building LS engines - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

littlevictories · 07-08-2014, 01:26 AM

holy crap what an ordeal. just buy known, good, running motors and never open them.
the stock bore chamfer is so huge a regular ring compressor doesn't work. and there's like 5-6 other LS-only tools you'll need to stick one back together. christ on a creaky friggin crutch.

anyone got an extra (new) top ring for a stock bore 5.3 lemme know.

stab. extra stab.

BR3W CITY · 07-08-2014, 02:29 AM

dude you skipped the "apply beer or other social-assembly-lubricants when dealing with late model engine internals for the first time. Refer to Diagram A."

What other specific tools did you run into needing? I've put a few together in various stages, and nothing comes to mind; except the crank pulley puller. The valve train stuff is all pretty normal, I don't recall having a problem with the ring compressor, but I don't know which one we had at the time.

Custom 68 · 07-08-2014, 02:42 PM

Humm i helped a buddy put together a 6.0 and 4.8 and we used a regular cheapy ring compressor.

littlevictories · 07-08-2014, 03:42 PM

yeah i went a got an wrinkle type and it works a little better. the lisle ratchet type i have used for years, probably a hundred different motors…bikes, go-karts whatever it was perfect. well it has these notches so the tool tops out on the deck and doesn't slide down the bore. the chamfer on this 5.3 is crazy, so the ring expands when it comes out of the compressor. I got em all in carefully working the ring in with a sharp chunk of nylon.

Anyways I was being a dramatic little crybaby becuase I was pissed at myself for busting a ring. First time for everything I guess.

Stoked my homegirl at vatozone let me grab just one ring out of a pack

There are a couple tools I need to find work-arounds for since I'll do my damndest to just run em like I get from now on.

The installer you mentioned is one, but seems like an easy $15 fix. Another is the oil pump alignment tool…and apparently the oil pan needs to be aligned too, but I plan on just using an extra bellhousing as a dead stop.

smoky02 · 07-09-2014, 12:31 AM

Oil pump alignment tool? Oil pan alignment tool? I think someone is also going to try and sell you a right handed screw driver.

littlevictories · 07-09-2014, 12:43 AM

ah a comedian! too bad all my screwdrivers are right handed already funny guy!

BR3W CITY · 07-09-2014, 02:17 AM

there is no alignment of the oil pan, sans a good tightening procedure as to not give the gasket a reason to leak. Its a cast piece, and rather robust.

Like, they list a special tool for holding the lifters in place, but a dowel or piece of brakeline will do the same thing. I didn't have the special PTC tools for a long time, and I still haven't bought aluminum AN wrenches yet.

Now, I laugh when comparing that to friends working on Euro's....if you wanna talk special tools, talk to Audi enthusiasts.

ls1nova71 · 07-09-2014, 07:17 AM

There is a specific alignment to the oil pan, but it can be done with a straight edge. The back of the pan has to align with the block so that when the transmission is tightened down to it and the engine its not put in a bind. If youve ever seen an F body LS1 pan, it says alignment and torture specs are critical cast into the bottom of it.

BR3W CITY · 07-09-2014, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

There is a specific alignment to the oil pan, but it can be done with a straight edge. The back of the pan has to align with the block so that when the transmission is tightened down to it and the engine its not put in a bind. If youve ever seen an F body LS1 pan, it says alignment and torture specs are critical cast into the bottom of it.

Is it just an Fbody pan thing? I don't recall my LH8 pan saying that, nor do I recall reading it in my service manual. (in my mind, having the pan and block lineup just made sense)

Matt Cramer · 07-09-2014, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Now, I laugh when comparing that to friends working on Euro's....if you wanna talk special tools, talk to Audi enthusiasts.

British car enthusiasts tend to take a more realistic view of that:

Mayfield · 07-09-2014, 04:51 PM

I bought I spare bell housing, & bolted it up before I tightened the oil pan. I used a ctsv pan, don't recall any castings on it about the alignment. I thought it would be cheap insurance to do it anyway. I have read about the f-body pan procedure, I just assumed it applied to all pans.

07-08-2014, 01:26 AM	#1
littlevictories Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Portland, Ore. Posts: 348	building LS engines holy crap what an ordeal. just buy known, good, running motors and never open them. the stock bore chamfer is so huge a regular ring compressor doesn't work. and there's like 5-6 other LS-only tools you'll need to stick one back together. christ on a creaky friggin crutch. anyone got an extra (new) top ring for a stock bore 5.3 lemme know. stab. extra stab.

07-08-2014, 02:29 AM	#2
BR3W CITY meowMEOWmeowMEOW Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MKE WI Posts: 7,128	Re: building LS engines dude you skipped the "apply beer or other social-assembly-lubricants when dealing with late model engine internals for the first time. Refer to Diagram A." What other specific tools did you run into needing? I've put a few together in various stages, and nothing comes to mind; except the crank pulley puller. The valve train stuff is all pretty normal, I don't recall having a problem with the ring compressor, but I don't know which one we had at the time. __________________ *'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING* MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD

07-08-2014, 02:42 PM	#3
Custom 68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,928	Re: building LS engines Humm i helped a buddy put together a 6.0 and 4.8 and we used a regular cheapy ring compressor. __________________ Dave 1968 Custom Chevy with turbo charged 5.3 gen III 4l80e swap 1967-71 GMC 3/4 ton long step 4x4 (not sure what year exactly?) "A good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "that was frekin awesome". "If it doesn't fit force it...If it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!"

07-08-2014, 03:42 PM	#4
littlevictories Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Portland, Ore. Posts: 348	Re: building LS engines yeah i went a got an wrinkle type and it works a little better. the lisle ratchet type i have used for years, probably a hundred different motors…bikes, go-karts whatever it was perfect. well it has these notches so the tool tops out on the deck and doesn't slide down the bore. the chamfer on this 5.3 is crazy, so the ring expands when it comes out of the compressor. I got em all in carefully working the ring in with a sharp chunk of nylon. Anyways I was being a dramatic little crybaby becuase I was pissed at myself for busting a ring. First time for everything I guess. Stoked my homegirl at vatozone let me grab just one ring out of a pack There are a couple tools I need to find work-arounds for since I'll do my damndest to just run em like I get from now on. The installer you mentioned is one, but seems like an easy $15 fix. Another is the oil pump alignment tool…and apparently the oil pan needs to be aligned too, but I plan on just using an extra bellhousing as a dead stop.

07-09-2014, 12:31 AM	#5
smoky02 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sunny, Florida, some might call it South Alabama Posts: 834	Re: building LS engines Oil pump alignment tool? Oil pan alignment tool? I think someone is also going to try and sell you a right handed screw driver. __________________ Just sold my C10...sad day... Looking for a 1972 Blazer to hopefully fill the hole in my heart.

07-09-2014, 12:43 AM	#6
littlevictories Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Portland, Ore. Posts: 348	Re: building LS engines ah a comedian! too bad all my screwdrivers are right handed already funny guy!

07-09-2014, 02:17 AM	#7
BR3W CITY meowMEOWmeowMEOW Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MKE WI Posts: 7,128	Re: building LS engines there is no alignment of the oil pan, sans a good tightening procedure as to not give the gasket a reason to leak. Its a cast piece, and rather robust. Like, they list a special tool for holding the lifters in place, but a dowel or piece of brakeline will do the same thing. I didn't have the special PTC tools for a long time, and I still haven't bought aluminum AN wrenches yet. Now, I laugh when comparing that to friends working on Euro's....if you wanna talk special tools, talk to Audi enthusiasts. __________________ *'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING* MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD

07-09-2014, 07:17 AM	#8
ls1nova71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Independence Mo Posts: 4,118	Re: building LS engines There is a specific alignment to the oil pan, but it can be done with a straight edge. The back of the pan has to align with the block so that when the transmission is tightened down to it and the engine its not put in a bind. If youve ever seen an F body LS1 pan, it says alignment and torture specs are critical cast into the bottom of it. __________________ My '72 short bed build. http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conver...6-0-4l80e.html 5.3 swap into my RUSTY '71 C10 http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...71-c-10-a.html

07-09-2014, 04:51 PM	#11
Mayfield Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Murray, Kentucky Posts: 38	Re: building LS engines I bought I spare bell housing, & bolted it up before I tightened the oil pan. I used a ctsv pan, don't recall any castings on it about the alignment. I thought it would be cheap insurance to do it anyway. I have read about the f-body pan procedure, I just assumed it applied to all pans.



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