Project Vette Power!

[LSxDreamer]

Question... Do I need to take all the coolant plugs that screw into the block to get it hot tanked...

[nascarnate326]

Dude where in BC are you? I feel like a total douche for not helping. Im done with school in like 2 weeks and can lend my not so mechanical skills.

[LSxDreamer]

It's ok, haha! I won't really be doing much this weekend because the block will be at the machine shop. I live just off M-66 a few miles from I-94 the oppsite way of KCC. I'll be down with school (KCC) in two weeks too and I can't f'n wait!

[sman]

I think they're probably ok to leave, the shop should look the block over, I would assume they'ed take them out if they were no good to leave in.

[LSxDreamer]

Well I got the block hot tanked at a transmission shop this morning because they had a washer for aluminum and took her on over to the machine shop. The machinist is going to install my new cam bearings, hone the cylinder walls, and he is going to polish and mic the crank. He did say that because of what is used to hone the block there is going to be a lot of grit everywhere so he suggested I take it back to the trans shop to get in cleaned or I can just power wash it really and go through the block by hand. I think I am going to do the later because money is getting tight and there are a couple of other things I need to buy. Between the cleaning and the Machine work it's going to be $165 which I don't think is bad at all: $40 for the cleaning, $40 for the cam bearings, $40 for the hone, and $45 for the polish and mic.

I don't get the block back until tuesday/wednesday so I am just going to clean the valves, assemble the heads, and work on the headers.

I have been reading that when you install new valves or used valves not original to the heads that you should lap the valves. Now I read that the normal person at home can do it which is what I would like to do because it is going to cost me between $80-$100 to have it done. Anyone have any tips on lapping valves...

[LSxDreamer]

Well I got the block and crank back from the machine shop on Wednesday and he said everything looks great! Just as a reminder I had the cylinders honed, cam bearings installed and the crank polished and mic'ed. He told me that I needed to get the block cleaned again because of the grit that is left from honing and suggested taking it back to where i had it cleaned or just pressure wash it REALLY WELL and then go through by hand and wiping it down. I chose the later because he sad would be fine and it should be because I pressure washed it for about 15 minutes non stop and then went through it VERY THROUGHLY.

I did ask the guy what is a good way to keep the block and crank from rusting because I am still waiting on my piston rings and he suggest this stuff called "Marvel Mystery Oil" so I bought some and sprayed the shit out the block and crank after I got it cleaned up and let me tell you it it's some pretty awesome stuff! You can add it to your engine oil or gas to help keep things clean and lubed up. I think I am going to add some for start up along with the Rotella T oil that I am using to break in the engine just to be safe.

I do have one question though regarding to assembly. Does anyone know the nest place to get ALL of the torque specs to put this engine back together... (EDIT: LS1HowTo.com)

P.S.: I'll get pics up tomorrow

[LSxDreamer]

Well unfortunately there have been no updates because finals for school have been eating away at my life, haha! I did however get a Dyno Tune scheduled. I wanted to go with Livernois Motorsports because they were relatively close but they are booked solid all the way through June. So I called Speed Inc. in Chicago because Vengeance said that they have tuned a lot of their cams and done so with great results. Since the engine doesn't really resemble anything that was in the engine bay before, it has a 85mm vette MAF, and the fact there is already a tune in the PCM they are going to have me send the PCM in for a base tune so that I can start it up and break it in BEFORE it gets there just incase I have any problems. It's only going to cost me $50 extra so I don't mind. Anyways the date is Tuesday May 26th at 1:00pm Central time, talk about just in the nic-of-time for the meet and great, haha!

Well I am going outside to finally start assembly now

[LSxDreamer]

Sorry about the lack of update. I have gotten the heads assembled with the the TEA Dual Gold Valve Spring Kit and the LS3 Intake and Exhaust Valves. I ended up lapping the valves myself. I just bought some valve lapping compound and a lapping stick. After doing a couple valves with the lapping stick by hand I said F this! I got a power drill and put the valve in the drill and on a very low speed lapped the valves. This was SOOO much faster and less tiring. I also go the pistons cleaned up and the new rings installed.

I also got my PCM back from Speed Inc. so if I get everything assembled I can start it this weekend!

And that is all folks. I'm going home for lunch and going to put the polyurethane motor mounts in the clam shells. And tonight I will be starting the assembly of the short block.

If anyone wants to stop by tonight or this weekend shot me a PM and I'll give you my number. Company is always great especially when it's other enthusiasts.

[nascarnate326]

Just got back from help out a little bit. This project is actually quite amazing.

Kyle and I put the rod bearings on while David did the crank bearings.

Tomorrow should be pretty interesting

Here are the pics I took

SDC12178.jpg

SDC12179.jpg

SDC12181.jpg

SDC12182.jpg

SDC12183.jpg

SDC12184.jpg

SDC12186.jpg

SDC12187.jpg

[my95z28]

w00t!! Can't wait for this car to be done. Nate and I went and helped out some more today, but I'll wait for David to post the progress for the day. We left at about 2, so hopefully he is getting more stuff done. Also, his car is INSANELY low, I could barely tell that the engine was out of it, lol. Definitly looks amazing, but might be a little pain to drive. David, you gotta let me know when this thing is done if I can't make it out sometime this week. I want to be there for the break-in, LOL.

[nascarnate326]

Here are some pics from today:
SDC12195.jpg

SDC12197.jpg

SDC12200.jpg

SDC12203.jpg

[JoeliusZ28]

noiice buildup dude!

[my95z28]

Updates!?!?!

[LSxDreamer]

Well I didn't get as far as I wanted because of taking a few extra trips to the store for some small parts. But enough talking here are the pics from the last few days:

Here is the Lapped Valves that I did with some Lapping Compound and a drill:


I also took out some of the casting flaws at the tops of the intake runners nearest the intake manifold:


Here are some pics of the difference between the TEA Dual Springs and the stock L92 springs and the bottom of the assembled head:


Here is where I was at shortly after Kyle and Nate left:


And here is where I left off tonight:


And lastly I need to thank Nate and Kyle for sanding down the headers and getting some coats of the 2000* High Heat Rust-O-Leum Primer. After they left I finished up the primer and put one can of VHT 2000* High Heat Silver paint on each header so it is nice and thick. All I need to do is cure them and they are ready to good! They turned out great with a few runs but not in places that you can actually see the headers:

[DETROITMUSCLE]

damn this project is flying along good work guys, it should be one hell of a car when its all done.