mlr19

I bought a 6.0L LQ4 core motor, it was a jasper rebuild. When I tore it down it didnt have a "barbell", it had freeze plugs installed in the block (2 of them) that sealed the passage in the same place that the barbell would.
Is there any reason that won't work? All the bearings in the motor looked good.

Thanks,, Larry

mark21742

I've never seen it done like that, but o don't see why it wouldn't work

gMAG

iTrader: (1)

The plug should work.
Here's another perspective on the inclusion of the 'newer' design of the barbell. It restricts oil flow up top.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...d-z06-etc.html
As a side-note, I had the orig design barbell. After toasting all bearings, & crank, I found that the barbell had popped out. The newer design has a longer back end to the plug, which is better held in place (keeps it from coming out) by the back cover.

mlr19

After following that link, I don't see how the barbell could be a "restrictor to the top end" where it is located if it restricts oil it would restrict the entire oiling system not just the top end. It looks to me like it is simply a diverter to force oil thru the filter, in which case the plugs should work fine. I am going back with the plugs, looks like a better solution to me. Thanks for the help guys.


Larry

gMAG

iTrader: (1)

Larry,
I agree with your comment. There is only one oil line at the point of the diverter.
The OP in the redirect chose the wrong words to describe the action of the later plug.
Sorry I wasn't more clear.

Glenn

99NavyTA

iTrader: (31)

The barbell is what makes the oil flow through the oil filter, without the barbell in and just the back end of the block plugged the oil would bypass the filter.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

This was just posted in another thread. The main front to rear oil galley needed to be plugged to send oil first to the oil filter then upstairs to the other galleys. This illustration simplifies it's understanding.

Without the barbell, the oil would shoot past the oil filter and fill the rear case. It was a simple solution GM came up with to keep the block machining simple.

gMAG

iTrader: (1)

Paul, This is the first time I've seen the oiling diagram showing the placement of the barbell.
The one below doesn't include the barbell, which made me think that, while the barbell was pushed in to the back of the galley, it didn't reach far enough to separate the in & out of the oil filter. In this scenario, the in & out oil passages would have to be separated by some other means.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

The only way GM did it was with a barbell. Old or new design, one was used.

Concerning the OP's original question, I don't see how freeze plugs can be used in place of the barbell. A freeze plug would plug the hole at the back of the block but would not internally split the oil path to divert it through the filter first.

gMAG

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for making this clear.