86z/92rs

Took the car to auto hobby shop and began task of removing the engine and tranny as whole unit (1st timer). I’ve done engine swaps before but I usually just remove the engine and keep the tranny in place. Since I will be installing the corvette servo and give the tranny a steam wash and a new coat of paint it would make sense to remove them both at the same time. Other than having 2 helpers to remover the hood, the entire task was done by me .
92RS:

86z/92rs

Accessories, tbi, driver side valve cover, exhaust header, and distributor removed:

86z/92rs

Cherry picker attached to engine. Used 4 chains so as to have better control removal of engine w/tranny:

86z/92rs

Engineand tranny almost out:

86z/92rs

Engine out and semi resting on a table:

86z/92rs

Engine almost taken apart. I am reusing the spider gear, roller lifter, timing cover and oil pan on my 357 Vortec. I would use an engine stand but I could not find any bolts to fit:

bluepastu

which engine R U going to use?

86camedcamaro

nice job so far i'll be swaping out my V6 soon for a built 305 i know its a 305 but the fun gotta start somewhere till my supercharged 383 is done :-)

86z/92rs

I am using a 350 2bolt 1 piece rear main seal.

86z/92rs

rear shot trying to remove fuel tank to install walboro 255 fuel pump:

86z/92rs

Car under wraps for the night

86z/92rs

Here is a 1991 Z28 convertible. I helped remove the engine out of this car since this was the owners first time removing an engine out of a Camaro. I’ll try to take a close up of the engine compartment when the guy returns. Everything that was disconnected was labeled. As far as my 92, I only labeled about 5 items.

86z/92rs

Removal of fuel filler shroud:

86z/92rs

Gas tank at an angle. This is the position I had it removing the fuel pump out. It was a pain, yes I droped the axel to lower the tank but the exhaust was in the way. Didn't want to cut it. If you plan to do this, best to use a lift.

86z/92rs

The circled part would be the item you would turn to remove the fuel pump. Since the auto hobby shop at Miramar Marine base did not have the prescribed tool, I just used a flat tip screw driver and hammer.

86z/92rs

Update as of 4 December, I power steamed the engine compartment as well as underneath the vehicle. I've replaced the heater core, replaced front and rear seal of the transmission and also installed the Corvette servo. I pressured test the heater core prior to installation because for those individual that have R/R one knows how much fun it is to work on one. Still awaiting parts from summit and jegs. Has anyone ever ordered parts from paw.com?

ljnowell

One time and got screwed on shipping. By the time you factor in thier shipping you may as well order from summit or jegs.

86z/92rs

I don't think shipping would be a factor since they are located in California. I am tempted on buying their catalog.

ljnowell

It is a nice size catalog. The kind that doubles as a self-defense weapon if you need it to. A whack over the head with one would be a death blow.

fireturd350

iTrader: (8)

Yeah, I agree. I use to have a PAW catalog (before a friend "borrowed" it). I found a lot of hard to find parts in there... lol like a dual 4 bbl intake for a inline 6. Lots of things I never even knew existed. Ditto on the thickness of the catalog. It's not a wimpy little one like summit or jegs. Not to mention mine had all the nifty equations and formulas are the very back (not sure if they still put those in).

Eats5.0's

iTrader: (1)

I use PAW for a reference, and then order from other places. I placed one order through them, with no troubles.

86z/92rs

As of 20 December I have assembled the engine minus pushrods. Here is a picture of me installing the LT4 Hot Cam.

86z/92rs

I used a rubber mallet to set the thrust bearing hence the engine on the table. Installed the ouil pump and now the engine is ready to go backk on the stand.

jksstar

looking good, this does not seem to be taking you to long

86z/92rs

Would be done sooner but with the holidays and work time is short. (still haven't done x-mas shopping for the wife)

86z/92rs

Shot of engine with slp headers. I have not installed the intake gasket until I have installed the engine in the car. Does anyone know the sequence to tighten as well as the torque specs for vortec manifold?

86z/92rs

Shot of how close the plugs are to the headers:

86z/92rs

passenger side shot

Air_Adam

Bitchin!

Is that engine even painted? Its hard to tell, but the freeze plugs make it look painted.

86z/92rs

The engine is painted with 1200 degree aluminum w/ceramic paint. The headers are SLP stainless steel that has been ceramic coated inside and out. Cost for coating $160.00.
The engine/tranny is finally in the car and had the car towed to my house. Still have a ton of things to do before firing her up. Need to re-plumb, wiring, install new fuel hose/afpr/brake lines/tranny cooler and so on............

irocz eric

looking great, wish i had the time to do a project like that to my IROC, shes in dire need of a transplant haha, but workin 12 hours a day and sometimes 6 days a week doesnt' leave u much time for anything

Spdfrk1990

Nice work man looks good.

86z/92rs

The engine and tranny is in the car. Had the car towed home from the auto hobby shop and she now sits in front of my house. Still alot of work to be had to get the car to run. Here is an installed picture:

86z/92rs

Here is a picture of a the wrong harmonic damper installed. The engine is set at TDC but if you look at the timing mark on timing cover compared to the damper itself, it is way off. I specifically told the guy that I needed a damper for a 92 engine and I get a early style damper. I can either etch/scribe a new mark or buy an after market pointer/ or tape.

meangene83

you could just buy a timing tab for $5 too. not sure if you would be able to see it with all the accesories in place though. My '92 350 uses the tab on the side, it's out of a truck though:shrug: Anyway, if you haven't already found it, torque spec on vortec intake is 11 ft lb. with blue loctite on the bolts in a circular pattern, that's for the style of gasket with the plastic with the rubber inserts. BTW i'm building something very similar, how far did you go with the compression?

daverr

iTrader: (1)

nice work. I found it interesting that u left the starter on when u pulled the engine and trans.

BAD91CamaroRS

Aren't you supposed to put the ceramic coated headers on after you break in the motor and cam. I thought that the coating would get messed up????

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Shouldn't be a problem with a roller cam engine. Just don't run it long when first fired up.

What induction are you using? I see "Southern California" and think, "Tampered". But, I see "hobby shop", and I think, "home of record registration". Am I close?

86z/92rs

I am going to try the TBI setup. Already have a chip for it but I know it will need to be tuned more. I also have an edelbrock 650 carb setup as a back up if the TBI does not work out.

Bingo.

Confuzed1

iTrader: (4)

Yeppers!

I remember when I was stationed at San Diego. You'll find that some of the fastest cars around are around military bases.....for some reason.

Oh, BTW - Lookin good!

86z/92rs

Finished installing the accessories but found out the smog pump is fubar. Have to make a run to the local J/Y and get a replacement. Would have painted the A/C compressor but I did not want to discharge the freon/oil since I would have to prep the item before painting.

KiLLJ0Y

how are you going to pass CA smog with no EGR?

sellmanb

I've been watching this thread since you originally posted it... you've came a long ways in a short time Did you have a block prepped and ready for replacement? Or did you just rebuild the same engine?

Oh, any tips on removing the engine and trans as one unit? I am having a problem putting that last snap ring back on the servo cover, so I am thinking about taking the engine and trans out as one unit when I take the engine out of the 'maro.

86z/92rs

Car has MI plates. No smog needed at the moment.

It took over 2 years to get where I am now. My friend gave me a L98 block and had it machined and did the rest myself.

I installed my corvette servo while the tranny was removed. Muscled in the cover while installing the ring, As far as removing the engine and tranny as a one unit this is what I did:
1.) Remove the driver side header (had SLP headers on mine) to have more play. If you have stock exhaust manifold, you should be fine with leaving them on.
2.) Remove the distributor (prevent damage) but first get the timing set at TDC. Take distributor cover off and tape the rotor to the distributor so it does not move when you remove the whole assembly from the car.
3.) Raise the front end up so to have room to disconnect the driver shaft, wires and torque arm. May want to cap the rear of tranny to prevent leaking fluid. Keep the front end raised to remove the unit form the car.
4.) If you look at the previous picture regarding how I set up the chains. I had better control using this method.
5.) Have someone keep an eye on the rear of tranny as you remove unit from the car. It will hit the ground as you raise the engine up. I used a jack that rolled with tranny.
6.) TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES before you start removing anything off the car. (Digital camera is a plus) This will ease in installing the parts back together. Use small sandwich bags, zip block bags or anything you can use to label and store your nuts/bolts and other miscellanies object.

sellmanb

Awsome, thanks! :hail: . The idea with the jack rolling w/ the tranny is a great idea, I would have never thought of that. I already have the engine down to basically short block status, but I will probably put the heads back on so that I can use them with my engine hoist.

Which "ton setting" did you have your hoist at? Mine has a 1, 1-1/2, 1-3/4, 2 ton setting. I'm just worried that my Advanced Auto engine hoist is gunna collapse under the weight of the engine and tranny hahah.... damned cheap POS

86z/92rs

I used the 1 3/4 but have something heavy to put on the ear of the hoist encase the rear starts to get off the ground. (Mine did, I used the TBI intake manifold as the weight.) As far as using a rolling jack for the tranny, you couild probably get away with using a skate board.

86z/92rs

Thanks to RB83L69, I ready finally to torque the rocker arm stud to the heads. Installed the guide plates, pushrod and roller rockers. Noticed a problem with the pushrods. As you can tell by the picture (inverted the color so you can have a better look) the rod is very close to the pushrod hole on the head. I had a performance shop work on the head and specifically told them that I was going to use 1.6 r/r. They machine the heads and looks like they forgot to widen the hole for the pushrod which I requested. I should have checked this prior to installing the engine into the car. Lesson learned, never assume. So now I have to remove the heads off the car. Fun times ahead and already my wife is getting upset because I am spending to much time on the car when I get home from work. (Not enough quality time together) Maybe I should have her take the passenger exhaust manifold off so when can have some quality time together, but I don’t know how she would feel about a 3some. LOL sorry just frustrated. No I will be set back and with my underway (Navy) schedule, I really do not have much time left before I am haze gray and underway.

911rsq

Tough setback man. It looked like it was all going sooo well. Good luck on getting it done.

WILL85IROC

i hope u can get it finish, i wanna c the finished product....

86z/92rs

Wish there was an easier solution to widen the holes without removing the heads. The last thing I need is to get the shavings in the block. I too would like to get it running soon. Summer is around the corner and I still want to get it painted.