So I am going to be sending my head to lsjion soon to get some exhaust porting done. While the head is off I think i want to put a set of diamond pistons in. My car has 88000 miles on it and i have bought a TVS with a 2.8 pulley. What i need to know is what all should i replace on the engine. Rod bearings obviously, but what about the mains. I'm already going to get a timing set, is there anything else I'll need?

 

Well all gaskets obviously. Might as well upgrade to ARP head studs while you're in there. Make sure to measure your cylinders before throwing new pistons in.

 

Toughest part is getting a round cylinder bore perpendicular to the crankshaft find a good machine shop with a CK10 sunnen machine or better. Second biggest issue is cleanliness. Third is knowing what you are doing. If you want to DIY find an engine builder to
Mentor you. All the best

 

Gaskets and head studs. Be sure to checkout our site for your parts.

 

By the sounds of things he's rebuilding the motor with the block in the car.

 

Thinking about doing it with the block in the car yes. But i can remove it pretty easily, got a lift right next door. Aswell as a pretty decent mentor, hes just not the kind thats built any 4 cylinders, mainly mopar small blocks are his thing. lol So far i have head gasket and head studs on order since i was originally only planning on sending the head out for porting and then putting it back on

 

then leave the thing alone, dont touch the bottom end at all, replace the cylinder head. No point in putting diamonds into a worn bore, even with a bead hone, its a waste of money... you will face perhaps increased oil consumption with a new head and old rings, but its easy to add a quart of oil occasionally. Totally the best deal on head gasket sets complete with TTY bolts etc all you need, comes out of Crate Engine Depot, cant be beat.

This is motor in the car. KISS applies. BTW you gotta travel far to beat a factory built ecotec motor in your car. The build quality is good enough that the ecotec was one of Ward's "ten best motors in the world" for like ten years.

 

It depends on how good of shape the bores are. If they are within spec there's no reason why you couldn't hone it and throw new pistons and rings in.

 

Subd. KISS and cleanliness is godliness

If this takes you longer than a weekend, your in over your expirience level

 

Lol who cares how long it takes. If you don't know, read the lsj build book, take your time and learn.

 

wow

 

At this point i haven't decided to do pistons yet, but i am sending the head out for porting. I'm doing neutral balance shafts at the same time. Should get a timing kit and do all that while I am in there. I have heard horror stories about the tensioner bolt just falling right out on some 06 cars.

 

powell is correct don't slam slugs in unless you pull it and get it checked If you go that route DO NOT BORE THE SLEEVES NO MORE THEN .010 they are only.060 thick from the get go if it takes more then .010 to clean them up you will need to resleeve the block gm sleeves are hit and miss on staying round after they are installed