Could someone please give me a list of some of the tools that I would need to build an engine as far as the internals are concerned. I know what basic handtools I need but I need to know what tools are needed for taking measurements. Example, dial indicator and what not. These are the tools I want to buy now so I will have them already. Or any other non basic tools I might need.
Thanks.

 

Torque Wrench

Dial indicator with base (I have a magnetic one, but it doesn't work well with an aluminum block)

Feeler Guages

Dial or digital calipers are nice

Piston ring expander

Piston ring compressor

Piston stop

Thats about it for the basic internal stuff. If your getting crazy with the valvetrain, degree wheels, pushrod length checkers and mock rockers come in handy.

Eric

 

Add:
-dial bore guage (expensive)
-outside micrometer (expensive) 2"-3"
substitute above items for plastigage, if you're only building one motor.
-degree wheel for sure!
-crank snout rachet fixture (to turn the crank with a rachet both ways)
-large allen wrenches for the oil galley plugs and freezeplugs
-lifter bore dial indicator (to degree cam in)
-piston ring filer
-ring squaring tool of your choice (old piston)

 

Wow! what a list. I will probably be only building one motor but I am probably just lying to myself...No more modding, yeah right!

 

whats a good stan for a dial indicator to measure deck height as you rock the piston

 

Somebody needs to assemble an engine on video and do it Barney style no fancy **** so it is understandable.

 

Any one know a good book on engine building that relates to the LS1

 

Just about any book on engine building will get you started with the basics. If you are asking about the basic tools, you need to start there. The basics are the same reguardless of engine type. Aluminum motors run alot "looser" than conventional iron motors because aluminum is more prone to expand and contract under heat and loads which is why the LS1 is more specialized than a SBC. As long as the engine builder references all clearances and does things to spec then it will turn out ok. Where it usually goes wrong is when a engine builder builds a motor to off the top of his head numbers. IE main bearing clearances. A old SBC calls for about .0012-.0015 on the mains if you want the motor tight. Well, the LS1 is supposed to be about .0015 up to .0018 or so. If a builder sets up this motor at .0012 he runs the risk of seizing the motor up and spinning a bearing or even worse. These numbers are off top of my head so I may be alittle off but these are just for example purposes only. I know the book LS1/LS6 performance has some information in it, but I wouldn't classify it as a engine building book.

Wanted to add one more thing. If you have any property or anything like that maybe a small 25-35 hp tractor would be a good experiment. IE a old Ford 8n. All those older gasoline powered tractors are very simple to work on, very cheap to fix, can be had for $1000 if you shop right. I rebuilt the Ford 8N my grandparents gave me and my brother when I was 12 and it was very simple. I just redid it again this year because it still had the original governor assembly and a bearing seized in it and threw fillings all through the motor and trashed the crank. I think we rebuilt that entire motor for less than 2k that includes getting the crank turned, new sleeves, pistons blah blah. Something like this would be a good candidate http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...872256898&rd=1

 

Thanks for the info

 

Barnes and Noble book store has books on engine building - about $35. They are somewhat outdated in that they discuss building iron block motors from the 60s-70s....
But they provide a great source of information for the begininer....

I would say that engine building is something of a lost art today as crate engines offer a competitive advantage in both performance and price....

Before you tackle this project ask yourself, Is it worth the effort, cost and risk of a screw-up Vs. a crate engine or factory short-block with a warranty?

 

i have both these books very good info inside:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=UTF8&v=glance

 

Just bought both of those books last week. I love them!