gapimpin

Got an lt1 out of a 9c1 caprice had 80k on it and blew a head gasket.
Jackasses didnt drain the oil so its got a bunch of sludge in the bottom end.

Whats the best way to get the sludge out of the bottom end.
Like i cleaned the pan spotless but how do i clean off the crank and rods and all that?
I was planning on spraying it down with carb or brake cleaner but didnt know if that would do anything to the bearings what do you guys think?

sgreen3

iTrader: (4)

Is the engine out of the car on a stand? If it is I would pull the rod and main caps and clean everything really well, and go ahead and throw in a new set of bearings, and if not really the only thing you could do would be to run some engine flush threw the engine and change your oil a couple of times within 3 or 4hundred miles to get everything flushed out!
hope this helps!

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

make sure you check the block and head deck surfaces with a straight edge. You may need to get one or the other decked.
Does the rotating assembly spin easily? It didn't overheat and spin any bearings when it blew the gasket right???

You can spray it with brake kleen if you want yea. I'd just put it in the car, fill it with 50/50 oil and either diesel fuel or ATF, and run it up to temp, maybe drive it around loaded a bit. Then bring it home and drain it all and refill with oil (and a new filter!)

gapimpin

it is out of the car ive never replaced bearings before dont imagine it would be too hard. can i just pull the mains and throw some new ones in or what?

sgreen3

iTrader: (4)

As long as the engine was running before with no oil pressure problems or anything like that you should be ok just sticking anew set in, but it probably would not hurt to go ahead and plastigauge the bearing surfaces.

gapimpin

should i change out rod bearings too? what all is involved?
never done any of this before im good with building up from a shortblock but never done any internal engine work before besides changing cams and timing sets.

sgreen3

iTrader: (4)

I would since you will all ready be inside the engine anyway, It would be nothing more than taking the caps off and putting new ones in, but have a frieand help you lift out the crank shaft, and be sure to put pices of hose on all the rod studs so you dont knic any of the bearing surfaces on the crank, and have all of the rods down in the cylinders as far as they will go without pushing them all the way out and have your buddy help hold the rods in the correct position while you drop the crank back in!
hope this helps

gapimpin

guess i might as well... so just pick up some standard bearings then?
Doesent look too bad got the motor for $200 new gaskets bearings head bolts and oil pump price out to about $200 so 400 for a rebuild minus rings.

Do main cap bolts need to be replaced?
I know i cant reuse my head bolts didnt know about the mains though

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

I thought LT1's used torque to yield on the mains as well. I'm not sure, ask Summit perhaps?
You're opening up a whole new can of worms by redoing the mains eh? Personally i'd just leave it. As long as it wasn't knocking when pulled... Or plastigauge a few mains and a few rods and inspect the bearings, but re-install and torque up as is. (if they are not torque to yield).
Once you're doing bearings, you pretty much need to remove the pistons from the holes. So why not re-hone and re-ring?

a lot of, "since you're there, you might as well..."
I'm not sure what differences LT1's have vs normal SBC's... metric rings? thin rings? bearing sizes are the same? main caps, 4 bolts or two? LT1's are oddball to me...

sgreen3

iTrader: (4)

mains are not torque to yield, just head bolts, and plastigague your bearing surfaces to find out what size bearings you should use!