Engine Failed On Our Family Vacation.

keebler · June 25, 2007

I'm hoping to get some advice on what's wrong with my engine and how to get it up and running again but I thought I'd give you the whole story if you're interested...

Just got back today from a week in Phoenix and had to vent a little and see if anyone has some good advice for me.

It was in the teens over 100 in Phoenix most of the week and our 1999 Suburban with 127,000 Miles on it seemed to handle the heat fine. (As it has in the past) To give you an idea of how hot it was, the outside thermometer would frequently read 125 Degrees when I would start the truck up at the Mall parking lot. It wasn't that hot outside, but the heat from the engine would warm up the temperature sensor behind the grille. Within a few seconds after starting the truck, enough air would circulate through the radiator to pull the temperature down to a more realistic temperature.

On the way home we stopped at a truck stop and went inside to buy a couple of drinks. I left the truck idling, as I frequently do after a long run on the interstate, to help it circulate coolant and cool down a little bit. Getting back on the highway I accelerated down the entrance ramp without pushing it hard because it was down-hill. In fact, the highway was down-hill and I was up to 80 MPH in no time at all. I let off the gas to slow down and that's when we heard the knock. It sounded low and strong like a jack hammer and, for a second, I though it was the exhaust brake from the semi truck I was passing. Getting back on the gas would quiet it down a whole bunch and you had to really pay attention to know it was there.

We pulled off to the side of the road and I listened to it idle. Knock, knock, knock... I'm guessing the sound I heard was a connecting rod bearing, right?

So, here we are in the middle of the desert with two kids and a toddler in our trashed Suburban. It's dinner time on a Saturday in the middle of New Mexico and it's right around 100 outside. I decided that I would feel better replacing the engine than fixing it and the truck would probably get us to the next good sized town. So I pushed on...

At somewhere over 50 MPH I could keep on the throttle and keep the knocking to a minimum and still have the engine at fairly low RPMs. We drove a good long distance this way and the sound kept getting slowly worse.

I'll add more to my story if anyone is interested...

plainvanilla · June 25, 2007

I'm hoping to get some advice on what's wrong with my engine and how to get it up and running again but I thought I'd give you the whole story if you're interested...

Just got back today from a week in Phoenix and had to vent a little and see if anyone has some good advice for me.

It was in the teens over 100 in Phoenix most of the week and our 1999 Suburban with 127,000 Miles on it seemed to handle the heat fine. (As it has in the past) To give you an idea of how hot it was, the outside thermometer would frequently read 125 Degrees when I would start the truck up at the Mall parking lot. It wasn't that hot outside, but the heat from the engine would warm up the temperature sensor behind the grille. Within a few seconds after starting the truck, enough air would circulate through the radiator to pull the temperature down to a more realistic temperature.

On the way home we stopped at a truck stop and went inside to buy a couple of drinks. I left the truck idling, as I frequently do after a long run on the interstate, to help it circulate coolant and cool down a little bit. Getting back on the highway I accelerated down the entrance ramp without pushing it hard because it was down-hill. In fact, the highway was down-hill and I was up to 80 MPH in no time at all. I let off the gas to slow down and that's when we heard the knock. It sounded low and strong like a jack hammer and, for a second, I though it was the exhaust brake from the semi truck I was passing. Getting back on the gas would quiet it down a whole bunch and you had to really pay attention to know it was there.

We pulled off to the side of the road and I listened to it idle. Knock, knock, knock... I'm guessing the sound I heard was a connecting rod bearing, right?

So, here we are in the middle of the desert with two kids and a toddler in our trashed Suburban. It's dinner time on a Saturday in the middle of New Mexico and it's right around 100 outside. I decided that I would feel better replacing the engine than fixing it and the truck would probably get us to the next good sized town. So I pushed on...

At somewhere over 50 MPH I could keep on the throttle and keep the knocking to a minimum and still have the engine at fairly low RPMs. We drove a good long distance this way and the sound kept getting slowly worse.

I'll add more to my story if anyone is interested...

Well, did it get you home? Thats what counts.

I've ran plenty of knocking motors 500 miles. It is weird to hear of that out of a Vortec with only 127K though. I just traded my 97 Burb with 171K off and it was quiet as a church mouse.

write on...

plainvanilla · June 27, 2007

I guess this one will have to be a cliffhanger until the new season starts in the fall

keebler · June 27, 2007

The saga continues...

U-Hurl seems to be out of equipment in this area and all of Monday was wasted waiting for them to find me a tow dolly. I finally arranged to rent one out where the truck broke don and do a one-way rental. The fact is that U-Hurl will negotiate prices and I got them to agree to a one-way rental at the in-town price.

I drove three hours this morning and picked up the dolly with not too much trouble. The usual U-Hurl hassle and indifference was the only issues I faced. (Tires without enough air to register on a tire guage for example.)

I broke several rules by towing a 4x4 Suburban that's 1,500 Lbs. heavier than the dolly is rated for. I towed it with a truck that's lighter than the vehicle in tow -- it's supposed to be at least 750 Lbs. heavier. And I also towed the Suburban backwards. The wheels of the Suburban wouldn't exactly fit in the trays on the dolly and they would sit up on the outer edges unitl I let enough air out of the tires to let them sit down inside.

I can tell you the U-Haul rules are justified. The rig was unstable above 40 MPH because the slightest twitch would become a slow swerving oscillation of death. At 40 MPH it was a long drive home, but I made it without too much greif. The alternatives were all more painful.

The GMC performed well and towed the setup without difficulty in 107 degree heat. Interestingly enough, I couldn't use Tow and Haul mode! Running at 40 MPH didn't take much effort but it wouldn't go in to overdrive at that speed. With the A/C on and the slow wind speed into the radiator, the engine temp would climb up over 210 and showed no signs of stopping. I took it out of Tow and Haul mode and it was able to use overdrive without difficulty. The slower engine RPM was enough to let it run below 210 all the way home.

plainvanilla · June 27, 2007

you lost me somewhere between keeping the burb around 50 MPH so it wouldn't knock to bad and it breaking down hours from home.

How did you get home? Did you have to leave it on the road?

Man that sucks for you, I hope you can get it up and running again soon.

keebler · June 27, 2007

you lost me somewhere between keeping the burb around 50 MPH so it wouldn't knock to bad and it breaking down hours from home.
How did you get home? Did you have to leave it on the road?

Man that sucks for you, I hope you can get it up and running again soon.

Sorry...

We originally broke down outside of Benson, AZ and now that I look at the map I can see we made it 100+ miles to Lordsburg, NM before I called it quits.

It was getting late in the day and the knocking was clearly getting worse as I drove. Looking back at the distance we traveled, it went on this way for a couple of hours but it sure seemed like less. I stopped a time or two to see what it sounded like at idle, and the knocking was mixed with a sick metalic scuffing sound that wasn't very re-assuring. The friction was great enough that the engine had a tough time staying at idle and even putting it in gear would kill the engine without a little extra boost with the accelerator pedal.

There was still most of 200 Miles to go and I decided that shutting down in a safe location far from home was ultimately better for the wife and kids. (The youngest is only a year-and-a-half.) The thought of throwing a rod five miles from safety was more painful than swallowing my pride and throwing in the towel on my own terms.

I checked the family in to a Holiday Inn Express and paid more than we had been paying at Embassy Suites in Scottsdale, Arizona. After checking in and unloading, I walked with my son a few blocks to a McDonalds with a Grey Hound bus station in the parking lot. It was now close to 11:00 PM and the McDonalds was closing and the Bus Terminal was already closed until Monday morning. I had the good fortune of talking to a non-English speaking bus driver there using a passenger as a translator. He couldn't help me buy a ticket but seemed willing to accept a cash donation to let me on the bus. Unfortunately I wasn't ready to hop on because my wife thought I was only out for a walk. It was helpful because it gave me a good idea.

Back at the hotel room I used the free Internet connection and my laptop to scour the Greyhound bus schedules. To my pleasant suprise, I found that another bus would likely stop at the truck stop at the other end of town just after midnight. This gave me enough time to get the family settled in and let me catch the driver when he stopped. I did exactly that and the driver agreed to let me ride on the bus where he would escort me to the ticket counter at my destination and buy a ticket. The plan worked flawlessly and I caught a cab home from the bus terminal and got to sleep at 3:00 AM. I slept four hours, hopped in the GMC and cruised out to Lordsburg to rescue the wife and kids just before check-out time.

Does anyone have any recommendations about replacing an engine? I don't have a good place to work and my tools are somewhat limited but I'm sure I can replace the engine myself. It'll be a big project, and progress will be slow, but I know I'll do better work than almost anyone I can hire. I'm thinking I'd like to buy a fairly complete new engine and install it myself. It would also be fun to consider throwing a diesel engine in there but that's probably too much work and not enough fun. I wonder if a 6.0L engine will install without too much pain...

If you had to buy and engine and you had to choose how to best spend your money, what would you look at?

Mighty HD · June 27, 2007

How was the oil level?

Don't get a "RECON" engine from pep boys.

YOu're better off rebuilding yours. Get it bored out, and a stroker kit done on it. You can't go wrong.

keebler · June 27, 2007

How was the oil level?

Don't get a "RECON" engine from pep boys.

YOu're better off rebuilding yours. Get it bored out, and a stroker kit done on it. You can't go wrong.

I changed the oil myself a week or two before the trip. I Used 10W-30 Mobil-1 and an AC-Delco FP59 filter. After sitting broke down a few hours I checked the oil and found it more grey than brown and it wasn't even a half-quart low.

The cost of the replacement engine is painful but having it replaced ONCE is all I'm interested in doing -- This eliminates ANY part I could buy at Pep Boys! I'll pay extra if I am reasonably sure I'll only ever need to do it once.

My feeling is that a quality re-build is important and I'm not convinced that I can get the best results by re-building it ala-carte using a local machine shop. If I buy a re-built engine, I want it from somebody that does it all day every day and is known for good results. I prefer to donate my labor to the project and use the money I save to buy a better replacement.

Any experience anyone can offer is appreciated!

whmayhew · June 27, 2007

I'd forget the idea of putting the diesel(good idea but alot of work) in. I think your best bet would be a used engine from a reliable junk yard. It is well worth fixing. If you do it yourself take plenty of pictures and tag all of the connections. A friend with a little mechanical knowledge would be a big help. Back in the late 60's and 70's I changed alot of motors and it was alot easier then nowadays. You can rent an engine puller. Good luck.

keebler · June 27, 2007

I'd forget the idea of putting the diesel(good idea but alot of work) in. I think your best bet would be a used engine from a reliable junk yard. It is well worth fixing. If you do it yourself take plenty of pictures and tag all of the connections. A friend with a little mechanical knowledge would be a big help. Back in the late 60's and 70's I changed alot of motors and it was alot easier then nowadays. You can rent an engine puller. Good luck.

Thanks for your advice. I pride myself on craftsmanship and I've taken a mental inventory of all of the systems I'd need to disconnect and re-install properly. I've decided that electrical is easy (I'm an electronics guy) and cooling is not rocket science. The hardest part is the A/C system but I've already got the main tools I need to cope with that. In fact, I repaired the A/C on this truck right after I bought it. I really don't see anything that will keep me from doing it myself given enough time and care.

The only thing I don't have is the experience of replacing an engine. That's where I though I could tap in to the knowledge of you folks here to help steer me clear of the hidden gotcha's. Beyond that, the only thing left is the things you can't forsee like rusted, broken and stripped connectors and all of those kinds of headaches. All I can do is deal with them as they come.

Expect photos later for those who are interested...

All of your help is sincerely appreciated!

plainvanilla · June 27, 2007

If you had to buy and engine and you had to choose how to best spend your money, what would you look at?

Scoggin Dickey Chevrolet in Lubbock are big time into GM crate motors, thats who I would call first

BTW, I want to compliment you for the way you handled yourself. You took care of your family and used your head to get yourself home. Your a good husband and father!

keebler · June 27, 2007

Scoggin Dickey Chevrolet in Lubbock are big time into GM crate motors, thats who I would call first

BTW, I want to compliment you for the way you handled yourself. You took care of your family and used your head to get yourself home. Your a good husband and father!

Gee, thanks...

After we got everyone sefely home, it did occur to me that nobody got hurt and the kids might have learned a thing or two about faith and/or problem solving. I even pointed out to my wife how nobody got hurt and nobody ever said anything they needed to apologize for to God or anyone else. In fact, it was probably way too calm and rational for the kids to realize what kind of a mess we were in. With all of the other difficulties in life right now, it would sure be easy feel like this is being kicked while your down -- but I never need to look very far to see other people who aren't as lucky as I have been. I like the saying that says "The harder I work, the luckier I get."

Looks like my wife will be using the GMC as our Grocery Getter while I drive our spare vehicle to work -- a retired 1988 United States Postal Service Parcel Delivery Van. (Basically, it's a FedEx truck.)

99silverado1500 · July 3, 2007

Looks like my wife will be using the GMC as our Grocery Getter while I drive our spare vehicle to work -- a retired 1988 United States Postal Service Parcel Delivery Van. (Basically, it's a FedEx truck.)

It should be the other way around....JK....I know Jasper has some quality motors, but DO NOT get a transmission from them, they can rebuild motors like new, but they cant build a transmission that lasts. Jaspers been around for a while, and would be a good choice to consider for a rebuilt motor. Im guessing you have a 5.3?? or Do you have a 5.7? If you have a 5.3 that should be a easy motor to find. I know a junkyard near me had a 2006 wrecked 5.3 with a good motor with 7000 miles for like 1700, which isnt really bad for a real low miles OEM motor. A 5.7 is going to be real hard to find in a junkyard with real low miles, as well as some of the bigger motors from pre 1998 or the HD pre 2000. Good luck, your in for a big project.

superbee · July 3, 2007

I've done many an engine swap in the driveway with hand tools, a buddy and a case of beverage. It's really not that big of a deal, especially today with digital cameras. When you take bolts out, poke them through a piece of cardboard and lay them out or mark them such that you can remember exactly which hole they go into (some are the same size in daimeter but different lengths.) Also the AC can usually remain connected (no freon dumping and recharging) use some big zip ties to keep it out of the way when the motor comes out. Make sure to unbolt the torque converter from the flex plate or you will pull the converter out with the motor and barf ATF all over the ground. As stated above, make sure you mark all wires and connections so that you don't have to hunt forever when reinstalling. Take this time to have your intake manifold hot tanked to get the gunk out of it, paint the oil pan and valve covers and all of the other little covers and brackets, and if you have ever considered headers, now is the time. Don't skimp on machine work, an align hone and torqueplate hone are money well spent, I'm not a fan of Jasper or any of the other big reman guys, I prefer a good local machine shop that will balance things within .5-1 gram. The Chevy crate motors are pretty good, I'd go with the best deal after checking the Goodwrench motors against your local shops (only ones with a solid reputation). If you have more questions or run into problems, PM me or post here.

327BlackBird · July 9, 2007

IF you want it done once and the correct way. Get a professional to do it. and get a brand new crate engine installed. For the price of a rebuild on your block, which you have already done enough damage too, and for the peace of mind with a full warrenty. Get a crate engine.

And if you have never installed or removed and engine yourself, Don't do it if this is your only means of transportation. If it's not and you really want to do it, this is a huge take for a first timer and all i can say is take pictures as you take things off, because when you go to put things on, you wont remeber! and take you time!!!