Long story short, leaking oil and transmission has lead to the motor and trans out in my garage on the K member. The season is almost over and a winter of upgrades awaits. Here is what I want out of my car. Drive it all summer. I want as close as I can get to a “lopey” idle but keeping drivability. I want to keep my power band in the 1,500-5,500 range give or take. Rear end will stay stock for now with an upgrade down the road.

My initial plan is AIR and EGR delete, either new headers and Y pipe or coat my edelbrock shorties and new y pipe(stock now), LE1 port from Lloyd Elliot, custom grind cam from Lloyd Elliott and supporting pieces, stock bottom end, and fix whatever is wrong with the T56. I want AROUND 400 RWHP, 360 would do.

I am also considering a Torqhead conversion but not convinced. Everything is original on my car with 103,000 miles except an engine rebuild at 70,000. No rust and every bolt came off super easy when taking the front of the motor off so I feel like a lot of components are still good like the Opti but one never knows.

 

build a 355 using stock crank, forged rods and pistons and let Lloyd advise you on the top end...probably go with his emission friendly cam. That should get to 380ish to the wheel, but I would add long tubes and high flow y-pipe. you can get speed engineering stainless for cheap.

 

I really want to avoid touching below the heads. After doing all that I might as well go to a crate motor. I thought I read near 400 was achievable without messing with pistons and such.

 

that doable too, but you may want to go over things to make sure it's not worn out...I guess it depends on how many miles on the motor....is compression good etc? I just wouldn't want to put a good top end on a worn bottom end...but if you want to go the route of a top end only...that's all still achievable.

 

Motor was built 30,000 miles ago in 2005 so I would hope it is all fine. I haven't got to opening the bottom yet, but I'm going to look. I agree with what you are saying, just not trying to get too crazy in the spending realm.

 

Since it's out, and you'll have some time I'd pull it all the way apart and check it over and clean everything. If all the bearings and surfaces look good, sweet button it back up with some new gaskets and go to town.

 

That is part of the plan!

 

I am doing a LE1 job from Elliott port works with custom cam. Lloyd suggested maybe using old lifters. Other than obvious marks, how do I tell if the lifter is good? They have 30,000 miles on them. I am doing new 7.100in 5/16” pushrods. Also going to put in 1.6 rockers, maybe used ones depending on how they look. Thanks

 

Jon, over 400rwhp is more than achievable with the stock bottom end. You may have to bump to LE2 to get there but with the T56 you'll still have good driveability. Hell man, my 233/239 .569/.576 111lsa has really good driveability and it's probably got more overlap than what you have in mind. Keep in mind that Lloyd isn't your only option for a great h/c/i setup. There's also AI, I personally will be using Lloyd because Lloyd has great work at a great price and he's been very helpful to me over the years. Don't sweat it brotha.

 

I am going to use Lloyd based on reputation, quality of work, and let’s be frank, he is cheaper than AI. The extra 10-15 hp isn’t worth the money to me so that is ok. My only concern about the bottom end is I’ve been chasing down a vibration related to what is most likely a unbalanced pressure plate (whole other thread). The rear main started leaking due to this or because the seals dried out from being a garage queen I dunno. This is my first time pulling a motor apart hence my apprehension.

 

Oooohhhh parts coming in

 

Lloyd does very good work and is really good on communication. He spec the Lunati spring kit also for the heads?

 

He is putting in Crane dbl springs

 

Got the heads back today and dropped them off at the machine shop. Guy at machine shop found part of a spring in the oil pan. Lloyd said a couple of springs were broke and some fell apart during disassembly. glad I did this