Blown engine? Time to rebuild?

sirluke

2002 2500HD lb7
Aug 10, 2011
12
0
0
Peyton, CO
HOT UPDATE!!!
The mechanic called me an hour ago. He said:
#7 piston has hole in it. # 5 piston has dings in it. Cylinders have scratches. Passenger side head is shot with broke valve. He said it looks like #7 piston valve made its way to #5 piston.
I asked him if the head gaskets were put on backwards, he said no. He said he has no idea what caused the engine to fail. He said he doesn't want to go to court. He said he is going to do the following free of charge:
Replace #7, #5 pistons, replace ALL piston rings, hone entire block, replace passenger side head, replace all valves (both sides), replace bearings (crank shaft?) and give me a warrenty on the whole motor.

Questions: Should I have him do anything else (on my dime) while he is in there??? Please advise. Ie.. oil pump, water pump? (139K miles)
I get all parts back except passenger head (core)

Sounds like he knows he screwed up but won't admit it. But I got to tell you... I don't care! as long as my truck is getting a rebuilt engine that may last 300k miles. BTW, he has had my truck since Sept 28th and I only put 300 miles on it after the HG change.

Thank you everyone for your imputs. Too late to get the truck "out of there". I have to roll the dice again and hope his work improves.
 
Last edited:

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,685
5,840
113
Phoenix Az
Well if hes replacing all the valves, he better be adding new valve guides and having the machine shop do a valve job on the heads. who is gunna do the honing? whos doing the machine work? is he having an anlign hone done? is anything being checked for balance? Are they going to deck the block or check for flatness? there are alot of question you should be asking and alot of paper that should be written up right now so you have some sort of documentation should something else arrise after you get the truck back.

You better keep an eye on what is being done, hes having to redo it again so things will be rushed now which means things can get missed or forgotten. My truck is a prime example of this with all the crap ive found missing or not torqued due to a rushed tech trying to do injectors and headgaskets 65k miles ago. Cover all your bases man.
 

Mika

Bastardo Finlandias
Oct 25, 2008
291
0
0
Finland
Sounds horrible, and sorry this come too late. You can check correct assembly of your head gaskets without removing heads by looking of these places:
 

Attachments

  • 18112011574[1].jpg
    18112011574[1].jpg
    518.6 KB · Views: 76
  • 18112011575[1].jpg
    18112011575[1].jpg
    506.4 KB · Views: 70

GeneralTJI

Turbo Todd
Jun 1, 2010
1,272
0
36
Colorado
You live in Peyton??

I live 5 miles outside of Calhan!

imagine that... someone on the board from the same middle of nowhere....

Sorry to hear about your troubles :(
 

blk smoke lb7

<-----Lots of green $
Nov 8, 2010
5,694
0
36
57
belvidere,ill
If you need good useable heads i have a few set pretty cheap and all come with valves i have awhole engine that might be cheaper for your guy let me know if i can help
 

wdino73

Member
Sep 25, 2009
735
0
16
55
Versailles, Ky
sounds like to me he adjusted the valves wrong or rocker not torque right and it took a few miles to cause the failure, if the gaskets were wrong that would've showed up rite away, sounds like to me the guy is trying to make it right, everyone makes mistakes u find out what a man is made of by how he handle his mistakes... Good Luck....
 

sirluke

2002 2500HD lb7
Aug 10, 2011
12
0
0
Peyton, CO
Update: Per mechanic--decking not required, valve guides not required, anligned hone not required. I asked if I should do a new oil pump and water pump while he is in it... he stated oil pump is not required, but we agreed to install a water pump for $150. He stated he thinks the piston failed. His evidence: because he pulled the valve through the top of the head (without taking off head). Not sure how he came to his conclusion... don't care, as long as the rebuild is quality. He said he is insulted by me asking if the head gaskets were on wrong and he "personally" did the rocker arm/valve assembly (adjustment?).

Turbo Todd, I would love to buy you lunch sometime to pick your brain and check out your duramax. Maybe if I get my truck back this year, lol, you can give me your opinion on the work I am getting done. I live down the street in Falcon.... msg me.

Thanks again all for your comments!!
 

jdlover1

437 Cubic Inches
Oct 4, 2006
538
0
16
chapanoke,nc
I would put a new oil pump in. No telling what metal made it to the pump even tho it has a screen on the pick up tube. IIRC its a gear to gear pump, but i could be wrong since it has been awhile since i looked at one. If using old pump make sure he cleans it out real good.
 

Maricopaagent

Glamis Anyone?
Oct 10, 2011
257
0
0
Arizona
Update: Per mechanic--decking not required, valve guides not required, anligned hone not required. I asked if I should do a new oil pump and water pump while he is in it... he stated oil pump is not required, but we agreed to install a water pump for $150. He stated he thinks the piston failed. His evidence: because he pulled the valve through the top of the head (without taking off head). Not sure how he came to his conclusion... don't care, as long as the rebuild is quality. He said he is insulted by me asking if the head gaskets were on wrong and he "personally" did the rocker arm/valve assembly (adjustment?).

Turbo Todd, I would love to buy you lunch sometime to pick your brain and check out your duramax. Maybe if I get my truck back this year, lol, you can give me your opinion on the work I am getting done. I live down the street in Falcon.... msg me.



Thanks again all for your comments!!

I still would'nt let hiim touch my truck.. NOT TWICE.. :(

He thinks a piston failed?
how about some pics?
if the head is on, check gasket locations..
 

ripmf666

Active member
Sep 20, 2006
15,123
14
38
47
Wentzville Mo
Update: Per mechanic--decking not required, valve guides not required, anligned hone not required. I asked if I should do a new oil pump and water pump while he is in it... he stated oil pump is not required, but we agreed to install a water pump for $150. He stated he thinks the piston failed. His evidence: because he pulled the valve through the top of the head (without taking off head). Not sure how he came to his conclusion... don't care, as long as the rebuild is quality. He said he is insulted by me asking if the head gaskets were on wrong and he "personally" did the rocker arm/valve assembly (adjustment?).

Turbo Todd, I would love to buy you lunch sometime to pick your brain and check out your duramax. Maybe if I get my truck back this year, lol, you can give me your opinion on the work I am getting done. I live down the street in Falcon.... msg me.

Thanks again all for your comments!!

New oil cooler new oil oil new use head since he pulled the valve right out with head on but I would run from this guy fast.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,685
5,840
113
Phoenix Az
New oil cooler new oil oil new use head since he pulled the valve right out with head on but I would run from this guy fast.

he doesnt want to listen to us, he just wants it done :rolleyes:



OP, hope it works for ya but dont be surprised if down the road you run into motor issues :thumb:
 

sirluke

2002 2500HD lb7
Aug 10, 2011
12
0
0
Peyton, CO
James... definately listening to you! But I have no options (right now). He knows he screwed up the HG install and he is rebuilding my motor with 140k on it for free. He is going to give me a warrenty. When I get the truck back... THEN I will pursue other avenues if required. When I get the paper work back stating what he did (and it doesn't match up with what he SHOULD HAVE DONE)... THEN I will pursue other avenues. It's $53 to file a small claims court case. I am hoping that won't be required... but still is better than spending $2000-3000? on bringing it to another mechanic. I don't have the funds to rebuild it so I am thinking just let this guy do his thing and cross my fingers. If things do go south... I will be more than happy to post the mechanic's info in case anyone wants a deal on a rebuild! :) I get an update on monday... I will be sure to update you guys. Thanks again.

Oh, one last thing... when I get the truck back, how/should I get the PSI checked in each cylinder? I am concerned about his honing abilities. I may tell him I want to see the cylinder walls prior to installing pistons. Just looking for small scratches right?
 
Last edited:

motoking_1990

Active member
May 9, 2011
1,957
5
38
Terre Haute, IN
What ever happened with this truck? Anybody ever find out? Did the mechanic make good on his f**k up? Why wouldn't he replace the valve guides? This is like a story with no end!:confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::confused::mad:
 
Last edited: