The 100% stock L31 shortblock in this truck has been through over 73,000 miles of torture. Two years ago I even ran it for months with coolant in the oil.
On Thursday during a low-speed side street trip to get more argon at lunch time it stalled out of the blue. Attempts to restart looked like the battery was dead. It would barely turn over and volts were being drawn way down by the starter.
I got it restated luckily and headed back to the shop, about a mile and a half away with a few lights and hills, etc. in between. It stalled once across the street from work. By this time it was squeeling pretty bad. Amazingly, it restarted. Coming into the parking lot it died for the final time as I began the turn into my parking spot. That was it, would not restart!

I haven't taken the pan off yet but the smell is definately very hot metal.















I used a forklift with that A-frame in the background. The forklift made it so easy I'm almost ashamed!

The shortblock will be replaced with a GM Performance Parts HT383, already ordered.

I'll post some pictures of the bearings once it's apart if there's interest.

 

standing by for the carnage

 

yep..lets see the mayhem!!!

 

Dude ,that is not your normal work place.It looks very workable though.

 

A moment of silence ....

 

OK, that thing took a beating, you must admit!

Do you have any ocncerns abotu the Whipple running out of breath?

 

Yeah, that little 1.6L Whipple compressor just isn't going to move as much air as I need it to. I'd like to upgrade to the 2.3L unit. It's only longer than the 1.6, all the other dimensions are the same. Normally the brake booster would prevent that from fitting, but I put hydraboost on it years ago. There's room. All I would have to do really is fabricate an inlet elbow for the throttle body to mount to. At work there is an entire drum full of scrap aluminum and they have a TIG machine. I'm thinking anything is possible...

I was expecting the shortblock to go really. It was down to 10psi of oil pressure warmed up at idle.

 

Sorry to hear of your loss. SOunds though as you were sorta prepared or at least waiting for it to happen. Get some pics of the carnage up!!!

It's not like no one saw this one coming eh? This pic is proof you take it fairly easy on your ride!

 

As they said when they were planning the replacement parts on STeve Majors:"We can build him (in this case - her) stronger!" Looks like an opportunity to improve your setup. Keep us informed.

 

Ok, it wan't a spun bearing, it was spun bearings - plural. It is my guess that a main went first and cut off oil supply to the rod bearings, and probably faouled hte oil passage to the point the next main went too. Both mains on each side of the 5 and 6 throw wear spun. The bearings on those two rods were completely dry inside. Metal powder came out when I popped the caps.

This thing is DONE!