Just started a LS swap into the 3rd Gen trans am. Going to be a budget swap. Engine going in is a 2008 L92 that was running when still in the donor vehicle. Ran good but had low oil pressure. Question is: should I open up the bottom end and screw with it? I'm a shade tree mechanic and have been known to really eff things up because I didn't know what I was doing. Some pundits say that tearing into the bottom end of a running LS is asking for trouble because no matter how good you are, you're not going to be able to put things back together as well as the factory. Would like to just stick with replacing all the known low oil pressure culprits i.e. pickup tube o ring, front cam cover gasket, little "dog bone" in the back of engine, etc. Not going to be a track car. Just doing a couple upgrades like a Terminator X controller, stage four cam, and headers. Goal is 500 rwhp. Thanks in advance for the input.

 

You don't want to install an engine you know had low oil pressure. At the very least, you need to know why. As far as tearing down an LS and not being as good as original, ANYTHING can be reassembled properly if you follow the instructions. LS engines require certain tools to properly align the front cover, rear main seal carrier, and oil pan. Save for that, a torque wrench and new bolts when necessary are all you need to make it like new.