Oxygen454

Getting ready to replace the bottom bearings in my 1996 LT1 350. I have read a bit about it but Im not sure of a few things.

What do the bearings look like? Also how do I go about doing this? I know how to jack the engine by the oil pan 3 inches and blocking the engine. Then removing the pan after draining the oil of course. What happens next? How do I get the these bearing to replace them?

Oxy

rskrause

Do you mean the main bearings or the rod bearings? You don't mean just the bottom half of the mains, do you? I can't think of why one would do just the bottom half of the bearings. I would pull the motor if it needs bearings. Chances are it needs other stuff if it needs bearings. Also, the work needs to done very clean and it hard to maintain cleanliness under the car. Also just plain hard to work in such a cramped, dark space.

Oxygen454

Somone I knew once told me that you can remove the oil pan and remove the caps to check the bearings? I have a low oil problem that lead to bearings and from what shops and people have told me, to change the bearings in the bottom located above or near the oil pump?

Apparently you can get to them by lifting the engine... dont have much funds and need to get the car working correctly again.

shoebox

I would never do bearings with the engine in the car. It's something you want to do right and you can't do right that way, IMHO.

Plus, if you have never done it before, you need to read up on what you are doing, books, etc.

Oxygen454

Might have to go that way then... engine pull which sucks but I can clean up the engine and fix it that way better...

Where can I get good books to learn how to do this and what do these bearings look like?

shoebox

Some bearing and rebuild pics here: http://www.karl-ellwein.org/350Y2003/350Y2003.htm

Oxygen454

Will have to look for that book... Chapters might have it here...

Now the question is pull the engine through the top or bottom...

Rich2279

Get that book! Excellent information.

ACE1252

Trust me.....bottom. I considered both ways and bottom is the way to go.

rskrause

Bottom IF you access to a lift. Otherwise, through the top.

shoebox

Heck, if you have access to a floor jack to you can do it out the bottom.

Oxygen454

Floor jack lol your kidding right? I was looking at this thread.. is it hard to pull the engine? Just undoing a ton of crap and then lifting the car and dropping the engine? I hear some people can do this in under 7 hours lol..

Engine Removal Bottom

Oxy

shoebox

Yes, I only used a floor jack and did it by myself. Even by myself, I don't think it took 7 hours.

mrmint69

Just wondering what your low oil problem is? My oil pressure is 18 once it warms up at idle. I assume you have other symptoms but wanted to be sure you have real problems and not just guessing.

slingshot

You could always just put thicker oil in it, or a higher pressure/volume oil pump, but with that you need a bigger pan other wise it might suck the pan dry. I would never touch anything inside of the motor such as the bearings with the motor in the car. I did the oil pan, and put a new oil pump in mine with it in the car, and that was a crappy enough job without removing anything else in the motor..