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Wow, awesome skills here.
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DT69 Thanks for the compliment. I need to get more like Sonar Chief and just get-r-done. Sometimes I spend too much time on things. Ok I almost always spend too much time!! I sent you a couple PMs on the bracket question.
Scott |
Oil Pan Install
I put the oil pan on this weekend. It is a simple job but there are a couple easy gotchas with the LS style pan and pickup tube, also with the Mast pan. I thought I would post up a little bit of detail in case it helps someone else. Make sure to order the right windage tray nuts. My engine has aftermarket studs and they were M10-1.25. I should have ordered this type of nut but I didn’t plan well and ordered the stock GM nuts that were too small.
https://i.imgur.com/pUKjkqzl.jpg Rather than lose the weekend I just bought some all metal locknuts and used hardened washers underneath, more on that later below. The pickup tube only uses one bolt but I decided to install one the little braces from Improved. It is probably overkill but a nicely made product and satisfied my need to have a bolt in every pickup hole. It twas a little tight to get it installed but it fits even with the cover already on. https://i.imgur.com/pWCTF0pl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/X7YUQSvl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/nzhkbA8l.jpg Remember I said above that I used standard M10-1.25 metal locknuts. Well they are really big and here is where I had a clearance issue with the pickup tube. I could have removed it and made a little dent but I didn’t want to start over. I just worked the nut down slowly until I could tighten it with an open end wrench. This time waster could have avoided by buying the special flange nuts ahead of time! https://i.imgur.com/8UVHwdzl.jpg The Mast instructions reminded you to measure the pickup clearance. I have done this before on other engines, but it was a good reminder to set some clay on top and adjust it. I had to hit mine with plastic hammer to get it square and establish the right clearance, so I was glad I did take the time to do this. Mostly I just wanted to use Play-Doh! https://i.imgur.com/n8i9Dlkl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/Skduzm3l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/r21LOl2l.jpg The Mast pan comes with special fittings and a reminder to take the plugs out and check for debris before the final installation. I was glad I did this because the long fitting actually had cut the O-ring and there were two loose pieces in there. I am not sure where those little O-ring pieces would have ended up (probably the filter). Also Mast tech support told me not to use the small second O-ring. They apparently quit using it about two years ago, so I know I won’t have the cut problem when I re-install it. https://i.imgur.com/bhzkqDll.jpg After blowing out all the oil passages I put the final torque on the pan bolts and installed a filter to keep dust out. It really is an easy job, but I learned more than I expected since this is my first LS engine. https://i.imgur.com/9QC2Axyl.jpg Well that was a little long but hopefully it helps someone. Next week back to the stainless exhaust. I spent a few hours on the LH tailpipe today but still not quite ready for final welding. Pretty sure the exhaust is my worst subject. If it was school I would be earning a C- ! |
why did you have to replace the stock windage trey nuts? my mast instructions did not make any mention of that?
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never mind i just looked back, looks like your motor did not come with the stock oil pan or windage tray.
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LH Tailpipe tacked-up
I didn't have a lot of time this weekend but finally got the LH tailpipe trimmed and tacked together. I have a lot of time in it and looking forward to being done with exhaust. Overall if fits pretty well. I still need to trim a few things, raise the differential and mount the tires to make sure there are no tight spots.
https://i.imgur.com/JNIaSdsl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/PHUbbawl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/4BVqpIjl.jpg A while back I sketched up a hanger bracket for the tailpipes. I need to get two of these made this week and start doing some of the final welds on the exhaust. The frame rails are really thin so these brackets will mount with Rivnuts, similar to the DSE sway bar bracket. https://i.imgur.com/VghXCFcl.jpg Not quite out of the exhaust business yet but getting closer! |
Finally got a chance to read through the entire thread. Love the fab work that you've done! I'll be looking back through this when I get to my VA system and exhaust.
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Hope there is some helpful stuff in there. I can say if you have a choice take the "git-er-done" approach like Sonar Chief (and others). Mostly just have fun because that is what it's all about!
Scott |
I think the tailpipe hangers came out about like I planned. It was fun to sketch something up and then make it and have it come out about like it was designed. We do that for a living at work, but mostly I just like to freehand and have fun in my garage. Here are the LH bracket rivnuts installed and the bracket in place.
https://i.imgur.com/TvjK0xpl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/PqFURmLl.jpg I was a little worried about drilling the one horizontal hole because there is very little clearance. I messed around with a few ideas and the first one took an hour or so experimenting. Since others may run into the same problem I decided to shoot some images on the RH side. I cut down a ¼ inch drill and used the angle grinder to start the hole. Then put the step drill in the air ratchet to get the size stepped up. I paint a stripe on the correct step so I don’t forget how far to go. After that just a little clean up with a drill held in vice grips. Seems clunky but it worked fast the second time. https://i.imgur.com/h81epHll.jpg https://i.imgur.com/saXfz07l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/rjHpEtbl.jpg I was thinking about using my rivnut tool to do all this work but I ended up buying fine thread inserts. Turns out they don’t have any fine thread adapters after I wasted a couple hours on the internet. I found a company that makes a little hand adapter that worked pretty well. I will admit I botched a couple of rivnut installs and had to cut them out and start over. Fortunately they fall out of the frame towards the back. https://i.imgur.com/MLTi8qdl.jpg I need to get some screw jacks because it is a lot of work to get the car at ride height because the differential is so heavy. I jacked it up and there are no interference points and the exhaust is at least ¾ inch away from everything on the suspension and 1-inch from the tires. I still need to weld the hangers but the mockup was good. https://i.imgur.com/O1rBssYl.jpg https://i.imgur.com/1qC2XB0l.jpg https://i.imgur.com/1uPUsghl.jpg It is starting to get pretty crowded under there and I still need to order a driveshaft and add some sort of travel limiter so the differential won’t drop so far, and add the fuel and brake lines, vents, etc! https://i.imgur.com/XzMYLUyl.jpg That’s if for now. I keep saying I am going to weld this exhaust up but little details demand attention. Hope to start that next week! |
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