Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

wouldnt that make your false knock situation worse?

Having it relocated does two thing, less sensitive (noise mostly is isulated by the intake gaskets) but it also keep it away from the Transmission noise. I don't have flase knock though either.

dave how did you route the wiring there? i assumed you lengthened the wires.

I didn't length the wire. I instead had bought a kit long time ago that plugged into the wiring off of different GM sensors so you could test them. I modified that, so I didn't have to cut the factory wiring harness.

 

[myclone]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

Burn pattern looks fine IMO on the one head you pulled (well, as fine as LB4 comb chambers can be ).

Couple of things FWIW... Ive scrapped two random tech cats that were put on brand new. The media came apart just like yours did so Im guessing the random cats arent very durable. Also, whats the dealy with the rad core support? Doesnt look like factory at all to me....inquiring minds wanna know :tup: .

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

Also, whats the dealy with the rad core support? Doesnt look like factory at all to me....inquiring minds wanna know :tup: .

I guess I don't have any complete pictures of it, but its a PEP skelton radiator support.

 

[TurboJunk]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

that threaded hole isnt a water passage.

dave how did you route the wiring there? i assumed you lengthened the wires.

Ahhh ok that changes everything.
one more thing did you feel a big difference by covering the exhaust housing? were under temps lower or not much that it was worth it

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

i had some type of heat blanket/shield on the exhaust housing. all though i never had datamaster on the truck when i got it.

 

[SEL777]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

Good info. We should keep this thread for the tech section.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

My PS Puller came in this weekend so I finished the removal. I didn't take as many progress pictures because I have try to keep the camera clean. So, I just finish the removal part.

I hate that bolt behind the PS pump for the AC/PS brackets. After that the Driver Manifold and head easily came out.

Here is the Drivers Head. I notice a black ring on both rear exhaust valves (#5 & #6)

The cylinders look all pretty much the same, #6 has some antifreeze in it, that leaked in during the head removal.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

I start to check out everything to make sure I could spot anything obvious. The balancer is right on with TDC. Each piston looks fine in terms of how it lines up with the block Deck (visually checking signs for bent rods) and the both pairs of pistons come together for TDC at the same time. The only thing that did stand out in #4 cylinder was bring up oil as I rotated the engine. I Probably rotated it about 3 dozen times, checking and clean the cylinders out.

Should I be concerned about this? I never did a compression test. I assume since the crankcase wasn't presurized, it would be fine. Or is this normal for an engine that has sat for a month to do this.

 

[VermontTy]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

Dave, for that bolt behind the PS bracket that is nearly impossible to get to...before you put that bracket back on, take a grinder or hacksaw and cut out the outer ridge of the bracket so you can get after it from straight in on the side.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

I upload the pictures to a different server.

 

[QUICK STORM]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

number 4 cylinder wall looks a little rough

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

number 4 cylinder wall looks a little rough

Yeah I already know this. This thread is from this past summer. A couple of people had asked me about my pictures in this thread, so I had time last night to fix them.

I am either getting a new short block or my motor is getting a rebuilt to get it running again. It really depends on if my contract at work is renewed. I have money to do what I want with the short block, but I don't want to spend my savings if my work income is uncertain...

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

I have started making some more progress on my truck. My Vortec head swap has become a later Vortec engine swap. You can see the details for this thread.

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=47070&highlight=

Until today I hadn't make much visual progress. I have been busy catching up on household projects, looking for a job and dealing with a my dogs sickness (We know know he has terminal cancel) I have order 99% of the parts I need. I have organize all my bolts into bags/contianers & lean and organize my garage (a huge undertaking), order new parts, porting my lower intake, and also rebuild a transmission on the side (and wasting more time on car stereo crap).

Today I pull the original engine out. I would have pictures but my wife grab the camera and brought it into work today. I will post them tonight.

In addition to the Vortec swap, I am also doing a PTE 61BB, McCoy Air to Air, redoing my Alky injection, PLX Wideband and most importantly tuning it with code $59. I will be doing my tranny later (my original still works fine) to eliminate that from the equation as I start tuning. I am hoping to make a bunch of progress in the next couple of weeks, I first have to organize how I am going to pick up my engine and then have the machine work done to the heads. The last time I drove my truck was the week after 4th of July of last year and I hope to be driving it by them.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

I am still cranking along with all my other stuff. I thought I would share some pictures of my intake porting.

This my upper intake, I had gasket ported it a couple of years ago, but I further ported necked down area a little more. I get nervous about taking too much material off because I know the metal is porus, I kept measuring it to make sure their was enough metal with pasically a set of of calipers.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

This is the Stock Intake ports

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

Ported Vortec modified intake. I basically ported the area where the intake meets the Vortec heads

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

I fully ported and polished the lower intake, I didn't do a lot of material removal, just knock off the casting flash to the lower ports.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

I might as well update this post. I picked up a 2003 Vortec Long Block from a junkyard. I stripped the motor down and cleaned it up. I didn't get a 4wd motor, so I had to buy a 96 and later 4x4 Oil and an Oil pump pickup (later one use a 3/4" Inlet) I also picked up a junkyard starter for the Vortec motor (a 1996 Up starter is required in this swap, the crank is offset). I was going to buy a GM starter until I saw the price, GM cost is almost $400.

To do this swap you will need a new oil pan gasket 10220906, -10AN Bung for the turbo oil return. I replaced the stock cam with turbo custom grind (balance shaft cams are specific to balance shaft motors). The balance shaft timing set has a ton of slop in it. I bought the GM service bulletin upgrade, you will need all three parts.

12458911 Chain Kit and new gears
89017257 Tensioner
89017259 Cover Kit.

Also since your dealing with a Vortec motor their are a few fastener torque differences, here is listing (Tooky provided this link in his epic heads/cam swap thread)
http://www3.telus.net/subvelocity/tighteningspecs.html

Here is a couple of thread about E-Rue Sawp (who convinced me to try this)

http://www.syty.net/forums/showthread.php?t=36545
http://phpbb2.turbotimelounge.us/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1144

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

One on the solid motor mounts, I had to elongate one of the holes and the other mount was tight, I am not if this is production tolerances or slight difference between blocks.

Here is a better picture of the timing chain tensioner.

I installed Turbotime 214 cam with Comp Cams 918's behive Valve Springs/Retainers. I used Stock sized Comp Cams pushrods.

Here is the 4x4 Oil pan with -10an weld bung installed. You don't want to install the Oil pan bung in the stock location unless you use a 90 fitting or it will hit the frame motor mount pad.

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: Top End Removal/Vortec Swap

Here is the bottom as of today. I sent off the Oil Pump pick up to be tig welded. I installed some pretty blue oil & coolant fittings. I am getting rid of the leaky stock oil and coolant lines and replaced them with Turbotimes braided hoses.