84redta

iTrader: (34)

I've read all the stickys, been on LS1tech for hours along with reading a lot on this website, so i'm pretty well ready for this. I'm looking at purchasing a complete block. Was a camaro motor, aluminum heads, ran all the numbers, everything looks good. Owner says that he had the motor in an s10, blew the head gaskets, replaced them, and within 1,000 miles down the road spun a crank bearing. He completely dismantled the engine, and so it's in pieces at this point. I looked at the block, and can't find anything seriously wrong with it. The piston side walls look emaculate, there is not even a ridge along the top of the walls, and there is no damage to the heads. I plan on straight edging the heads and the blocks mating surface, but i need to know where the weak spots are in the blocks and or heads to look for cracks or any minute damage.

Also, with no damage to the piston walls, can i hone it a little and put new rings on the pistons and re-use them? Figured I'd go mild rebuild kit for all the gaskets and such, get a new crank with new bearings after checking spec's on their bores, but other than that, it seems all too easy for this.

The owner went LS1 so he had no need to fix this engine. The guy has projects laying around and referred to an $800 LT1 383 kit as really cheap so I feel that he truly lost interest when he found the LS1. He says everything should be there, and he has a complete harness and police caprice ECU of which i plan on getting the tuning software for it. At the bottom i will include a list of parts I've thought of as a check list. If I'm missing anything, please let me know.

- Intake
- Throttle Body
- Valve covers
- Aluminum cylinder heads (fully loaded)
- Rods (8)
- Pistons (8)
- Connecting rods (8)
- Rod Caps (8)
- Block
- Crank
- Oil Pan
- Timing Chain/Cover
- Sprockets
- Cam
- Oil Pump
- Rear Mail Seal
- Accessory Brackets (1 or 2???)
- Opti, MAF sensor, MAP, ect.

Anything i missed, please comment.

I plan on using my flywheel and T5 behind this for a year or two lightly obviously until i can afford the T56 and go that route but for now, does this sound like a solid build? Please give me weaknesses that i should look for, parts i need to make sure are there, and rebuild kits i should look at. As far as the crank goes, I'm probably just going to go for factory as i don't need much more than 300 HP. Thanks for reading the story, and i do look forward to many comments!

Jon

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Have a shop magnaflux the block. Cracks will show

Check the cyls for out of round conditions. If they're still good give it a light hone and use it. Pistons are good to reuse as long as there is no visible damage

Id find a good rod instead of repairing the spun one, same with the rod cap

There should only be one bracket on the pass side for F/B-body engines

Wear items like seals, bearings and rings should be replaced regardless of mileage. Sometimes they are fine being reused but its a gamble

Use a 1 pc RMS flywheel for the T5 and the T5 hydraulics. Physically this will bolt up and work like stock. Youll have to drive like a gramma for it to survive, esp in 2nd gear

Grab a tailhousing, VSS and reluctor ring from a 4th gen V6 T5 to make the VSS signal compatible with the LTx PCM, otherwise youll need a converter box

84redta

iTrader: (34)

how much does magnafluxing usually cost on average?

84redta

iTrader: (34)

Noone has any other input or insight? I've been reading a couple small block rebuilding books and it speaks about common problem areas of stress cracking that is visible with the human eye. This block seems immaculate, and i would like to get the block magnafluxed, but i'd also like to know what it would cost ahead of time. Anyone that has any insight to this level of rebuilding engines please add your !

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Call up the shop and ask

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

When i got my block magnafluxed and checked for cracks they charged me $80

84redta

iTrader: (34)

Alright, I can call shops but i don't know if their reputable and what a base price is.

POCKET, what did you mean there is only one bracket on the passenger side?

And the new one piece flywheel i got for my 305/t5 setup won't work? I thought i read somewhere that they work perfectly. And i plan on driving gently, i don't intend on abusing the car or autocross with it.