Had my SS services yesterday for the infamous "piston slap" issue, "oil change light" issue, and a pinion seal issue.

I don't know what to do about the piston slap issue.....Here is what the service department told me:

First of all they noticed it. I have the SLP stainless steal pipes on it so that drowns out the noise somewhat. GM told the service department to isolate (disable, stop, etc.) Piston 1. They did and it "reduced" the noise considerably! So, this concerns me very much so! They claimed it would not harm the engine to leave it alone and let it slap. But......GM would replace Piston 1 and that should help with the slapping!

However, as you all know this is an involved process! I don't necessarily trust the dealer to do this piston change and not screw something else up.

Anyone else have this done or have the service department mention this as a "Fix" solution for this issue please let me know. I told them to hold off on the Piston switch till I find out more about it which is what I am hoping this post will do. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and opinions on this subject.

 

I have not heard of anyone having trouble by just leaving it alone. I would rather leave it than let anyone mess with an otherwise perfectly good engine.

 

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...136#post481136

This post is on the 'piston slap' subject.

I've noticed this in quite a few LS1s and the two engines I've been into (just pulled my friends engine apart last night) had excessive piston-to-bore clearances on one or more bores. It's a quality control issue and it's really not anything new.
The car is under warranty correct? In that case, allow the dealer to do their thing (the techs are well trained) and if it's still there, then take it back until it's fixed right.

-Mindgame

 

Yes it is under warranty. The dealer will do whatever I want him to do. I got it back today and they dissabled the skip shift. Don't get me wrong I ain't complaining. But it is stuff like that I am afraid of. I want the noise to go away. But I don't want the noise to go away and something else break down the road that I am unaware of till it is too late. But you think that they could change out the piston and it be fine?

 

Can anyone tell me how involved changing out a piston is going to be? I know you have to remove the engine?

 

The dealer is pretty well equipped to do this ... they drop the engine down as a unit with the K frame and the front wheels ... pull the heads and drop the crank from underneath,

There really isn't anything else they can screw up unless they simply screw the job itself up,

I just had my rings redone under warranty and it's running fine. Mod friendly dealer ... I supplied a Hot Cam, 1.8 rockers and S2 heads, that they installed while it was apart ... my total cost was 5 hours labor - $320 out the door.

Sincerely ... the piston slap isn't problem and if you don't want to mess with it, don't. But if you have any plans for a heads and cam, see if the dealer will work with you, because it isn't going to cost them anymore to put your parts on there than it is thiers.

Good Luck

 

Sure they have all the equipment and will work on it until they get it right. But chances are they will put scratches in it or who knows what. I don't like to bring my car anywhere unless I have to. I suppose if you don't mind fighting with them over the scratches, stains, or whatever else may happen you can bring it in. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

replacing the one piston will only help for now. as some have said, bring it back until it's right. i'm not quite understanding this one since the 02's were still doing this. the 03's LS1's are using different parts, but there is no proof yet that it's the fix. you can't have them get it "right" until there is a fix to make it right. i also haven't seen one die yet from this condition.

 

Yeah they will pull the Heads, but they will not Pull the Crank for just 1 Piston. They will pull the crank if they are going to do a Full Engine Rebuild.. Last time I heard all you need to do is Pull the Engine, Intake, Heads, Oil Pan and Undo Rod Cap and drop the piston Out. In order for them to Drop the crank they have to pull all 8 pistons and then remove the Main Caps..

Unless the LS1 is soooo different from any other small block, you cannot pull the crank w/ out at least pulling off the Main (Crank)Caps..

 

like everyone said take it to dealer

nothing better then free repair...and keep going until its perfect