LS and SBC (Small Block Chevy) Engine Repair Service
A healthy engine is vital to your vehicle’s lifespan. Oil changes and replacing spark plugs are examples of common maintenance procedures but if your engine starts making new noises, this probably will require more than just an oil change or tuneup. Unusual engine noises, such as grinding, heavy knocking, or sounds of the engine struggling, you may need to repair it. We are here to help!
At MarvLs Engines we do not only build new LS and SBC engines, we also fix damaged or worn engines. Our engine repair service covers engine problems from simple to complex. The only exception to our repair services is if there is severe damage to the block (cracked block). In this case, we would simply recommend a new LS engine, either our Performance LS Engine Build or our Stock LS Engine Build.
Common problems we solve are:
Keeping your car’s engine in good shape is super important for it to run and last long. But sometimes, things go wrong that need fixing. Let’s look at common engine problems, what they mean, why they happen, & how they mess with your car.
Engine Knocking:
Engine knocking is like a sharp, metallic “pinging” or “knocking” noise from your engine. This sound happens because something’s off with the combustion inside one of the cylinders. Usually, the air-fuel mix ignites nicely from the spark plug, causing a controlled explosion that pushes the piston down. But when knocking happens, the mix detonates unevenly or too soon, making multiple small bangs. This messes up your engine big time.
Causes:
- Low-Quality Fuel: Using fuel with low octane can make your engine knock.
- Incorrect Spark Timing: If the spark plug fires at the wrong time, it causes bad combustion.
- Carbon Deposits: Carbon buildup can increase pressure, causing knocking.
- Lean Air-Fuel Mixture: Too much air & not enough fuel cause incomplete combustion leading to knocking.
Impact:If you ignore it, this knocks around your pistons & cylinder walls and might even crack your engine block. Fix it fast or face expensive repairs!
Noisy Lifters:
Noisy lifters make a ticking or tapping sound in your engine during startup or idling. These lifters help keep things running smoothly by maintaining proper clearance in the valvetrain. Over time, they wear out or get gunked up with sludge.
Causes:
- Oil Issues: Dirty oil or low pressure makes lifters lose lubrication.
- Wear and Tear: Lifters wear out over time causing noise.
- Hydraulic Lifter Failure: They depend on oil pressure and if they fail—they cause a ticking sound.
Impact:Noisy lifters mess up valve timing which deteriorates engine performance. Left unchecked, it harms more parts like camshaft & rocker arms.
Worn Engine Bearings:
Worn engine bearings are a big deal. They support crankshaft rotation & reduce friction between parts. Over time these bearings wear out due to low lubrication, heat or oil debris.
Causes:
- Oil Contamination: Dirt & metal bits in oil cause early wear-out.
- Lack of Lubrication: Low oil pressure heats up bearings causing damage.
- Overloading: Too much load or high RPMs stress bearings wearing them faster.
Impact: Worn bearings make a knocking noise and drop oil pressure eventually seizing your engine! Worst case? A broken crankshaft & wrecked connecting rods.
Piston Slap:
Piston slap means pistons rock side-to-side instead of smoothly up and down in the cylinder creating a slapping noise. It’s common in old engines with lotsa miles on them.
Causes:
- Worn Pistons/Cylinder Walls: More clearance leads to slapping.
- Cold Engine: More noticeable when cold since metal parts haven’t expanded yet.
- Poor Design: Some engines are just prone to this. LS Engines DO NOT have this problem. The LS Engine is tried and true!
Impact:
Mild cases? It’s annoying but manageable for a while. Long-term? Increased cylinder wall wear and reduced compression spell big trouble!
Damaged Rockers:
Rockers are part of valve train transferring camshaft motion to valves—letting ’em open/shut right. Damaged rockers misfire valves harming performance bad.
Causes:
- Excessive Wear: Constant motion causes deterioration over time.
- Improper Installation: Misalignment causes trouble.
- Insufficient Lubrication: Needs proper lubrication else wears prematurely.
Impact:
Misfires! Less power! Annoying noises! Ignoring these issues only makes things worse like busted valves/camshaft and other disasters ahead!
Damaged Engine Gaskets/Seals
Gaskets/seals keep fluids where they should be—withstanding pressure preventing leaks (oil/coolant). Common ones include head gasket/valve cover/intake manifold ones etc.
Causes:
- Overheating Warp/Cracks gaskets leaking fluids everywhere.
- Wear ‘n’ Tear degrade constant exposure & heat/fluid stresses ‘em out!
- Improper Install fails early leading leaks again.
Impact:
Leaking gaskets means oil/coolant mix-ups and loss of power! Overheating risks escalate fast especially blown head-gasket ruining things majorly so fix quick!!
This is the rundown of common engine dilemmas; catch ‘em early save yourself headaches (& lotsa money)!
These problems usually occur on high mileage engines and are fairly simple to repair. We can also convert a used LS or SBC engine into a high performance engine. Whatever your budget allows and heart desires is the only question! This is a more affordable option than buying a new mild or high performance engine and does NOT require a core charge. (A core charge happens when an engine block is not provided).
Bottom line… We want to save you money and get you the engine you desire. Lets discuss your project and affordable options today! If you have any questions regarding our engine repair services, please Contact Us anytime.