Tore down my LS1, need advise.
Tore down my LS1, need advise. So I'm building a 73 nova with an LS1 swap. Bought a donor car with a non running LS1, and finally got around to tearing it down this weekend. The motor had been abused with infrequent oil changes. In any event when I bought the engine the previous owner had a shop turn the crank and put new bearings in, but the motor didn't run after that, there was no oil pressure then it made noise. We'll turns out the shop swapped the bearings in the wrong position on one cap, the top was on the bottom and vise versa.
I mic'd all the bores and they all came out 3.897-3.898. The cam bearings show the normal wear and tear, but I'll replace them. So my question is where to go from here? I've rebuilt some SBCs but not an LS yet so I have no idea on pricing of machine work or any of the tips and tricks associated with the LS.
How much does it typically run to have a shop boil the block, and install new cam bearings? Does it need to be line honed after? Do I need to have the cam?
Are the engine rebuild kits I see on ebay, and summit any good?
Shop I have it bored and if so what does it run?
What's a valve job cost? I have 241 heads.
Any cam recommendations?
Oil pump recs?
My goal is 400-450hp at the crank.
Looking for any and all feedback.
Pics:
I mic'd all the bores and they all came out 3.897-3.898. The cam bearings show the normal wear and tear, but I'll replace them. So my question is where to go from here? I've rebuilt some SBCs but not an LS yet so I have no idea on pricing of machine work or any of the tips and tricks associated with the LS.
How much does it typically run to have a shop boil the block, and install new cam bearings? Does it need to be line honed after? Do I need to have the cam?
Are the engine rebuild kits I see on ebay, and summit any good?
Shop I have it bored and if so what does it run?
What's a valve job cost? I have 241 heads.
Any cam recommendations?
Oil pump recs?
My goal is 400-450hp at the crank.
Looking for any and all feedback.
Pics:
Last edited by romancommander; Mar 16, 2014 at 06:51 PM.
Just rebuild the factory rockers with either a Comp Cams or Lunati trunion
kit. They cost about $125 and can easily be done with a bench vice.
You can get all your bearings, gaskets, T-chain, oil pump and what not from
Texas Speed. If you're planning to replace the pistons I'd stay with Hyper-
eutectics for the power level you want...assuming you're not going to spray.
A decent shop can hone your cylinders to 3.903/3.905/ or 3.908 and that is
considered the most that you can remove from the factory thin liners. You
can check vendor CoSpeed for pistons/rings(DNJ seem nice and decent price)
As for a cam you'll consider something in the 226/232 duration range and
there are a bunch of vendors here for that EPS/Tick/Cam Motion/Brian Tooley
You can easily get 400 rwhp with your heads freshened up...if budget allows
$1100 or so by sending them to Total Engine Airflow should get you to 440
at the tires and that includes CNC porting and new dual springs set-up for
your cam.
kit. They cost about $125 and can easily be done with a bench vice.
You can get all your bearings, gaskets, T-chain, oil pump and what not from
Texas Speed. If you're planning to replace the pistons I'd stay with Hyper-
eutectics for the power level you want...assuming you're not going to spray.
A decent shop can hone your cylinders to 3.903/3.905/ or 3.908 and that is
considered the most that you can remove from the factory thin liners. You
can check vendor CoSpeed for pistons/rings(DNJ seem nice and decent price)
As for a cam you'll consider something in the 226/232 duration range and
there are a bunch of vendors here for that EPS/Tick/Cam Motion/Brian Tooley
You can easily get 400 rwhp with your heads freshened up...if budget allows
$1100 or so by sending them to Total Engine Airflow should get you to 440
at the tires and that includes CNC porting and new dual springs set-up for
your cam.
Hey thanks for the reply! Not looking to spray, just looking for a nice reliable motor for the Nova. 400 hp at the wheels is plenty for this thing.
Any idea on what machine work generally runs?
Any idea on what machine work generally runs?
Shop prices will vary all over the place and the hard part is finding one that's both good AND trustworthy. Once they see you coming, they begin
to include frivelous steps and billing. It also depends on how good or messed up your starting engine is. It's pretty easy to get into the 1500-2000 dollar range for just labor if everything needs to be addressed.
to include frivelous steps and billing. It also depends on how good or messed up your starting engine is. It's pretty easy to get into the 1500-2000 dollar range for just labor if everything needs to be addressed.
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 563
Likes: 3
From: Wilson n.c.
Your hp goals are realistic and not bank breaking.i would have the crank and rods checked if good I would change the pistons.as far as heads u stated the motor wasn't maintained like it should I would send the heads to ai or tea to get ported and rebuilt,Match cam eps,tick,Ed Curtis ,pat g it should be a fun vehicle
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Shop prices will vary all over the place and the hard part is finding one that's both good AND trustworthy. Once they see you coming, they begin
to include frivelous steps and billing. It also depends on how good or messed up your starting engine is. It's pretty easy to get into the 1500-2000 dollar range for just labor if everything needs to be addressed.
to include frivelous steps and billing. It also depends on how good or messed up your starting engine is. It's pretty easy to get into the 1500-2000 dollar range for just labor if everything needs to be addressed.
Your hp goals are realistic and not bank breaking.i would have the crank and rods checked if good I would change the pistons.as far as heads u stated the motor wasn't maintained like it should I would send the heads to ai or tea to get ported and rebuilt,Match cam eps,tick,Ed Curtis ,pat g it should be a fun vehicle
The $2800, essentially includes a stock rebuild with rebuild kit. It'll be cleaned, inspected, bored over, crank turned, line honed if necessary, rods checked and honed if necessary, heads checked, tore down, a valve job, rocker inspection/replacement, new head bolts, new oil pump, new timing chain, etc.
As for a cam from the above vendors, does anyone have a solid recommendation (specific part number) ? There are so many out there, i dunno where to start.
Also I notice nobody recommends the traditional old school vendors like Comp Cams, is it recommended to stay away from them?
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Brett Foote These cam looks like they will do what I want:
http://www.tickperformance.com/tick-...1-ls6-engines/
http://www.engpwrsys.com/index.php?a...od&productId=8
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...6-11/overview/
Heres a slightly lower lift one
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...8-11/overview/
Damn I have no idea which to get.
http://www.tickperformance.com/tick-...1-ls6-engines/
http://www.engpwrsys.com/index.php?a...od&productId=8
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...6-11/overview/
Heres a slightly lower lift one
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cc...8-11/overview/
Damn I have no idea which to get.
Was pointed to this article that recommended a smaller cam, the Comp Cams XR275HR.
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...ormance_parts/
Granted its a 9 year old article.
http://www.superchevy.com/technical/...ormance_parts/
Granted its a 9 year old article.
We can get you the entire internal kit and cam, lifters, etc for a very good package deal price. Let us know if we can help. We also do custom cams for any application.
Just an example
LS7 lifter set right now is $99.95 shipped.
We can get any style piston you want, stock replacement, oversize, hyper e, forged, etc. Clevite Bearings and durabond cam bearings are what we always recommend. We have all the parts and can back it up with tech info.
Please keep us in mind!
Just an example
LS7 lifter set right now is $99.95 shipped.
We can get any style piston you want, stock replacement, oversize, hyper e, forged, etc. Clevite Bearings and durabond cam bearings are what we always recommend. We have all the parts and can back it up with tech info.
Please keep us in mind!
We can get you the entire internal kit and cam, lifters, etc for a very good package deal price. Let us know if we can help. We also do custom cams for any application.
Just an example
LS7 lifter set right now is $99.95 shipped.
We can get any style piston you want, stock replacement, oversize, hyper e, forged, etc. Clevite Bearings and durabond cam bearings are what we always recommend. We have all the parts and can back it up with tech info.
Please keep us in mind!
Just an example
LS7 lifter set right now is $99.95 shipped.
We can get any style piston you want, stock replacement, oversize, hyper e, forged, etc. Clevite Bearings and durabond cam bearings are what we always recommend. We have all the parts and can back it up with tech info.
Please keep us in mind!