VR Senator with LSx454

[Judge1 FrazerParticipant new zealand1983 VB LSA MG9 6060 6 speed View build HERE Member since: February 5, 2016 Posts: 775]

so the only other person I know with a crate motor is cava so cava have you had the charger or heads off yet as your not going to run charger right away ??

[ImmortalityParticipant 97 HSV Senator 185i 02 VX L67 Calais View build HERE Member since: August 31, 2015 Posts: 535]

I thought they did discover something when they removed the sump?

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

I opened up my L98 just to be sure…

[cava454Moderator 93 VR BT1 View build HERE Member since: February 20, 2015 Posts: 2 390]

Judge1 Frazer wrote:

so the only other person I know with a crate motor is cava so cava have you had the charger or heads off yet as your not going to run charger right away ??

ive had sump off. Looks ok. Will soon find out.

Mines a bit different. It’s a production engine as apposed to a crate. If that makes sense.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Yea crate engine is different, although it “should” be better.  Its supposedly hand built by one guy.  Cavs is like the LS3 I originally bought, they pull it of the line and sell it to you.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Gotta say I am really enjoying this, very “Zen” process, just taking my time.  All rings gapped.  I actually did them separately for each cylinder, not sure I needed to, given the bores measure pretty much exact to each other but wont hurt I guess.  How does it go in that song…”step by step”

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

Did you stone or file the edges?

I always do them for each cylinder!

 

[SSZ 666Participant AdelaideVZ SSZ View build HERE Member since: March 4, 2015 Posts: 33]

VRSenator065 wrote:

How does it go in that song…”step by step”

I was thinking more along the lines of Mr Cash….. One Piece At A Time

for the money, for the glory.... and for the fun !! Mostly for the money

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Anonymous wrote:

Did you stone or file the edges? I always do them for each cylinder!

No I haven’t yet IJ, but realize i need too, and also wash them down.  I just have to find that small stone I have skillfully hidden so well even I cant find it

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

VRSenator065 wrote:

IJ. wrote:

Did you stone or file the edges? I always do them for each cylinder!

No I haven’t yet IJ, but realize i need too, and also wash them down. I just have to find that small stone I have skillfully hidden so well even I cant find it

LOL I keep finding things I put away years ago…. 

I find a small mounted point on a dremel does a great job on deburring the edges.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Thanks for the tip re the dremel IJ.  So have spoken to Brenton, and decided I am going to assemble and fit the pistons to the rods and block myself (what can possibly go wrong!!)  So that’s Saturdays job, should be a bit of fun, like always I guess slow and steady wins the race.  He is moving along with the heads too, so its coming together.

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

Very welcome, I found breaking the edges on the top rings really hard to do by hand even using a small diamond file so started using the dremel.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

IJ am I right all i am doing is removing the burr, not chamfering it or anything?  So just a touch on the Dremel?

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

Yep just knocking the sharp edges off, pay particular attention to the face of the top ring where it contacts the bore as an edge there will mark up the bore on the initial start up.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Excellent mate, thanks for that.

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Main rotating assembly finished!  Actually just a nice fun job.  So took my time, watched a cool video by Mahle on assembling the pistons and they showed a nice little tool they made to insert the circlips for the gudgeons, so made one up on the lathe, cool as, makes it a 2 second job.  Worked through, but then had a hiccup at the end which I will share not to show how stupid I am, but it may help someone else.  Firstly the big end bearing shells are paired upper/lower for the rod and cap end.  Have to say I  had absolutely no idea about that.  But what I did stuff up was of course the bid end caps go in one way so they have clearance for the radius on the big end on the crank.  Of course I got that wrong.  Put it all together and it was quite stiff to turn.  Quick message to Brenton, pulled out a rod and yep, stuff up, so swapped them all and now turns beautifully.  Rookie mistake I guess, but at least I caught it!!  few pics for posterity

• This reply was modified 6 years, 7 months ago by  VRSenator065.

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

You know I almost posted that the other night when we were discussing the rings…

Single most common error I see when I pull down engines!

(at least you caught it and didn’t trash the crank)

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Still kicking myself IJ, its so obvious once I realised, cant believe I did it.  But agree, at least I found it before any harm was done.  And it certainly is not something I will ever do again!!

[Anonymous View build HERE Member since: January 1, 1970 Posts: 0]

In older engines they run a bigger radius fillet on the crank so this is usually fatal….

Very common error though don’t feel bad this is how you learn, great work so far so you’re allowed one error and you caught it so well done you!

Guessing by your description Clevite 77 bearings?

[VRSenator065Participant Adelaide SAVR Senator LSx454 1960 Kombi (project) 1921 Nash Hot Rod (future project) View build HERE Member since: February 17, 2015 Posts: 5 777]

Thanks, yea for sure it all part of the learning curve.  Yep Clevite, not sure about the 77 part, they are Clevite High performance, I left the selection of parts up to what Brenton wanted.

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