402 Build Project Udate - Page 5 - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

LGAFF · 08-12-2013

Going to have to agree with Pete....mine had a small leak from the freeze plug....and the machine shop did not disturb it when they cleaned and polished...I had my Callaway on the lift, so I had Pete pull the trans....

We also had alot of fun with a steel pilot bearing

Jagdpanzer · 08-12-2013

On thier LT5 billet cranks Bryant welds the freeze plugs in after installation so if the rear plug is leaking I may have a real headache on my hands.

Polo-1 · 08-12-2013

Are you sure they welded the FW side plug? I had mine all welded but that one. This was for both the 402 (moldex) and the 380 (stock re-ground).

Good to see it running Phil

Marc Haibeck · 08-12-2013

Hi Phil,

If the end plug is welded it must be welded 360 degrees. If it is tack welded it will distort between the welds and leak.

You might be able to seal it by driving the existing plug further into the crank and installing a second plug behind it. There should be about .5 inch of bore available behind the plug before it intersects with diagonal galley from the crank arm.

Since the bore for the plug will be rough from the weld I suggest sealing the new plug with epoxy.

You can test for a leak by installing the exhaust system without the transmission. That way you can visually inspect the repair with the engine running.

Best of luck.

Jagdpanzer · 08-13-2013

Pulled the tranmission and bellhousing off this evening and found the source of both issues. The metal rubbing sound was from the valley drain tube coming in contact with the new McLeod aluminum flywheel I'm using now.

The McLeod flwheel is about 8 lbs. heavier and thicker on outer radius of the front side than the Fidanza I was running before. A a little contouring with a ballpeen hammer will take care of this issue.

The source of the oil leak is from a hole in the the welded in rear crankshaft freeze plug.

As you can see the plug is welded in a full 360 degrees. The pin hole leak is at the 5 o'clock position.

Marc, I will follow your suggestion of epoxying in a new plug behind the old one give it a running test before putting everything back together.

XfireZ51 · 08-13-2013

Phil,

Ask Lgaff about the McLeod. He was running one on the 90 I believe. What was the point of switching out the Fidanza?

Jagdpanzer · 08-13-2013

Dom,
I wanted to try out a heavier flywheel this time and the price was right.

Lee,
Would you mind sharing your McLeod experience?

rkreigh · 08-13-2013

maybe a little JB weld. be better if you could spot weld it to seal it up.

glad you found the problem so quickly and the beast is again ALIVE!

but who the hell am I telling, Phil has forgotten more about LT5s and mechanical stuff than I'll ever know

thanks for posting up all the pics, car is beautiful hope to see it at carlisle, but if not let me know if you need a spare vette

you can drive the ZR-1 or the turbo Z06 up!

cya

LGAFF · 08-13-2013

I was having an issue with the clutch not disengaging, it might have been a perfect storm of issues:

1)The rear crank plug was leaking on the flywheel
2)The Mcleods offset was different than the Fidanza causing it to "closer" to the clutch
3)I was running a weighted Centerforce pressure plate, which has caused issues with disengaging for a few other folks I knew

In the end I cannot say which one specifically caused the issue, but all is well at this point

XfireZ51 · 08-13-2013

Lee,

Thanks. I thought I remembered there was a difference between the Fidanza and McLeod.

Phil,

What was the result you were looking for using a heavier FW?

08-12-2013	#41
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Re: 402 Build Project Udate Going to have to agree with Pete....mine had a small leak from the freeze plug....and the machine shop did not disturb it when they cleaned and polished...I had my Callaway on the lift, so I had Pete pull the trans.... We also had alot of fun with a steel pilot bearing __________________ LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359

08-12-2013	#42
Jagdpanzer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,661	Re: 402 Build Project Udate On thier LT5 billet cranks Bryant welds the freeze plugs in after installation so if the rear plug is leaking I may have a real headache on my hands. __________________ Phil Wasinger 1994 Torch Red ZR-1 WAZOO Member George Braml Intake Last edited by Jagdpanzer; 08-12-2013 at 12:22 PM.

08-12-2013	#43
Polo-1 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 955	Re: 402 Build Project Udate Are you sure they welded the FW side plug? I had mine all welded but that one. This was for both the 402 (moldex) and the 380 (stock re-ground). Good to see it running Phil

08-12-2013	#44
Marc Haibeck Join Date: May 2007 Location: Addison IL Posts: 250	Re: 402 Build Project Udate Hi Phil, If the end plug is welded it must be welded 360 degrees. If it is tack welded it will distort between the welds and leak. You might be able to seal it by driving the existing plug further into the crank and installing a second plug behind it. There should be about .5 inch of bore available behind the plug before it intersects with diagonal galley from the crank arm. Since the bore for the plug will be rough from the weld I suggest sealing the new plug with epoxy. You can test for a leak by installing the exhaust system without the transmission. That way you can visually inspect the repair with the engine running. Best of luck.

08-13-2013	#45
Jagdpanzer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,661	Re: 402 Build Project Udate Pulled the tranmission and bellhousing off this evening and found the source of both issues. The metal rubbing sound was from the valley drain tube coming in contact with the new McLeod aluminum flywheel I'm using now. The McLeod flwheel is about 8 lbs. heavier and thicker on outer radius of the front side than the Fidanza I was running before. A a little contouring with a ballpeen hammer will take care of this issue. The source of the oil leak is from a hole in the the welded in rear crankshaft freeze plug. As you can see the plug is welded in a full 360 degrees. The pin hole leak is at the 5 o'clock position. Marc, I will follow your suggestion of epoxying in a new plug behind the old one give it a running test before putting everything back together. __________________ Phil Wasinger 1994 Torch Red ZR-1 WAZOO Member George Braml Intake Last edited by Jagdpanzer; 08-13-2013 at 01:00 AM.

08-13-2013	#46
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,708	Re: 402 Build Project Udate Phil, Ask Lgaff about the McLeod. He was running one on the 90 I believe. What was the point of switching out the Fidanza? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Former Membership Chairman Former ZR-1 Registry - BOD 1972 Corvette 4speed base Coupe SOLD long time ago 1984 Corvette Z-51/4+3 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Aqua/Gray #474 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Black Rose/Cognac #458 2014 Honda VFR Interceptor DX

08-13-2013	#47
Jagdpanzer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,661	Re: 402 Build Project Udate Dom, I wanted to try out a heavier flywheel this time and the price was right. Lee, Would you mind sharing your McLeod experience? __________________ Phil Wasinger 1994 Torch Red ZR-1 WAZOO Member George Braml Intake

08-13-2013	#48
rkreigh Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Alex VA Posts: 1,087	Re: 402 Build Project Udate maybe a little JB weld. be better if you could spot weld it to seal it up. glad you found the problem so quickly and the beast is again ALIVE! but who the hell am I telling, Phil has forgotten more about LT5s and mechanical stuff than I'll ever know thanks for posting up all the pics, car is beautiful hope to see it at carlisle, but if not let me know if you need a spare vette you can drive the ZR-1 or the turbo Z06 up! cya __________________ 95 390 LPE ZR1 (505 rwhp) LSV = Lingenfelter Super Vette Twin Turbo 2003 Z06 (800 RWHP)

08-13-2013	#49
LGAFF Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crystal Lake, IL Posts: 7,194	Re: 402 Build Project Udate I was having an issue with the clutch not disengaging, it might have been a perfect storm of issues: 1)The rear crank plug was leaking on the flywheel 2)The Mcleods offset was different than the Fidanza causing it to "closer" to the clutch 3)I was running a weighted Centerforce pressure plate, which has caused issues with disengaging for a few other folks I knew In the end I cannot say which one specifically caused the issue, but all is well at this point __________________ LGAFF 90 #966-150K miles-sold 92 #234-sold 1987 Callaway TT #17 1991 ZR-1 #1359

08-13-2013	#50
XfireZ51 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicagoland, IL Posts: 9,708	Re: 402 Build Project Udate Lee, Thanks. I thought I remembered there was a difference between the Fidanza and McLeod. Phil, What was the result you were looking for using a heavier FW? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Former Membership Chairman Former ZR-1 Registry - BOD 1972 Corvette 4speed base Coupe SOLD long time ago 1984 Corvette Z-51/4+3 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Aqua/Gray #474 SOLD 1992 Corvette ZR-1 Black Rose/Cognac #458 2014 Honda VFR Interceptor DX