[L78toLT1]

Day Three is in the books. Got the motor out and partially disassembled. Need to yank the pistons and crank and take it to the machine shop for balancing. Going to have the shop assemble the heads too. They can measure/ shim to ensure spring height and seat pressures are correct plus I don't have a spring squeeze that is compatible with these heads.
This is the first LT motor I've been inside of and I must say I am impressed. Hell for strong looking bottom end.

[L78toLT1]

You have to admit that this is some good looking hardware. It's been sitting on the shelf for a couple of months, I finally got around to opening it up tonight.

[laynlo15]

Those compstars look just like my Manley rods.

[Jhunsberger]

Those are some fine looking components! Makes me want to do a cam, rods and pistons.....keep up the good work!

[L78toLT1]

Originally Posted by laynlo15

Those compstars look just like my Manley rods.

Did you balance your rotating assembly? I've always balanced and figured it's cheap insurance. It will be interesting to see how much weight, if any, needs to be added or removed.

[laynlo15]

Yes we did, wouldn't put it together without it. What cam did you decide to go with? We got rid of dod and vvt.

[L78toLT1]

I'm going with Ted Jannetty's smooth idle blower cam which is a Texas Speed blank ground to his specs. I'm locking the cam gear and installing dod plugs.

[laynlo15]

Perfect.

[GooseSS]

Subscribing. Beautiful build!

[L78toLT1]

Originally Posted by GooseSS

Subscribing. Beautiful build!

Thanks, Goose. It's been fun and enlightening so far. I've taken apart literally dozens of motors over the years, big and small blocks from all domestic manufacturers as well as numerous imports. This is my first post 1st gen Chevy smallblock and I must say that I am very impressed. Prior to this, I assumed the block architecture was much more similar to the original than is actually the case. I can now understand how these motors hold together at high three digit power levels and above.
This motor is definitely the state of the push rod V8 art.

[GooseSS]

That's so cool to hear, keep up the good work! I'm living vicariously through you right now as I don't want to lose my factory warranty. Happy weekend!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[steelheadrob]

Dang you are moving right along on the build. Look forward to following along. I got some other stuff planned for phase 3 of my build this winter. Cam and pistons will have to wait for phase 4.

[Drsagacity]

Great stuff @l78toLt1...can’t wait till you get that baby fired up...looking forward to smooth idle sound clip...

[L78toLT1]

Originally Posted by steelheadrob

Dang you are moving right along on the build. Look forward to following along. I got some other stuff planned for phase 3 of my build this winter. Cam and pistons will have to wait for phase 4.

My progress will be slowing quite a bit going forward. I'm going back to work on the 2nd and it will be a couple of weeks before i get the motor back from the machine shop. There are still a few things i can do in the interim such as installing the rocker trunion kit and cam phaser lockout.
Pulling the motor was such an involved process that I'm wracking my brain to be sure that i do everything i need to while i have unlimited access to the engine compartment. I'm thinking of adding additional thermal protection to any wire harnesses in the vicinity of the headers. If anyone had ideas on other other tweaks/enhancements best performed with the motor out of the car, please let me know.