SY 2373 Ramblings

randy merritt

randy merritt

Donating Member
Here we go with the start. Much easier to remove the front grill.


dismantle next




help from daughter

current status with help from eight year old. Power steering pump removal was very easy. As Harmon told me, biggest PITA has been oil pan dropping, took about an hour and a half. Next biggest pain was ground grommets behind driver's side head. Third biggest pain was outside bolts attaching grill to truck. Other than that, things are smooth so far. New cam installed, will reinstall timing cover tommorow. Got about 10 hours in so far, including drinking beer and taking breaks.
 
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bezerk

bezerk

New member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

RenegadePete379 said:
i am taking it he dropped the pan to swap out the pump and install as solid oilpump driveshaft its for peace of mind at least i would have done so to.
Click to expand...

i would have swapped to solid motor mounts before that.
btw, an solid oilpump driveshaft, i have never heard on hear a driveshaft broke, seriously
 
R

RenegadePete379

Doghouse Member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

the factory shafts come with a nylon sleeve or collar which is what connects both oil pump and distributor these usually crack since the heat make them so brittle, if i do a cam swap i always change out oil pump but thats just me, the newer revised driveshafts which are usully included with mellings pumps delete these plastic collar and make it a metal one instead there fore no failure can occur.

might not have happened but plenty of guys when doing cam swaps on the lt1 enignes similiar in roller valvetrain design just do so for peace of mind.
 
bezerk

bezerk

New member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

RenegadePete379 said:
the factory shafts come with a nylon sleeve or collar which is what connects both oil pump and distributor these usually crack since the heat make them so brittle, if i do a cam swap i always change out oil pump but thats just me, the newer revised driveshafts which are usully included with mellings pumps delete these plastic collar and make it a metal one instead there fore no failure can occur.

might not have happened but plenty of guys when doing cam swaps on the lt1 enignes similiar in roller valvetrain design just do so for peace of mind.
Click to expand...

you can pickthe driveshaft from above.no need to drop the pan.
 
92TyLA

92TyLA

New member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

Ok gimme a brake im tired and sleepy, my phone doesent like the search button, will vortec or l35 heads will just bolt in?
 
randy merritt

randy merritt

Donating Member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

oil pan has to be dropped in order to change the timing chain cover. pan was not removed, just dropped about 1"-2" in order to fit the timing cover back on without having to mod the cover. BTW, swap is complete, no leaks. Moving to code 59 for tuning now. Truck starts and drives, but does not run like it should. already have solid motor mounts.
 
BoostedSUV

BoostedSUV

Active member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

Man, I would have just taken the motor out if I was going to strip it down that far. It's much easier to work on things when it's out of the truck. Probably would have saved you a lot of time and skin on you knuckles...
 
randy merritt

randy merritt

Donating Member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

BoostedSUV said:
Man, I would have just taken the motor out if I was going to strip it down that far. It's much easier to work on things when it's out of the truck. Probably would have saved you a lot of time and skin on you knuckles...
Click to expand...

Actually wasn't that bad at all. My secret key was removing the all items from the front of the truck. I ran the numbers and it only costs $120 to evacuate and recharge the A/C, so I removed all of it. That, along with removing the grill and radiator, gave easy access to the front (crosspipe, timing cover, etc.). Also removal of the inner fenders gave plenty of room for working. Reassembly was easy and straightfoward. Now on to tuning;).
 
randy merritt

randy merritt

Donating Member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

Here are some pics of swap in progress. I recieved the felpro 1203 gaskets friday afternoon, and bolted the intake on along with the injectors that afternoon. After a few beers friday night, I got most of the motor back together, including the accessory brakets, alt, a/c, p/s pump. Finished up saturday morning. BTW, I don't understand why folks say the p/s pump is a pain. If you undo it from the exhaust manifold, you can tilt it to the side and easily reach the last bolt holding the accessory bracke to the head, then remove the p/s pump and bracket together. absolute piece of cake. reinstalls the same way. I had to swap out the plastic valve covers that came with my truck for a set of pick and pull steel one's. plastic would not clear rockers. top picture is of completed reassembly.
 
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bezerk

bezerk

New member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

nice work to do that in a weekend, have you used RTV on the lower intake around the coolant passages?
 
randy merritt

randy merritt

Donating Member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

bezerk said:
nice work to do that in a weekend, have you used RTV on the lower intake around the coolant passages?
Click to expand...

Used "right stuff" on both sides of intake gasket, and between manifold and block on front and back sides of manifold. From what I understand, this stuff is the best. Guy helping me thought this was overkill, but I figuired it wouldn't hurt. No leaks so far. Oil is clean with no traces of water.
 
R

RenegadePete379

Doghouse Member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

awesome glad to see the progress woot woot cant wait to see her running. what cam did you go with?


and a side note on the oil pump driveshaft IT WILL NOT PULL UP THRU THE TOP trust me the plastic collar wont let it, now if you break the plastic coller to rough house it out of the engine then yeah it will come out that way lol but when you goto install the new solid collar shaft it WONT INSTALL FROM THE TOP.

please dont mislead people with that info. for me on the lt1's it has always been good practice for me to drop the pan and swap out the pump for a new one with hi-pressure springs as well new pickup welded on to pump and new solid oil pump driveshaft. some people get away with not doing it but its my practice, in regards to the timing cover it would have just been easier to snip the ends and push the cover back in with RTV, but at least you got her done.

onto tuning.
 
randy merritt

randy merritt

Donating Member
Re: vortec swap

Re: vortec swap

RenegadePete379 said:
awesome glad to see the progress woot woot cant wait to see her running. what cam did you go with?


and a side note on the oil pump driveshaft IT WILL NOT PULL UP THRU THE TOP trust me the plastic collar wont let it, now if you break the plastic coller to rough house it out of the engine then yeah it will come out that way lol but when you goto install the new solid collar shaft it WONT INSTALL FROM THE TOP.

please dont mislead people with that info. for me on the lt1's it has always been good practice for me to drop the pan and swap out the pump for a new one with hi-pressure springs as well new pickup welded on to pump and new solid oil pump driveshaft. some people get away with not doing it but its my practice, in regards to the timing cover it would have just been easier to snip the ends and push the cover back in with RTV, but at least you got her done.


onto tuning.
Click to expand...

I used the comp 415 that I bought from you. oil pan wasn't that bad. after I have done it now, I believe I could drop it in about 15-20 minutes, with a 1/4" drive, long extension, and a universal. really didn't like the idea of hacking on timing cover. (saw that Tooky did in his thread, and didn't want to run the risk of leaks, even though his turned out fine).
 
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