Project -underfunded - '68 shortstep/carb'd LSx/200-4r build

[VA72C10]

looking good!

[85burb]

I need to get busy and get the cam and springs in now so I can measure and order my new push rods. I think I'm going to go get 16 of those cheap extending pen magnets to make sure my lifters don't fall.

Cant you just flip the engine over and put the cam in and turn it back over again? So the lifters dont drop.

[68GMCCustom]

...thats a thought.

I just got back from getting.........15 pen magnets. I already had 1.

[85burb]

I am sorry i was too late. I have seen one get cam when i worked at chevy and they just took push rods out and spun it over and slid cam out. It was even high milage motor. I guess it will be cheap insurance. Would really suck to have to pull heads just to get lifter back in. I would flip it over and use the mags still. I remembered that trick from engine building class at school.

[68GMCCustom]

Yeah! The VVT cam is out.....and my new Comp LSr cam is in!

Still got to button up the front, like line things up and install the cam gear (one I got for LS2 turned out to be a 1x and I need a 4x), push rods measured, and valve springs/retainers/seals/keepers swapped out, etc.

[68GMCCustom]

I am sorry i was too late. I have seen one get cam when i worked at chevy and they just took push rods out and spun it over and slid cam out. It was even high milage motor. I guess it will be cheap insurance. Would really suck to have to pull heads just to get lifter back in. I would flip it over and use the mags still. I remembered that trick from engine building class at school.

I read you can get two 24" 5/16" rods... and stick them in where the Thunder Racing JPR cam tool rods go....for like 1/20th the price.

[trenz68]

looks great..glad you finally going to an ls motor

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks....and yah an LSx has been in the plans for some time now. Just finally getting closer to it being a reality (in the truck and running)!

[68GMCCustom]

well I've made some progress. Got the timing chain lined up and on. Started on swapping out the springs/retainers/etc. Hope to finish the springs tomorrow.

[GR8-68]

what a great build project it is looking good

[pumpgas]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

well I've made some progress. Got the timing chain lined up and on. Started on swapping out the springs/retainers/etc. Hope to finish the springs tomorrow.

With that big of a cam you aren't going to run into piston to valve issue? I have a 01' 6.0 with a comp 228/230 .571/.573 112 in it with LS3 heads and they all said I couldn't put in any bigger cam cause the ptv. It runs real good but think it would run a little better with a little more cam.

[68GMCCustom]

The LY6 comes with fly cut pistons to clear the valves. My guy said I'd be OK....we'll see!



Last night I had the 1x cam gear in there temporarily. Well...the 4x cam gear came in today so I installed it and the LS2 chain damper. I thought it would tighten the chain more, it looks loose?
I also finally got all the new Patriot gold .650 lift springs in, along with titanium retainers, new shims and seals, and new keepers. Just need to figure out what length push rods to order...and decide if I'm thowing in some roller tip rockers before I button everything up.

[pumpgas]

Yea I've heard the LY6 has factory fly cut pistons but haven't seen one with the head off it yet so I'm still a little nervous, because I plan to spray the LY6 I am putting in my 69' and don't know if they just plunge cut the piston or made a new casting thus moving the valve relief material to the underside. I've been spraying the 6.0 I have with the comp cam I told you about and I must say that little stock motor responds to a very little shot of nitrous......lets just say 150HP shot is worth 1.5 in the 1/4 and 15 mph in a not so lite car.

As far as the rockers go don't waste your money on roller tips they do nothing for power or reliability I know guys running in the 7's with stock ls3 rockers no problem.

Oh and for push rods seems to be very common to go with a 7.350 length as stock is 7.400.

For the chain didn't you put the stock plastic tensioner back in?

[pumpgas]

1 last thing please don't just make a block off plate for the oil cooler lines above the oil filter in the pan as you won't have any oil pressure. GM sells a little cover for about $12 because thats the direct pressure port from the pump to the filter. 3 weeks of my life and countless oil pump o rings later, after I told the kid to buy the part to begin with he just blocked it off and ended up buying the piece anyways.

[68GMCCustom]

Thanks. I've looked in the spark plug holes and I can see the shiny relief cuts in the otherwise dull piston tops. Whether they have extra material underneath, I don't know.

Care to make a guess at what mines gonna run? '08 LY6 6.0L w/o the VVT. I have a 750 HP Street carb and GMPP dual plane intake, Comp LSr cam, Patriot .650 spring kit, MSD firing the coil packs, 200-4r w/2500rpm stall and 3.73 posi with either 28" or 29" tires.

[68GMCCustom]

are you talking about here or inside the pan?

[pumpgas]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

Thanks. I've looked in the spark plug holes and I can see the shiny relief cuts in the otherwise dull piston tops. Whether they have extra material underneath, I don't know.

Care to make a guess at what mines gonna run? '08 LY6 6.0L w/o the VVT. I have a 750 HP Street carb and GMPP dual plane intake, Comp LSr cam, Patriot .650 spring kit, MSD firing the coil packs, 200-4r w/2500rpm stall and 3.73 posi with either 28" or 29" tires.

If it was mine I wouldn't put anything bigger than a 28" tire on it and your converter is to tight, 3500 or a little bigger would help motor vate it off the line thus giving better ET's. But it will still run good just be lazy off the line and run big MPH out the back. Your motor should be up on tq over mine but down on HP do to the cam and intake dif but I'd say long as the truck isn't terrible heavy...ie under 3700lbs it should go bottom 12's as is at probably 112-4mph with about a 1.68 60' on a 28" drag radial.

FWIW the motor I have now in a 3150lbs car with a stock 350th and 3.73 gear on a 275 radial only 60's 1.60 foot brake and I have a 850HP holley on mine. But I think a 750HP would have a little more tq and air speed.

Oh and that car has a off the shelf TCI 3500 stall in it.

[pumpgas]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

are you talking about here or inside the pan?

Thats the guy......is that a brand new motor from GM?

[pumpgas]

Here you see those white plastic things on either side of the timing chain? Those are in there for a good reason as all LS timing chains are loose and a lot of them make noise.

[68GMCCustom]

Yes, the motor was a brand new crate motor with everything but the accessories...never fired. I plan on keeping this truck forever, so I wanted a new motor that I could trust like a new truck and that would last another 30yrs or so. It was full of oil with filter, complete with flexplate, intake with fuel rails and throttle body, coil packs, spark plugs, sensors, etc. but no harness or ECM.
I removed all the VVT related stuff and used an LS2 chain damper, and put a '07-'08 CTS-V 3 hole 4x cam gear on the Comp cam. I went with the 2500 stall to start, because the truck will still drive to the track and back as well as taking occasional cruises. I may change it later.

[pumpgas]

Yea I hear ya on the driven to and from the track and as a secondary vehicle use also. I only wish I could afford a 200 4r for my truck but to get one built to handle the power I plan to make isn't cheap...lol I for 1 think you will be even more in love with your truck once its back up and running with that new drive line.

[68GMCCustom]

Cam and springs are in! Should be buttoning up the motor and reinstalling it in the frame with some different mounts that should move it back more. Pics to follow....

[Dieselwrencher]

Very cool! Nice progress.

[68GMCCustom]

Well I'm still playing with motor mounts...may have the motor too far back?





I also ordered a Boyd tank for it...that my wife paid for! I can't wait to see that beauty in the chassis..........the tank I mean.

[VA72C10]

yeah, probably need to go with the first two holes on the frame for the v8...I believe that is the v6 mounting position