heres just some bits of stuff that i didnt know, and i didnt see on here..
last weekend, i help my friend jason put a new shortblock in his camaro..
the shortblock was from TSP.. new block and all.


Headbolts.
in 2004 all blocks, both LS1 and up changed headbolts... know how there are long bolts and short ones? well, now they're all short.
i spent the first few hours Saturday driving around getting 3 bolts at one dealership, 4 at another.. ect... PITA.
just so you know ahead of time, YOU MAY NEED DIFFRENT HEADBOLTS..


main cap cross bolts (bolts that go into the main caps from the side of the block)
heh, did you know the shortblocks from several builders dont come with them? i didnt realize that either... luckily, we hadnt shipped our block back.
you'll also need the screw in plugs (i forget the small ones, but the large one is 17mm allen head)


btw, pulling the engine out thru the top is EASY.. easier then my 3rdgen... you dont even have to take the hood off. however, you do have to drill a extra hole in the boom to let it reach out a little farther.

and if you have a tubular Kmember, you can install the engine with the transmission on it..... but its a bitch. i wouldnt reccomend it. (i have pics to prove we did it.. ) the quickest, easiest way IMO is to pull the engine by itself, and put the trans in from under the car... in the last month, ive done it 3 times to 2 cars, and thats my opinion.. lol.


mostly i wanted to note about the headbolts. watch out for that.
the way to check your shortblock is to look at the bolt holes... if the threads start at the top, you need the shorter bolts.


there was something else i was going to add, but i forgot what it was... i'll post it up when i remember.

 

I thought the install was going to be on hold until the following weekend. Thanks for driving the 100+ miles to pick up all of the damn bolts. Had I known before hand....



I think the other thing you forgot Trav was......shimming the windage tray. The rod bolts hit the tray on a stroker.


I'm sure this isn't any breaking news to some but I haven't ran accross too many write ups on it.

 

Are you saying that some blocks only have 4 bolt mains!!!? Or that the bolt doesnt come with it?

 

what im saying is that the crossbolts, the small bolts that go into the side of the block and into the maincaps, do not come on shortblocks.


also, theres this plastic oil diverter, you NEED to have under the rear cover in the back of the block, otherwise you'll get no oil pressure.