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Can I save my VE engine LY7

Skylarking

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As a general rule, scratches cause stress risers. Whether that is an issue within the combustion chamber I don’t know but as a precautionary rule I wouldn’t use a wire to scratch at things inside the cylinder. By all means look for broken bits especially small bits between the piston and cylinder wall junction, then retrieve what you find. You can use a magnet, small hose and vacuum, whatever works.

As for checking valves, it’s the valve seat that one needs a good look at as even small impact damage could allow a gas leaks which will quickly burn a hole in the seat and/or the valve itself. You can check the intake valves relatively easily since you’ve taken the intake manifold off. However checking exhaust valves I’d think would be a challenge due to space issues. Ideally you will want to take off exhaust manifold with cat converter to check for rubbish inside the exhaust system. Supposedly cats will catch such rubbish and on cars with cats near exhaust Such rubbish can be sucked back into the engine (according to GM service advisory). It’s a pain to do but maybe a good precaution are step that should also allow you to look at the exhaust valve seat through the exhaust posts... This thread talks of removing the exhaust manifold.

Good luck with it all...

PS: thought I had already posted to their thread but must have not pressed post reply before getting on to other things... problem when you’ve got to many tabs and windows open..
 

shane_3800

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That engine is fucked. Once porcelain gets in it lets the compression out.

There's a mechanic I know who we sacked for using a rattle gun on spark plugs. He claimed one engine with us. I call him Rattle Gun Rob.
 

krusing

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Had check engine on display, running rough, drove it home 3km.........
Put reader on , got P0301, spark problem no 1 cylinder.......
OK, I'll get a plug........
Read up a bit , watched youtube

Mufudzi Gambiza
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He's good.
Bought set of plugs a coil and the two gaskets......
Took manifold off , took out no 1 coil and plug. Didn't look good, looked deep inside , didn't look good either......(this is my big mistake)
I installed new plugs and one new coil on no 1 ...
I was showing my neighbour the spark plug and she said the ceremic piece is broken on the spark plug, she's not a mechanic......she's a granny.
Then it dawned on me, something broke it and the electrode arm.......... probably broken piston pieces......
That's why it didn't look good when I looked down no 1 spark plug hole , not just black like the other pistons.....
I didn't need to buy $230 worth of parts.....
But my question is can I get a piston and rings from wrecker , drop sump, undo main bearing and put it back in.........
Bingo??

I did that many years ago with a 4 cylinder Simca and did 40,000 miles after.....
My motor is LY7 285,000 km

Its not that easy just removing the sump;
to replace the Piston, you have to pull the head off to pull it out the top,
So it would be a motor out job,
If your going that far, more economical option would to just replace it with another LY7.
 
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krusing

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That engine is fucked. Once porcelain gets in it lets the compression out.

There's a mechanic I know who we sacked for using a rattle gun on spark plugs. He claimed one engine with us. I call him Rattle Gun Rob.

What made him use a Rattle Gun for Spark Plugs !
Was he all there ?
Or just trying to be quick/efficient ?
 

shane_3800

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What made him use a Rattle Gun for Spark Plugs !
Was he all there ?
Or just trying to be quick/efficient ?

He's a special unit.
 

bundyjack

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I tried to vacuum porcelain out.... bit of success.
Then I had a look at valves......
this is a bit odd, maybe that's the central electrode of the spark plug.............
I'm getting tired of it.....

Another LY7 for $1350 with 120K......... thinking, maybe $1000 to put it in....??
Thanks for advice...
I suppose the idea would be to keep old engine for parts.....
jack
 

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bundyjack

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OK, I have a LY7 engine lined up, 105K for $1100......
It's out of 2009 VE with engine code 10H7W
Engine number LY7090710190

Mine was 2007 SV6 LY7 with code 10H7T
I'm trying to figure if it will run in my car with my loom and sensors......
 

Fu Manchu

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Base VE would not have had LY7?
 

bundyjack

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The wrecker didn't know the model Commodore it came from, only it wasn't a SV6.
He gave me vin, I did an online check with Qld Transport and got engine number. And colour but not exact model in 2009. I've been searching for hours trying to id model from engine number.
I came across some somewhere that said first three letters were engine type, second two were year of engine, so that tallies,,, LY709... the rest was julian day it was made.... something else.
He sent me a pic of sticker back passenger side of block.....
The sticker had 10H7W H090710190 12/03/09 and engraved next to it LY7 090710190 same as engine number on vin report......
I'd like to know more about engine from engine number.......
I'll talk to wrecker tomorrow.
 
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