I purchased a 383 LT1 from some kid who was abandoning his project due to a home purchase and new cadillac CTS-V. All internals are complete along with heads and intake installed. We rotated the crank and didnt have any problems spinning or anything that I could tell. I bought this real cheap 2k (original sale started at 5k) and it has over 5k in all new parts, engine/machine shop work.

I am about to install the rods, RR, valve cover, timing cover, water pump, MDS opti, rear main seal, oil pan, and pretty much get it ready to drop in my 1992 z28.

I am afraid there may be some little thing wrong that I missed that will cause some serious problems as I have never built an engine before or worked on one.

Anyways, is there anything I should look for while the engine is in the current state? Anything I should do to make sure it should be ok before final assembly? I guess I can pull the intake if I really have to. What do you guys think? I have receipts of almost every part and also all the machine shop work for the balancing and block work. The previous owner did build a nice strong 305 TBI as his first engine build ever and it came out great, I got to check it out.

THanks

 

All you can really do is turn it. Only other option is to tear it down and have a machine shop double check everything. I personally would just run it, but that's just me.

 

There is alot you could check while it is out instead of installing it and then having to redo everything.
I would check cam thrust, crank thrust, rod clearance, bearing clearance just to name a few. If you are not competent at thatthen I would take it to a machine shop and have them verify the work. It may seem like an unecessary cost but in the long run it may seem very cheap. You said it yoursefl you bought it cheap and the parts are over 5k so why gamble with that for a couple hundred bucks?

 

I pulled the intake and my worst thoughts have come true... there is sand in some of the intake ports in the heads and built up around the valves

Now I pulled both heads and there is nothing on the pistons and cylinder walls look nice and clean and rotating the assembly is fine nice a smooth. Chad at Golen Engine Service is willing to tear down, check, and reassemble the short block and clean up the heads for a few hundred which at this point might be worth it.

OR I can change up the project now and go with a new rotating assembly for $2500 balanced, installed and ready to go for a supercharged 383 LT1 setup. ALl I really need to do is buy a nice D1SC procharger since I have everything else to finish the build.

Very frustrated right now but want to keep moving.

 

Sand in it? Why is there sand in it, you should just take it to a machine shop who knows what they are doing to inspect it/clean it and resemble (unless you have the tools and know how). Also write down EVERYTHING that is in that engine, so when you go to sell it or work on it you know what it has.

 

yea no idea... I went to look at it the first time and the intake was off and everything looked good. So I bought it. THen I went back to pick it up and he had the intake installed... maybe he threw some crap in there like an $#@$ but who knows.

I think I am going to work with Chad and get this all straightened out.

 

Is the intake powder-coated?? That could be the reason why sand is in there.

 

Looks like it was just painted because its flaking off at some corners. Not much be enough to know its a cheapo paint job. But the intake itself is nice and ported. I wonder if everything was done good then just at the last minute did some crap and got rid of it.

 

Yup that is money well spent to have Chad go through it.