LT1 Engine Build Starts! (pics)

[awr68]

Well kinda! I bought this 'unused' '96 LT1 engine off ebay a few years ago for a great price and never really knew if it was truely unused or just real clean...well yeasterday I finally got it torn down and was pleasently supprised to find out that it is indeed a new motor! Also, it has upgraded valve springs and a Hot Cam...not a bad score for $800! I wonder what I can get for the stock parts?

A couple years ago I decided to add a ProCharger to the build so I went to Frank for that...thanks again!!

This of course lead to needing a forged bottom end, so Jody (thanks!) sent me to Mike Lewis of http://www.lewisracingengines.com/ to help with the needed parts...which he did! We had Diamond build custom blower pistons and went with a Scat forged crank and rods...plus many other fun parts! And then he balanced everything. Now that I have the motor torn down I will crate it up with all the new parts and send it to Mike for machining and assembly. I still need to buy the valve train, but that's just a phone call away!

I hope to get it down there this week and have it back early next year. I'll keep the pics coming as the fun parts go into it!

I know dissassebly pics can be boring but this is exciting for me since this is the last major thing I have to take care of before final assembly can start! BTW, Chris is almost finished with the paint and will be delivering the car very soon!

I'll post some pics of the new motor parts once I find them all...they are tucked away somewhere in the house!

[awr68]

Here's another couple pics, one of it in the car last summer during pre-assembly. Thanks for looking!

[CRCRFT78]

Looking good.

[96z28ss]

man I have spent my share of time building LT1-LT4's.
here is a website I made with pics of the build on my old 96 Camaro SS. Man I wish I still had this car. www.96z28ss.cz28.com

[camcojb]

looks great Tony. Mike will take very good care of you, great guy and very fair pricing. Love that intake/throttle body setup, almost did the same for my LS2.

Jody

[awr68]

Yeah, I'm lucky you had that intake all together and sent it my way...hell there's a couple things under the hood that came from you!

[awr68]

Originally Posted by 96z28ss

man I have spent my share of time building LT1-LT4's.
here is a website I made with pics of the build on my old 96 Camaro SS. Man I wish I still had this car. www.96z28ss.cz28.com

Man that was quite a car and motor...I love all the details and the coil pack idea! Thanks for sharing!!

[96z28ss]

yeah I built the motor and dynoed it with the coil packs but ditched it and put a distributor in it. it made things alot more simple and got rid of the optispark

[Rybar]

Looks good Anthony, I'm also an LT1 fan, and used to have a Procharged 94 T/A. I had 99% of the parts to build a 383 LT1 for my Camaro, but sold it and went with the LS1.

[awr68]

In hind sight I would have done a n/a LS2...but this will be a fun/cool package...should get some attention since it wont really look like an LT1, basically the water pump will give it away though.