Ls1 swap /build
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7
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Ls1 swap /build New member here long time
Lurker , i recently purchased a 02 ls1 with 60k miles on it , looking to swap it into a non ls1 car ,
My goals are about 450-500 rwhp
My questions is with my power goal in mind , should i keep the stock bottom end or go ahead and invest in forged internals ?
My main worry is longevity with keeping the stock bottom end , and if i do keep it , should i at least replace piston rings? Bearings ? Cam bearings?
Theres no obvious signs of bluing on the cam bearings but i feel like i should replace them since i plan on going with an aftermarket cam.
If i replace those i do beleive i must take out the pistons ,by taking apart the caps on the rods and removing pistons can this affect my chances of ring failure later?
Its my first time building a motor from the bottom up so i have my flame suit on.
Lurker , i recently purchased a 02 ls1 with 60k miles on it , looking to swap it into a non ls1 car ,
My goals are about 450-500 rwhp
My questions is with my power goal in mind , should i keep the stock bottom end or go ahead and invest in forged internals ?
My main worry is longevity with keeping the stock bottom end , and if i do keep it , should i at least replace piston rings? Bearings ? Cam bearings?
Theres no obvious signs of bluing on the cam bearings but i feel like i should replace them since i plan on going with an aftermarket cam.
If i replace those i do beleive i must take out the pistons ,by taking apart the caps on the rods and removing pistons can this affect my chances of ring failure later?
Its my first time building a motor from the bottom up so i have my flame suit on.
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Did you do a leak down or compression test? If leak down and compression is good, and the cross hatch is still good I wouldn't mess with the rings, just roll in some new bearings at the most and be done with it. These motors are pretty robust if they are taken care of and abused properly 
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Did you do a leak down or compression test? If leak down and compression is good, and the cross hatch is still good I wouldn't mess with the rings, just roll in some new bearings at the most and be done with it. These motors are pretty robust if they are taken care of and abused properly
I may have made a rookie mistake though ......
I cleaned the old head gasket off and now I have shavings I can see in the cylinder walls and coolant passages , can I clean that out and be ok and what's the best way to go about it? I was going to use compressed air and a shop vac mainly to get it out .
Also would pics help?
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It would cost about the same or a little more by the time you buy the tool and install the bearings yourself. Cam bearings are the one and only thing I have a machine shop do when no machine work is required. I say let them do it since they have way more experience.
