[-SS454-]

What a fantastically detailed engine build thread

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

Manton pushrods shipped out today. Started prepping the block for paint(Orange 😆 of course) Acetone seems to take the cheap rust prevention paint off easily. One wipe nearly cleaned the 6.0 stamp section off.

Put together the other stand so I can align the bell housing,flywheel and setup the clutch for the TKX. Once I get the pushrods in and verify oil flow I’ll switch stands.
The local car club is doing a run/lunch this weekend I haven’t had the car out in a couple months it rains ever time I think I’m going to get it out. Hopefully My wife and I can get out to it. Wife still doesn’t know I’m switching the engine and transmission🤣🤣. She came in the shop a few days ago. I keep her at the door she pushed her way in though to get in the air conditioning.(with the words “wasn’t I going to let her in”) I kept her facing the rear of the car while I was cleaning off the rear window. I thought she would look at the pile of boxes and ask. But I flirted her out the door. My son knows, I have the parts and is keeping quiet. We had a good laugh after told him mom went into the shop. He asked did I tell her it was a lawn mower engine on the stand. Funny I can leave my shoes by the door and that doesn’t make it past her, but a pile of boxes a engine and a transmission she didn’t even notice.

 

[Binford]

You will have 500 rwhp no problem.
If you figure that a standard trans is typically 17% , so, 605hp crank would lose 103hp.
So that would put you at roughly 502rwhp,
I think you will be north of 605 anyway so it won't matter. Either way sweet build. To bad some people just have to come in a black cloud just to rain on others people's parade.

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

just waiting on pushrods and valve covers.

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

Manton pushrods came in I cleaned them up and measured them.

I was told they could get almost exactly to the sizes I ordered. Sizes had lifters are .035 +/-.005 preload .093 travel limit
and +.017 for push rod length checker. Manton had said comps check measurements are usually out from .014-.02. I measured mine and it was +.017 end to end over all length.
What I ordered
5 at 7.662
2 at 7.640
1 at 7.627
8 at 7.648

What I received
1 at 7.664
1 at 7.6625
3 at 7.6635

2 at 7.6445

1 at 7.6315

2 at 7.648
3 at 7.651
2 at 7.6505
1 at 7.649
Fairly close
I have 1 exhaust valve hanging open though. I did pressurize the oil system. So hopefully it just a pumped up lifter. I pulled the rocker to verify it would close. I left the spring compressed and will check in a day or so.

 

[shovelrick]

I am very surprised those Manton PR's aren't Dead Nuts On, I guess your build is OK with these?

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

found I had the pushrods on #1 flip flopped. Valves are all closing now.
Measured all the the pushrods preload they range from .038-.50 Johnson is okay with .51 preload. I’m not though lol. Only 3 of them range from .045-.05 and if I move a few around I can get all rods to .035-.038. I ended up ordering 11 more for my own sanity all at the same size 7.635. As long as they are close to that measurement I’ll be satisfied.

I pressurized the oiling system to verify oil.
It made it to the top of the rockers in about 2 minutes at 20psi.

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

I am very surprised those Manton PR's aren't Dead Nuts On, I guess your build is OK with these?

Yeah they are really close .006 was the furthest out I believe. Smith Brothers said theirs are within .025 of what you order.

 

[shovelrick]

.025 ?? Wow, I guess I should've measured my Trend Perf. PR's but it's already been dyno'd and in the car

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

It would help if the LS/Vortec series had adjustable rockers. I believe they are available just not for the shaft mount rockers. The Johnson 2116LSR lifters .035 preload is about half the thickness of a penny. Not much room for error. The ls7 style lifters have .1 preload with .2 travel. They were a lot easier to set up.

 

[shovelrick]

Can you shim under the shafts where the bolts go through? Edit I guess you need to go the other way? Edit #2 seems someone should make different thickness caps that fit over the valve stem where the rocker contacts..? BTW Very nice looking shaft system

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

Can you shim under the shafts where the bolts go through? Edit I guess you need to go the other way? Edit #2 seems someone should make different thickness caps that fit over the valve stem where the rocker contacts..? BTW Very nice looking shaft system

Shimming maybe possible but it’ll lift both intake and exhaust. I think the caps are available.

 

[rpol78]

I think you're talking about lash caps. Most of the LS ones I've seen are for the titanium valves on the LS7 & 9 heads. I don't think I've seen them in different thicknesses.

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

I think you're talking about lash caps. Most of the LS ones I've seen are for the titanium valves on the LS7 & 9 heads. I don't think I've seen them in different thicknesses.

Yeah they are .08 and .06 thick.

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

Removing the powder coating from the Holley tall valve covers, I’m painting them to match the block. I also purchased the polished aluminum covers, I’ll most likely send back if I like the orange better. Found some stickers inside the baffle area on both covers(baffles can’t be removed). I was power washing the chemicals from the valve covers. Found little pieces of this.

 

[rpol78]

Are you running the tall valve covers for looks or was there a clearance issue with the BTR shaft rockers?

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

Are you running the tall valve covers for looks or was there a clearance issue with the BTR shaft rockers?

I think they would fit, I just wanted to be sure they would fit. I have the standard height on the car now. And the Trickflow head is already 1/2 higher then standard.

 

[shovelrick]

Why do these Performance Mfg's put these NON removable stickers inside where they MUST know they'll come off and gum things up? I had know idea there were caps available for the valve tips, I've never worked on an LS, I do have a 4.8 but never worked on it, Are you measuring lift and not seeing full lift?

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

Why do these Performance Mfg's put these NON removable stickers inside where they MUST know they'll come off and gum things up? I had know idea there were caps available for the valve tips, I've never worked on an LS, I do have a 4.8 but never worked on it, Are you measuring lift and not seeing full lift?

No the caps are hardened and for titanium valves so the stem doesn’t wear.( my valves are stainless) I haven’t measured lift but it should equal what’s on the cam card. I’m just measuring preload on the hydraulic lifters. The LS/LQ series doesn’t have the adjustable rockers(with what I’m using) so pushrod length is critical. The lifters I’m using are reduced travel and slow leak down.
Total plunger movement is .093 (factory stock is .2 over double.) preload is .035 +/ .005 (manufacturers specs) (factory is .1) I’m building the valve train to handle a spin to 7500 due to it being a manual transmission just a safety net. Probably will not go past 6800 ( rev limiter is set for this)

 

[Jasons 69 Chevelle]

Engine is all done starting the TKX 5 speed and Tilton clutch install. Set engine on this MHT engine cart. It pushes around very easily and seems stable.