I'm considering building an LE2 heads/cam setup on a rebuilt LT1 that may see a 100-shot somewhere down the line, and I'd like to assemble the bottom end myself in the interest of saving money and learning how to assemble a shortblock. The engine will go into a soon-to-be daily driver that will see some strip time. My plan is to send the block out to get hot-tanked, bored .030 over and have new cam bearings and freeze plugs installed. I'll also send the crank out to get checked, and possibly machined if it needs it. From there I'm sort of lost on parts selection.

-Should I run the stock oil pump? If not, which pump would you recommend?
-What bearings do I need, and where should I get them?
-What rods should I use?
-How about pistons? Do I need to go forged?
-Which rings should I use?
-Do I need to do the 4-bolt main conversion?
-Will new OE lifters be sufficient?

And as far as assembly is concerned, I have Mike Mavrigian's "How to Rebuild Small-block chevy LT-1/LT-4 Engines" book on it's way to my house and a Chilton's manual. Any other resources I should look into?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

Stock oil pump is fine, depending on bearing clearances of course.

Clevite P Series for the lower end, Durabond bearings for cam bearings ar efine.

Any forged I or H beam is fine... I'm running Scat I-beams in my 355 w/ 6" rods

Go forged if you plan to spray

Go w/ the Mahle powerpak pistons, includes rings in a nice forged piston package.

Can you afford the additional cost of a splayed 4 bolt? Figure close to an extra $1k in machine work and parts.

I'd use replacement OE style lifters.

Those two resources are plenty for disassembly and reassembly.

 

Thanks alot for the reply! I don't think the splayed 4-bolt will be in the budget this time around though. What about compression ratio? The pistons will determine what it'll end up being correct? What would be an ideal CR with the LE2 heads, pump gas, and the possibility of spray?

 

Zero-decked block, Mahle pistons, and the milling done to the heads, with a felpro 1074 gasket will get you probably around 11.5:1 if not a little more I believe.

 

Im running eagle cast crank, SIR 6" I-beams, SRP forged pistons, with clevite bearings, but a CM worked oil pump. pistons are .010 in the hole, heads have been decked, and running impala gaskets which is around 11.5cr. basically what Javier runs on his setup, which should still be good enough for a decent amount of nitrous.

 

Yup, for pistons I'd go with the Mahle it's a real light coated piston with file fit rings. For the rods the Scat's I beams are good but with the 7/16 rod bolt. You don't need a 4blt main, but a studed 2blt shoud do it. I'm running an M55HV with my LE3 but I am using an aftermarket oil pan, I hear the M55HV is not recomended for the stock oil pan.
Good luck