To rebuild or not rebuild, that's the question!

[jfkheat]

Shouldn't a warrenty replacement engine have a CE number stamped on it?
James

[tirebird]

James,..this subject, the stamping on my engine, has been discussed before on this site with no clear resolution. All I do know, according to several articles written by the 2nd owner(original owner was B F Goodrich) in various hot rod publications, is that Berger Chevrolet sold him this engine in 1972 as a warranty replacement LS6. There's still some disagreement about whether it should have been labeled that way but all the arguments are immaterial at this time. That's the engine in my car with those stampings(block and head),.and I love driving it. I'm not a collector so I'm not worried about "flipping" the car for more money. However, I do want to keep it as original as possible unless it needs to be rebuilt, and that's why I'm asking the gearheads on this board for their opinion about rebuilding the block.

[Bill Pritchard]

Unless you're out to get the last bit of ultimate performance from your engine, or the 24K miles have been 'hard' miles, it's unlikely you really need a complete rebuild. Why not just pull the heads, have them freshened, and put them back on. If you still have oil consumption problems, then you will really know you need a short block rebuild. And as Dean says, any competent machine shop these days can leave the stamp pad untouched when decking the block.

[COPO]

I saw a '72 casting date CRR LS-6 engine on Ebay about a month ago.

[tirebird]

Thanks Bill, that's seems to be the consensus among my local buddies and the members of this board. It seems the prudent path and it's a lot cheaper than the engine rebuild.

John

[Charley Lillard]

One quart in 500 miles is nothing I would worry about. It's not your daily driver. I would leave it alone. I sure wouldn't bore it. 24000 miles it should not need a bore.

[markjohnson]

On the subject of these 1972 casting LS-6's, I have one and have seen several others so there are definitly a number of them out there. Mine is also gang stamped TO610CRR with no VIN #. The block is a #289 block, not the #512, and has a F-7-72 casting date. Even the cylinder heads are 1972 castings with the rectagular port/closed chamber configuration. This motor has never been apart until I purchased it and verified what it was. Don't forget that motor has factory forged pistons and they tend to burn a little until they warm up to operating temp. It's a hot rod, they require more maintenence than a regular car. If you feel that you have to rebuild that motor, just use a good Fel-Pro permatorque head gasket and you'll be fine. NO WAY would I ever attempt to deck that motor and have the machine shop forget to stop the grinder, answer the phone, pass on to another machinist, and lose those numbers on the front. It doesn't need it. Bad things do happen. Too risky.

[budnate]

[ QUOTE ]
One quart in 500 miles is nothing I would worry about. It's not your daily driver. I would leave it alone. I sure wouldn't bore it. 24000 miles it should not need a bore.

[/ QUOTE ]

thats what I was thinking, take a afternoon and replace the rubber valve seals under the springs and set the valves bet that cures about 80% of the oil usage.