need some help guys

[emolineaux]

alright so i just sold the 406 and 200r4 trans out of my 86 monte and now im going to be installing the lt1 and th350 trans that i have in my garage. any tips on things for the lt1 im probably going to be leaving the bottom end alone. dont want to get into a big build.

[LTb1ow]

Make sure its clean, opti is good, and nothing is leaking.

I would replace the bottom end bolts with ARP hardware being that the engine is out anway....

Headers? New springs perhaps.

[emolineaux]

im going to be running long tube headers on it. im planning on cleaning it up before i install it. as far as heads i have cast on there now but have a set of aluminums in my room. what would be better?

[GP99GT]

iirc the aluminums flow better...and if they dont, its still a weight savings, and you can get some fresh head gaskets in there while youre at it

[emolineaux]

arp studs or bolts for the mains?

[LTb1ow]

ARP on everything you can afford, cheap insurance if you plan on spinning it higher than stock.

[emolineaux]

well since i sold the 406 i have $1500 to play with right now lol

[LTb1ow]

Cam it!

[emolineaux]

not really looking to swap cams. dont know to much about the lt1s, was going to do gaskets and basics

[LTb1ow]

Well, I would say replace whatever gaskets are leaking or you can replace. Make sure the back of the intake is sealed nicely so you don't have to worry about it leaking later on. I would get some pro mags or similar rockers and invest in some new springs/retainers but thats me. New plugs, OVC wire set if you plan on running LTs. Maybe new coil?

[emolineaux]

i was going to order some solid motor mounts. are the mounts the same on the lt1s as the sbcs

[LTb1ow]

I want to say yes. And a bigger TB is not needed especially if you are not camming it.

[emolineaux]

ok cool. any tips on cleaning this engine? just carb cleaner?

[LTb1ow]

Depends, if the opti is off, go at with whatever. Opti on, well be careful.

[emolineaux]

well i still have to order an opti. didnt have one on it when i got it. but i did make my first part purchase for it. fully ported intake manifold. ported painted ready to go.

[ta350]

well i still have to order an opti. didnt have one on it when i got it. but i did make my first part purchase for it. fully ported intake manifold. ported painted ready to go.

gasket!? lol

why not coil pack conversion?

[LTb1ow]

Lots of money to replace a stock motors ignition.... And what is the intake ported for?

[emolineaux]

if i can get a good deal on the coil pack conversion before its ready to go in the car than ill go that route

[emolineaux]

i couldnt turn it down for the price. fully ported will take a 58mm tb. already cleaned and painted. (looks like the lt4) im now looking into cams to lol

[LTb1ow]

Comp Cams 305. Its a cam.

[Jersyboyy]

Def cam it man .
Cam ported intake aluminum heads fresh gaskets and seals bigger springs longtube headers youll have a fun lt1 car within your budget!

[emolineaux]

well i have the ported intake on the way. and i have a set of factory aluminum heads sitting in my room. i just have to make my mind up on the cam.

the aluminum heads that i have have some pitting on the mechined surface would that be bad to use without sending them out to get fixed? ill probably take them to a mechaine shop to see what they say

[Jersyboyy]

Depends how deep the pitting is if I were you id send them to get cleaned up just in case and have some porting done to clean them up a bit for some extra power since their factory, when u said aluminum earlier I thought aftermarket.

[Blacdout96]

Is this intake manifold ported to match the gaskets, if not, then theres no reason to of had it ported in the first place. the heads should of been matched with it as well. make sure everything aligns, or theres no reason to put it on.

[JL8Jeff]

Wait till the manifold comes in because you might need to port match the heads to the manifold. If the manifold is just a stock manifold ported to fit the 58mm then it's no big deal. But any pitting in the head gasket area is bad and should be cleaned up. You probably want a shop to look at the heads to determine if they're any good. You should just call Josh at JS and let him put something together for you.

[LTb1ow]

gasket matching is overrated and I think you made yourself spend more money than needed. With the ported intake for a 58mm TB, you kinda need to get a big TB.

[WildBillyT]

gasket matching is overrated and I think you made yourself spend more money than needed. With the ported intake for a 58mm TB, you kinda need to get a big TB.

If the ports on the intake are larger than the gasket or the port openings on the heads then it's worth it to get rid of the turbulence...

[LTb1ow]

The LT1 intake is a bottleneck, you can't delete that. lol.
I was under the impression that unless you know what your doing you can cause more loss than gain if you try to match the intake.