steelmesh

I am trying to find more info about a 2.4 LE5 gen 3 block with the closed deck.

I was asking about if I need a better block to make 600 bhp in addition to forged pistons, am rods, studs, and springs; and was directed to Cobaltss.net

The car is turbocharged with a Precision 5558.

Where can we find this block? What year/make/models have this block? Is this a direct bolt on solution for a 2006 LE5 intake / exhaust / belt driven accessories /engine mounting /etc.?

steelmesh

I am still trying to find this information. For a minute I thought the LCV Gen3 was what I needed, then looking at the block pictures, it's not possible completely different. Then I was put on to the LUK engine block, but I can't find any LUK engine block pictures to see if it is closed deck.


Bump it up, is the LUK engine the closed deck short block I am seeking, compatible with the LE5 head, rotating assy, accessory drive, starter, etc?

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

There are no factory closed deck ecotec blocks. If you are looking for a gen3 88mm block, get an LEA or LAF.

zeeky420

Go to zzperformance.com all your ecotec needs available there

steelmesh

ZZP is cool and I like them, but I have more Skills than Dollar Bills that is why I am poking this subject.

CobiJack

How much of the LEA is compatible with the LE5? Pretty sure my Overheating issue is killing my cylinder head, so I'm looking to buy a replacement engine, use that head, while I build up the new one. Will the LEA head fit my LE5, and what else needs to be done to swap the LEA in.? ZZP told me I can't do a swap on my car and my best bet for HP is buying an SS/TC.
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CobiJack

How much of the LEA is compatible with the LE5? Pretty sure my Overheating issue is killing my cylinder head, so I'm looking to buy a replacement engine, use that head, while I build up the new one. Will the LEA head fit my LE5, and what else needs to be done to swap the LEA in.? ZZP told me I can't do a swap on my car and my best bet for HP is buying an SS/TC.
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CobiJack

From what I can understand, the blocks are similar, but the heads are different due to LEAs being DI. GEN 3s are sand cast, which is the way I would like to go. Connecting rods are also forged on the LEA. I can buy a used LEA with 65k miles as I can an LE5 with 200k on it. Unless someone can give me a reason why I can't mate an LEA block with and LE5 head, I think this would be a good, cheap performance engine. I'm not looking for 800 hp, but a stable 4-500 wouldn't be bad.

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

The LEA pistons and rods are no good. Your cylinder head is fine, just fix your heater core hoses.

Omiotek

iTrader: (2)

If you cannot afford a $2000 zzp girdled block you cannot afford to build a reliabke 600hp car. At that level in a 4 cylinder things become expensive and last thing you should be trying to skimp on in a bottom and top end.

You might have skills to assemble the car, fabricate etc etc but yor skills cannot change block strength, cylinder pressure and so forth.

The lea head will not work. The bottom end will work but the pistons and rods will not hold the power. If you intend to use that power and i dont mean doing some dyno pulls and occasional highway pulls then its questionable if that block will sustain that power for longer periods of time. None of these blocks will hold that untouched for ever.

My opinion is spend the money for reliability up front because when something breaks it becomes more expensive

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

True^ zzp sells girdled le5s for $500

CobiJack

Yesterday morning the heater hose that I just replaced melted through near a clamp where I didn't have it shielded, leaving a hole big enough for most of my coolant to empty out in just a few minutes on a stretch of highway that is under construction with no place to pull off. By the time I got stopped I was at 300°. I got rid of the T that connected the Turbo return to the overflow and added a bleeder valve on the valve cover where the overflow return was. My head might be OK, but I ordered a new heater core and if these two things don't fix my issue, I am putting a new head and head gasket on it. I talked to ZZP again and they keep telling me it's an airlock and I need to burp it. I have been burping and replacing things and then burping again for almost two months. Logic tells me that just once out of the dozen or so times that I have refilled the coolant that I would have gotten it right, or the radiator shop would've gotten it right.

CobiJack

And $150 to ship. I can buy an LE5 out of a wreck in town for 300, and an LEA for $450 shipped off eBay. Two complete engines. I don't need a block that can handle 800 hp because, where am I going to find an F23 that can handle it on a daily basis? ZZP has already gotten $3500 out of me in the last three months, and I haven't even been able to have fun with it. Nothing against them, but just because I can afford it, doesn't make it logical.

I only paid $3000 for the car in October.

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

F23 will handle it if you can drive. Stock le5s are good to 400. If thats your goal then just use an le5.

Alpha Fab

We use the LAF/LEA block all day with LE5 heads making 500+ HP. It is a semi-closed deck but gussets where the GEN 2 LE5 block lacked. Mostly behind the #4 cylinder wall and along the radial edges.

-AFI

CobiJack

That is my goal. But this all contradicts a lot what what ZZP told me. Maybe they are just trying to make a sale, but they said LE5 couldn't go past 350 without forged internals and then the block was in danger past that, same with the transmission. If I can safely put down 375-400 with the LE5 then I'll stick with it.

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

yeah you should have no problem doing that with a solid tune. the transmissions are actually very strong.

Sharkey

iTrader: (1)

the girdled le5 block they sell for $500 is a gen 2. they have no warranty on it because they are known to be porous. imo it sounds like a big risk to take.

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

Call me Mr. Risk

Sharkey

iTrader: (1)

lol. i keep looking at this block and considering it too. im thinking in the future i want to build a 2.4l short block for my 944 with the ultimate goal of around 600 whp. a girdled block is a must, and its so tempting to be able to save $1500 (im in canada so its really $2k to me).

how many 2.4l gen 2 blocks do you hear about with the cracking/porous problem? i can say ive only read about the lnf will that problem.

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

ive never seen an le5 with that problem but idk. there are other solutions as well. Mr. B has some beefy sleeves and Trevor jolley is coming up with a solution similar to zzps

Omiotek

iTrader: (2)

I have never heard of an le5 being porus. Ive worked in these things for years and never had a porus le5 block. I have seen a few lnfs but even then people inflate the numbers with how many really exsist. Since the cobaltscame out in 08 and ive been working with the lnf in the sky redlines since 07 i have maybe see 3-5 porus blocks out hundreds. I have owned 2 09 cobalts as well which everyone claims to have this issue and both have made decent power and never had been porus although its a possibility any can be porus.

Keep in mind a le5 will only take power with good tuning like anything else.

steelmesh

Since this post concluded last time, in my mind I planned to go down the path of using an LEA/LAF block and install the 2006 LE5 crankshaft, h-beams, forged pistons, LE5 head and this would be the 600 hp machine.

steelmesh

Do you use the LAF/LEA crankshaft too? I see your notes say you install a brand new crankshaft, is that a forged LE5 crank?

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

Im pretty sure my new build has an lea crank. Its the same as an le5