New guy! 97 camaro lt1 t56 vibration help

[Dhayes]

Hello everyone, first post here. Just picked up my first lt1 car. Its a 1997 camaro 30th Ann. T56 with some work. The guy I git it from didn't know much about what is in it. He said bigger heads cam exhaust and intake. It had the engine light on and a miss at under 2k rpm. Also a vibration that variates with rpm from 1800-2200rpm. Outside of those rpms it doesn't do it or even in that rpm range if you get on it. Was a good deal so I got it. (Traded a quad for it). Got it home and in the air and noticed a few things. At least 5 of the plug wires were resting on the headers which look like the pace setter LT race ones. Dual straight pipes out the back, only 1 cat and front 02 sensor. No rear o2s. The heads are aluminum that's all I know and the cam has a pretty nasty lope. Clutch feels nearly shot. I plan on pulling engine/ trans which were supposed to have been rebuilt a year ago. Tear it down to see what's actually in there, reseal it and put her back in. Also have to fix some wiring on that car also burned by the headers. My main concern is the pretty intense vibration. It coming from the engine, it does it either driving or revving out if gear in the garage. Doesn't not seem like a miss would cause this bad a vibration. Only way to compare it is to say it like going down the freeway at 80mph on really unbalanced tires lol. Looking for some direction as to what to check when I get this out. Like I said this is my first encounter with an lt1. Thanks, and look forward to your responses.

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[SMok3 Em A11]

Welcome!! Have you had a chance to check the engine and trans mounts? Could be a possible easy fix for the vibration.

[95ImpySS]

I wonder if the engine is 0 balanced and the flywheel still has the weights on it....

[MeanTA]

my car had a vibration front 2000-2500 when i first bought it. my trans mount was busted up real bad. replaced it and vibration went away.

[Dhayes]

Thanks. Has regular rubber mounts which all look good. Thats what i was leaning torwards was the balance. Flywheel still has the weight on it. Maybe part of the clutch came apart? Is there anyway to tell if its 0 balance internals outside of taking it to the machine shop?

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[hotrod96z28]

Welcome to the board. Let's see some pics

[1fstss]

i love seeing more white and orange cars out there!! (if its a 30th its white w/ orange stripes) and if the weight is still on the flywheel that might do it!! could also be a driveshaft issue...

[Dhayes]

Not orange and white unfortunately. Might not be a true 30th Ann. But it has the seals lol. Here are some pics.

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[Dhayes]

Don't think its driveshaft because it will do it out of gear stopped and revving.

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[Fastbird]

I'd say fix the plug wires stuff first, ensure everything is copacetic in the ignition system so you can rule out simple misfires at certain RPM's/Loads. Especially if it does it when free revving sitting still. If it was engine unbalance, you should feel it everywhere.

[94Blackbird]

I'd say fix the plug wires stuff first, ensure everything is copacetic in the ignition system so you can rule out simple misfires at certain RPM's/Loads. Especially if it does it when free revving sitting still. If it was engine unbalance, you should feel it everywhere.

^This. I had a burnt spark plug wire once, and it made the car I had at the time run rough and vibrate like a son of a bitch.

[1fstss]

it has white leather? the 30 on a grey seat is just to commemorate the 30th year, but its not a 30th special edition. and like fast bird said change out all the burned plug wires and rule that out.

[Dhayes]

Ahh I see. Well then its not a 30th Ann. Lol. I went ahead and started looking over the wiring harness and found some fun stuff. A few melted wires and connectors and random wires either ripped or cut. So I pulled the engine/trans harness out to the side to go through it. Alot of stuff was done halfa$$ on this I'm almost tempted to pull the motor tear it down and start over making sure stuff is right.

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[94Blackbird]

Ahh I see. Well then its not a 30th Ann. Lol. I went ahead and started looking over the wiring harness and found some fun stuff. A few melted wires and connectors and random wires either ripped or cut. So I pulled the engine/trans harness out to the side to go through it. Alot of stuff was done halfa$$ on this I'm almost tempted to pull the motor tear it down and start over making sure stuff is right.

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That is most likely where you'll end up. I bought a half finished project three years ago, and after fighting it for 3 years, it's now completely apart in my garage getting the build done that it should of had from the get go.

[casey20000007]

Thanks. Has regular rubber mounts which all look good. Thats what i was leaning torwards was the balance. Flywheel still has the weight on it. Maybe part of the clutch came apart? Is there anyway to tell if its 0 balance internals outside of taking it to the machine shop?

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If you end up needing a neutral balanced flywheel hit me up I have one for sale for $150 (it's a chromolly neutral balanced flywheel) I bought it brand new and ended up not needing it :( so its just sitting I've been trying to get rid of it for a while but everyone I talk to either end up just leaving me hanging or don't reply when I ask them if they still want it


You can't pee on what you can't touch (chevy)

[Dhayes]

If you end up needing a neutral balanced flywheel hit me up I have one for sale for $150 (it's a chromolly neutral balanced flywheel) I bought it brand new and ended up not needing it :( so its just sitting I've been trying to get rid of it for a while but everyone I talk to either end up just leaving me hanging or don't reply when I ask them if they still want it


You can't pee on what you can't touch (chevy)

OK sweet. Ill deffinitly let you know if that's what it is. Hopefully find out in the next few days.

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[Dhayes]

Got the motor and trans out. Im glad I pulled it because half of everything I took off was loose... lol. Ill pull the heads tomorrow and see what's inside.did these come with aluminum heads or cast?
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[1fstss]

Fbodies and vettes have aluminum heads, and i feel ya on the harness... My SS i bought it built and ive rewired the entire harness from front to back and replaced every moving part on the car because it was done half assed...

[Dhayes]

Dang that sucks. Hopefully I can fix mine and I'd bot maybe I can find one at the junk yard.

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[Dhayes]

Well got the heads off and started looking around. Heads are 643's and Appear stock. Shortbock was recently done it still has pretty clean cylinders with cross hatching or whatever. Half the push rods are trick flow half are stock. Intake has a chunk missing next to a bolt hole. Opti was cracked. All but one header bolt was finger tight. Everything had just rtv poured on it.. going to pull the cam to see what that bad boy is next.

Might be switching around my game plan with this thing.

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[Dhayes]

Found that the trans was filled with gear oil instead of the recommend atf should I be worried?

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[Dhayes]

Im pretty sure the clutch was the cause of my vibration. It was a worn out spec 6 puc and alum flywheel. 1 bolt missing and all others maybe finger tight except one. Its obvious the guy that built it didn't believe in tightening all the bolts on anything lol. As long as one is tight it should be good I guess haha.

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[casey20000007]

Hey bud find anything else wrong today?


You can't pee on what you can't touch (chevy)

[popo8]

Im really impressed with how fast ur diving in....

Whats ur mechanical background....

And



Welcome to the site man!!!


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[casey20000007]

Im really impressed with how fast ur diving in....

Whats ur mechanical background....

And



Welcome to the site man!!!


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

Agreed!!!! I give props man


You can't pee on what you can't touch (chevy)

[Dhayes]

As Much as I expect to find more issues I haven't yet. Lol. Hopefully the discovery part is over and I can focus on recovery haha.

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[Dhayes]

And thank appreciate the compliment. Cars are an infinitly increasing passion of mine. Just turned 24 in Sep and pretty much self taught but am to the point i can do most anything ouside of major elecrixal diag and internal tranmission work. Worked as a general tire and lube tech a few places but can find decent work as a tech because of paper experience and/or certification so I'm stuck delivering parts for a local dodge dealership right now. I've been messing wit cars since I got my license and have been doing the craigslist thing lately. Buy cheap fix and make some extra money or trade for something better. This particular set I started out with a broken golf cart I paid 25$ for and a kids quad I paid $80 for and built a sort of long travel ATV golf cart lol. Now 2 months and a few trades later I have the car I've been wanting for a long time. Granted its not a 67-69 but I love it.



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[casey20000007]

And thank appreciate the compliment. Cars are an infinitly increasing passion of mine. Just turned 24 in Sep and pretty much self taught but am to the point i can do most anything ouside of major elecrixal diag and internal tranmission work. Worked as a general tire and lube tech a few places but can find decent work as a tech because of paper experience and/or certification so I'm stuck delivering parts for a local dodge dealership right now. I've been messing wit cars since I got my license and have been doing the craigslist thing lately. Buy cheap fix and make some extra money or trade for something better. This particular set I started out with a broken golf cart I paid 25$ for and a kids quad I paid $80 for and built a sort of long travel ATV golf cart lol. Now 2 months and a few trades later I have the car I've been wanting for a long time. Granted its not a 67-69 but I love it.



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Sweet man that's awesome to hear and glad you like your car 🚗


You can't pee on what you can't touch (chevy)

[Greg08]

sick

[CamaroZGuy]

wow! your progress makes me look lazy! i have had a short block sitting in my car for about 2 weeks and still have yet to pull it.

and welcome to the site!

[Dhayes]

wow! your progress makes me look lazy! i have had a short block sitting in my car for about 2 weeks and still have yet to pull it.

and welcome to the site!

Lol yea I'm sort of impatient... also have my second son due in Feb so if its not on the road by then it will be a while lol.

And get that thing outta there! Jk. I know what ya mean though. Work, second work, prego wife, kid, and other crap hard to find time. Mostly late nights and make up for it with a couple Red bulls in the morning lol. Gotta just keep thinking how nice it will be to drive it again!

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[Brent418]

It could be caused be several issues the engine mount is one, but here are some others, a bad spark plug a dirty stuck egr device a stuck start evap canister purge valve, and it may need a track up plugs cables and throttle plate cleaned up.check to make sure air filter is complete screwed down, and check tubes from the air filter housing for leaks, especially if you just had a recent oil change.

[95 Firehawk]

Found that the trans was filled with gear oil instead of the recommend atf should I be worried?

Well you should definitely drain that and flush a few times with ATF. If things are shifting okay, you probably will be fine with just draining it and flushing/driving it with ATF a few times. Gear oil doesn't have the proper friction additives that allow the synchros to function as intended, and can cause grinding and other shifting problems. Don't think this had anything to do with the vibration though.

[Dhayes]

Yea that's what I did. Drained and flushed with atf. Shifts nice and smooth so don't think it caused any issues.

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