9014josh

iTrader: (1)

So as some of you know I swapped my 87 trans am last year with a 95 camaro LT1.
Long story short over this past summer it started knocking and I put it aside for awhile and finally tore the motor out the other day.

Found 2 spun rod bearings and all the other rod bearings are pitted pretty badly.so now the build begins,what should I do? I'm thinking of doing a 355 with a comp 306 cam.I will more than likely have to replace the crank if I can't get it turned.

This is my first motor build so I'm just trying to gather as much info as possible.any recommendations on what type of pistons to use? I was told that using stock rods would be fine as well? Ill have some pics up today of my progress!

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

Before you jump into it, I recommend looking on LS1tech to see if any built LT1 blocks are in your area. There seems to be a lot people lately who build a 383 or 355 then either decide they need money after they build it or put 1000 miles on it. A year ago I had a guy with (3) built 383's within 50 miles of where I lived selling them a 1/4 to 1/2 the price he paid for them.

But if I was building a 355, I would look into a LE2 heads/cam package.

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

I have been looking around but haven't come accross much yet and I would like to take on this project for the learning exp. As well.I'm prob just gonna run stock heads for now until I have the budget for it.ill have to do stiffer springs for the cam but that's it.its more of just a bottom end build

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

9014josh

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9014josh

iTrader: (1)

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9014josh

iTrader: (1)

as you can see in the pictures the whole motor was pretty grimey inside not to mention the shavings i found in the motor from the bearings being torn up.

After pulling the crank i found a main bearing that was spun too so thats 2 rod bearings and a main bearing,its amazing i was still driving it! lol

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

found out today as i was looking into the crank more that it had hair line cracks where the rod bearings spun,im assuming this would be no good anymore...?

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

Update: got to order my freeze plugs and cam bearings last week and tomorrow I will be ordering an eagle crank and high volume oil pump,next week it should be in the machine shop for the wash and to install the cam bearings..still undecided on what I should do for pistons or if I should just keep the stock ones for now..

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

How tight of a budget are you? Can get new pistons for few hundred bucks and if you buy a crank, might as well do a 3.75" crank and get matching pistons for stock rods if you have to use stock rods. Just have them setup with ARP rod bolts and resized accordingly. Should be plenty strong for an all motor setup to 6800 rpm where that CC306 wants to go.

306 on stock heads is a proven setup for 350-360whp in some setups. It really comes alive with mild porting.

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

I have about $2k to spend over the next couple months so as long its ready for spring..

A 3.75 stroke would be 383 right? The only thing about this that concerns me is the clearancing involved..could my machine shop do this for me? Could I do it myself?

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

you can do it yourself with a good grinder. Need to set the crank and rods in the engine and turn it over to find the places it hits and then need to verify the cam fits with stock rods if you use them.

If you didnt want to do all that, have your stock crank checked out and turned down to get rid of the cracks if they arent that bad. Or just stick with a 350 since you know it works. Need to check the bores and see if they are still round and able to be cleaned up with a quick hone. Then re-ring and go for it.

cc306 runs good on a 350 but its a rougher running car compared to a 383 with that cam. But with stock heads, the 350 may be a better bet anyway...they'd choke a 383 out.

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

I am planning to get the heads ported at some point between now and summer,I have a guy that said he'd do them for $200..

They idea of doing the 383 does excite me though lol ill have to check out summit I think they have full 383 kits available..what the price is I don't remember tho...what size pistons would I need?

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ESP-13005L030/All/

Found this kit through summit,all i would need is oil pump,gaskets,cam ect.

how would i know if the rods would clear the cam? otherthan putting it all together and finding out it doesnt hah..

cuisinartvette

You wont get a real port job, or one that can feed a 383 for $200
Might be able to buy the bigger valves youll need though.

Seriously, run.

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

well i havent looked into it myself yet,but ive had friends go through him and says he does a great job,he does it all from his house and does it for a living (building chevy small blocks) when i see some of the work myself ill determine that.

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

if i do the 383 kit is the bolt pattern on the crank the same as a stock lt1 pattern? im wondering if i can use my same flywheel still,also whats balancing gonna cost me? it says in the kits "external balance"...

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

I think the LT1's were internal balance so you will need a internally balanced crank...which usually come rough balanced and will need balanced per the rods and pistons you use. Usually couple hundred bucks for a good balance job..depends on how far out of balance it is.

If your flexplate/flywheel has balance weights on it, knock them off and have someone neutral balance it and it should work fine. Bolt pattern should fit the crank.

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

i did find another kit on there thats an "internal" balance kit that includes crank,rods and pistons for a little extra

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ESP-13055L030/All/

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

ive found that if i go with an internal balance motor that i can reuse my old balancer and knock the weight off my flywheel..although i would still have it balanced to be safe esp if im gonna do the comp 306 cam that revs to the high 6k.

cuisinartvette

Even if the parts come "balanced" pay $150 or so and have them done anyway you might be surprised...Good balance job is SO crucial.

On your buddys heads a flow sheet will tell how good he is, without one its all guessing. You can usually get one int/exh port flowed for $40-$75 depending where you go.

Dont ever let anyone tell you they flow "about XX" or "should", or refer to some number on a site somewhere thats all bs. People fall for that all the time.

SomeGuy25thZ

I have a lot of new 383 rotating assembly parts for LT1 if interested. I've been trying to sell for a while. pM me and search my posts in classifieds. You'll save hundreds over summit or anywhere else.

I have new cam, crank, pistons with rings all balanced together and ready to install. I started a build but tore it a apart for a new supercharger build before I finished. I have tons of pics in my classifieds post.

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

I'm still on the edge of whether I should do a 383 or not..I'm gonna wait til next week when I talk to my machine shop and get a professional oppinion on what would be best for me to do without costing me a fortune.