What do I do with this L92 before I install it?
I tore the heads off last night. I wasn't happy seeing that I had about 5 bent pushrods. I know at least one valve wasn't seating because air was leaking through, but that could be from debris between the valve and seat. I'll be checking all the valves when I tear the heads down to get hot tanked. Might just have to get a set of LS3 hollow stems and get rid of these heavy stockers.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 1,137
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
I almost worry about doing cam bearings with how GM hones the cam bores after bearing install. I may have to hold off on using this engine because it's starting to become more expensive to install than I initially thought. I know it sounds backwards, but I may source a pair of 317 casting cathedral port heads so I can just use my FAST intake instead of trying to find a cheap LS3 intake. A pair of good 317s is cheaper than the intake, lol.
I almost worry about doing cam bearings with how GM hones the cam bores after bearing install. I may have to hold off on using this engine because it's starting to become more expensive to install than I initially thought. I know it sounds backwards, but I may source a pair of 317 casting cathedral port heads so I can just use my FAST intake instead of trying to find a cheap LS3 intake. A pair of good 317s is cheaper than the intake, lol.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 1,137
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Right now, I'm going to put this L92 on the back burner and pull my 5.3 to see exactly what it needs. Considering it was running with good oil pressure, I think I just need to put new bearings in the rods and mains and figure out the oiling system issues. I'm probably going to have to bite the bullet and get a Moroso 21159 pan for it and stop trying to run a stock F-body pan.
Right now, I'm going to put this L92 on the back burner and pull my 5.3 to see exactly what it needs. Considering it was running with good oil pressure, I think I just need to put new bearings in the rods and mains and figure out the oiling system issues. I'm probably going to have to bite the bullet and get a Moroso 21159 pan for it and stop trying to run a stock F-body pan.
There was a copo oil pan in the parts forums a little bit ago at a good price, I thought about it but I'm in too deep with the Haltech and new fuel system lol.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 1,137
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
COPO Pan wouldn't fit, from the measurements I've seen. Moroso says the 21159 pan will, and I have seen pics on Yellowbullet of someone running the 20143 ( steel version of the 21159 ) with no problem. If anything, it sounds like the driver's side rack mounting bolt might interfere, but I could get my fab guy to weld in a small recessed area where it would hit and it will be good to go.
And yeah, my hot idle pressure is 35-40 PSI, but my high RPM pressure was starting to drop. If you look at my bearing pics in the other thread, I definitely was having oiling issues. Whether that's from wrong oil, hot oil, foamy oil, pickup clearance, bearing clearance, etc., I have yet to determine. But with so many people having issues with the 10296 pump and stock F-body pan, it just seems like a problem waiting to happen. I don't want to overfill the pan to bandaid oil delivery problems. Don't want to invest a bunch of money in a substandard pan.
And yeah, my hot idle pressure is 35-40 PSI, but my high RPM pressure was starting to drop. If you look at my bearing pics in the other thread, I definitely was having oiling issues. Whether that's from wrong oil, hot oil, foamy oil, pickup clearance, bearing clearance, etc., I have yet to determine. But with so many people having issues with the 10296 pump and stock F-body pan, it just seems like a problem waiting to happen. I don't want to overfill the pan to bandaid oil delivery problems. Don't want to invest a bunch of money in a substandard pan.
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Verdad Gallardo COPO Pan wouldn't fit, from the measurements I've seen. Moroso says the 21159 pan will, and I have seen pics on Yellowbullet of someone running the 20143 ( steel version of the 21159 ) with no problem. If anything, it sounds like the driver's side rack mounting bolt might interfere, but I could get my fab guy to weld in a small recessed area where it would hit and it will be good to go.
And yeah, my hot idle pressure is 35-40 PSI, but my high RPM pressure was starting to drop. If you look at my bearing pics in the other thread, I definitely was having oiling issues. Whether that's from wrong oil, hot oil, foamy oil, pickup clearance, bearing clearance, etc., I have yet to determine. But with so many people having issues with the 10296 pump and stock F-body pan, it just seems like a problem waiting to happen. I don't want to overfill the pan to bandaid oil delivery problems. Don't want to invest a bunch of money in a substandard pan.
And yeah, my hot idle pressure is 35-40 PSI, but my high RPM pressure was starting to drop. If you look at my bearing pics in the other thread, I definitely was having oiling issues. Whether that's from wrong oil, hot oil, foamy oil, pickup clearance, bearing clearance, etc., I have yet to determine. But with so many people having issues with the 10296 pump and stock F-body pan, it just seems like a problem waiting to happen. I don't want to overfill the pan to bandaid oil delivery problems. Don't want to invest a bunch of money in a substandard pan.
I run Delo 15-40, a Wix filter w/o a bypass and plugged the bypass in the filter housing as well.
I wonder if your pickup is too close to the bottom of the pan, that pump moves a lot of oil, and I could see that gap being the issue.
Did you consider an oil baffle pan insert?
LS1 Camaro / Firebird (F-Body) Racing Oil Pan Baffle
Would something like this work?
Moroso - LS Swap Oil Pan (may require oil pickup) | MOR-20145 - ICT Billet
I swear I saw one in the classifieds a while ago too.
An oil accumulator might be worth looking into as well.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 1,137
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
I did not modify the stock oil pan to pickup distance, and that very well could have been part of my problem. I haven't plugged any bypasses yet. I may have an oil temp issue, but I only just now have gotten things set up to log oil temp. Tearing this engine completely down now was NOT on my bingo card, so when I put it back, I'm making changes that will prevent this from happening again.
I did not modify the stock oil pan to pickup distance, and that very well could have been part of my problem. I haven't plugged any bypasses yet. I may have an oil temp issue, but I only just now have gotten things set up to log oil temp. Tearing this engine completely down now was NOT on my bingo card, so when I put it back, I'm making changes that will prevent this from happening again.
I did an oil cooler on my last car using an Amazon kit with its own little fan and it worked pretty good, my temps never really got high enough to require it but it did stabilize my pressure after making pulls.
If I'm you, I'm buying that steel Moroso 7-Qt pan if it fits, the additional capacity would probably help with temps too.
