Here's What Four Years in a River Does to a GM 6.2L V8

Here's What Four Years in a River Does to a GM 6.2L V8

      I Do Cars via YouTube

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      When you pull a car from a lake or pond after it’s been submerged for an unknown length of time, the outcome is usually pretty grim. What else can you expect? An immaculate vehicle that smells… fishy? Anyway, this 6.2-liter V8 from a Chevy Camaro SS that sat underwater in the Ohio River for years serves as a prime example. It’s not just the exterior that shows signs of neglect, with rust and barnacles present; the interior is filled with mud, oil, and various slimy substances.

      For those with time on their hands, there’s an hour-long teardown video on the I Do Cars YouTube channel. If you’re on your union break, stay with me for a moment. I’ll give you a quick overview while highlighting just how bad this engine is.

      I Do Cars via YouTube

      A brief inspection reveals some of the unfortunate condition of this L99 V8, but not all of it. The host, Eric, struggles to place a socket on most of the bolt heads due to thick grime covering them. There’s hardly any silver visible on this engine; it predominantly appears orange and brown.

      The first task was to remove the drain plug. Once that was accomplished, enough stagnant river water flowed out to fill a Purina Tidy Cats litter container. Oil soon followed, along with unpleasant chunks of debris. Yikes.

      I Do Cars via YouTube

      The intake manifold wasn't in terrible shape, but removing the valve covers exposed some shocking issues. The rockers were nearly immobilized by rust, and further inspection revealed a missing pushrod. How does this occur? Eric speculates that someone may have taken it out to rectify a ticking noise, and honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised given the reputation of fifth-gen Camaro owners. (Just joking.)

      Most of the cylinders were packed with mud, although, surprisingly, the sleeves weren’t severely damaged. One was even relatively clean, possibly because it drew in some water before the engine shut down. However, there was still rust that rendered the sleeves undesirable. Since you can easily replace them, I don’t see why anyone would try to salvage what’s already there.

      I Do Cars via YouTube

      The pistons fared no better; Eric had to remove three rusty ones before he could make the engine turn. Eventually, he managed to force the crankshaft to rotate, which expelled a significant amount of crumbling debris. It was a labor-intensive process, and nearly every step was a mess.

      Perhaps the most visually unsettling aspects of the teardown were the removal of the camshaft (which Eric calls the “slime stick”), the extraction of the bellhousing, and the dislodging of the torque converter. I wouldn’t want to tackle any of those tasks. However, this individual surely knew what they were getting into when they took on this project.

      I Do Cars via YouTube

      After completely tearing it down, Eric expressed his surprise at the engine’s durability despite its surroundings. “The whole thing came apart. I didn’t expect any of that,” he remarked. “I broke one exhaust manifold bolt, but that happens even when they’re not submerged. I just can’t believe I managed to take the whole thing apart.”

      So, if anything, we should acknowledge the team at General Motors. Here’s yet another reason to appreciate the LS family of engines.

      This LS Spent 4 YEARS In A River! Will It Come Apart AND What Survived? REEKS of Insurance Fraud!

      Have a tip or question for the author? Reach out directly: caleb@thedrive.com

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Here's What Four Years in a River Does to a GM 6.2L V8

What you definitely want to avoid is having mud, rust, and stagnant river water in your LS.