Meissen's LT1 Build-up Thread

[meissen]

Wait - what fitment issue?

[Phantom409]

Yes, please do tell

[meissen]

I put a web gallery together for my LT1 project. It's every picture (basically every pic, atleast) that I have so far.

http://www.meissenation.com/projectlt1/

[my95z28]

The LPP headers have issues with clearing the steering joint. Some do, some don't, with the tolerances in the headers and the tolerances in the car, I would say about 70% of the time it becomes an issue. From what I have seen common fixes are, grinding the joint a little bit, making the joint holes larger, denting the header slightly, and I think that I saw something about changing to an LS1 joint. I think that it's called a rag joint?!?! not sure. One other thing that I think you can do is move the entire shaft over a little bit back at the firewall. Joel helped someone put a set on a while ago I think and they had no issues. When he makes the next batch, he is going to redo a few things, but said that he thinks he can keep the overall cost right at 600. Which still for fricken stainless steel headers, that are of better grade stainless than most, that is still a STEAL.

[Phantom409]

Ya, that's a realy good price for stainless

The joint in the strearing shaft is called a Rag Joint
I replaced mine with an eliminator that was made out of Alum.
PITA to do if you have a motor in your way
It's a something you might want if you go to LT's and for 30 bucks it's good insurance IMO.

[jetice]

Nice, i guess i never knew your car looked that good!

[my95z28]

kyle/phantom383............ what you mean by an eliminator? you have a pic of it?

EDIT: sorry for the hijack B

[meissen]

Ya, that's a realy good price for stainless

The joint in the strearing shaft is called a Rag Joint
I replaced mine with an eliminator that was made out of Alum.
PITA to do if you have a motor in your way
It's a something you might want if you go to LT's and for 30 bucks it's good insurance IMO.

Do you have more info on that? Since I'll be doing it before the engine goes in, it'd be perfect time to knock that out.

[JoeliusZ28]

If we had an issue with Derek's car fitting the headers, it didnt take us more than a minute to fix it because I dont remember any serious problems. i had EASILY had worse issues with my pacesetters and they werent bad.

Brian - how do you know that, have you ever looked at how cheap individual parts are like a block and heads

[meissen]

Yeah, but I don't have any room for building another engine in my garage. If I did that, it'd mean the Camaro would have to spend even more time sitting outside.

[meissen]

Well... nice set back. According to some guy on CamaroZ28.com, the stock diameter is about .553 and none of the aftermarket valve stem seals will fit unless you machine the guide down or get a machine shop to get the right valve stem seals? Sounds like bullshit to me, but summit and jegs have nothing that will work.

So, I'm going to have to send Angie to the dealership on Monday and just get stock replacements.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

that sucks sorry to hear B but in the same token welcome to winter projects, something always come up and you'll get set back all the time. Keep working at it though and you will learn a lot. Also I just saw a forged 355 LT1 shortblock on craigslist for $800 and it was brand new

[MP81]

Well... nice set back. According to some guy on CamaroZ28.com, the stock diameter is about .553 and none of the aftermarket valve stem seals will fit unless you machine the guide down or get a machine shop to get the right valve stem seals? Sounds like bullshit to me, but summit and jegs have nothing that will work. .

That's very strange...

[Phantom409]

It's about half way down the page, 36.00

http://www.unbalancedengineering.com/Camaro/

Your best bet is to take the strearing arm section out of the car, clamp it in a vice and the take a sawzall too it.
You will NEVER get through it by hand!!!
There are the 3 rivits on the outside and a .375 (3/8) bolt in the center and they are all hardened and will eat a hack saw up.

[meissen]

That's very strange...

Yeah. Everything that I saw on Summit is either .530 or .560 - too small or too loose. I'm going to send Angie to the parts department on Monday (she works at Merollis Chevrolet) and get stock OEM seals to use instead. From what I understand, those are better to use for a regular driver anyway.

But yeah, like you said Jeff - this is DEFINITELY a great learning experience. I've never used a micrometer or done half of the stuff that I've been doing thus far. Definitely feel like a sponge absorbing tons of information. When I'm bored I sift through posts in the LT1 sections on CamaroZ28 and LS1Tech and just absorb whatever I can.