Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
#401
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 4
From: Clinton Township, Michigan
Car: 91 GTA, 73 Z28
Engine: 355, 6.0L
Transmission: TH350, 4L80E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, 3.73
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
if it says gasket then never reuse it, by a new one, because in my experience they never sit right after theyve been on an engine for awhile
#402
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 186
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Car: 1991 RS L99 1992 Z28 L98 Heritage
Engine: L99 L98
Transmission: 6L80E / 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 LSD disc (both)
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
good advice Pocket... and everyone...
ordered bolts and gasket from summit.... while I was waiting a bit of cleaning was done.
I rotated the engine to get each piston TDC. The piston's head surface was cleaned, then ran over the whole thing with vacume, then wiped down the deepest cylinder wall. repeated this 4 times (for each rotation).
Driver side after cleaning
Pass side after cleaning
wiped down the walls with WD40, this is as clean as I could get them.
ordered bolts and gasket from summit.... while I was waiting a bit of cleaning was done.
I rotated the engine to get each piston TDC. The piston's head surface was cleaned, then ran over the whole thing with vacume, then wiped down the deepest cylinder wall. repeated this 4 times (for each rotation).
Driver side after cleaning
Pass side after cleaning
wiped down the walls with WD40, this is as clean as I could get them.
#405
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 10
From: PA
Car: 86 Trans AM
Engine: LS1 (not stock...)
Transmission: Built T56
Axle/Gears: Strange 12-bolt w/ 3.73
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
Im generally ok with Felpro for things like oil pan, valve covers, water pump, valley cover. But will always go GM MLS on head gaskets and exhaust gaskets. They seem to work the best.
Lookin good so far Blake!
J.
Lookin good so far Blake!
J.
#410
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Car: '89 GTA
Engine: 5.7L LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
You sir did one helluva job! Thats pretty sad what those places won't do it, a cylinder head is a cylinder head if they won't do it I wouldn't take anything to them.
Are you planning on lapping the valves as well?
Are you planning on lapping the valves as well?
#412
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
I was gonna install the valve+spring then pour some mineral sprites down in there to see if it leaks out the other side. but I guess I could just lap them all. Is there any harm in doing this???
#413
Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 732
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Car: '89 GTA
Engine: 5.7L LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
People swap around and reuse rocker arms all the time, nothing wrong with it. I usually clean valvetrain parts in a cleaner filled with kerosene and never had a problem.
Odds are you'll never notice the difference if you lap the valves but wouldn't you hate to put it together and not be getting optimal compression?
Odds are you'll never notice the difference if you lap the valves but wouldn't you hate to put it together and not be getting optimal compression?
#415
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,956
Likes: 200
From: NC
Car: 91 Trans Am
Engine: LSA
Transmission: T56 AWD
Axle/Gears: 8.8 4.10
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
You're welcome to clean any of my LSx heads. I pressure wash the crap out of them and dont come NEAR as clean as you just did
Also, dont use razorblades to scrape gasket surfaces on alum heads or blocks. Alum is so soft the steel blade can scar it. Stick to scotchbrites and the little plastic fingered rotary tool (forget the name)
You shouldnt submerge the rockers in anything but oil because there are needle bearings inside of them. With the T56, getting hardened pushrods is a good idea. Stockers are just fine if you never miss a shift, then you risk bending like all of them. Drive it a little more conservative and the stockers will be fine. Best thing to test them on is rolling across a piece of glass
All of your valvetrain is reusable including the rocker arm bolts. Springs are never a bad idea to replace if they're high mileage or you plan on getting a bigger cam in the future. In the car, they're a pain to swap out. Keepers LOVE to fall down the oil drainback ports
Never a bad idea to lap the valves while they're out. Ideally you'd want to do a whole valve job with a fresh surface on the seats too but if the machine shops wont play ball...
New valve seals should be considered a must since the heads are disassembled
Also, dont use razorblades to scrape gasket surfaces on alum heads or blocks. Alum is so soft the steel blade can scar it. Stick to scotchbrites and the little plastic fingered rotary tool (forget the name)
You shouldnt submerge the rockers in anything but oil because there are needle bearings inside of them. With the T56, getting hardened pushrods is a good idea. Stockers are just fine if you never miss a shift, then you risk bending like all of them. Drive it a little more conservative and the stockers will be fine. Best thing to test them on is rolling across a piece of glass
All of your valvetrain is reusable including the rocker arm bolts. Springs are never a bad idea to replace if they're high mileage or you plan on getting a bigger cam in the future. In the car, they're a pain to swap out. Keepers LOVE to fall down the oil drainback ports
Never a bad idea to lap the valves while they're out. Ideally you'd want to do a whole valve job with a fresh surface on the seats too but if the machine shops wont play ball...
New valve seals should be considered a must since the heads are disassembled
#418
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 14
From: Northern CT
Car: 1986 Trans am
Engine: 5.3 LM7
Transmission: T56 6 speed
Axle/Gears: Dana 44 w/ 3.55's
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
Damn, I wanted to go to sleep about 2 and a half hours ago but I followed your link to this build thread and have been reading through it ever since! For an "amatuer" you are doing a hell of a job! Everything looks like it's coming together great, and you have one clean camaro shell there to work with. Even cooler that it's a convert.
Just wanted to point out a few "tips" for ya....just my personal opinions. First, I would never fill seams or holes in an engine bay with anything but a welder. Every freind I have that has smoothed thier engine bay with bondo or fiberglass has had it crack after fresh paint and it looks really bad. Think of how often the engine bay heats up to 200 degrees, then cools off, and all the vibration as well. A very small amount of filler can be used to "smooth" the area after it's been welded, but you want to keep it as thin as possible.
Also, I think you mentioned you were considering a turbo for the motor? If so, you will DEF want to invest in some GM MLS head gaskets and a set of ARP head studs. Not sure what you plan on running for boost, but around 10 PSI or up this stuff is mandatory. The LS7 clutch will not be good for an LS1 with a turbo either. At a minimum get yourself a monster stage 3 or 4 or equivalent clutch. Turbo motors require very specific setups if you want them to last and be strong. If you ever have any questions about engine related things, feel free to shoot me a PM whenever. I have researched this stuff for YEARS now lol.
Anyways, I will keep my eyes on this build. I'm sure the finished product will look awesome, and it makes me happy to be able to watch another in-depth build similiar to mine come together. Good luck man!
Just wanted to point out a few "tips" for ya....just my personal opinions. First, I would never fill seams or holes in an engine bay with anything but a welder. Every freind I have that has smoothed thier engine bay with bondo or fiberglass has had it crack after fresh paint and it looks really bad. Think of how often the engine bay heats up to 200 degrees, then cools off, and all the vibration as well. A very small amount of filler can be used to "smooth" the area after it's been welded, but you want to keep it as thin as possible.
Also, I think you mentioned you were considering a turbo for the motor? If so, you will DEF want to invest in some GM MLS head gaskets and a set of ARP head studs. Not sure what you plan on running for boost, but around 10 PSI or up this stuff is mandatory. The LS7 clutch will not be good for an LS1 with a turbo either. At a minimum get yourself a monster stage 3 or 4 or equivalent clutch. Turbo motors require very specific setups if you want them to last and be strong. If you ever have any questions about engine related things, feel free to shoot me a PM whenever. I have researched this stuff for YEARS now lol.
Anyways, I will keep my eyes on this build. I'm sure the finished product will look awesome, and it makes me happy to be able to watch another in-depth build similiar to mine come together. Good luck man!
#420
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo, NY
Car: 89 IROC, 94 Z28 1LE
Engine: LQ9 swaps
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Dana S60s
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
great thread man
not sure on your wire question, but make sure you dont use those twist connectors when you are installing the harness/connector
not sure on your wire question, but make sure you dont use those twist connectors when you are installing the harness/connector
#424
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,685
Likes: 10
From: PA
Car: 86 Trans AM
Engine: LS1 (not stock...)
Transmission: Built T56
Axle/Gears: Strange 12-bolt w/ 3.73
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
Nice! Darn you man... I had full intentions of blacking out my motor while it was out! Especially if I go iron block. Ive been thinking about it for a while now. Anxious to see how yours turns out!!
Great work on those heads man... That is some serious cleaning! If the valve seats are all good, you're in good shape!
J.
Great work on those heads man... That is some serious cleaning! If the valve seats are all good, you're in good shape!
J.
#425
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
From: pembroke ma
Car: 1987 Chevy Camaro Iroc-Z
Engine: just an empty hole. LS1 coming soon
Transmission: nothing there either. T-56 soon!
Axle/Gears: soon Moser 9 bolt
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
What an amazing thread. Just spend the last hour and half looking through it. I will be starting my LS1/T56 build very soon and will be using this as a walk through. Your doing an amazing job!!! Keep it up!!
#426
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: knox
Car: 1986 SC Camaro
Engine: 305/holley
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 10 bolt
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
wow i have read this thread for about 2hrs now and your doing an amzing job! going to look amazing!! im going to try to put an 5.3 vortec with the T56 in my 86 SC.
#429
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 4
From: Clinton Township, Michigan
Car: 91 GTA, 73 Z28
Engine: 355, 6.0L
Transmission: TH350, 4L80E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, 3.73
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
did you leave the ERS badge on and paint over it?
#433
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 4
From: Clinton Township, Michigan
Car: 91 GTA, 73 Z28
Engine: 355, 6.0L
Transmission: TH350, 4L80E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, 3.73
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
the paint to me, needs more texture, why did you decide to paint it if i may ask? why not coat it in clear if your looking for that kind of shine, or just armor all the crapola out of it while its out so it reconditions the plastic
#435
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 4
From: Clinton Township, Michigan
Car: 91 GTA, 73 Z28
Engine: 355, 6.0L
Transmission: TH350, 4L80E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, 3.73
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
the chassis black looks much better than the gloss, has a more dull finish, closer to factory at least
#441
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 4
From: Clinton Township, Michigan
Car: 91 GTA, 73 Z28
Engine: 355, 6.0L
Transmission: TH350, 4L80E
Axle/Gears: 3.42, 3.73
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
well you painted a whole car. i can imagine why youd be tired and lazy haha. ive always thought about going that route but to me something just feels like im cutting corners too much. looks great though
#442
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: NW Louisiana
Car: 2008 C6 / 1982 Trans Am
Engine: LS3 / Hybrid LS1-406 SBC
Transmission: 6L80 / 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 2.56:1 / 3.23:1 4th gen Posi
Re: Blakes LSx swap - pic/vid heavy
Fantastic work and progress. Subscribed!