Current rebuild thoughts

[Don W.]

OK, here's the direction I'm headed on my rebuild:

4 bolt splayed center mains
stock rods
.010/.010 internally balanced crank.
Still not decided on pistons but block will be .030 over and -0- decked
Comp 412 or 415 cam, or possible custom grind
L35 heads mild porting with a 5 angle valve job
No headers
20G turbo w/3" DP with some sort of cold air. (Bat moved to bed.)
$59 tune w/alky

There are 2 goals here; don't break the bank and run low to mid 12's consistently on 20lbs or less boost so motor runs for a long time. Whadaya think? Don't slam me to hard, :rotf: I can be convinced to change as none of these parts have been bought yet. (Figured I'd have the heads by now but haven't found any local.)

Time is, so far, is on my side as I don't need the truck to run until Jan or Feb.

 

[STORM TROOPER]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

OK, here's the direction I'm headed on my rebuild:

4 bolt splayed center mains
stock rods
.010/.010 internally balanced crank.
Still not decided on pistons but block will be .030 over and -0- decked
Comp 412 or 415 cam, or possible custom grind
L35 heads mild porting with a 5 angle valve job
No headers
20G turbo w/3" DP with some sort of cold air. (Bat moved to bed.)
$59 tune w/alky

There are 2 goals here; don't break the bank and run low to mid 12's consistently on 20lbs or less boost so motor runs for a long time. Whadaya think? Don't slam me to hard, :rotf: I can be convinced to change as none of these parts have been bought yet. (Figured I'd have the heads by now but haven't found any local.)

Time is, so far, is on my side as I don't need the truck to run until Jan or Feb.

if the engine flows good you prob wont get 20lbs out of tha turbo. get some rods:tup:

 

[Don W.]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

Ya I know, get some rods. Which I'd love to do but can anyone show me mildly built motor such as this that has thrown a Towanda(sp?) rod that wasn't pushing lots of boost? Even before tear down this motor saw 24lbs a few times (reason for the spun mains ya think?) but the pistons and rods looked fine.

Hmmm, won't get 20lbs? Haven't seen a comment like that here before. I hear what yur sayin' but why? Not enough turbo or??

 

[nallj92]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

i would do eagles with 2 bolt main with studs, imo 2 bolts arent as bad as people lead them to be

 

[sytydvr]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

yeah 2 bolts are ok . with some ARPs of course

 

[Slowcone]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

i would look into stock vortecs over l35s

 

[Don W.]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

The mains are being done. The two center ones are the ones that failed though the caps were not the reason. I suspect that the reason (just thought of this) is that the center mains get pressure from both sides whereas the end mains get pressure form only one side. Whadaya think of that theory eh? :roll:

Rods are a real question mark. Everyone likes upgraded rods but, like I said, how often do the stock ones fail on a 12 second truck. Now if I were doing a monster turbo, tons of boost then yea but with my build?? Anyway, haven't got there yet so we'll see.

And again why wouldn't I get 20lbs boost from a 20G? Am I missing something?

 

[jpalmer]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

i think they would be fine as long as you are tuned with little knock

 

[blk00z28]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

IMO, there are a lot of us that have run low 12's on mostly stock stuff. I did it really without a tune at all and spraying meth. I broke #3 piston ring land, but ran over 24psi on the street constantly.

Go 4 bolt, and go vortecs. With a 50-60 trim turbo. With a tune you'll be happy.

Btw, what do you consider a cheap build? What's your max price range?

 

[vettandtyphoon]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

for a little to a few extra dollars.. just get the better rods so you don't have to worry about it. in my opinion if your going to do it.. do it right the first time.

i don't see why your 20g shouldn't push 20 psi. i was running 16-18 with my stocker. well good luck with the build and i personally don't think that time is on your side if you want it back in january or february


i also agree i believe that the 2 bolt main is underrated

 

[Don W.]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

OK, here's where I'm at right now. Appreciate all the comments. Prolly looking at a max cost of 5k to 5.5k including a trans rebuild. To be honest money is an issue. In the end I think I'd rather do rods than convert the manifold for Vortecs. Some stuff still not in this picture; injs, some sort of tune ($59?), a TC to name 3. Plus a gazillion small things that add up. :rotf:

Trouble is, in the end, if I don't do the rods I'll wish I did. You know how that goes.:roll: Can somebody fix the stock market so this isn't such a hassle??? Big hit on us retired folks.:rant:

Clean and mag block, install cam bearings, all plugs 120
Crank 265 (includes 45 spent on old crank)
Oil Pump 90
Piston Rings 113
Balancing 350
Main Bearings 65
Rods (Rebuilt) 90
Pistons (est.) 450
Cam (est.) 400

Line bore & hone 275
Cyl bore w/torque plate 275
4 bolt cap conversion 350
Cam bearings & plugs 65

TOTAL 2788

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

Can somebody fix the stock market so this isn't such a hassle??? Big hit on us retired folks.:rant:

Hate to say it Don, but I think it's going to get much worse I've also had to delay my new engine build for the same reason.... next few months could get pretty scary.

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

IMO, best thing you could do is have everything balanced and make DAMN sure your oil pump pick up tube doesn't fall off:roll: Trust me, I know. I wiped two motors out to this. Good running motors!! Here is what I would do if I were you
Stock crank
w rods
SRP's or maybe even some speed pros. People laugh but my speed pros were HYPERs and they looked new when I took them out, after brake cleaner of course, but no cracks, or damage
custom cam (you're talking an extra $100)
stock lifters
L35 heads
2001+vortecs(this is a good mod just because you get roller rockers with them)
60# Motrons
20g turbo-absolutely no reason in the world why you can't run 20+ on that. That's insane to think you couldn't.
This would be a fairly cheap build. I'm of the mind that 2 bolts are underrated as well. Never had one break, walk, run or do jumping jacks. Especially for the turbo you're running. Why bother?

 

[STORM TROOPER]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

20g turbo-absolutely no reason in the world why you can't run 20+ on that. That's insane to think you couldn't.
This would be a fairly cheap build. I'm of the mind that 2 bolts are underrated as well. Never had one break, walk, run or do jumping jacks. Especially for the turbo you're running. Why bother?

i had a 20g with 40over stock heads 3in dp and it would hit 28lbs had rebuild engine w/vortecs and the rest was the same same 20g 14lbs with waste gate wired shut,that is what happened to me,i called a couple of turbo guys on the board they said that with built engine that is about all you will get out of it:rant: iwish it would hit 18 or even 28,14lbs was it,and if the engine is apart just put the rods in now it will save time and money:tup:

 

[NecroWolf]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

skip the ported l35 and go vortec. step up the turbo, tooky maxed out a 51 or 54 with vortecs. get a fast ramp cam to match the vortecs. you'll be very happy.

 

[mrweelr]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

Hey Don - looks like both our trucks are down for the count. I'm installing a GB 80e and RPM coil-over suspension right now. Should have the beast running again by Spring...hope to see you at the track

 

[blk00z28]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

Imo your $2788 total will more then likely end up being around $3500. If not closer to $4k before your done. Its not the big parts that kill you, its the small stuff that nickel and dime you to death. You have a basic grounds for a good build. But you have to ask yourself. If the near future after its done and you want to push it harder. Are you going to stress and worry over the fact that you went cheap on some stuff when you could have spent the little extra time and money and done it right all this time?

Believe me. I've changed my build 4-5 times from the start. At first I was just going to rebuild it all mostly stock. Then I said I'll do vortec's. Then I said I'd do vortec's with a carb intake. Now I'm at bowtie heads with a carb intake. Aside from lacking the high dollar crank and bowtie block I'll have the rest of it. But I'm also picking parts right and not rushing this. And I've sold parts to offset the cost of the new ones.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

Imo your $2788 total will more then likely end up being around $3500. If not closer to $4k before your done. Its not the big parts that kill you, its the small stuff that nickel and dime you to death. You have a basic grounds for a good build. But you have to ask yourself. If the near future after its done and you want to push it harder. Are you going to stress and worry over the fact that you went cheap on some stuff when you could have spent the little extra time and money and done it right all this time?

I agree, it's the "small" stuff that adds up. And yes by the time the truck drives out of the shop I bet the total bill will 5000 - 5500. (including trans rebuild) I was just posting what amounts to my current costs to get the short block together. Right now the whole thing is on hold due to finances but hope to have that straightened out in a couple of weeks. Meantime it gives me time to mull over my choices and ask lots of questions here.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Current rebuild thoughts

Some progress to report: Vortec heads are coming so I'll be doing that mod and some 50# inj's are coming also. Talked to the machine shop a bit and they will be happy to do the manifold mod. We'll see how that works out. I'm gonna stick an add in the WTB forum an see if anyone has a manifold they want to unload. :roll: Ya know what that means don't ya?? Rods. Rods and some good pistons. (Wuz gonna buy good pistons anyway.) I'm slowly heading toward my basic plan: Bullet proof motor running in the 12's on less, hopefully a lot less, than 20# boost. We'll see... So the main items still on the undecided list are turbo, cam and TC. The chip is also an open question but I'm leaning toward $59.