installing a LS6 oil pump
 

i have a new LS6 oil pump and all the gaskets and new o ring for it, now i dont know if i want to do this myself b/c i never done anything like this to my car before. i got quoted 250 to install it from a shop around here, now that seems kinda high for an oil pump and i dont know if i should try this install myself or get it professionally done. i already read the install document on LS1howto.com and i know what to do but dont want to F anything up.

What's the point of your post then? Do it yourself or pay to have it done.

the point is to get peoples opinion, like people who have done an LS6 oil pump swap on there own and possibly swaying my mind to do either one. i just dont want to mess anything up on my car and not have something to drive since it is my DD.

so your ready to put it in huh? i havent looked at the how-to but i figure if it doesnt look too difficult go for it. only one way to find out whether it is a good idea or not, and thats it. good luck. and be sure to let me know how it goes so i'll know if i ever get around to it.

Can't be too hard, just follow the directions and take your time. I've never done a head and cam swap but I'm going to whenever I get all the parts together.

Hardest part is getting the pulley off, other than that it pretty straight forward. You are going to have to take off alot of shit to get to it so keep all bolts/clamps/hoses organized. Trust me its alot easier than it might seem by reading the directions. Oh yeah the radiator can be a pain to drop, those were my two biggest problems.

yeah thats one of the concerns forgetting what bolt went where and all that, i dont know yet but im kinda leaning towards havin the shop do it but you never know might want to do it when im installing my headers here soon.

the only tough part is the pulley on the crank. otherwise its a piece of cake IMO, i did my heads and cam and all that myself in the garage and never gotten that deep in a motor before.just take your time and read through the install and you will be fine

yeah heads and cam are a learning experience, ot too difficult as long as you pay attention to shit. the oil pump should be the same type of project. i say do it yourself and see how it goes.

i did heads/cam and oil pump all myself, not too bad just take your time. in the install document they just lower the oil pan about and inch and a half. it works well but a pain in the ass dealing with the pick up tube bolt. do yourself a favor and tie a long piece of thread to the bolt while threading it back in....just incase you drop it in the oil pan, you can get it back out without tearing the rest of the pan off. and once you get the bolt started , just just the thread off.... i dropped mine like 4 times, and with the thread i just was able to real it back in. oh and beware not to pinch or tear the O ring gasket. good luck

Pay a shop, the oil pump O ring can be a real killer, believe me, I have screwed it up several times and had to take the pan off again.

I have my timing cover off right now, I'm putting in a new chain because mine is real sloppy, and I'm changing the oil pump too, personally I don't trust shops, thats why I do all my own work, that way you know care and time was put into the car.

250 might actually be right, while your at it...swap the cam/timing set! your already more tha 90% there!

Its not too bad, just make sure you get that oil ring on good. When you start your car after your done and you have no oil pressure thats because the ring wasnt put on right.

So turn it off ASAP.

yeah well i got a new O ring gasket, waterpump gasket, and bolt. i think all i need is to get the timing cover seal and she will be ready to install. im thinking after i install my headers if i take it to this place to get the tune for my car since they work on LS1 and only domestics that might as well have them install the Oil pump. but i may just save up and do the oil pump later and get the cam and timing chain and do it all at the same time. i mean my oil pump now is fine its just the pressure sending unit bounces around after the oil warms up, plus i really want to get that C2 cam by MTI after my friend on here told me about it. also is TSP Y pipe a good Y to go with my headers since the shop is gonna try and charge me 350 for a custom one?? also i will have to have it welded right or can i just clamp it and have them weld it later???

It's not hard, take your time and be careful.

You will probably have to jack the motor up to give yourself some room with the bolt. If so pull your 2 motor mount bolts and jack up the motor. I would replace the timing set, and cam. All the gaskets are reusable. I would recommend a new crank seal in the timing cover. It is the only gasket that is not reusable. Just done a cam swap and dropped a lifter so I had to jack up the motor. you don't have to drop the pan all the way or drop the k-member. 2 inches is plenty of room.

You do not need to jack the motor up at all. I see no reason why you would do that. That's a lot of unecassary trouble. You will need to drop the oil pan a good inch though. Just follow ls1howto.com's instructions.

If you're going to do a cam in the future, just wait and do it all at once. Have a friend or two come over, buy some beer and do the swap in the garage. The y pipe should not require any welding.
Definatley tie some string around that pick up tube bolt.