LS coming together

The team have been managing a mere hour and a half or so every other week, but the LS engine is an absolute breeze to work on. We changed the camshaft for the nice ‘vette unit and bolted it all back up. Then we cleaned the new head, oiled up the valve guides, added the valve stem seals and then the valves and stronger springs using a standard spring compressor tool. We were going to use the compressed-air-into-the-sparkplug-hole method to change the valve springs in-situ on the head we have not removed, but tried a few metres of nylon tent peg guy line in the spark plug hole instead, which worked like a dream. Saved me making up an adaptor for the compressor too! The small spring compressor tool also worked really well and an absolute beginner (under my guidance) had all 8 springs and valve stem seals done in about 1 hr 10 minutes. The RHS bank was then given back it’s pushrods and rockers and bolted down. Plenty of lift on this cam, 0.55″, hence the need for beefier springs. The various photos I have uploaded pretty much tell the story. The yellow springs are much harder to squeeze even a little bit compared to stock

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16/9/2011

Three of the team turned up for this afternoons work. Checked out the timing marks as per the LS book and a youtube video. Not exactly easy to spot until you have seen them, but they are there. Removed the RHS rockers, pushrods and then checked that the followers stayed up. Yes they do. LS designers deserve a pat on the back for this engine, it’s an absolute dream to work on. Removed the cam sprocket and then the cam location plate. Cam wil be easy to swop, but I left the cleaning sprays at home this morning and the decent oil too. Next task, swap cam and re-assemble front end. Will powder coat the cover on Tuesday. Open morning in 2 weeks, time flies with loads of work next week.

10/9/2011

Removed the front pulley on the LS – done up to about 150 lbs/ft! Used the multipurpose puller to do a careful job on that. Checked ‘vette pulley fitted the crank – spot on and really close to the engine too. This will make more room at the front. Took off the front cover and cleaned it all up. Another nice piece of alloy that we will powder coat blue I think. Went to workshops and made a valve compressing tool as per the JEGS design only cheaper. Tested it on one of the spare 241 heads, worked just fine. Will need to find a compressed air hose connector to do the actual spring changes though. Back to SMF to see what they have in the way of air hose connectors.

Mid August 2011

Work has started on sorting out the LS engine now that the parts have arrived from my stateside connection. Some of this is simply cleaning, some swapping of parts and some new build, specifically the new engine moutns that will be needed. “Simples” as the small rodent says…..