Newbie question
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Orlando
Newbie question ok so i ordered Pacesetter LT's and a 3.42 rear end ratio. Now i know this may be a dumb question but i couldn't help my curiosity but in the near future when i do a rebuild i know of boring the cylinders but is it possible to bore or port water passages to get bigger water passages? would that help keep temps down at all or it doesn't matter?
I dont really think boring the water passages is worth anything at all..A better cooling system upgrade would prob. be upgrading to an electric water pump over the stock cam driven one,it'll free up some power!
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Lakeland.FL
ok so i ordered Pacesetter LT's and a 3.42 rear end ratio. Now i know this may be a dumb question but i couldn't help my curiosity but in the near future when i do a rebuild i know of boring the cylinders but is it possible to bore or port water passages to get bigger water passages? would that help keep temps down at all or it doesn't matter?
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Deep in the heart of Texas
Some big cube Lt1 motor builders actually use block fill in the water passages to strengthen the lower end webbing. street engines usually aren't completely filled blocking the passages but it is added in some cases.
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Not entirely certain what you're suggesting, but I wouldn't bore or port coolant passages.
The only thing I'd look out for are the cooling passages in replacement cylinder head gaskets. Stock LT1 gaskets don't have very large coolant openings between the middle two cylinders on either bank (where two exhaust ports meet up). Logically, a hotspot could form in that location.
The Felpro 1074 head gaskets, for instance, have modified coolant passages -- including a much larger opening between those middle cylinders, and smaller openings between the outer cylinders to compensate. I think that's probably a smart change, as it would theoretically dissipate heat in the cylinder head more evenly, but it certainly doesn't involve any machine work.
The only thing I'd look out for are the cooling passages in replacement cylinder head gaskets. Stock LT1 gaskets don't have very large coolant openings between the middle two cylinders on either bank (where two exhaust ports meet up). Logically, a hotspot could form in that location.
The Felpro 1074 head gaskets, for instance, have modified coolant passages -- including a much larger opening between those middle cylinders, and smaller openings between the outer cylinders to compensate. I think that's probably a smart change, as it would theoretically dissipate heat in the cylinder head more evenly, but it certainly doesn't involve any machine work.
