Spoke to Texas Speed about the heads etc.
For $1550, I would get the heads surfaced, CNC'd, a custom camshaft and new pushrods. Gaskets and shipping on top of that.
Thoughts?
Normally costs me @$220 to pressure test and surface a pair of heads, then I go through them myself.
$4123 for the ATK 408 LS motor, less a $450 core charge, would get me a whole new motor though.....Decisions decisions.
I could rebuild it myself of course, but then time comes into it, as well as the parts bill to get a little more out of it.
Thoughts??
Martin

 

No reply from PRW as of yet.....

 

I went for the ATK HP97 motor, cant beat the price and warranty, which I hope never to use.
Everything else as it was before, besides some wiring I extended to run behind the motor instead of up front. While breaking the cam in, 2000-2500rpm's for 30 minutes, the fan cycles on and off wherever I set it at. So looks to be solved at this point. I do think it was the pump though myself.
PRW have been useless to be honest. They claimed that they didnt even have any pulleys and never bothered after that.
I got some slightly larger bolts, drilled and tapped the mounting holes, and refit the pulley after some finnesing.
So far so good.
Here is how it looks now.


Martin

 

good news! and congrats.

how does it run? Dd you end up with more power?

Doug

 

On paper yes a lot more HP. Not driven it yet, just broke the camshaft in.
For what it costs me to build a stock motor, @$2,000, I couldn't beat the price of the ATK one at $3064 to my door with a warranty.

And thank you!

Martin

 

Hydraulic Roller camshafts do not need to be broken in like that.

Hope this doesn't come off as snotty, only meant as an FYI.

 

Thought they were flat.....Ooops.
The crower ones I put in Rover motors are flat, thus the break in.
Thanks!
Guess I did a few heat cycles then!

Martin

 

Just drive that thing like you stole it. No break in need for roller cam.

Here is the belt routing for a stock 5.3

 

Thanks!
Put @120 miles on it today.
Knew it was running really rich by the crap idle from cold and the really bad smell of gas at startup in the shop.
During the drive today, CEL came on with running too rich on both banks, LOL.
Going Friday for its tune.
So far the ATK motor is performing excellent.

 

Good news! Sorry to hear about all your trials but glad you got it FINALLY sorted. I agree, I think you got a bad water pump out of the box.

 

Cheers.
The PRW water pump is far from impressing me, and I have yet to hear a word from the idiots.
Dropped it off at a local tuner, but he couldn't get into the ECM. Maybe something the previous tuner did, as he never mentioned having any issues with it.

Martin

 

Martin, call PRW and ask for Shaun, tell him you are working with me and he should be able help you out

 

I'll do that, thanks!
It's at the tuners now, and the fuel trims were waaayyy off!
Looking forward to getting it back and seeing how it really runs.

Martin

 

I kind of want to ask you a few questions I also got a HP 97atK engine and want to ask you a few questions I've never built LS 5.3 motor another way different than the regular small block 350 it would be greatly appreciated if you could call me whenever you get a chance I just would rather have a speak to somebody that has already done it before so I could give me a call whenever you get a chance my number is 407-307-9835 I'm more than mechanically inclined I built a 70 Chevelle when I was 15 with my dad as a graduation present and this is for my boss and I don't want to screw up rather be safe than sorry