It's been awhile since I've posted an update here.
Back in November I was laid off from my job - so all of my car projects came to a halt.
I was out of work for 6 weeks - but I was getting paid as part of my severance package. I found a new job here in Charlotte with the same company - so I can't complain - the 18% raise in my base pay doesn't hurt either.
So about half way into my "paid vacation" I had run out of things to do on the truck, G8, and around the house. So I made the decision to buy the last parts that I needed for my LS2 build up. I only had to spend a few hundred bucks to get the gaskets, timing chain, and other parts to finish up my parts list for the motor project.
The good/bad thing is that all my parts finally arrived - just in time for me to start my new job - so all my free time has disappeared and this will be a night and weekend kind of project.
As a project refresh - several years ago I had bought a set of CNC machined L92 heads from GM. When I had received the heads - one of them was not properly packaged and had been dropped - it dinged up the edges of the mounting surface that bolts to the block. I tried to file a claim with paypal but the guy disappeared from the forum that I bought them from and got stuck with 1 jacked up head.
After reading some forums - and having no money for a machine shop - I decided to get some files, file down the part was dinged and get some sand paper and WD40. I used the file to flatten the one corner and used sand paper to take out the grooves in the gasket surface - after a few hours of work I fixed the head - I have checked with a straight edge and the head is straight as can be.
My next project was to swap out the L92 intake valves for a set of LS3 intake valves - the LS3 intake valves are several grams lighter per valve - I don't have the exact number - but you can feel the difference holding the valves up next to each other.
After a few hours of work - the cylinder heads are now ready to be swapped onto the car.
So now I am in the middle of tearing down the Corvette - I have gotten the intake, the exhaust off the car, and thats when I hit a snag.
I got the manifold bolts out of the heads with no problem but one of the bolts holding the manifold to the cat/collector pipe rounded off last night.
So that ended my night as I didn't have the proper size Bolt Out tool. I went to Sears tonight and got the whole set - so I should get that manifold off tonight.
I plan on pulling the radiator and the front end of the motor off this weekend.
