Started dismantling Trans-Am engine

[TransAmDan]

Will(the work place where the car is) has some time this evening after work. So we will start getting this heart of the trans-am back together. Don't know how long we will have, but I'm sure we will make good progress now. won't take long to get the cam in, oil pump, that tray thing under the crank checks for clearance(probably add some spacers to it). Need to get some blue tac at lunch as I'd like to see how much PCV clearance I have. In theory it shouldn't be any different to before. The pistons are just proud of the block when fully up, same as the stock pistons. These pistons have a valve recess in them. So Shouldn't be any issue at all, but always nice to see in some plasticine or blu-tac. so may even get the heads on and torqued down.

 

[TransAmDan]

The gos we were trying to remove with the puller, it came off with heat.

Tapped out the key that was in the crank, to tap it into the new crank. Tapped on the cog quite lightly onto the new crank with an oversized socket. Went on nicely.

 

[TransAmDan]

Going back together.

 

[Will]

For those Mickey takers out there, Dan is working on this too lol

 

[Chriswrx123]

Looking good keep up the good work

 

[AmericanThunder]

Updates?

 

[TransAmDan]

I'm away this week. Should make progress on Saturday when I'm back.

 

[AmericanThunder]

I'm away this week. Should make progress on Saturday when I'm back.

Come on man... you telling me the block didn't fit in Sarah's handbag??

 

[TransAmDan]

Come on man... you telling me the block didn't fit in Sarah's handbag??

Not with all the other stuff in there. I did try.

 

[TransAmDan]

Working on the car in the morning. I have been looking forward to this. Fingers crossed for good progress.

 

[AmericanThunder]

Look forward to the updates.

 

[TransAmDan]

Good progress today.
Lifters fitted into new lifter trays, added plenty of assembly lube. Put blu tac on one piston, put old head gasket on, heads on, old bolts. Added valve train for that cylinder and rotated the engine. No impression on the blu tac at all. So no chance of valves hitting.
Took head off, added new gaskets, torqued heads, then put on valvetrain bits. Went very well, all torqued up now. Valley cover and knock sensors fitted.
Nothing left to bolt on while it's out. Rest of thinks like intake, water pump, alternator goes on while in the engine bay.
Will be adding photos when I get back.

 

[AmericanThunder]

Sounds like good progress, well done.

 

[an88fiero]

Well done - look forward to seeing the pics

 

[TransAmDan]

Engine back up on the engine stand.

Checking again the rotation be using the crank bolt and a ratchet, all rotating smooth. More checks for any bits in the bores, all clean and ready to go.

Can see the cam in the valley.

Still nicely lubed

Can also see the timing chain from in there too.

 

[TransAmDan]

Now its time to install the hydraulic lifters. These go into lifter trays and just slide in.

Tray going in. This is an LS2 type tray. Can be fitted either way round in the LS1, the LS2 block has extra bits sticking out into the recessed bit of the trays towards the bottom, so I installed it around the same way you would see them in the LS2.

Wanting to check the PTV clearance. so a good old Blu-Tac method was used.

Old gaskets and bolts were used, and engine rotated a few times. No indents were seen, so all good to go.

Lifter trays all installed on drivers side.

 

[TransAmDan]

onto passengers side now.

Lifter trays all installed with the hydraulic lifters inserted. Head gasket in place.

Head all on, and all big bolts torqued to 22ft-lbs in the correct sequence. Then around again for an additional 90 degrees. and then another 90 degrees all in the correct sequence. Then the little bolts just have 22ft-lbs.

Then same with the other head.

Next will be to install the valve train components. It would seem rockers have various ways of mounting. My other rockers had a bar going between them. These use a bar at the base that turrets site in to stop them rotating.

 

[TransAmDan]

Need to make sure the push rod is fully down before putting the rocker on, as you could strip the threads if you do it with the push rod up and the valve spring offering great resistance.
So got the ratchet on the crank bolt and rotating it when i need to.

Lube added into the cup of the rockers and also the tips on the valve spring. Added removable thread lock on the rocker bolts.

One head completely done.

Then the next head.

 

[TransAmDan]

Valve covers can go on now.

Valley cover and knock sensors can be fitted.

Crank and cam position sensor are fitted. Also the oil level sensor is added.

So at last we are at the point of putting the engine back int he engine bay. As things like water pump, alternator and intake manifold will be fitted while the engine is in place as it will become a hindrance if fitted now.

So wont be long now until we hear this V8 rumbling once again.

 

[saleen 192]

Wow very good write up there dan with good photos no rules broken there then . so engine back in today ?