Perfect. This is exactly why I asked. So you wouldn't use these on stock exhaust manifold bolts, accessory drive bolts, or anything like that?

I assume that I should also chase the threads for the main and rod cap bolts too.

 

I'll do my best to take some pictures. It can be a pain to keep cleaning my hands to use the camera. Either way I'll give you an update.

So far I have had the block machined since it was rusty. The shop also reconditioned the heads and had to replace some bad valves. The machine shop also ordered me a rebuild kit, no idea what the kit and the machine work will run yet but its a shop my dad uses a lot. Since my lifters were all stuck I got new ones. The cam was scratched so I just replaced it too. I got a lot of other odds and ends too since I am swapping this motor into something it wasn't meant to be in.

 

actually root2812, I think my lm7 looks good. with the heads off, it spins freely and the cylinder bores feel smooth to the touch. at the top of the block, some of the bores have orange ring. I'm debating rather to build a torque monster, iron 347 or mild rebuild. I hate to think, that I would spend $2000.00, or close to it, to rebuild a 5.3, when I can buy lq9 or something for the same price. by the time I buy a rebuild kit, camshaft , springs, machine the block, pushrods, and other intangibles, $2000.00 seem cheap.

 

after some thought and price checks, im gonna rebuild my lq4 and make it stout. to fill the order, a set of CNC'ed l92, cylinder heads, upgrade the camshaft, and tighten up the tune. my lm7 will just be upgraded with piston rings, crankshaft & rod bearing, new timing chain, & oil pump. it'll make noise, but it will be very modest.

 

Well my only update sucks. Despite assurances the machine shop didn't have the block ready by this weekend so I continue to wait.

 

So I finally have an update. My engine build has been a crazy roller coaster but I am finally getting there. My uncle who used to build engines for a living was going to build my engine but he had a stroke and couldn't build it. He had the motor for about 6 months so I decided to do it myself. As you saw in my previous posts I tore the engine down and sent it off to the machine shop. After they got the motor they went out of business. The owner said he would finish my engine after hours. I didn't end up getting it until July. That was one year from when I first tried to have it built. I was working on other parts of my truck project so it wasn't devastating but the delays were disappointing. The engine was at my father's house 4 hours away so it was hard to get to work on. In September I took 5 days off of work to go up there just to hang out and build my engine. Sadly my grandma died and her funeral ended up being that week and no work was done. In October I took time off again to try. I didn't get far when I realized the machine shop had lost one of my main cap bolts. That week was a waste because the dealer didn't have one. Finally November brought progress!!!

Let me start by saying, that book I bought is awesome. Any newbie like me should buy it. Its very detailed and has great pictures and all the torque specs.

With all the work I was doing and hoping to do only once I decided to go new on alot of things. New pistons, cam, lifters, and all the typical rebuild stuff. I was making great headway and got as far as paint. I still have lots of work left to go.

New Pistons


Block


Coming together


Painted!. I still have to clean up that front cover and paint that silver or polish it.


Just for the heck of it. Here is a pic of what its going in.


I've painted and gotten the chassis ready. The last pic is the motor mocked up just to show this things will be stuffed in there.

 

Well I figured I should finish the story. I took my time and followed the book to the letter. In the end I think it went well. Only time will tell if it runs since it will be months until I get my project to where I can fire it up. My aluminum parts (including heads) were all corroded and looked bad so I just painted them silver. The block went black and I ended up smoothing the casting marks off my ls6 intake and painting it gloss black.

 

Glad to see you got it back together.

 

Really nice thread, doing allmost the same thing. Just started the teardown of a used lm7, my first engine rebuild.

 

Thanks. I just got it in to my truck but I am a long way from making it run. It was fun to do. It was my first engine build too so I recommend taking your time and also using a good manual. The book I used was awesome. I think I posted it on here before but its...
Here is a pic just for fun.

 

I need some advice. I have tried to put my crank pulley on but can't find a tool to do it. I went to autozone and the balancer install tool they had was too short to even reach the threads in the crank snout.

I really want to avoid spending $40-50 on a tool for one time use because money is tight. the hardware store didn't have anything that would work either. What have you guys used or is there another loaner tool place that might have the right tool?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevy-Harmonic-Balancer-Pulley-Installation-Tool-Corvette-Camaro-LS1-LS2-LS3-LS6-/121989122201?hash=item1c671e4899
Or you could find a longer bolt or threaded rod.

 

Thanks. $15 I can handle. Way better than $50.
Now I just need to solve my coil pack issue. I posted that over I. The engine external section though, no reply yet there so I'll ask here too.

I swapped to the car intake and want to run the corvette fuel rail covers. What cool set and bracket would be a direct swap? I did some research and it looks like some have different wiring. The truck coils are too tall and hit the FRC.