Engine assembly questions lots of them?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 650
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From: NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY PARK
Engine assembly questions lots of them? I might be rebuilding my 346 this winter if not I will be in the summer shes deffintly on her way out. The closest LS1 shop is ARE 5 hours so I am going to do this my self.
1. Can a machine shop none LS1 be able to bore it out to a 3.905 bore clean it all up and change the cam bearings? Or is the LS1 so much different than a SBC that I need to take it to ARE?
2. How do I measure bearing clearences? I know I have to use plastegue(sp?) do I coat the bearings put it together then take it back apart and check with depth gauge I have no idea what this tool is but assume it works like that?
3. The stock crank do I have to get it balenced or check for anything?
4. Since its just a 346 rebuild what other clearence should I check?
5. I should problabely put this in a different post but how do I set spring height? I know you shim them but were do the shims go under the retainer, the locater? What tool would I use to check this and were is the measurement taken from?
Thanks for any help you can give me
1. Can a machine shop none LS1 be able to bore it out to a 3.905 bore clean it all up and change the cam bearings? Or is the LS1 so much different than a SBC that I need to take it to ARE?
2. How do I measure bearing clearences? I know I have to use plastegue(sp?) do I coat the bearings put it together then take it back apart and check with depth gauge I have no idea what this tool is but assume it works like that?
3. The stock crank do I have to get it balenced or check for anything?
4. Since its just a 346 rebuild what other clearence should I check?
5. I should problabely put this in a different post but how do I set spring height? I know you shim them but were do the shims go under the retainer, the locater? What tool would I use to check this and were is the measurement taken from?
Thanks for any help you can give me
Re: Engine assembly questions lots of them? Any machine shop can hone the block .007 and install cam bearings.
Plastigage isnt something you coat with... it's a thin piece of string you lay over the journal, then install the bearing and cap... torque it down and pull it back apart again. the thickness it is after being torqued down will indicate bearing clearance, or at least a good estimate.
The stock crank you can have the shop check for cracks.
A special tool is used to check spring installed height. The machine shop should be able to do this for you.
Plastigage isnt something you coat with... it's a thin piece of string you lay over the journal, then install the bearing and cap... torque it down and pull it back apart again. the thickness it is after being torqued down will indicate bearing clearance, or at least a good estimate.
The stock crank you can have the shop check for cracks.
A special tool is used to check spring installed height. The machine shop should be able to do this for you.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 650
Likes: 6
From: NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY PARK
Re: Engine assembly questions lots of them? Whats the tool called that you would use to check the height and were do the shims go?
Thanks for the reply.
Thanks for the reply.
Re: Engine assembly questions lots of them? Thunder sells the height micrometer that you want for checking the spring installed height. You can use Plastigage to check bearing clearance. There is a full writeup on using it at Dana's website. They manufacture it. You will need to check all main and rod bearing clearances, and shoot for a target of about .0025" on every bearing. You will definitely need to get your crank balanced after selecting the piston and rod combo that you want to use.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 650
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From: NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY PARK
Re: Engine assembly questions lots of them? I already have one of those from thunder racing, I couldnt figure out how to use the dam thing 
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Re: Engine assembly questions lots of them? 'The closest LS1 shop is 5 hours away'
JPR is close to NY; you may want to at least get a quote. I drove 5.5 hours to his place from Cleveland; he does top-notch work.
FWIW
JPR is close to NY; you may want to at least get a quote. I drove 5.5 hours to his place from Cleveland; he does top-notch work.
FWIW
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 650
Likes: 6
From: NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY PARK
Re: Engine assembly questions lots of them?
'The closest LS1 shop is 5 hours away'
JPR is close to NY; you may want to at least get a quote. I drove 5.5 hours to his place from Cleveland; he does top-notch work.
FWIW
JPR is close to NY; you may want to at least get a quote. I drove 5.5 hours to his place from Cleveland; he does top-notch work.
FWIW