Assembling your own motor.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 88
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Assembling your own motor. With limited automotive knowledge...Anyone ever do it? I am not a mechanic, but have worked on a number of cars, pulled motors/trannies/etc, but have never put a motor together. Good project, or poor idea.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,025
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From: CT/NJ
I suppose that depends on the outcome.
The first engine I built myself burned some oil because I didn't gap the rings right. The first engine a friend of mine built kicked a rod thru the side of the block half way down the street on its maiden voyage. Mine was a good learning experience, my friends was an epic failboat.
The first engine I built myself burned some oil because I didn't gap the rings right. The first engine a friend of mine built kicked a rod thru the side of the block half way down the street on its maiden voyage. Mine was a good learning experience, my friends was an epic failboat.
if you do it right, you'll realize how much time it takes and writing stuff down, test fitting, etc...
When I did my valve springs, I checked the installed height on every spring and then wrote all that down, went to buy the shims, etc... It's not hard, time consuming and you need to be meticulous so that you don't throw a rod on a maiden voyage.
If you have to clearance the block for a stroker, that ups the game a little too.
When I did my valve springs, I checked the installed height on every spring and then wrote all that down, went to buy the shims, etc... It's not hard, time consuming and you need to be meticulous so that you don't throw a rod on a maiden voyage.
If you have to clearance the block for a stroker, that ups the game a little too.
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ive done quite a few of them..........heres the build thread on mine........gonna update it tomorrow with all the new assembely pics of the motor........
it may have some useful info for you
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ld-thread.html
it may have some useful info for you
https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ld-thread.html
A stock rebuild is a great way to learn how it all goes together.
There are many, many books on the subject and no shortage of expertise around for questions.
At the very worst, if something goes wrong, it's not like there aren't a sea of rebuildable
Lt1 shortblocks available on the used parts market.
A heavier (and more expensive) build is probably best left to someone with a few more notches on his belt
if only to avoid the devastating blow of destroying a motor you put a lot of money into.
Pay close attention to where each part goes and how much torque is required.
Some parts fit backwards or in the wrong location and seem fine ... until the motor vibrates itself to bits.
There are many, many books on the subject and no shortage of expertise around for questions.
At the very worst, if something goes wrong, it's not like there aren't a sea of rebuildable
Lt1 shortblocks available on the used parts market.
A heavier (and more expensive) build is probably best left to someone with a few more notches on his belt
if only to avoid the devastating blow of destroying a motor you put a lot of money into.
Pay close attention to where each part goes and how much torque is required.
Some parts fit backwards or in the wrong location and seem fine ... until the motor vibrates itself to bits.
