreases as it warms up. 19, 18, 17 with a rev etc until they turn it off due to low oil pressure/oil light. There is much consultation amongst the mechanics. "Not oil pick up" they say "we ain't gonna charge you $600 to take the sump off and find out its not that, we think its shot cam/crank bearings, here is your car, let us know what you wanna do" On the plus side they charged me nothing beyond new oil & filter which was the first thing they did.

So this is where I am at. I don't know what is actually WRONG with the car beyond low oil pressure. It still could be the pick up, but I am unconvinced. Other than the engine, car is in very nice condition, new paint, interior is excellent, new brakes, new tyres (yes, i had been spending some money and I baby the damn thing) everything works and is original blah blah.

So is it cam/crank bearings? Is it possible it is the oil pump or faulty oil pump bypass? And if it the bearings do I

a) buy a V8 from a wrecker and bung it in.
b) buy a reco V8, swap the bolt ons to make it 185kW again
c) rebuild my engine with some go faster bits (lumpier cam and 5.7 stroker)
d) wreck it and buy WL Grange.

I am torn because whilst I do love the car, do I love it enough to keep it long enough to make a new engine worth while? Bodge it and sell it? Arrgh indecison!

Over to you. Any recommendations for crate 5.0's while we are at it?

[justbad4you]

wreck it and buy WL Grange.

IF THATS AN OPTION.....ID GO THE GRANGE

[Krisp]

other than the light , does the engine get very rattley when its warm/hot? could just be the oil pump. slap on a high pressure oil pump before you go further

[simmons001]

Krisp

It runs fine then gets rattley as the pressure drops after 10 minutes, the lifters deflate etc. Good idea on the pump, I am going to put a new one on just to confirm it aint that. If i get a new engine i can swap it straight over so no real loss.

[justbad4you]

Yep better to start of with the may be parts and work your way from there,for the price of a new pump you may just find the motor runs ok for a few more years( we hope) but yea its better trying the cheap options instead of starting with the cost of a new donk(motor) best of luck

[simmons001]

Is it worth going for a HV or leave it as a standard? I have heard stories of HV's blowing old seals especially main seals. I am inclined to stay stock.

[VR_Acclaim]

Maybe it's ur oil pump, or rings, why not get s grange keep ur stato for a ls1 conversion project, when I pick my clubby up that's what I'm doin with my vr

[justbad4you]

thats what id do also

Maybe it's ur oil pump, or rings, why not get s grange keep ur stato for a ls1 conversion project, when I pick my clubby up that's what I'm doin with my vr

thats if you have the space...

[4wheelinls1]

Mild cam 355 stroker and it will be cool, don't go to big on cam, everyone puts 286 cranes in and the manifold dosen't flow enough to make them work, a nice 204-214 at 050 cam and a 355 and it'll spin wheels through 1st and still give economy and idle quality. The Grange idea is cool but what will you get for your car and then how do be sure you don't get an LS1 with all the same problems? LS1's are not a great fit in VR, VS, the extractors are tight around the steering and the conversion to a second hand LS1 will be more than rebuilding your motor to new, which if done right will be equally as good to drive, less peak power but heaps punchier off the line

[justbad4you]

whats a set of cranes 286 cost in 2010 /2011.its ok you can shock me with the price lol i got money of santa lol ]Mild cam 355 stroker and it will be cool, don't go to big on cam, everyone puts 286 cranes in and the manifold dosen't flow enough to make them work, a nice 204-214 at 050 cam and a 355 and it'll spin wheels through 1st and still give economy and idle quality. The Grange idea is cool but what will you get for your car and then how do be sure you don't get an LS1 with all the same problems? LS1's are not a great fit in VR, VS, the extractors are tight around the steering and the conversion to a second hand LS1 will be more than rebuilding your motor to new, which if done right will be equally as good to drive, less peak power but heaps punchier off the line[/QUOTE]