Further eyeballing the static engine while we wait for head gaskets...I notice that the 'dot' on the pistons are not all the same on each side. Hmm. 2 dots are toward the front of the piston and 2 are toward the rear...on each side. Which begs if they are installed incorrectly. I recall searching the internet about this before with nothing definitive - other than possibly facing the same direction per side. A more recent search shows that there is indeed a difference - possibly a pin offset issue. I then called Wiseco who gave slightly confusing info, but did state there is a .030 piston pin offset and they should be installed with the 'R' on the passenger-side and 'L' on the driver-side! Looking closer the piston top has a part number etched into it...ending in L or R, denoting the side of the engine. Unfortunate! I then asked why I had to grind on the piston bottom...he replied they should be clearanced when installed correctly. This was not true for my set...#8 was the correct right side piston.
I was disappointed that this information was not more readily apparent in their included instructions - admittedly our set came from Texas Speed who may have removed the documentation...then again, no one on the internet referenced installation instructions...
So Saturday was disassembling 4 cylinders, moving the rings to the other pistons (since those were spec'd per specific hole) and re-installing. Always a concern of damage or mixing parts with this messy action.
Injectors were returned with new seals and flow tested. Interestingly these injectors have 11,000 miles on them...I didn't think they were that bad although been sitting for ~2 years!
LS3 front main seal installed:
Test fit the colorful Katech oil pump:
And finally a temp install long block...amazing all aluminum construction!
We are still looking at valve spring setups. We had settled on PSI 1516 springs...some of the stiffest beehives, but noticed the GM Ti valves have a different lock position - making the installed height on the order of 1.6 inches when 1.8 inches is preferred. Will call a few companies for their recommendations.