BUILD THREAD Saved from scrap. My new 87 Regal project.

Since my last update I have been plugging away slowly (too slowly honestly) on the getting the LS back together. As well as poorly documenting progress like usual.
Over the last year apparently... I have had the block in for a hot tank, fresh cam bearings and a general check over. With the Machine shops stamp of "in spec" it came home for down and dirty rebuild.


At this point assembly could begin. Again, I went as cheap as hell with this. Polished the crank with WD40 and 3000 grit sandpaper. I had a buddy hook me up with a good set of LY6 pistons (without intake valve imprints). I did get a set fresh of piston rings and replaced the 1 rod bearing that had the scratch.
At some point between cleaning and assembly the block received a few brake-kleen baths and a paint job that I never bothered to take any photos of. After hours of measuring bearing clearances, Hanging rods and filing piston rings I was finally ready to slap this back together.



The Wife even came out to throw the last 3 pistons in. It sat like this for the last few weeks until I could get after it again.
Ive been wanting to get the short block together and sealed up so I can move on to checking over the heads. Ive slowly picked up parts as they went on sale, or Marketplace scores like the crate engine take out LS3 camshaft Rktpwrd picked up for me.




Other than the fact I completely forgot to order a new timing chain damper I was all set to get this thing together. So this is how it sits now as it waits for a delivery tomorrow.
As of right now I have just under $900 into putting this thing together.

In other news, last weekend I got a text message "hey dude, do you want a free 6.0L I need it off my engine stand" Yes.. Yes I do.
Turns freely, had low oil pressure when pulled even with a brand new oil pump it wouldn't build more than 10 PSI.


I also picked up a set of mint seats this morning from marketplace for $70. They are out of a 2002 Sunfire 2door and should work nicely in the Regal.

Updates on a bit of progress over the last few weeks.
The engine's bottom end is now all sealed up and I have made some progress on the heads.


Since the valves contacted the pistons, I needed to tear the heads down replace the intake valves. I decided to smooth the intake runners out and clean up some casting marks.
Thanks for the replacement Valves Streetbu




After a pile of cleaning, rinsing, and valve lapping I finally had everything ready to go back together.




That's all for now. Hopefully I can jam on a few more loose ends and make some progress.

CopperNick said:

An LS head floating in a 5 gal pail/bath of engine cleaner/degreaser/solvent, and the pail says "Canadian Tire" on it?

"A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year "! to You from the Central Hinterlands of this great big frozen chunk of swamp coated granite known as Canada.

Me being perpetually curious here but which mfgr supplied the oil pan for your LS project? Holley? or Summit?? or ???

Sincerely hope your garage is well heated because the Siberians are being generous about sharing their miserable weather again. My own heat is set down to nominal to keep everything thawed and liquid and that is about it.

CopperNick

Click to expand...

Thanks Nick! Happy New year to you from Southern AB.
The Garage is heated and well insulated to keep the arctic air at bay. If I am not out there working I keep the stat set to about 55F (13C) I crank it up to about 67 if I will be out there working.
My oil pan is a Holley 302-2 knockoff from Performance World. I picked it up last year on sale during their boxing week sale. It shipped for free from MOPAC in Langley BC and was at my house in about 2 days. With tax it was still less than the 399 pictured below.

Plugged away on some more interior stuff this weekend.
Finally got around to swapping the awful tan seats out for the marketplace J body seats. These just bolted right on the the bases I had. I should have done this sooner because what a difference it made.



When I decided It was finally time to swap the front seats I knew the awful rear bench wouldn't cut it. So I ordered the finest Mexican blankets made in China from Amazon. I thought I bought the blue ones but these will work until I can find some seats that match and are in better shape. For 39 bucks and a pile of zip ties It's good enough for who it's for.





I just slapped the seats in for a quick photo. I still need to throw the belts back in to finish up.

Not as much to update. Working Saturdays the last few weeks has burned me out a bit. However I have picked up some parts and pushed for a bit of progress.
I did pick up some head gaskets and lifter trays and got the top end assembled.



Painted a set of valve covers I had laying around. and modified a baffle to make it work with the offset rockers.



Its been 2 weeks and the Valley cover gasket still hasn't shipped yet and Amazon won't let me cancel the order. I've been trying for over a week. Screw you discount Captain Picard...I mean Jeff Bozo. Ill pick one up locally this week and this will ship that day. I know it.
I also worked out a deal to give one of my customers kid the 305 out of the car for his K5 blazer project. I'll give the transmission a good cleaning and stash away for later.

That's it for now.
This Saturday I have to do bit of running around. Hit up a Pick-A-Part for 2 valve cover bolts and some center console shopping. Ill see how that goes.