About to assemble engine for the first time
About to assemble engine for the first time Is there a good lengthy website or directions anywhere?
2001 LQ4 with newer short LQ9 crank
Bored .030 over with some SpeedPro Hyper pistons
Gen 4 rods
King bearings
Cam Motion 3 bolt cam
New front and rear covers
New oil pan
LS3 heads and intake
LS9 Head gaskets
I'm picking the motor up from the machine shop today. I had them assemble the short block for me since I don't have a great torque wrench. All the parts I have are brand new except the heads. I need some guidance assembling the rest of the short block.
Melling oil pump install using new ARP bolts
Oil pan install using new ARP bolts
Installing heads with new ARP head bolts
Installing front and rear covers with new hardware (ARP for the front and GM on the rear)
I have ARP lube, assembly lube and will be borrowing a Co-workers Snap-On torque wrench hopefully.
I don't have the front and rear cover alignment tools. I might buy the Sacc City ones or see if I can borrow some.
2001 LQ4 with newer short LQ9 crank
Bored .030 over with some SpeedPro Hyper pistons
Gen 4 rods
King bearings
Cam Motion 3 bolt cam
New front and rear covers
New oil pan
LS3 heads and intake
LS9 Head gaskets
I'm picking the motor up from the machine shop today. I had them assemble the short block for me since I don't have a great torque wrench. All the parts I have are brand new except the heads. I need some guidance assembling the rest of the short block.
Melling oil pump install using new ARP bolts
Oil pan install using new ARP bolts
Installing heads with new ARP head bolts
Installing front and rear covers with new hardware (ARP for the front and GM on the rear)
I have ARP lube, assembly lube and will be borrowing a Co-workers Snap-On torque wrench hopefully.
I don't have the front and rear cover alignment tools. I might buy the Sacc City ones or see if I can borrow some.
Great info here
We include these in all of our Complete Rebuild kits also.
How to Build and Modify GM LS engines
We include these in all of our Complete Rebuild kits also.
How to Build and Modify GM LS engines
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,615
From: Central Cal.
I have both Potak's book and Chris Werner's "How to Rebuild LS-Series Engines". I think they compliment each other in some ways. Werner's book gives a good step-by-step process which helps organize the procedure. Potak's is the most thorough though...
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,615
From: Central Cal.
TECH Addict
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 480
From: PDX-OR-USA
.02 Bucks worth,, just my opinion..
If your torque wrench isn't good enough for the bottom end of the motor, its not good enough for the top end.. Just saying,,
If you want to assemble motors you need 2 GOOD ones, a light and a heavy, the heavy one can be cheaper, cheapest insurance there is on an assembly.
If you google around on the web there are a couple torque wrench shootouts and the expensive wrenches didn't win.
Borrowed torque wrench, make sure you look at how they use it, do they take it in and get it checked at a cal lab? its only like 30 bucks for a 4 setting snap check.
If a click style torque wrench gets dropped on concrete it can't be trusted.. I've seen a good one shift 15 foot lbs by being dropped.
You'll want a fastener degree tool as well, some bolts get torqued then turns X degrees to final setting.
If your torque wrench isn't good enough for the bottom end of the motor, its not good enough for the top end.. Just saying,,
If you want to assemble motors you need 2 GOOD ones, a light and a heavy, the heavy one can be cheaper, cheapest insurance there is on an assembly.
If you google around on the web there are a couple torque wrench shootouts and the expensive wrenches didn't win.
Borrowed torque wrench, make sure you look at how they use it, do they take it in and get it checked at a cal lab? its only like 30 bucks for a 4 setting snap check.
If a click style torque wrench gets dropped on concrete it can't be trusted.. I've seen a good one shift 15 foot lbs by being dropped.
You'll want a fastener degree tool as well, some bolts get torqued then turns X degrees to final setting.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,615
From: Central Cal.
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 98
Likes: 11
From: in a large steel structure
Welcome to the hobby! I started back in the 70's helping my father restore a 1929 Ford model A ..... I've progressed to somethings a littler more complex that that now LOL! I currently build GE LEAP engines for the 737max as well as airbus NEO......some online resources for you to look at is enginbuildermagazine.com and lsxmagazine.com I think HOTROD mag has some articles to help you out as well. they have really in-depth articles on why you do the things you are about to do..... but it can be a rabbit hole... LOL lots of good parts on there... best of luck to you and just remember to take things slow and double check your work.
Is there a good lengthy website or directions anywhere?
2001 LQ4 with newer short LQ9 crank
Bored .030 over with some SpeedPro Hyper pistons
Gen 4 rods
King bearings
Cam Motion 3 bolt cam
New front and rear covers
New oil pan
LS3 heads and intake
LS9 Head gaskets
I'm picking the motor up from the machine shop today. I had them assemble the short block for me since I don't have a great torque wrench. All the parts I have are brand new except the heads. I need some guidance assembling the rest of the short block.
Melling oil pump install using new ARP bolts
Oil pan install using new ARP bolts
Installing heads with new ARP head bolts
Installing front and rear covers with new hardware (ARP for the front and GM on the rear)
I have ARP lube, assembly lube and will be borrowing a Co-workers Snap-On torque wrench hopefully.
I don't have the front and rear cover alignment tools. I might buy the Sacc City ones or see if I can borrow some.
2001 LQ4 with newer short LQ9 crank
Bored .030 over with some SpeedPro Hyper pistons
Gen 4 rods
King bearings
Cam Motion 3 bolt cam
New front and rear covers
New oil pan
LS3 heads and intake
LS9 Head gaskets
I'm picking the motor up from the machine shop today. I had them assemble the short block for me since I don't have a great torque wrench. All the parts I have are brand new except the heads. I need some guidance assembling the rest of the short block.
Melling oil pump install using new ARP bolts
Oil pan install using new ARP bolts
Installing heads with new ARP head bolts
Installing front and rear covers with new hardware (ARP for the front and GM on the rear)
I have ARP lube, assembly lube and will be borrowing a Co-workers Snap-On torque wrench hopefully.
I don't have the front and rear cover alignment tools. I might buy the Sacc City ones or see if I can borrow some.