But despite all of these innovations, the unfortunate truth continues: all engines eventually wear out. Torque wrenches: You will need at least two of these: one that works in inch-pound increments, and another for low-to-medium foot-pound readings. *** LATEST ARRIVAL OF TEXAS SPEED CAMS!! The oiling system is an essential part of any engine, but theres a lot of conflicting information on the web regarding high-pressure versus high-volume. Youll be doing nearly every step of the rebuild on an engine stand, while a hoist will be needed for getting the engine in and out of the vehicle and/or its removable subframe. 1. You can copy and paste this link to share: http://www.cartechbooks.com/techtips/ls-engine-rebuilds-skills-techniques-and-tools/. We had KPE remove them for us before cleaning the pistons. Socket wrenches: You will need a variety of regular and deep socket wrenches, both 12-point and hex, and theyll need to be metric because thats what everything on an LS is! All rights reserved. The deck bridge-style fixture on the right is also helpful, but primarily for measuring piston movement and deck clearance. In other words, no amount of rigorous routine maintenancepreventative or otherwisecan stop the ravages of time. Now we're ready to put everything back together the next two tools are going to save you a tonne of time and frustration. After looking at the internals, we have no doubt that this engine had some life left before the rebuild. The lower half thrust bearing will fit right into the cap of 2014 and newer LS and LT engines, providing full thrust loading capabilities. Not shown but helpful are pliers, both regular and needle-nose. At this point, we figured we might be in trouble, and our suspicions were right. Its imperative that the pickup tube stays in place for the life of the engine. We'll be back on Monday, January 3! Made by SPX Kent-Moore, these are the official GM J tools, and they are very expensive, so try to find a tool outlet that will rent them to you! Make sure the rounded end goes in first. After we centered the oil pump per Mellings method, we then torqued the pump to the block and installed the windage tray and a new pickup tube (PN 324S). At this point, you may be wondering, was it worth the time and effort to freshen up this engine? It takes some definite know-how to separate those symptoms that indicate a minor or routine problem from those that indicate its time for a full rebuild. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. oil gets discolored quickly / foreign substances in oil, low oil pressure (ex., below minimum 10 psi / 1,000 rpm), excessive coolant consumption / discoloration, abnormal engine noise (clunking, banging, etc. Its a cycle analogous to life. Its important to note here that GM used two types of rod bolts on the GEN III engines. Motors with valve reliefs in the pistons may not suffer from this due to additional clearance however it can still cause issues with the valve seating or staying open in extreme circumstances. The cookie settings on this website are set to 'allow all cookies' to give you the very best experience. All engine parts that move against other engine parts slowly lose metal material from their surfaces and eventually lose their functionality, regardless of quality and quantity of lubrication. Now your cam swap/engine assembly is done & it's time to spend your holidays on the road enjoying your new mods instead of in the garage because you don't have the right tools to get the job done. Installing the balancer properly with the correct tool for the job, firing up the beast and listening to the sweet orchestra of horsepowers singing out of the exhaust. Crankshaft rear oil seal installation tool: It is possible to gently tap the rear crank seal into the rear cover, but you can guarantee precise installation and a leak-free seal if you have the right tool. Were not here to provide a full and complete rundown of every possible engine problem and its solution (this is, after all, an engine rebuild book, not an engine repair book). Within 1 degree of intended install position is normal But if you end up 2 or more degrees off, you'll make a large impact on engine performance. The one and only time you will not need one of these is when using a drop-in ring set (even so-called gapless rings can require file fitting!). The additional oil flow from the pump will work well in your high mileage engine to support the increased bearing clearances and provide good oil pressure, explained Osterhaus. As LS engines don't come standard with adjustable rockers the pushrod is used to set lifter pre load.Each lifter manufacturer will specify the recommended preload based on lifter travel. The four-stroke Otto-cycle internal combustion engine variation (as its technically known) has been so successful that it is used to power the vast majority of vehicles on U.S. roads, hybrids included. Find the tools you need to make your LS swap a breeze, and get your updated ride running in no time! The pneumatic hose kit simply works by using a compressor to fill the cylinder with air through the spark plug hole to prevent the valve dropping when the spring is removed. Do Not Sell My Personal Information -, By logging into your account, you agree to our. For this article, we didnt want to get into machining and build a completely new engine, so we aborted the rusted one and picked up another Gen III 5.3. LSX now offer a range of the same LS engine assembly tools that we use to make installing your new upgrades a breeze. Are You Ready? If that doesnt work, people have used pliers and even a self-tapping screw. You now have all the leverage you need thanks to the 6" inch billet camshaft installation handle. While our new engine looked much worse on the outside than the previous one, we were hopeful that the internals would look better than our first option. With the pistons out of the way, we popped the main caps off and yanked the crankshaft. These bolts have different TTY specifications as the first design is rotated to 60-degrees, while the other design is rotated to 85-degrees. This engine was never intended to be a high-horsepower build, so we didnt see the point in additional machining that wasnt required. To secure the damper, we used an ARP damper bolt, but first, we applied the ARP Ultra Torque Fastener Assembly Lubricant. Caption Even though we have heard and seen some people reuse the factory timing chain, its not advised. The only question is, is it that time for your LS engine? It was apparent the cylinders had a lot of miles on them because the cross-hatching was no longer visible. Since minor variations exist between each and every Gen III and IV engineeven during the same model yearno book can cover them all (heck, even GM Powertrain engineers probably have a hard time keeping track of every nuance!). This will center the pump and alleviate any problems that you might have from disassembling it.. Keeter even washed our already clean block, and we could tell a huge difference. Sign up for our newsletter to receive specials and up to date product news and releases. Wouldnt you rather find the problem before having a severe issue causing you to pull the engine back out? We had to put the engine back on the hoist to eliminate this problem. With the King main bearings and crank in place, we checked out clearances with Plastigauge, the original main bolts, and a torque angle gauge. While, Since the piston rings were so dirty, it was easier to replace them rather than try to save them. Many of them are designed to help make your life easier by saving you some time and effort, reducing the chance for assembly (or disassembly) error. Inspection stands: Having your heads lying on the surface of a table makes the processes of disassembly, inspection, and assembly somewhat more time-consuming. We also dropped off some parts with the bare block for cleaning. We had KPE remove them for us before cleaning the pistons. The LSX Timing Cover Alignment Tool is a great way of ensuring perfect alignment of the front timing cover. The second design, which we had, had two dimples on the head and a retaining sleeve. Many factory-stock performance engines came with standard volume high-pressure oil pumps.. Dont be put off by the need for a little help along the wayan engine rebuild can really be a do-it-yourself undertaking, and this book will be an indispensable resource to help guide you through it! JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The first design has one dimple on the head and no retaining sleeve. Ours looked good, so we went ahead and installed it. If youre building an engine using previously used parts, looking to make a numbers-matching engine, saving money on repurposing factory parts, or simply looking to see which parts work together, CarTech Books has a great resource for the budget-friendly builder. There are, of course, other items you almost certainly dont have yet, and some of these must be purchased from special engine build tool suppliers (or borrowed from tool rental outlets). I don't really know what degreeing the cam does so I will have to read up. Want to see more of our Workshop Tools? Piston ring expander pliers: These handy items will help you install the compression rings onto your pistons with reduced risk of ring breakage or piston scratching. This question was another one for the experts. To secure the damper, we used an ARP damper bolt, but first, we applied the, Steel vs Titanium Valve Spring Retainers, Which Do You, Carlisle Truck Nationals Are Almost Here. Finally, it was time to get the heads off and inspect the tops of the pistons and cylinder walls, which looked good. The Harmonic Balancer Installation Tool is designed specifically for the job. Another vital part of the oil pump assembly process is lubrication make sure to fill the oil pump up with oil during the installation. Its during these later years that rebuilds (or if you prefer, overhauls) become important. Older Post Another handy tool to have is the LSX Camshaft Installation Handle.When installing a camshaft into the motor it is critical to ensure you align the cam journals perfectly with the bearings to prevent damaging a cam bearing which would result in the motor coming out! It also ensures the manufacturer ground it correctly or that you even received the correct cam (one member tried to buy an LS9 cam off Amazon and found out it was a LQ9). With the OEM part out of the way, we put some oil on the o-ring and slid the new plug into place. This information is critical for two reasons. ), visible, foul-smelling tailpipe emissions (white, bluish, and/or black), MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) on and scan indicates various DTCs. The image on the right shows you what it looks like after a gallon of the purple stuff and lots of elbow grease. Using a handy cam removal tool (PN CSIT-LS) from Melling, we bolted it to the camshaft with the supplied hardware. While Plastigauge is not the best method for checking clearances, its close enough for what were doing. So, now your camshaft is dialled in, valve springs have been changed and you're on the home straight.A simple check that should always be done no matter how small or large the changes are is to check correct pushrod length. You must choose UPS Ground to help ensure your order arrives before Christmas. Degree wheel kit: Normally needed on high-performance applications only, a degree wheel kit allows precise verification and/or adjustment of camshaft timing during pre-assembly. While the two black pieces are what actually squeeze the rear seal into place, the aluminum donut also helps prevent the lips of some seals from being damaged as the cover is slid onto the back of the crank. These rod bearings also offer improved oil clearance to minimize wear and increase engine life. The key to this is ensuring you have good leverage on the camshaft when sliding it into the motor. And thats part of the beauty of the truck engines: theyre a dime a dozen. There are several ways to remove the plastic oil galley plug. The only reason were not calling it mandatory is that you theoretically could use a micrometer, a caliper, and a dial bore tool for the same jobbut youd need very accurate versions of these tools to do it properly. Since you really only need a set good enough for double-checking diameters of machined items like journals and piston pins, you should grab a set accurate to a half thousandth of an inch (0.0005). Click to Download Our Full Product Catalog on PDF. Since the piston rings were so dirty, it was easier to replace them rather than try to save them. These manuals are currently published by Helm, and theyre the same ones used by dealership personnel, so the information in them is quite extensive. Open- and box-end wrenches / pliers: Open-end and box-end wrenches should also be metric, though standard sizes can be useful too. ICT Billet has a wide selection of LS tools perfect for installing your engine components. We were able to pop ours out with a small screwdriver. Unless you can find some specialized vice inserts that wont nick your rods, an aluminum rod vise is the best way to go, as they are relatively inexpensive. Our LSX Camshaft Installation Tool Kit (pictured above)is a serious must have when it comes to doing a cam swap.This kit allows you to change the valve springs with an adjustable spring compressor tool without needing to remove the cylinder heads. The main resource youll need is an engine machine shop. Mellings engine block plug kit (PN MPE-900BR-GP) includes all of the plugs and the oil galley plug, as well. Connecting rod vise: A standard vise is a bad way to hold rods secure while their bolts are being loosened. For this project, we used Kings SI Series rod (PN CR807SI) and main bearings (PN MB5293SI). A high volume oil pump will provide more oil flow to the engine across the engines operating range, from idle speed to red-line. Have a few adjustable wrenches ready as well. Banging gears, turning wrenches, and praying while spraying are just a few of his favorite things. But, Kings new LS main bearings, (PN MB5293SI), offer something a little different. In the decades since these engines first use, many advances have been made in engineering, metallurgy, manufacturing, and other fields, and todays engines are more dependable than ever. In essence, a rebuild involves replacing and refurbishing all worn, corroded, or contaminated parts inside the engine. So, we had to temporarily hang it from the engine hoist to do this process. If you liked this article you will LOVE the full book. Risinger said, Our pumps are all sealed up and tested before they leave the factory. Engine cover alignment tools: The LSs front and rear engine covers require precise alignment with the block during installation. Unlike the cam bearings, rod and main bearings are easy to replace and affordable since no special tools are needed. We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request. Born when assembled, engines wear themselves in during their early months, and perform strongest during their middle years. Virtually every complicated task in life requires at least a little bit of outside help, and a rebuild is no exception. Valvespring compressor: This tool is used during both disassembly and assembly of cylinder heads, and youll need one heavy-duty enough for automotive valvesprings. With the new cam bearings installed, it was time to assemble the short block. We then numbered the pistons, which were in disgusting shape, so we would know what hole to put them in during reassembly. The method that we recommend for our pumps is to put the bolts in finger-tight and then rotate the crank 360-degrees and then torque them down. Now, hold on a secyou may be thinking, isnt this book supposed to tell me everything I need to know about rebuilding an LS engine? The answer is yes with a small caveat. If you dont already own a ball hone, then it might make sense to have a machine shop handle this process for you. Cookie Policy - Along similar lines, although the gears of some timing sets slide easily onto the crank snout chances are you will need a crank gear installing sleeve (center) to help the jobthough there is a backup plan here, too, that involves using your old crank sprocket to double up and press on the new one (see Chapter 8 as well). We used a set of Mahle standard bore rings in conjunction with the factory pistons. Even though we couldve saved ourselves some money, we would have never gotten the parts as clean as they are now. A select few will likely only be needed in high-performance rebuilds, and these will be noted accordingly. Either way it's not good! Its best to have two checkers (one for each valve of a cylinder), and theyll need to work within the range of 7.400 inches (all LS engines have a stock pushrod length close to this). Its relatively inexpensive, depending on your machine shop. Perhaps youve come to the conclusion that a full overhaul is in the cards for your engine. All it takes is some basic mechanical know-how, the patience to go through a complex undertaking step-by-step, and the ability to use simple hand tools (along with the fortitude to learn a few more). Archive - Valvespring height gauge: In order to ensure your valvesprings will be at the correct installed height (and thereby provide the right amount of seat pressure), youll need a valvespring height gauge. The fixture on the left is an adjustable one that will also prove useful for taking measurements like crankshaft endplay and runout, processes that are important on all engines. Most of us dont have a dedicated, super-clean engine build room complete with climate control, large work-benches, and excellent lighting. Micrometers: A set of micrometers is relatively inexpensive, though price rises with dimensional accuracy. Similarly, your cam and crankshaft are bulky items that can be difficult to inspect and clean safely. Valve seal puller: To ease the task of removing your valve seals from your cylinder heads (if youll be disassembling yourself), a valve seal puller tool is a nice item to have. These can definitely be made yourself using the right items or you can simply purchase one with your new upgrades. It primarily will help you in verifying the quality of machine work after its been performed. We used a set of Mahle standard bore rings in conjunction with the factory pistons. Well.. Our office will be closed December 31. The factory cam was looking pretty worn in areas. 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If you have a good relationship with your machine shop, its well worth having them clean all of your parts for you. Gauging plastic: Whether you want to call it a supply or a disposable tool, this stuff is the easiest and most foolproof way to measure bearing clearances. How to determine value of used Snap On tools, The following errors occurred with your submission, LS1TECH - Camaro and Firebird Forum Discussion, Hand | Power | Hydraulic | Pneumatic | Welding | Painting, Gen 5 Camaro Tuning, Diagnostics, Dyno results, Hot Rod Power Tour/ Pump Gas Drags/ Drag Week. These tools are very strongly suggested, and though you theoretically could put an engine together without them, it would be a very bad idea! We then torqued the rod bolts to 15 lb-feet of torque and rotated the bolt 85-degrees since we had the second design rod bolts. A standard metal one will be helpful too, though for more limited purposes. (one member tried to buy an LS9 cam off Amazon and found out it was a LQ9). Since our first LS engine didnt go as planned, we had to purchase a second one, and it was nasty. Advertising - And metal-to-metal wear isnt the only thing working against an engines immortality, because corrosion, carbon, and sludge buildup in the engines oil and cooling systems (and elsewhere) can leave deposits that cant be completely eliminated via use of an engine flush, cleaning, or similar technique. Turns out Die Hard happens to be a Christmas movie too. Making simple changes such as a cam swap, changing lifters or even going further into the build such as stepping up to ported heads can all effect the pushrod geometry which can cause serious issues if not calculated correctly.Although majority of camshaft packages come with a set of pushrods at the standard 7.400" length which covers 80% of applicaitons it does not mean that the length shouldn't be measured to ensure two important factors are correct. The line between the need for engine repairs and the need for a full overhaul can be a blurry one, and often, its the combination of problems that tells you its time. PTV Clearance. Rod bolt stretch gauge: Some high-strength aftermarket connecting rods use a bolt stretch specification for fastener tightening, and a gauge like this will be needed to measure it. This adjustable pushrod has a thread on the top end which can be adjusted from 6.800" to 7.800" in .050" increments per each rotation. Kings SI Series rod bearings are inexpensive and leave us with a peace of mind when it comes to our high-mileage engine. Before we removed the cam, we pulled the oil pump and factory timing set from the engine. Then, we pulled the factory intake, valve covers, rockers, pushrods, and lifters. However, the seized piston rings would cause the LS to be down on power and up on oil consumption. The second category consists both of tools that are strongly recommended and that you probably cant do without, particularly if youre rebuilding for high-performance. Make sure to note the orientation of the main caps on the LS upon reassembly. A stretched chain can also affect the base timing, which can hurt performance, Osterhaus explained. We then numbered the pistons, which were in disgusting shape, so we would know what hole to put them in during reassembly. Steel rod vises with super-smooth clamping surfaces are also available, but can be very pricey. Steel vs Titanium Valve Spring Retainers, Which Do You Need? Instead, we waited until we got the unit on the engine stand to give it a good look. Plus, every seal and gasket had paid their dues on this engine and needed to be replaced. 2. As we tore the engine down, everything looked surprisingly well on the 175,000-mile Tahoe powerplant. While primarily used during high-performance rebuilds, this item can be useful in stock rebuilds, too. For other steps, you can just use a suitable pry bar inserted into a flywheel tooth, but this is a little trickier. After, correctly, we then lubricated them with oil and inserted the piston and rod assembly in the cylinder using the, With the oil pan in place, we flipped over the engine and went to work on the front cover. (Please note that some GM service manuals may only be available in electronic form.). Written by Jefferson Bryant and Posted with Permission of CarTechBooks. Please note that were only discussing tools herewell talk about any necessary supplies (thread sealant, cleaning solutions, storage bags, assembly lubricant, etc.) An internal combustion engine is deceptively simple in design, yet many complicated goings-on affect an engines performance. The final category includes some less vital, yet still suggested, tools that you may only need in certain circumstances or are simply designed to save you time and headache. If you dont know all of the LS engines torque specifications by heart. Since the powerplant was included with the trucks purchase, we didnt do a thorough inspection like normal. Now before you reach for that old balancer bolt thinking you can line it up & a few ugga duggas will send her home. The SI Series bearings are of high quality and very affordable. With the OEM unit removed, we were able to inspect the lobes, which showed slight wear. The best checkers are those strong enough to withstand the full load of a valve spring, so that you can use them during pre-assembly while turning the engine over and verifying things like rocker geometry. We then used a new Melling thrust plate (PN MF127) and secured the cam in place. We promise not to use your email address for anything but exclusive updates from the Power Automedia Network. Weve already talked about some of the equipment required to diagnose and determine whether you actually need a rebuild, and now its time to discuss the tools needed to perform the actual over-haul process itself. A 3-jaw puller (right) will assist in removing both of these items during disassembly. Ratcheting box-end wrenches can be a time saver. Not pictured but very useful: a 1/2-inch drive breaker bar. Dial bore gauge: This type of gauge is useful for accurately measuring diameters of cylinders and bearing bores. Such a shop specializes in cleaning, machining, and resurfacing different engine partstasks that are impossible to perform properly without expensive, dedicated equipment and a lot of experience and know-how. The simple combination of a high tensile thread, spacers and the right washer/nut combination means that you eliminate this possibility. The new design allows for less installation error due to the design, and now dealers can stock fewer part numbers since the modifications enable the bearings to fit both late model LS and late model LT engines. Sooner or later, every engine will need to be rebuilt. Torque angle gauge: Some of GMs fastener tightening specifications used on the LS involve the torque-plus-angle method (for example, 15 ft-lbs plus 51 degreesthats not something you want to eye up!).
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