Rebuilding 5.7 Vortec for 85 Regal

[383_GrandPrix]

The main caps should already be stamped from factory. I put mine on a ring of bailing wire and sent them with the block for hot tank. everything else can be cleaned up at home. You'll just need some de-greaser and maybe a soda blaster for the pistons. Talk to your local machine shop, they'll probably also hot tank the heads for you at the same time.

As for bagging and tagging; everything you are going to reuse MUST be labelled as to where it came from especially valve train (lifters, push rods, rockers)

 

[Stylez]

Ok. Is the plastigauge a p.i.t.a.? How long does it take to do the mains and rods?

 

[383_GrandPrix]

Being a machinist, I didn't use plastigauge. I used and inside and an outside Micrometer to measure my clearances. From what I've seen it's not hard, just take your time and make sure you do all of them. Remember that putting the engine back together will take more then a couple hours if you do everything right.

 

[Yav8]

You will need to mark the main caps 1-5 front to back. You will also need to mark the pistons 1-8 and keep the rod caps on the rods they came off of. The rest will make no difference in how they go back on. The lifters are hyd. rollers so no problem how they get put back in. For marking you can just use a small pointed punch and mark each rod cap with 1-8 dimples. For the main caps a dimple 1-4 under the bolt head where it meets the cap will also work. Clean the pistons and use a old ring to clean the ring lands of carbon and you should be ready for new rings. Be sure to order rings for a 97 350 chevy from a truck. They metric rings 1.5/1.5/3.0mm

 

[Stylez]

Being a machinist, I didn't use plastigauge. I used and inside and an outside Micrometer to measure my clearances. From what I've seen it's not hard, just take your time and make sure you do all of them. Remember that putting the engine back together will take more then a couple hours if you do everything right.

Ok... I will make sure to take my time thanks for all the help and info... ill post more pics as I get further into this build.

 

[Bar50]

See if you can find an LT1 cam from an Impala or Camaro/Firebird or an even better choice would be an LT4 Hotcam. You can use LS2 blue valve springs GMPP #12625033 ($55 or so new) and a set of retainers from Comp Cams #787-16. Makes for about .580 lift with no machine work, everyone will say a stock Vortec head is only good to .450-.480 lift, that is true with stock springs and retainers.

No other changes, should be good to 400-420 horse with plenty of torque with a decent size carb and intake. Lots of dyno tests show a Victor Jr style intake will make 10-12 more horsepower on top, but the air gap and dual planes hang right in there.

 

[Stylez]

See if you can find an LT1 cam from an Impala or Camaro/Firebird or an even better choice would be an LT4 Hotcam. You can use LS2 blue valve springs GMPP #12625033 ($55 or so new) and a set of retainers from Comp Cams #787-16. Makes for about .580 lift with no machine work, everyone will say a stock Vortec head is only good to .450-.480 lift, that is true with stock springs and retainers.

No other changes, should be good to 400-420 horse with plenty of torque with a decent size carb and intake. Lots of dyno tests show a Victor Jr style intake will make 10-12 more horsepower on top, but the air gap and dual planes hang right in there.

Thanka for the detailed information. When searching fornthe LT1 and LT4 cams i came across several kits that incl. the cam, lifters, timing gears and chain. I think that's as complete a kit as i found maybe some gaskets and such with it. When taking the heads in what should i tell them needs to be done? My mechanic jargon isnt what it used to be.

 

[Texas82GP]

Hot tank, magnaflux, quick pass to clean up the deck surface, Check the guides, valve job. Price it because you can buy a set of new GM Vortec iron heads cheap.

 

[Yav8]

If you go on ebay you can find cams that are reground. I have used these many time and all worked out very well. The cams are reground by Willhoites Cams and are listed under sbc roller. They have three grinds the copy of the Comp. EX 270 the GM Hot Cam and the Comp. EX 282. All will work out with the GM LS6 blue springs BUT as the cam grinds get bigger you will need some gear and converter upgrades. The regrinds are priced around $130 to $150 and shipping. They can be had with or without a fuel pump lobe. Most vortec blocks will not be drilled for a mechanical fuel pump so you will be using a electric pump anyway. On ebay just punch in SBC ROLLER.

 

[Stylez]

Well cool ill write this stuff down and see about making some calls on it tomorrow. After finding a hole in the drivers floor pan it looks like im gonna get the motor and trans married and installed once the are ready so i can drive it to the welding shop... tomorrow i plan on taking the 3.8 apart some more so we can pull it and scrap it for parts money... ill upload the pictures off my phone to my laptop so i can show you all what kind of progress im making. I plan on starting a build thread also..