LY6 Newb build questions
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
LY6 Newb build questions Hello, popping my LS cherry. Bought an LY6 out of a 2008 wrecked and running van. I've removed the oil pan, heads, front cover etc and the engine looks very clean. I haven't pulled the rods, pistons, crank. It's going into a drag race car - strip only and have been reading and reading... My original plan was to just hone the cylinders, new rings gapped for boost, new turbo cam, valve springs, new oil pump, VVT delete. Here's my questions so far. Do I need to replace the cam bearings? I see guys doing cam swaps in cars so was not planning on tearing down the entire block. Can I pull out the pistons, flex hone the cylinders, wash extremely well, and put the pistons back in? Is this a decent plan? I was trying to avoid going the machine shop route...
Very clean on the inside is a good thing. I bought an 08’ ly6 myself with 80k miles, and my front cam bearing was showing copper...which a lot of guys run with no problems.
How many miles on the engine?
How was the oil pressure?
Most here will say just run the thing as is, and I’d agree if oil pressure was normal.
How many miles on the engine?
How was the oil pressure?
Most here will say just run the thing as is, and I’d agree if oil pressure was normal.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
The van had 145,000 kms on it which is also about 80,000 ish miles. They had the oil pressure recorded as 70/40 but I didn't actually see it run. But I believe it to be true. My goal is 700-800 HP with some boost. The car should weigh about 2500 lbs and has a 8.5 cert. I suppose I'll see how the cam bearings look when I pull the cam, and could pull some rod caps to see how the bearings look too. When you say most would run it, do you mean without re-gapping the rings? I've just read that they should be done so assumed a hone job an new rings would be required. But open to opinions!
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 15
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From: Oklahoma
Hi Justa6, if you decide to reuse the LY6 pistons get the ring grooves perfectly clean. Soak in carb cleaner overnight. May have to do one at a time, just don't scrape them with any metal tool. Rig up a DIY baking soda blaster to do those 1.2mm ring grooves, if necessary. I had to use the narrow cam bearings, I had trouble with the wide bearings and took them them out. Probably my workmanship was at fault. But the narrow ones worked great.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
Right on, thanks tjz450. Now I need to decide on a cam. And speaking of, maybe it warrants another thread but I do have a cam question. I'm not sure that I'll be able to get my car put together completely this summer with a turbo setup. This is race only and I have thought perhaps I could get it together n/a this year and maybe work on the turbo setup next winter. I see the differences between n/a cams and boosted cams regarding lift and lobe separation. I don't want to buy 2 cams if I don't have to. Would I be better off buying the turbo cam and running it n/a, or buying a raunchy n/a cam and boost it later? What would the drawbacks be? How much HP could one expect from the 2nd option with an otherwise stock LY6?
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Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 61
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My 90,000 mile ly6 got an oil pan change, oil pressure valve removed, cam change with springs retainers and pushrods, VVT delete, new cam cover, 80# injectors, new intake and fuel system running @ about 850 hp with zero issues. IMHO I would not tear it down at all. Good luck and tune it as soon as it's running b4 you hurt it.
Last edited by Loud Mouse; May 6, 2018 at 07:22 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 15
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From: Oklahoma
Your first post says drag only, which covers a lot of ground from mildly hopped up to insane. Now you mentioned turbocharged. I just want to remind everyone that with turbochargers the only limit is the mechanical strength of the engine and the quality of the fuel. So plan accordingly. But so is misapplication of parts a limit.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
The car is currently certified for 8.50. So I don't need what I consider insane horsepower. I'm figuring around 800 HP will get it close, car should weigh about 2500 lbs when I'm done. And I figured it should be accomplished at relatively low boost without putting it through the wringer. But I'm also looking for some room to grow as I believe the car can be certified to 7.50 with a few mods. And I know what you're talking about with fuel and tune. I've only melted one piston in in my GN in 22 years lol...