L5P will barely start, then die Please Help

Nate’s Dmax

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Dec 11, 2020
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It’s not possible something happened to the torque converter or something in the transmission that locked it up tight causing the engine to just quit. You wont have oil pressure on a stopped or stalling engine.
 

Rdomeck

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Sep 27, 2024
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Hmm... Very good point. I just jumped to the conclusion it was the engine.

I'll dig in a little more. Any thoughts on how I could check if the transmission is not turning? I specifically remember tightening all 6 of the torque converter bolts.

Seems like I would have heard something.... all windows were up and no radio on!
 

darkness

Well-known member
Jul 15, 2009
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Put the trans in neutral and see if you can rotate the flex plate thru the inspection hole.
Yeah scratch that. Wrong side of the torque converter. Still with trans in neutral, jack up the rear end and see if it spins freely?
 

Nate’s Dmax

Active member
Dec 11, 2020
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Hmm... Very good point. I just jumped to the conclusion it was the engine.

I'll dig in a little more. Any thoughts on how I could check if the transmission is not turning? I specifically remember tightening all 6 of the torque converter bolts.

Seems like I would have heard something.... all windows were up and no radio on!
I’m not sure besides seeing if you can pull the transmission rearward out of converter.
 

2004LB7

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Dec 15, 2010
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It spins freely. I was able to winch it on the trailer.
But to his point, if something like the transmission fluid pump locked up. The converter and thus engine won't spin. But you can still get the rear end to rotate with it in neutral

Would have to separate the transmission from the engine to see which one it is
 

Ron Nielson

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Oct 11, 2009
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On another note, how did the engine run while it was running? It drove to get aligned and then a few miles more, so that says something. It's not like it was just idling in the drive. It sure sounds electrical to me. No noise, just quit.
 
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Rdomeck

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Sep 27, 2024
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The engine does not turn. not with the starter and not with a socket and long breaker bar.

The old engine has two spun main bearings. So, that one isn't worth rebuilding. I figured out that the new engine is from a flood vehicle. The selling told me it had been pulled apart and checked and resealed with new gaskets.

After I got the new engine in, I thought it would be smart to make sure no oil was left in the engine. I got out some water and some oil. So, the engine could not have been pulled apart.

I believe the damage on engine #1 was due to the wreck. I believe the damage on engine #2 was a bad engine to start with dues to the flood.

Frustrating.
 

gmc502

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Jan 16, 2011
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why not get a new crank and align bore and hone the main line of the first engine and put it back together.
 
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Rdomeck

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Sep 27, 2024
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Indianapolis, In.
I have been looking tonight for +size bearings. Can find undersized, but haven't seen any +size bearings pop up!

I also stopped at that, I still don't know what caused the bearings to spin. Where is the thrust bearing located? I suppose the hit was hard enough to cause the thrust surface to be affected. That in turn caused that bearing to spin, then the next.....
 

Rdomeck

Member
Sep 27, 2024
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Indianapolis, In.
Thrust looks perfect on old engine. Rod bearings look perfect. 3 and 4 main bearings spun. #6 piston and cylinder are scored and pieces missing from the top of that piston down to the top ring land.

I'm sure there are plenty here that would go nuts inside of an engine while it's apart. Aside from pinning/welding the gears at the front of the crank, Do I really need to do much else? I'm going to see if my machine shop will sleeve the one cylinder and I'll replace that one piston with a factory one. If not, I'll bore out enough to clean up the cylinders and put in oversized pistons.

Heads look good, but will check for any valve leakage. If needed, I'll replace bad valves if I find any bent.

Planning on all gaskets with head bolts
New crank
New camshaft
New lifters
New piston(s)
New rod, main and cam bearings

New crank and cam because this engine was hit right there and I don't want to take a chance on either of them being tweaked. Plus at $1000 for new crank, cam and lifters, seems like a good measure.
 
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