New to LS
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Joined: Feb 2018
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From: Carlisle,PA
New to LS Hi all first time post here, go easy on me,I used the search function the best I could and still have a few questions.
I am getting ready to put my 2001 camaro z28 ls1 back together,stock bottom end flat top pistons. Im doing h/c, 243 heads, texas speed 224r 112Lsa .600/.600. Stock length pushrods And I'm running into ptvc issues. Now ive read multiple posts about it "should be fine." Well I decided to check and I'm glad I did. Now I've built few engines in the past but this is my first ls. Usually I start by checking the clearance without the gasket, just head on block and found out the hard way that the piston comes out of the block a few thousandths because I could not rotate it over completely. So I put the gasket on. Now I'm using a standard replacement graphite gasket which I've read is .052 thou compressed, didn't actually measure it as I didn't have any precision measuring tools with me at the time and I'm coming up with 2/64th or .031 on the intake side which from my searching is way too tight,the exhaust side didn't even dent my clay. The 243 heads we bought as reman. heads that have been resurfaced. How much is debatable. Now my questions are,
Am I doing something wrong(High probability) which is causing me these tight numbers while others are coming up with passable measurements?
Is there a way to measure the heads to determine how much has been machined off?
I've read that. .080 is acceptable for intake and .100 for exhaust. Is this a general spec for all motors or the actual gm spec for lsx engines being that newer engines are running some crazy tight tolerances.
What are some of you actually running for clearance for a street car? Some posts say .040, some say .060 some same .130.
Now if I am doing things right and that is my actual measurement. I understand that my options are either thicker head gasket or fly cutting the pistons, or both. Now if I get a thicker head gasket, there isn't one thick enough to get me that clearance alone so I'm stuck fly cutting? Which is better, or do both.
I am getting ready to put my 2001 camaro z28 ls1 back together,stock bottom end flat top pistons. Im doing h/c, 243 heads, texas speed 224r 112Lsa .600/.600. Stock length pushrods And I'm running into ptvc issues. Now ive read multiple posts about it "should be fine." Well I decided to check and I'm glad I did. Now I've built few engines in the past but this is my first ls. Usually I start by checking the clearance without the gasket, just head on block and found out the hard way that the piston comes out of the block a few thousandths because I could not rotate it over completely. So I put the gasket on. Now I'm using a standard replacement graphite gasket which I've read is .052 thou compressed, didn't actually measure it as I didn't have any precision measuring tools with me at the time and I'm coming up with 2/64th or .031 on the intake side which from my searching is way too tight,the exhaust side didn't even dent my clay. The 243 heads we bought as reman. heads that have been resurfaced. How much is debatable. Now my questions are,
Am I doing something wrong(High probability) which is causing me these tight numbers while others are coming up with passable measurements?
Is there a way to measure the heads to determine how much has been machined off?
I've read that. .080 is acceptable for intake and .100 for exhaust. Is this a general spec for all motors or the actual gm spec for lsx engines being that newer engines are running some crazy tight tolerances.
What are some of you actually running for clearance for a street car? Some posts say .040, some say .060 some same .130.
Now if I am doing things right and that is my actual measurement. I understand that my options are either thicker head gasket or fly cutting the pistons, or both. Now if I get a thicker head gasket, there isn't one thick enough to get me that clearance alone so I'm stuck fly cutting? Which is better, or do both.
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