You won't belive this!

[91LQ1Lumina]

Well, if you're gonna keep it , at least pull the heads and make sure that crap isn't in the cylinders too. I'd pull the oil pan as well. At least put a call into the guy you got it from and ask him wtf is up with that. Oh, and I'd make HIM pay for my gas to return it. That's just me. GL with your engine.

Already did pull the heads, and other then these beads the motor looks like it has only been run a few times. The exhaust ports on the heads have some carbon build up, but the manifolds have none. The combustion chambers also have a slight caramel color to them, but very little else.

[91LQ1Lumina]

it isnt something gm would do with just the crash cars, or maybe a prototype engine is it? iv heared that ford use to do stuff to mess there prototype or (factory freak) engines up after testing them. lol. probably not possible. but what the hell could it be? especialy with it being in a newer engine...

I was thinking the same thing, but I was wondering since they don't run the engine as far as I know during a crash test. Maybe they put this stuff in the engine to simulate and track vital fluid leaks, you know with out getting the floor to dirty? Who knows.

[Joseph Upson]

It's bird shot, buck-shot is much larger probably a quarter inch in diameter or larger. My best guess is someone sabotaged it for the sake of preventing someone from getting a good deal, or it has a problem. Why? you ask, I purchased a very low mileage 3400 years back from a core recycler who said he got the engine because the salvager was clearing out room for new stuff, for some reason one spark plug was pulled to expose the cylinder bore to the elements, I got it just in time to prevent severe damage from the water building in the cylinder, I also acquired a 3100 in similar condition with the same treatment however it did have a problem, the dreaded piston slap which made it a near brand new bad engine.

There is also the brand new Ford SVO Garrett T3 .60/.63 turbocharger I got from the same guy with what I thought was a seized shaft. Turned out some one stuck a small bore cleaning brush firmly in the turbine housing to give the impression it was bad. It works like a new turbo so far.

[IsaacHayes]

Document it whatever you do.

[PCGUY112887]

Call the guy! Someone may have been trying to sell the engine for scrap and wanted to add weight with those...

[sir loin]

Looks like shot peening media to me, a little large though. Why it's in your engine, who knows. If it's not metal, could it be a dessicant?

[IanSzgatti]

They were added after the engine was run... that's obvious. I'm gonna say that somebody intentionally put them in there to wreck it.

[pocket-rocket]

That's nuts. Have you contacted the seller about it yet?

[91LQ1Lumina]

Call the guy! Someone may have been trying to sell the engine for scrap and wanted to add weight with those...

I think you hit it on the head. I got one of the beads between a set of pliers, and it was pretty soft. So this is the only reason that makes sense as to why someone would put lead in an engine.

[94GPGTP]

they probably put it in there after the motor was taken out.. there is no way it ran with it in there.. they added it in there to make the motor look junk so they can sell it... just like on spike tv the show trucks.. all the parts are donated and when the truck is complete they crush them b/c the parts were donated and cant be sold...

[91LQ1Lumina]

For those that don't think I got my $150 bucks worth, I beg to differ.







Also for those that want to see the rest of the tear down photos.

http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z67/Co2_Scientist/LZE/

[ForcedFirebird]

Wow, check ou tthe valve reliefs. what is the bore on the VVT's again?

[91LQ1Lumina]

Wow, check ou tthe valve reliefs. what is the bore on the VVT's again?

99mm If I'm not mistaking.

[IsaacHayes]

Wow, the blue thread locker is still visible. Notice the LIM gaskets are metal and no coolant goes through them! Finally GM got that right.

What are you plans with the motor?

[91LQ1Lumina]

Haven't really decided on that at the moment, I was going to put it in my DD the 99 grand am, but I would need to get the Lumina street legal again. And since I had to do a tear down to check the block out I am now looking at a hefty price for gaskets being that only GM sells them at the moment. So I may just clean and prep it all up and tuck it away until the Lumina is closer to fulling the job of a DD.