I just fired my engine up last weekend after a new rebuild and now have about 500 miles on it. It runs great. So great that I want to share with you guys what I did, where I got it from, and how much it cost. It took me almost 3 months.

I'm not sure yet on my mpg, so far I've just gotten 20mpg and 22mpg on both fill ups. I got more like 27mpg on the stock engine. I expect this will go up as the engine breaks in.

I also expect it to run at least low 13s in the 1/4. This thing is loads of fun to drive, which is a good thing because I drive it 130 miles a day.

Well here's the list (in this order - description, brand and p/n, source, price):

Battery AC Delco 19001627 local Chevy dealer $103
Cam Crane 104227 Jegs $250 (on sale)
Valve Springs GM LT4 Jegs $50
Water Pump GM ACF-12527741 Summit $228
Shifter Hurst HUU-3915061 Summit $194
Torque Angle Gage OTC-4554 Summit $14
Ring Compressor SME-904030 Summit $29
Gasket Set Upper Federal Mogul HS 9966 PT Advance Auto $172
Pistons .030 over Mahle 2243498030 Summit $216
Piston Rings .030 over Perfect Circle PCR-41616CP-030 Summit $60
Oil Pump Primer CCA-4921 Summit $27
Rod Bearings .010 under Clevite CLE-CB663P10 Summit $27
Main Bearings .010 under Clevite CLE-MS909P10 Summit $27
Piston Ring Pliers POW-POW105060 Summit $10
Machine Work: turn crank, clean parts, recond rods, bore and hone, supply and install cam bearings, line bore, recond cyl heads, balance assembly, supply and install main studs local machine shop $1100
M22 Plugs for air fittings 1016 C.G. Enterprises $4
Oil pump pickup screen GM 12550042 local Chevy dealer $21
Head Gasket .026thick Mr. Gasket 720-5716G Jegs $44
Clean Intake Manifold and Front Timing Cover local machine shop $41
EGR blockoff plates UMI-2100 Hawk's Third Gen Parts $38
Drivebelt Goodyear GTR-4060642 Summit $23
Vacuum plugs MTM02253 O'Reillys $5
Engine Paint Duplicolor DE1613 Advance Auto $6
O2 sensors Bosch 15703 Advance Auto $90
Head Bolts Fel-Pro ES72856 Advance Auto $34
Engine Camshaft Sprocket GM 10206039 gmpartsdirect $35
Engine Crankshaft/Timing Sprocket GM 10128346 gmpartsdirect $27
Engine Oil Pressure/Temperature Sensor GM 19244497 gmpartsdirect $44
Oil Pump GM 93442037 Pace Performance $104
Timing Chain GM 10128485 Pace Performance $38
1LE Inlet Elbow GM 25147210 Pace Performance $71
Oil Pan GM 12557557 Pace Performance $95
Water Pump coupling GM 10128334 gmpartsdirect $30
PCM programming PCMforless $190
TOTAL $3447

I know I am missing some things and I did not include stuff like lubricants, some non-engine related stuff, and some other misc stuff, but this gives you an idea of what it takes to rebuild an LT1. As I said above, so far I'm pretty thrilled with the results. My engine went 264K miles before needing this rebuild. I plan to go at least another 264K.

Other than than the machining work and programming listed above, I did all of this myself in my 2 car garage. I pulled then engine and transmission together out the top. Luckily, I was able to borrow an engine hoist and stand.

I'm thinking about tearing into the Corvette now!

 

Any pics taken during the rebuild?

 

Pulling it out:



Empty engine bay:



Complete installed in car:

 

Why the new oil pan and overpriced oil pump? GM is just a cheap mellings, at least mine was, and those can be had for far less than $104

I do like the cam choice and the decision to bump up the compression. What's it at right now 11:1? Should run 12's for sure.

-Dustin-

 

My oil pan was really dented up and rusted from years of use. I had used a floor jack on it to jack the engine up when I put my headers on a few years ago and kind of screwed it up.

I figured there were cheaper and maybe better options for an oil pump, I just wanted to play it safe with the OEM unit. It's Mellings next time.

I didn't check compression, but the heads were minimally milled - probably like .010" or so total since this is the second time they've been reworked. If I was doing it over, I would probably have had the deck milled and paid more attention to compression. I'm guessing that I would have still been safe with zero decking the block and using a standard head gasket.

 

Ah I see.

Compression wise you just needed to CC the combustion chambers and then use a calculator to figure out the rest. Looks like a good stock rebuild. Keep an eye on those LT4 springs.

-Dustin-

 

I've been really suprised at the mean sounding idle of the 227 cam. I was expecting a near stock idle. I'm sure the duals dumped at the axle help with that but I sure don't remember the stock cam sounding this lumpy with the exact same exhaust.

I may go to a cat-back someday for more practical commuting, but this was free and it's fun for now.

 

True Duals for the win, I have them on both of my LT1's

-Dustin-