Done with it!

[LTb1ow]

Heres a pretty good showing of what went into my car and where it is now.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=3722&l=585cc&id=1113366798
Just needs a new stall. :twisted:

[ar0ck]

Ah LT1's... fun times.

[LTb1ow]

Oh its a grand engine to work on... seemingly simple but not.

[sweetbmxrider]

how stoked are you? looks like a bitchin time

[LTb1ow]

I am really happy its done and so far not leaking. It really needs a bigger stall, when I am driving it now its really sluggish until like 3000 and then woah, head slammed into seat and off you go. :lol:

[sweetbmxrider]

hahaha thats awesome!! good luck with it. is the rest of the drivetrain stock?

[LTb1ow]

Yup, cept for a rear end cover/girdle. Hoping that it lasts for a while.

[Blackbirdws6]

Brings back good and bad memories. Most fun was firing the car up at 2am with open headers in a pretty nice suburban neighborhood. A lot of "HUH? WHAT!?'s" were said haha. Looks like you can fit in fairly tight places...that wasn't in the cards for me.

-Brian

[LTb1ow]

I actually did that, kinda, when I first rolled it out the garage to start it up, I was running just LTs to ORY to turndown, scared the neighbors a lot. :twisted:

[maroman88]

awesome color! looks sweet, need a sound clip now :)

[LTb1ow]

I am going to be struggling this weekend with oil pan gasket, and motor mounts so as of now taking a video of it is something I won't be doing for a while. I doubt I will get the mounts done this weekend.... aint going to be fun....

[sweetbmxrider]

mounts really aren't that bad, maybe on your back it sucks. the oil pan gasket, probably a lot worse. dono though haven't done it yet...

[LTb1ow]

Well I really don't wanna stick back in the garage cause I am afraid it won't come back out for another month or two.... so I will be laying on the driveway struggling with it. Plan is to jack it up, drop the pan, get that done, and then depending on how I feel struggle with the mounts.... And this all depends on how hot it is outside and or my consumption of beer.... You guys have any words of advice? Tools needed out of the ordinary?

[sweetbmxrider]

for the motor mounts, nah. just a few different sizes and selections. go easy with it and post up if you have any problems. i did mine like three times to get it to sit correctly. just cuz mine was being a bitch

[LTb1ow]

What did you use to drill out the rivets? Can you fit a regular drill in there?

[sweetbmxrider]

? what do you mean? the new motor mounts come attached to a metal plate. i think its three bolts per side. i found on the passenger side you have to loosen the bracket off of the k-member to fit the motor mount through.

[LTb1ow]

I am just replacing the rubber part with a poly one, so don't I need to open up the old one(drilling out the rivets) and swap?

[sweetbmxrider]

oh, well i would definitely take them all the way out. as far as riveting in, i have no idea. i would think rivets would break wayyy to easy. i never bought or have seen poly motor mounts. maybe someone else has more info??

[LTb1ow]

Well what did you do on yours?

[camaro2you]

On the ls1 style poly mount inserts you grind out the factory rivets and there are bolts supplied with the kit to reattach everything.

[LTb1ow]

I assume the mounts are relativly the same right? There is a clamshell type deal that is riveted shut on the rubber part.

[sweetbmxrider]

i put stockers back in. if thats what polys entail, should be alright to do.

[LTb1ow]

Well you replaced the whole contraption from the block to the K member right?

[sweetbmxrider]

well there is a mount that bolts to the k member, i left that alone but disconnected it to remove the passenger mount. i replaced the entire clamshell with rubber mount on both sides. i got them from Napa. swapped right in, just tight work on the passenger side.

[LTb1ow]

Ok, I am way confused right now, I guess that shall add to the fun.

[sweetbmxrider]

the motor mounts are connected to the block with three bolts per side. they are "clam shells" with rubber inside to absorb the vibration. it has a hole in the center for the through bolt. the through bolt attaches to the k member via a mount. its bolted onto the k member with 3 bolts i think. i supported the motor, removed the through bolts on each side, jacked the motor up some, and unbolted both motor mounts. i slid the driver side mount out easily but the passenger mount wouldn't come through. i unbolted the mount on the k member and turned it so the mount could come out.

i would suggest supporting the trans with a jack as well and unbolting the mount from the crossmember so you have more play, but it isn't necessary. i do think i had the steering column unbolted due to clearance issues with my headers. also i had to bend a couple trans lines up onto the serp. belt to remove the passenger through bolt.

start with the driverside and you will see how everything sits and work your way through it. its not as bad as it seems, just tight areas make it troublesome and patience helps a lot. like i said if you run into something, post up or pm me. its very doable just take your time and do it right.

[LTb1ow]

Deep breaths, and patience. I was planning on dropping the LTs off the head and kinda letting them sit there while I raise the motor up. And I will let you know if I get in a jam. :wink:

[sweetbmxrider]

that would make life easier

[LTb1ow]

Sorry if I am going in circles here, just want to do it right the first time. But I need to raise the motor up, unbolt the mounts and then remove the half of the motor mount and work on it outside of the car. That sound right?

[Tru2Chevy]

You need to support the motor, then undo the mounts, then raise it up. Can't raise it much when it's still bolted to the subframe ;)

- Justin

[LTb1ow]

Yea, its already driving me nuts and I haven't started it yet.

[sweetbmxrider]

close. support the motor first at stock height, then start unbolting. if you raise it, you won't be able to get the through bolts out. once they are out, raise the motor some. be careful though, i did this with the y-pipe and air intake disconnected. i suggest removing the nut that secures the tranny mount to the cross member, but it isn't necessary.

after you lift the motor, remove the ds mount via three bolts in the block. you will notice the mount on the k member is bolted in. on the passenger side, i unbolted the motor mount first, then unbolted the k member mount. i turned things until it could slide out, and pulled it out.

worth noting on the passenger side, two metal tranny lines run in the area where the through bolt comes out. you can push them up into the serp belt and have room to work with, but don't forget to bend it back when you are done.

[LTb1ow]

Ok, sounds good, those mounts are not tapped into the water jacket right?

[sweetbmxrider]

nah

[LTb1ow]

Ok, I have bad luck with antifreeze and me staying dry....

[sweetbmxrider]

haha just keep an eye on everything and make sure nothing hangs up or binds. but you only need a few inches to do it

[LTb1ow]

Ok thanks for the info so far! I shall hope for the best with it, but if its anything like the rest of the engine, it will fight all the way to the bitter end....

[sweetbmxrider]

yeah then you will be reallllll good at it!! haha