5.3L LM7 refresh - Chevy orange anyone...
#1
5.3L LM7 refresh - Chevy orange anyone...
Just thought I would share my 5.3L LM7 refresh from a 2000 GMC Yukon XL. This Engine has 224,xxx miles on the clock and has never been cracked. The intake manifold is the only thing than has ever been removed for knock sensors.
The reason for the refresh was due to a failing oil pump (15-20 psi) @5,000rpm's. The lifters were getting loud as well. This engine was amazing on tare down, the Rod and main bearings had absolutely no wear on them the machine shop thought I was BSing them about the mileage. We ended up replacing the cam bearings and piston rings. The bores in the block still had crosshatches in them. The machine shop honed the cylinders .001 and still had .001 tolerance left. Rods, bearings, and mains were checked and we decided to reuse the original main and rod bearing. I have never seen an engine with this many miles look so good on the internals, the 5.3l has been a tough little motor, so let the TLC begin.
Big thanks to Aaron at Texas Speed, We ended up with new ls7 lifters, Melling oil pump, ls2 timing chain, PRC 5.3L heads with ls6 springs, MSD wires, TR55 plugs, and every gasket / seals for the entire engine.
Here's some pic's
Day 1.
Reassembly.
The reason for the refresh was due to a failing oil pump (15-20 psi) @5,000rpm's. The lifters were getting loud as well. This engine was amazing on tare down, the Rod and main bearings had absolutely no wear on them the machine shop thought I was BSing them about the mileage. We ended up replacing the cam bearings and piston rings. The bores in the block still had crosshatches in them. The machine shop honed the cylinders .001 and still had .001 tolerance left. Rods, bearings, and mains were checked and we decided to reuse the original main and rod bearing. I have never seen an engine with this many miles look so good on the internals, the 5.3l has been a tough little motor, so let the TLC begin.
Big thanks to Aaron at Texas Speed, We ended up with new ls7 lifters, Melling oil pump, ls2 timing chain, PRC 5.3L heads with ls6 springs, MSD wires, TR55 plugs, and every gasket / seals for the entire engine.
Here's some pic's
Day 1.
Reassembly.
#5
The orange is krylon 300 deg hi-temp rattle can. The silver is a stainless steel paint I get from the hardware vender...
https://www.kimballmidwest.com/catal...?p=202.67.2902
Last edited by conan; 02-22-2012 at 08:35 AM.
#7
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Looks really good! I painted one motor Orange, my old 406 build. Lasted 2k street miles amd spun a rod bearing at the track. Rebuilt and painted it black and its still alive a couple years later. Lol. I may try Orange again on my next ls1 build after seeing yours.
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#11
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"Rods, bearings, and mains were checked and we decided to reuse the original main and rod bearing. I have never seen an engine with this many miles look so good on the internals, the 5.3l has been a tough little motor, so let the TLC begin."
God i hope you mean that you and the builder decided to use STD size bearings (NEW) and NOT that you used the original bearings that were in the engine when you cracked it open.
It seems its pretty common for these LS generation engines to show very little wear after many many miles.
Ive got a LM7 5.3L on the engine stand right now and it has 120K on it and the crosshatches look like they were put in last week.
Great paintjob BTW! Looks pretty sharp.
God i hope you mean that you and the builder decided to use STD size bearings (NEW) and NOT that you used the original bearings that were in the engine when you cracked it open.
It seems its pretty common for these LS generation engines to show very little wear after many many miles.
Ive got a LM7 5.3L on the engine stand right now and it has 120K on it and the crosshatches look like they were put in last week.
Great paintjob BTW! Looks pretty sharp.
#12
Hay dude can I borrow your stapler. LOL
"Rods, bearings, and mains were checked and we decided to reuse the original main and rod bearing. I have never seen an engine with this many miles look so good on the internals, the 5.3l has been a tough little motor, so let the TLC begin."
God i hope you mean that you and the builder decided to use STD size bearings (NEW) and NOT that you used the original bearings that were in the engine when you cracked it open.
It seems its pretty common for these LS generation engines to show very little wear after many many miles.
Ive got a LM7 5.3L on the engine stand right now and it has 120K on it and the crosshatches look like they were put in last week.
Great paintjob BTW! Looks pretty sharp.
God i hope you mean that you and the builder decided to use STD size bearings (NEW) and NOT that you used the original bearings that were in the engine when you cracked it open.
It seems its pretty common for these LS generation engines to show very little wear after many many miles.
Ive got a LM7 5.3L on the engine stand right now and it has 120K on it and the crosshatches look like they were put in last week.
Great paintjob BTW! Looks pretty sharp.
#13
Launching!
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Truck was brand new when I got it 30 miles. I have done all the maintenance its whole life. Oil/filter/air filter changed at 3-4 thousand miles. I use Exxon elite 15w40 it's a semi-synthetic - heavy duty diesel oil that I use in all my liquid cooled engines at work.
Thanks dude Love Chevy orange.
Thats the truth, its amazing there was a real engine under all the crap on the top side.
Hay dude can I borrow your stapler. LOL
Thanks man, and no I mean this engine got the same bearings that GM blessed it with 12 years ago. I like to live dangerously Bearings we put back in on the same sides they came from new main/rod bolts. We'll see what happens. Every thing was as close to GM's tolerances as it gets. The bearings even had that crisp fitment when I was assembling the engine.
Thanks dude Love Chevy orange.
Thats the truth, its amazing there was a real engine under all the crap on the top side.
Hay dude can I borrow your stapler. LOL
Thanks man, and no I mean this engine got the same bearings that GM blessed it with 12 years ago. I like to live dangerously Bearings we put back in on the same sides they came from new main/rod bolts. We'll see what happens. Every thing was as close to GM's tolerances as it gets. The bearings even had that crisp fitment when I was assembling the engine.
I woulda put new ones in ....a "new" engine. Not really all that expensive and i wouldn't chance a rebuilt engine on used bearings. Thats like running your neighbors used motor oil in your brand new engine!
#14
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Wow man I like to see that! I have an l33 with 200k on it that I am going to rebuild. I pulled the oil pan and it looked beautiful gold tint and very clean...I'm hopin I can get away with a home and some rings and bearings...that is ballsy to run the original bearings but I'm glad to see someone try because you really can't speculate about you have to try it in the real world and see, you are a pioneer of sorts lol..I would try the same thing if I see you have good results (still would check oil clearances though!)...anyway good luck man I'll be watching this thread to see if your successful!
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I've got a 99-01 5.3 with unknown miles ,,,,,,,probably somewhere between 80000- 120000 and the bearings had no wear so I had originally planned on reusing them but 2 or 3 had some grit spots embedded even though they scraped away and sanded smooth (2000 grit) I decided it best to use new ,,,,then after I bought ARP rod cap bolts I had to get .002" larger outer diameter bearings ,,,,,,,when I disassembled ,,,,,,the pistons had almost no wear except right where You measure the little lines were about half worn away . Not much wear at all but I decided to put new Speed-Pro 4.8L flat tops which were only $180.00 for the set at Summit . Looks good
#18
Wow man I like to see that! I have an l33 with 200k on it that I am going to rebuild. I pulled the oil pan and it looked beautiful gold tint and very clean...I'm hopin I can get away with a home and some rings and bearings...that is ballsy to run the original bearings but I'm glad to see someone try because you really can't speculate about you have to try it in the real world and see, you are a pioneer of sorts lol..I would try the same thing if I see you have good results (still would check oil clearances though!)...anyway good luck man I'll be watching this thread to see if your successful!
Thank you
I looked in to that VHT paint, they have some cool colors in the high-temp. Hope it turns out well.
I've got a 99-01 5.3 with unknown miles ,,,,,,,probably somewhere between 80000- 120000 and the bearings had no wear so I had originally planned on reusing them but 2 or 3 had some grit spots embedded even though they scraped away and sanded smooth (2000 grit) I decided it best to use new ,,,,then after I bought ARP rod cap bolts I had to get .002" larger outer diameter bearings ,,,,,,,when I disassembled ,,,,,,the pistons had almost no wear except right where You measure the little lines were about half worn away . Not much wear at all but I decided to put new Speed-Pro 4.8L flat tops which were only $180.00 for the set at Summit . Looks good