It’s been 3 years. I was waiting just as long, we sent our blocks to RED at the same time. My block is not shipped yet from RED. Just to show the backlog to those that complain about long delays after few weeks. It may take years to get top shelf service. Big money customers/racing teams will bump the line.
I’m glad this thread will pick up some speed.

 

Part of the delay was supply chain issues that hit after COVID. Just about every part that was needed was backlogged. Just ARP bolts had a lead time of 6 months.

The other part is like cino said, the big money people bump little people like me. I was aware of that from day 1.

 

The block made it to Katech. I talked to Mike today, and he is going to get it in the queue to drill/tap for their 4" stroke piston oil squirters. He is also going to check to see if the pistons will clear the squirters. If not, then I'm going to be buying a new set of pistons.

Also, I think that I am going to go with Outlaw Race Engines in Phoenix build the engine. They only build engines if they break them in on their engine dyno, which is exactly what I want anyway.

 

I've dealt with delays before on previous builds. It actually was a very big part of why I went procharger on this one. All I needed was a stock block with any forged internals and any readily available heads. Took maybe 6 weeks to get my short block from TSP. Took a week to get my procharger and a weekend to install it. I've enjoyed the **** out of the car during the last 3 years since I built it a little over 3 years ago. Life is too short to wait 3 years for an engine. That's just my opinion and why I went the direction I did.

I understand you guys have different goals/desires so the 3+ probably 4+ years by the time it's complete is worth it to you.

 

Update:
Katech is finished with the block. Next step is for them to check the pistons to confirm if they will clear the squirters or not.

I have requested a quote from Current Performance Wiring for a custom wire harness to eliminate extenders and adapters using a 0411 PCM. I also requested oversized power and ground wires.

 

Pistons are not going to clear the squirters. I asked for LS1/2/3/7 pistons but I guess I should have asked for LSA/9 pistons.

 

That Sucks! How long to get pistons now?

 

How bad do the pistons interfere?

I bet you could radius out a section of the piston skirt in a mill and they would work.

 

I am afraid that that would mess up the balance of the piston. I am going to see what Tony thinks.

 

Tony has clearanced skirts for squirters before. If it does in fact hurt the assembly balance, that’s easily fixable. Your not going to find a shelf piston that will clear them with a 4” stroke. It will have to be custom built for the squirter…if anyone will touch it, I don’t know. I’ve seen many, many, many pistons modded for squirters.

 

To reinforce what you said with pictures from one of Tony's builds on here.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...torsports.html

 

I am just going to sell the Wiseco pistons and get a set of custom pistons. Katech is going to help with the specs for the skirt. The price difference will probably be less than the labor to clearance each piston and re balance. And probably a stronger piston overall.

 

Block arrived at the engine shop Friday.



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Wire harness is ordered. Piston order form is being reviewed by Katech so they can add info about the piston skirts.

 

Look at these billet main caps!

 

What brand caps are they?

 

Steve requested custom made billet main caps from Billet Speedworks for tighter fit in the block. Billet Speedworks took over the business after Pro Gram Engineering, a company that was making billet main caps for decades.

 

I remember buying billet main caps for my Buick GN turbo V6 builds waaaay back in 1998 from Pro Gram.

 

So...... I went to the engine shop to pick up the box that the pistons and rings were in, incase someone buys them, and guess what the **** Katech did not send with my block?? The god damn oil squirters. UGH. I expected significantly better from Katech.

 

Well, at least Katech immediately got the oil squirters in the mail this morning. Gotta give them props for the quick correction.