Lloyd has a set of heads for me and I dont have the patience or money for a full rebuild right now. So I was thinking since the heads will be off.... all I guy really has to do is unbold the motor from the tranny and K-member and it should come up pretty easy. If this is so then I might as well go that route and replace main and rod bearings. My oil pressure is decent for a 98k motor.. 20 at idle, 40 cruise so Im not concerend with needing the crank turned. Never has burned a drop of oil that I can tell either so the rings are alright.

What do you guys think? Would this effort be worth it or would I have the same probability of spinning a bearing no matter their condition?

 

I've heard of people doing it before with no problems. But as long as your engine seems to be running strong, and you dont plan on reving the hell out of the motor, I would think you would be ok. But you may want to see what the others will say.

Mike

 

Dude you r going to take the motor out and just replace the bearings? R u going to cut the crank? Magnaflux the rods? Might as well pop the pistons out and rering it.......hell just bore it and get a whole rebuild kit. Listen if the bottom end it not making noise and you oil pressure is good leave it alone. I haven't pulled the engine out of my 97 Z yet but I have pulled many a motor. It looks like to me that you really gotta strip it down and remove the rad. condenser. fans etc. to get that LT1 out. -Heard some dude talking about pulling it out the bottom NEVER heard of that before- Anyway, slap some heads on it, give it a little inchassey overhaul with some new manifold gaskets or maybe an LT4 kit. Probably gotta pull the Rad and cond. for that. Bottom like leave the engine in the car.

 

Ive done what youre talking about, but it was because I had a crank that was bad (wore the thrust bearing out). The easiest way is to turn it over with heads off, unbolt each rod , keeping the caps and bolts organized, cover the rod bolts with boots or short lengths of rubber hose,push each piston to about 1/4 inch from the top of the cylinder do not expose the top ring, remove the crank, inspect. Then order appropriate bearings, lube well and reinstal the crank first.It would be a good time to look over each cylinder for scratches, if there are some good ones present you may as well pull that piston rering it hone the cylender and reinstall if the scratch isnt too deep. If the scratch is deeper then it will need to be bored. You'll have to determine at this point wether to just ignore that with crossed fingers, or push the pistons all out and get new pistons with the bore. Definately change the oil pump while youre here and get a steel sleeved pump drive.

 

take it out the bottom!! see www.michiganspeed.com/enginepull/ it works.