Blown Engine, 8.1l
Leaving Townsend GA yesterday for Covington GA and a Ham Fest I did not make it.. Just north of Reidsville there was a BANG, and a lot of smoke, and the engine died as I coasted to the shoulder. U...
Forum Discussion
The 8.1 was the last of the Big block chevys with the exception of the 572.
GM Performance still has all the series of BBC engines..
and there are many different series of these engines
Not all Chevy dealers handle GM Performance Products
Avoid the 572 engine...first it is 630 horse stock...they continue to have head gasket issues...
everything behind that engine must be upgraded or you will be on the side of the road...
A much bigger radiator ...that engine comes with Aluminum heads ..they cannot handle overheating
there were upgrades when the 8.1 (also known as a 496) was introduced
it is a "stroked" 454 where as the 502 (8.2) is a bored 454..
Internal parts are not interchangeable from 8.1 to 454 or 502
the 8.1 being an electronic fuel injection engine is a great engine
I am more familiar with them in Airboats..they were popular until GM discontinued them
There is as most electronic fuel injection engines a sensor called a "knock sensor" ..when detonation is detected it retards the ignition.
there should be also have a rev limiter...over reving is also a Big block chevy killer..that should not be a problem...unless forcing engine into a downshift going down a hill..over 5500 rpm is not recommended.
I did see a few failures of Marine 8.1 engines but not many.
I would also like to know how many miles on engine, how often you changed oil and what weight oil you used.
the other question is...did you use the 2 quart gm oil filter if so did you fill the oil filter with oil before installing.
that filter must fill up with oil before engine bearings get oil (after oil and filter change.)
Referred as "Priming" the oil filter
Repeated little mistakes over a long period of time can add up.
I must confess I too have a ford v-10
I will be watching. would like to know what the cause of the failure when you find out. good luck
GM Performance still has all the series of BBC engines..
and there are many different series of these engines
Not all Chevy dealers handle GM Performance Products
Avoid the 572 engine...first it is 630 horse stock...they continue to have head gasket issues...
everything behind that engine must be upgraded or you will be on the side of the road...
A much bigger radiator ...that engine comes with Aluminum heads ..they cannot handle overheating
there were upgrades when the 8.1 (also known as a 496) was introduced
it is a "stroked" 454 where as the 502 (8.2) is a bored 454..
Internal parts are not interchangeable from 8.1 to 454 or 502
the 8.1 being an electronic fuel injection engine is a great engine
I am more familiar with them in Airboats..they were popular until GM discontinued them
There is as most electronic fuel injection engines a sensor called a "knock sensor" ..when detonation is detected it retards the ignition.
there should be also have a rev limiter...over reving is also a Big block chevy killer..that should not be a problem...unless forcing engine into a downshift going down a hill..over 5500 rpm is not recommended.
I did see a few failures of Marine 8.1 engines but not many.
I would also like to know how many miles on engine, how often you changed oil and what weight oil you used.
the other question is...did you use the 2 quart gm oil filter if so did you fill the oil filter with oil before installing.
that filter must fill up with oil before engine bearings get oil (after oil and filter change.)
Referred as "Priming" the oil filter
Repeated little mistakes over a long period of time can add up.
I must confess I too have a ford v-10
I will be watching. would like to know what the cause of the failure when you find out. good luck
