New build thread; 48 Plymouth

[falconvan]

It’s a 2001. Overall I think the LS is a great platform as everyone is building them . But it does look like they have some cam issues

[v8nutz]

That's interesting, I had to replace my cam bearing too. The rods, mains and cylinders looked pretty good. I had some worn rockers and push rods also.

[40FordDeluxe]

That's interesting, I had to replace my cam bearing too. The rods, mains and cylinders looked pretty good. I had some worn rockers and push rods also.

The rockers are another issue that should be looked at. The needles drop out of the end cap and make all kinds of bad things happen. Several different places offer upgraded trunion kits to fix this. I just did the rockers for my 5.3 last week. I went with the bearings again but wish I would have went with the bushings now. At least these bearings have a normal housing and won't come out like the factory ones can. I got my trunion kit from Michigan Motorsports.

https://www.google.com/search?q=trun...hrome&ie=UTF-8

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[53 Chevy5]

Seriously, is there some preventive maintenance I should look at on mine? I have about 165K on it. Like the others said the rods and mains were fine, but now I'm worried about the top end.

[Dave Severson]

Seriously, is there some preventive maintenance I should look at on mine? I have about 165K on it. Like the others said the rods and mains were fine, but now I'm worried about the top end.

Just wondering if the zinc additive for oil when using a non roller cam in an engine with today's oil might help it? It's supposed to prevent wiping out cam lobes on hydraulic or solid lifter cams? Maybe a call to a cam tech at Comp Cams might be in order? If it's a continuing problem with LS engines I'm sure they've dealt with it by now.

[falconvan]

Just wondering if the zinc additive for oil when using a non roller cam in an engine with today's oil might help it? It's supposed to prevent wiping out cam lobes on hydraulic or solid lifter cams? Maybe a call to a cam tech at Comp Cams might be in order? If it's a continuing problem with LS engines I'm sure they've dealt with it by now.

That's a good point, Dave. Once I get mine out I think I'll call them before reassembling.

[falconvan]

I can’t really think of anything preventative you can do other than regular oil changes and maybe some kind of additive. You might ask your local GM dealer mechanic; they probably deal with a lot of them.

[falconvan]

As suspected, the 5.3 ate the cam and spun one of the cam bearings. I really didn’t want to go through a full teardown; this build has been so frustrating. I also didn’t want to stick another couple of thousand dollars in it. So I did the opposite of what most people are doing. I sold all the LS stuff and made just enough to order GM Goodwrench 350. It’s just a basic bone stock 260hp but it’s new and has a 3 year warranty. I just want the thing to run and drive at this point, could care less if it’s fast and this was the most financially and labor friendly way to get there.

[53 Chevy5]

That is the opposite of what most people do but that doesn't make it bad. I have the 5.3 in mine and I love it so far but if I were to do it again, there's a pretty good chance there would be a 1990 ish 350 in there with throttle body injection. Like you said, power is great, but when I come to think of it I don't even know if I floored Rita yet.

[40FordDeluxe]

That is the opposite of what most people do but that doesn't make it bad. I have the 5.3 in mine and I love it so far but if I were to do it again, there's a pretty good chance there would be a 1990 ish 350 in there with throttle body injection. Like you said, power is great, but when I come to think of it I don't even know if I floored Rita yet.

IMO the throttle body was the worst. Crap mileage and always issues with the ecm and distributor. Just go tuned port.

Sorry to hear about the 5.3 but like you said they do have their issues. They sure like to eat green backs. That 350 will be just fine IMO.

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[53 Chevy5]

Really? I'm not being sarcastic but I seriously thought those were the best engines ever. I know several of them that went well over 200,000 miles with very little maintenance. I thought the 5.7 Tuned Port thing was like a orphaned child, not much support for them anymore.

[stovens]

I did the same for my 460, cheaper to buy a rebuilt longblock with a warrenty than rebuild with the same parts!

[falconvan]

TBIs are ok. Good reliable fuel injection as long as you’re not making over 350 hp. Easy to program.

[falconvan]

Got the motor dropped in; hopefully I can get everything bolted up this week and maybe do a test run next weekend.

[53 Chevy5]

Looks good, I bet your anxious to get some miles on it.