LS1 Rebuild

[2turbos]

I got myself a cheap LS1 and auto trans (4l60e) off ebay ($1500) according to the engine number was a 2000 built engine apparently out of a series 2 VT commy. I am wanting/planning on building a reasonably healthy NA 383 stroker out of it. Hoping for 500+hp.

I have pulled the engine down and while i'm still waiting to have the block cleaned and tested for cracks before i rush in to buy a shitload of parts i thought i would ask the brains trust here what they think would be the best bet to get the required hp. The heads on the engine are stamped 853 and from what i have read on the intraweb they aren't much good when it comes to reusing them so i guess im up for another set of (good flowing) heads, cam, injectors and obviously a stroker kit plus other misc shit along the way. Hoping to get it all pinned together for $10000.00 but i am fairly flexible with that amount.

Not being a mechanic or ever having built an engine before i would like to do as much as possible on this myself but i realise i cant do it all. Hoping to put the finished product in maybe a VN or a Torana and use for skids and abit of fun track car. (Would sell the auto and put a manual trans in for this)

Any help from people that know what is good and what i should steer away from would be appreciated.

Cheers,

[10sec rx7]

dont buy AFR heads. HTH

[GMMAD]

if it was me id go but a L98 or LS3 create put a decent cam/spring combo in it and make and easy 320rwkw maybe some rod bolt too

[briney]

if your budget is $10k why not just buy a new engine ? or a good runner and put a cam/tune in it ?

[blownhemi]

For $10K you could have got a nice crate motor. Pretty sure I was looking at a 600hp+ 454ci LSX engine on sunday that the bloke bought for $14K - he's putting it in a Torana hatch

[2turbos]

Yeah true i could do that, but i wanted to build one for myself.

[peal]

If you haven't done it before you will end up 10k down with a shit motor. Learn on a piece of cheap shit first bud. Sell what you have and get a crate motor.

[dogsballs]

seriously look at summit racing or even texas speed. go to the genIV block, bigger cubes, wayyyy better heads. you can get 400cube long motors with forged internals $US7-8k.

eg
http://www.texas-speed.com/p-181-tsp...ong-block.aspx

[Sucker]

If you want to learn just rebuild it with new rings and bearings and a nice cam. If it all goes well add some heads at a later date with a better manifold. That way if it fails somehow now you won't be out of coin that much, and if it works you can add some more parts later.

[2turbos]

I have looked at these but, as stated i just wanted to build one for myself.

[boostin31]

Don't take it anywhere in wagga for machining HTH.

[Mr Jones]

Don't take it anywhere in wagga for machining HTH.

We were using Ingrams for awhile because I used to use them and they were good, but now they seem to be shitcunts. Most of Canberra seems the same. Not sure what engine master in albury are like these days?

[blownhemi]

We were using Ingrams for awhile because I used to use them and they were good, but now they seem to be shitcunts. Most of Canberra seems the same. Not sure what engine master in albury are like these days?

Wally Dewar is the man down here according to many.

[Mr Jones]

Wally Dewar is the man down here according to many.

Hmm… haven't used Wally for a few years now. He is cheap and not bad to deal with but has some interesting ideas on how to do things.

A lot of places change with experience and staff turnover it seems. It's just hard to pick. I measure all my stuff so I catch things before they go together but if you're a 'bolt together and hope it's right' engine builder it can end not so good

[blownhemi]

Everyone should check tolerances before engine goes together.

Personally I use Duncan Fosters in Milperra. Whenever I cehck anything coming back from there I feel like I'm wasting my time - but I check anyway. The only thing I ever caught was a marked cam bearing and they fixed it up no fuss.

[Uncle Arthur]

Building an engine requires a fair investment in decent tools, like a tension wrench, measuring equipment, etc. If it's not going to be done properly with the right tools then what is the point.

[boostin31]

Personally I use Duncan Fosters in Milperra. Whenever I cehck anything coming back from there I feel like I'm wasting my time - but I check anyway. The only thing I ever caught was a marked cam bearing and they fixed it up no fuss.

Do you mean duncan fosters in moorebank? Young Greg from there did all the machining, assembly and head work on my 26/30. everything was spot on. They also do alot of ls machining for sams performace, who builds alot of big ls engines.

[boostin31]

We were using Ingrams for awhile because I used to use them and they were good, but now they seem to be shitcunts. Most of Canberra seems the same. Not sure what engine master in albury are like these days?

Yeah I think it went downhill after wayne died, there more about selling shiny wheels and parts now. Been to engine master in albury with a mate to pick up some slicks, very smick looking operation there!