LT1 Engine Build Starts! (pics)

[awr68]

Well kinda! :) I bought this 'unused' '96 LT1 engine off ebay a few years ago for a great price and never really knew if it was truely unused or just real clean...well yeasterday I finally got it torn down and was pleasently supprised to find out that it is indeed a new motor! Also, it has upgraded valve springs and a Hot Cam...not a bad score for $800! I wonder what I can get for the stock parts?

A couple years ago I decided to add a ProCharger to the build so I went to Frank for that...thanks again!!

This of course lead to needing a forged bottom end, so Jody (thanks!) sent me to Mike Lewis of http://www.lewisracingengines.com/ to help with the needed parts...which he did! We had Diamond build custom blower pistons and went with a Scat forged crank and rods...plus many other fun parts! And then he balanced everything. Now that I have the motor torn down I will crate it up with all the new parts and send it to Mike for machining and assembly. I still need to buy the valve train, but that's just a phone call away!

I hope to get it down there this week and have it back early next year. I'll keep the pics coming as the fun parts go into it!

I know dissassebly pics can be boring but this is exciting for me since this is the last major thing I have to take care of before final assembly can start! BTW, Chris is almost finished with the paint and will be delivering the car very soon!

I'll post some pics of the new motor parts once I find them all...they are tucked away somewhere in the house! :lol:

[awr68]

Here's another couple pics, one of it in the car last summer during pre-assembly. Thanks for looking! :cheers:

[CRCRFT78]

Looking good.

[96z28ss]

man I have spent my share of time building LT1-LT4's.
here is a website I made with pics of the build on my old 96 Camaro SS. Man I wish I still had this car. www.96z28ss.cz28.com

[camcojb]

looks great Tony. :thumbsup: Mike will take very good care of you, great guy and very fair pricing. Love that intake/throttle body setup, almost did the same for my LS2. :unibrow:

Jody

[awr68]

Yeah, I'm lucky you had that intake all together and sent it my way...hell there's a couple things under the hood that came from you! :thumbsup:

[awr68]

man I have spent my share of time building LT1-LT4's.
here is a website I made with pics of the build on my old 96 Camaro SS. Man I wish I still had this car. www.96z28ss.cz28.com

Man that was quite a car and motor...I love all the details and the coil pack idea! Thanks for sharing!! :thumbsup:

[96z28ss]

yeah I built the motor and dynoed it with the coil packs but ditched it and put a distributor in it. it made things alot more simple and got rid of the optispark

[Rybar]

Looks good Anthony, :thumbsup: I'm also an LT1 fan, and used to have a Procharged 94 T/A. I had 99% of the parts to build a 383 LT1 for my Camaro, but sold it and went with the LS1.

[awr68]

In hind sight I would have done a n/a LS2...but this will be a fun/cool package...should get some attention since it wont really look like an LT1, basically the water pump will give it away though.

[zbugger]

One step closer, huh Anthony? I gotta order up the rotating assembly for my car soon. I really want to get that thing going.

[Rybar]

In hind sight I would have done a n/a LS2...but this will be a fun/cool package...should get some attention since it wont really look like an LT1, basically the water pump will give it away though.

No worries, a blown LT1 is ALOT of fun (they make great torque) trust me as I have personal experience. :yes: How are you beefing up the internals?

[awr68]

One step closer, huh Anthony?

Yes! :) It's almost time to hammer down and get this thing on the road!! :D

[awr68]

How are you beefing up the internals?

Got a forged crank and rods from Scat and forged pistons we had Diamond build...had to due to the LT1's small chambers, I wanted a 8.5:1 cr, and no off the shelf pistons would do it....so we spent a fair amount more and had what we needed built. In hind sight (kinda still learning) I should have put the money into new better flowing heads with larger CC's so standard blower pistons would do the trick....but hey I've had to do this on a budget and never felt I could spend 2k on heads...and the piston money was doable. Also, we are converting it to a 4 bolt main and using all ARP fasteners.

I'm rounding up all the parts tonight and will probably take a few pics...I think the pistons look sweet!

[awr68]

Here's a couple pics from tonight. Just had to take a peek at the pistons once more. Tomorrow night I will build the crate and then it's off to Mike Lewis and out of my hands! :unibrow:

[Tom.A]

Going to be nice. The mock-up picture of engine/intake looks very clean. Almost like it came that way from factory.

[awr68]

Thanks Tom!

[Spiffav8]

Woohoo! That's a step in the right direction. Hey it's only been 5 years coming! lol

:thumbsup:

[fesler]

Looks like a sweet project and cant wait to see it finished. I love the intake set up and the way the inner cooler looks

[rwhite692]

Looking great Tony, with Chris being almost done w/the paint, you must be really stoked!!

[awr68]

Chris, thanks! It all kinda fell into place...well kinda! ;)

Rob, yeah I'm quite excited, if the weather holds Chris is suppose to deliver it next weekend. Going to be quite a Christmas!! :D

Curtis, yes it has been a long time coming, many times I never thought I would get this far!!

[awr68]

Got the LT1 short block back fromhttp://www.lewisracingengines.com/...Mike sure does nice work and was great to deal with! I should have the valve springs within the next few days and then we can finish putting this thing together! I cant wait to put all the fun stuff on the motor! :yes: Anyways here's a couple pics for now...

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee259/awr68/IMG_03201.jpg

Custom Blower Pistons by Diamond
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee259/awr68/IMG_03171.jpg

Forged Scat Crank & H Beam Rods, Billet Splayed caps.
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee259/awr68/IMG_03191.jpg

[Rybar]

Nice Anthony, now get to work and finish that thing :lol: