'05 Vette build thread

[bonecrrusher]

This weekend I got the front cradle lowered, got the oil pan out - and removed the windage tray.

I had dropped a few lifters down into the block when I was pulling out the cam.

I fished them out of the bottom end - most of them where sitting on the windage tray.

I put the windage tray back on - put in a new seal on the oil pickup tube, new oil pump, and new timing chain as well as new oil pan gasket.

I had the motor this far apart - might as well replace all the parts.

I put everything back together - got the cradle raised back up and the engine back off the hoist and the mounts back in.

I'll be putting on the cam sprocket and and the timing cover - then it'll be time for the heads.

Slowly but surely - finally getting closer!

Some pics:

[bonecrrusher]

First update - Truck:

My father in law has these tie down hooks in his 2010 GMC 1500 - and really liked them. So I cross shopped them and found out they will fit in the stake holes in the bed of my '05 - so found the best deal online and ordered them - not bad for 50 bucks.



Second update - Corvette:

Since I have had the front suspension dropped to get the oil pan in and out - I was decided to shop around for some coilovers - since everything was already torn apart. Plus I had to get an alignment anyways - so might as well only pay for an alignment once.

I happened to find a set of Pfadt Coilovers for over half off.

So a deal was made - and I got these in about a week. These are single adjustable and have 16 different settings from soft until stiff - and ride height adjustable.

I have installed the front since everything was apart - I haven't put the back on yet.




Back to the engine project:

I got everything buttoned up on the bottom end except for the crank pulley - I attempted to put it on last week with the old heat it up a bit and push it on - I got it onto the snout a good way and then it started not move - so I tapped it with a hammer a few times - and I must have it on the wrong spot and I completely broke the a 2" chunk of the lip off of the front lip.

Mind you there is a TSB out there specifically for my year Corvette for crank pulleys going bad - but online research shows that usually happens with 60-80k miles on the car - my car only has 42k miles on it and was trying to save some $$.

After I broke the lip off the pulley - I ordered a new Powebond crank pulley from O'Reilys - and the proper install tool!

It took about a week - but the pulley got here, and with the proper install tool it went on with no big problems:



While I was waiting for the install tool - and the crank pulley to come in - I finished up the top end of the motor.

I cleaned off the block one more time - put on the GMPP CNC LS3 Heads, the pushrods, the Lunatti LS3 rockers with the trunion upgrade, valve covers, and the LS3 intake.






So that wraps up the engine assembly - I just need to put in the headers, steering rack, radiator, fans, hoses, Varram intake - and all the other misc crap.

So hopefully I get the car finished up in the next few weeks - it will need an alignment - as well as a tune.

[bonecrrusher]

Time for an update!

I've been super busy around here - I got the headers on, the front suspension all bolted back up, and some more of the engine bay assembled.

The Kooks headers went in with absolutely no problem - I wish the LS7 parts went in this easy!

I did end up fighting the power steering hoses that go to the reservoir for a couple nights, I ended up taking the power steering pulley and the reservoir off the car tonight to get to the hose fittings on the rack - and that made enough room to get good access to them. After I finished up with the hoses, I put in the EBCM bracket, the tie rod ends, and bolted the swaybar back up.

Won't be too much longer until I am done - I still need to put in the radiator and the fans - and the rear coil overs - after that its time to fire this SOB up and get an alignment - and schedule the car to get tuned.

Now for some pics:

[Jay Hilliard]

Nice job. You're making good progress. How much additional HP do you expect with cam change, headers, intake and of course a tune?

[Frankenstine]

BC your project is looking good X2 on what Jay said what kind of numbers are you hoping to see after the Tune??

[bonecrrusher]

My car with the Vararam intake, and the LS7 manifolds put down 375 RWHP - which is about 430ish at the crank on the stock tune.

Between the cam, the CNC heads, the Kooks long tubes, and a proper tune - I am hoping to get ~500 HP at the crank so around 430-440 at the wheels would be a good goal.

[bonecrrusher]

So this past weekend I got the radiator and fans in, the intake, and the rear coilovers in.

This week I drained the transmission fluid relatively easy and couldn't figure out a way to refill the t56 still up in the car.

I ended up using a really old cheap fluid pump that I bought like 10 years ago to drain a fuel tank - I didn't think it would work - but it got the ATF into the trans with no problem.

I then installed the Kooks X-pipe, reconnected the Corsa axle back - and tightened everything up.

I tried to fire up the car last night - but the battery is dead - so by tonight I expect to get it up and running!

I still need to adjust the coilover ride height - and then reattach the rear swaybar as the rear is lowered and the endlinks won't line up anymore.

Now for some pics: