The Comprehensive LS Engine Building Guide from Start to Finish
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- Опубліковано 16 чер 2024
- This is a comprehensive guide to rebuilding Gen III/IV LS engines. Below I have a list of tools, parts I used to build this engine.
I will not be covering the rod and main bearing clearances because I already made a video entirely about how to measure oil clearances here: • How to Measure Engine ...
One thing I couldn't cover in this video was the assembly of a gen IV rod and piston. The Gen III has pressed wrist pins whereas the Gen IV has floating wrist pins. I have another video showing how we did that on a 6.2L Gen IV here: • Installing LS3 Connect...
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🔰 Don't forget to Subscribe: goo.gl/2SdRG8
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🔧Special Tools needed for this job 🔧
Cheap torque angle gauge: amzn.to/3hdV6NP
Torque wrench with torque angle built in: amzn.to/3shrnds
Inch lbs Torque wrench: amzn.to/3IiaQvi
Beam style torque wrench: amzn.to/3sbduNH
Manual piston ring filer: amzn.to/36pkvSz
Electric piston ring filer: amzn.to/3Ih20xT
Piston Ring Pliers: amzn.to/3v7AoYi
Universal Piston Ring Compressor: amzn.to/3hbNdZy
Nice Piston Ring Compressor tool for 3.78 bore: amzn.to/3LWr0MT
Front and rear cover alignment tool: amzn.to/35pVZjC
Jaw puller for timing gear: amzn.to/3veT0FW
Harmonic Balancer installer tool (Long Reach): amzn.to/3IwG5TD
Pick set for cleaning pistons: amzn.to/3hehVkK
Dial Bore Gauge: amzn.to/3554iBR
Dial indicator with magnetic base: amzn.to/3JOV1g2
🔩Parts used in this video🔩
Verify the fitment of your specific application. I gathered most of what I could find that is specific to Gen III/IV LS engines. This does not include DOD, AFM, or VVT engines.
Cheap Cylinder Head Bolts (Gen III need 2): amzn.to/3Io7ozq
Cheap Cylinder Head Bolts (Gen IV need 2): amzn.to/3tmVhML
ARP Cylinder Head Bolts (Gen III): amzn.to/3H9IH8g
ARP Cylinder Head Bolts (Gen IV): amzn.to/3pcjzaS
ARP Connecting Rod Bolts (Must Resize Rods!): amzn.to/3Ij9MXR
Fel Pro engine gasket set I used (Gen III the only problem was the head gaskets weren't very good.): amzn.to/3JR2mf2
Mahle Cam Retainer plate (no bolts): amzn.to/3BJuzSd
Mahle Head Gasket (Need 2): amzn.to/3seSV35
Valley Cover Gasket (Gen IV): amzn.to/3sdPGbY
Knock Sensor (Gen III): amzn.to/3IiAeRo
Knock Sensor (Gen IV): amzn.to/3p7R6CP
Knock Sensor Harness (Gen III): amzn.to/3t6hP47
Knock Sensor Grommet (Gen III): amzn.to/3viERHP
Crankshaft Position Sensor (Gen III/IV): amzn.to/3Ih0MTj
Camshaft Position Sensor (Gen III rear mount): amzn.to/3HkQzDP
Camshaft Position Sensor (Gen IV front mount): amzn.to/3paVfWI
Harmonic Balancer bolt: amzn.to/3JPxfAt
Oil Pump: amzn.to/3LTE7yx
Oil Pickup Tube (for truck deep sump oil pans): amzn.to/3sfGO5L
Lifter guides: amzn.to/3LWQ1aN
Lifters: amzn.to/3M8rIqP
Barbell Oil Diverter: amzn.to/3sfCALr
Timing chain set (3 bolt): amzn.to/3sbcn0t
Disclaimer
I am an Amazon Associate and I receive a small commission if you choose to purchase tools or parts through my links. They don't cost you any extra and it helps us to continue creating more fun videos like this one.
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My videos are for entertainment purposes and not for expert automotive advice. I am definitely not an Automotive expert.
I like to show the struggles that most channels make look easier than they really are. I build our cars inside my garage with the limited tools I have available. I hope you still find my failures entertaining and have a great day!
Time Stamps
00:00 Intro and Clearances review
01:30 Installing the Crankshaft
04:11 Calculating Piston Ring Clearances
05:18 How to check Piston Ring Clearances
07:38 How to file Piston Rings
09:30 Piston Ring Orientation
10:15 How to install Piston Rings
12:58 How to install Pistons
17:11 How to install the Camshaft
19:08 How to remove lower timing gear
21:02 How to install new lower timing gear
22:57 How to install the cam gear and timing chain
25:27 How to install the oil pump
26:43 How to install lifters and trays
27:51 How to Check Pushrod Length
30:29 How to Check Piston to Valve Clearance
32:15 How to Install Cylinder Heads
33:32 How to install rocker arms
34:59 How to install Knock sensor grommets
36:57 Windage tray and pickup tube install
37:53 Front and Rear Cover install
40:39 Oil Diverter Barbell install
41:09 Oil Pan Install
41:42 Harmonic Balancer Install
44:43 Valve Cover Install
45:55 A look back at where this build started
47:55 Final Thoughts
48:52 Outtakes - Авто та транспорт
Watching a texan rebuild an ls getting interrupted by gunshots is the most American thing ive ever seen
😂😂😂😂
Not sure if you’ll see this but I’m building a 1980 Firebird with my dad and doing a Ls swap. After watching this video and then googling what parts I don’t know then coming back I’m able to understand what’s going on and allows me to work on the project with my dad a lot easier. I appreciate the effort you went through and the quality of the video is top notch, you deserve more views and subscribers. Thanks!
Fun tip! Put the cam in before the crankshaft. You can support the cam as you slide it in better.
Best advice. So much faster and smoother.
I appreciate the long format, deep dive. Shorts are useless. I'd say you got about 90% of it. But i totally get that the longer the vid the more editing becomes a nightmare. Continuity, flow, lost footage, losing focus and motivation, resisting the temptation to redo portions. So props to you! Especially like the screen overs showing torque specs etc. Definitely going into the saved folder for my build.
doing my first engine rebuild and this is the exact video i was looking for thanks for the hard work
super appreciate the time lapse shots, the tech on proper torque settings with picture on the screen, and the mistakes you had and also showed how to correct them. you have another subscriber.
most peaceful video of an engine build
PROTECT THIS MAN AT ALL COST!! I want to build an LS and I don’t know that much about engine assembly. This motivated me and I learned a lot. I don’t have any of the fancy tools that you have but I’m willing to get it a shot.
This should have more views it's so informative I'm saving this for future reference.
Thank you for your hard work and your time. His blessing be upon you, Jesus is good 🙏
Just pulled the 5.3 I'm using for my swap this morning. Definitely going to be referencing your video when it starts going back together. Thanks for putting this together.
I have a 1980 Camaro that is in real good shape. And want to upgrade the 305 engine with an LS1 engine. That would be so cool to bring it to car shows! I saw a 1978 El Camino with an LS1 engine. SO I know it can be done. I lived in north Texas for over 20 years, and yes, I have heard lots of gun shots just like what we heard on this video.
As a UA-cam creator myself I appreciate the video and I watched it from beginning till end, I have worked on trucks for the past 24 years but have never rebuilt an entire engine, I gained allot of valuable knowledge and I thank you, I have plans to drop an LS in my 94 Chevy C3500 dump truck hopefully one day lol...
What a great video. I really liked the summary at the end.
Awesome vid brother! Keep up the hard work!
What a great find to help with any LS build up! Thanks for this informative video!
Great job! Great personality and informative. Thank you for this.
Massive thanks for the video man!! You are a legend!! Keep up the great work!!
Awesome video. Getting ready to go through this with my 6.0 and the vid was a great refresher
This is amazing and a great job.
Thank you so much for the insight. This is one of the few videos i have seen that gives you an idea on how much work and research building an ls engine might take. Awesome build!
By far most informative ls build video. Thanks
Wow, this video has such great production value. Camera angles, commentary, all quality stuff man. Keep it up I would watch anything you put out
Great video mate. Well done. Thanks for taking the time to explain everything you did during the rebuild. I'm sure that eveone who watches this video is also grateful and a lot more educated about how to do a stock rebuild. Very much appreciated.
solid video, great info and filming
Subcribing for sure! Wonderful high value, quality video! Thank you sir. 💪
Great video am rebuilding a gen4 5.3 and helped me figure it out
Those should 100k views + easy. I need to share the hell out of this. This was a lot of great information you put together for doing doing a home rebuild. Awesome job man we out here greatly appreciate your work/effort!!!!!!!!
Great work buddy! Super Video.
Thank you for this! Great job,it will be a great help for me.
Really great video! Torque specs, gen 3 vs 4 info, torque sequences, tips and tricks, part numbers. Awesome work!
All I can say is thank you for this video. The most informative vid I’ve seen on these blocks. Thank you boss!
Best video I’ve seen on building an Ls. I’m excited to finish my build. You give the me inspiration. Thanks!!!!
Great job! Very well done! Excellent
nice to see Earl doing so well
This is a very good video. I was looking for a video like this for my LS3 but I couldn't find any, only bits and pieces. I hope your video could help towards my LS3. THANKS A LOT 👍
Great video and appreciate watching you struggle as i have. It os not easy
dude.... amazing, thats all I can say. I was glued to the monitor from start to finish. Thank you! I've and 05 1500 with the original 4.8L in it, and this video was sooo helpful with so many insights and tricks, and attention to detail, if only for basic maintenance stuff like replacing seals and gaskets, there's so much value. You gained sub and like for sure!!!
Awesom rebuild very good job
I’m literally starting my rebuild project and I must say, I’ve seen PLENTY rebuild videos but this one is BY FAR THE BEST!!!!!
Instant sub! Awesome video!
I dont really comment on YT, but this video was very informative. A few days ago I bought my first LS engine from the junkyard and I started watching other videos and i started to think this was almost too much to handle. You just gave me a lot of ideas and hints to get my first build done.
Awesome rebuild. Very informative and would have loved to hear it run. This is my project that I’m currently working on now. Definitely will use this as a guide to get my LS back together as this is my first attempt at ever rebuilding a motor.
Amazing video 👍👍👍
Dude you’re frickin great!
Well done!
Awesome video thank you
Thanks for the vid man
Wonderful. I will be keeping this as a reference for when I do an LS swap on my IS300. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.
no problem, glad to help
@@TheDailyDrift synthetic oil is crap. needs changing every 3000 miles, or it sludges. varnish. ill keep my 385 series clevo.. 351c. basic. lasts..
Awesome video
Great video! Thank you.
Great video, very informative. One of the parts that's odd, he says it took awhile. I pulled a 350 from a truck, had the machine work done, rebuilt the engine and back into the truck in two days. This was back in 1986 before the internet. I'm talking new pistons, turned the crank, heads were redone and assembled with all new gaskets and hardware.
Thanks for sharing. I have rebuilt engines in the past, one was a small block Chevy 350 for a buddy’s Jeep build. The engine was way to much power for a Jeep, he twisted off the driveshaft first day. We took some of the timing out of the engine. The second was a Toyota straight six just OEM parts to get it on the road. I’m New to LS rebuild.
Good video 👌 pro tip with the callipers. When you open the jaws there is a small shalf that should push out the bottom. That is for measuring depth. Cut playdo in half then messure from piston to face of playdo. Saves trying to measure it while holding it. Also eliminates the risk of changing its shape holding it to tight 🤙
You saved me tons of money in drywall repair! Because of your comprehensive video I will not be beating my head against the garage wall. 🍻 Thank you so much!
Glad I could save you some money on that drywall lol
This is one of the best video I aver seen
awesome man - I'm brand new to LS engine building. great overview. looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Sub'd
Great video! Currently putting one in a Colorado ZR2! 😅
What a great video! Your passion and multifaceted talent cannot be downplayed! I think it's awesome the time, knowledge, and dedication you put in to this for a build for your father is unprecedented to say the least. I am currently looking at an LS swap for a project car and found your video very informative. Doing things right, or being able to provide a basic guideline, is very much appreciated. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, I really appreciate that. This is why I love making content right here^^^
@@TheDailyDriftHello I own a Chevrolet express 6.0 LQ4 with 90,000 miles, I live in France in a region where the climate is temperate, I do 6000 miles per year, I drive mainly in the summer, and I tow a 6000 lbs trailer, should I stick to the oil recommended by the manufacturer 5W30 or can I use a 5W40 for example???
Good job bro I like the video
Love to hear it run
Here is the video when we get it running. ua-cam.com/video/C-0htPY6Olw/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
God bless you for this video
I loved the video
New subscriber. Looking forward to working on my '03 Silverado w a L59 in it. Greetings from Tulsa, OK!
Appreciate the tips and tricks 👀 watching an learning keep it coming 💪 now time for me to make an attempt 😂😂
You can also use a bearing heater saves a ton of time and they have temperature sticks that melt at certain temperature
I love building LS engines…its very theraputic….now im building a roller 302 for my sons ‘67 mustang….not as theraputic but still very satisfying
Hey great video but I will say one thing about what fd me … was the lifter bores … check them before assembling your motor !!! on a couple mine the hole had just a slight lip that u couldn’t really feel but the lifter was catching …they make a 200 $ tool u shoot this bell looking fitting through the hole and it just squares up the bore … makes them perfectly round again.
Good video. Thanks for parts list 👍👍
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it! Hopefully I didn't miss anything on that list, but I'm sure someone will let me know eventually 😅
only thing to add is clarity that the top ring gap should be smaller than the second. Even if both are within spec.
I think the beauty of the motor is that in our universe all things eventually come to balance. It just so happens that motor is designed at balance.
Thanks
I believe felpro make MLS Gaskets, what you ordered may have been for 1999-2000/2001.
Anyways the knock sensors TSB say to seal them using high temp and fuel/oil proof RTV
Just curious
Was there any block or crank machining?
Thanks for the great video
To clean the ring lands, use an old ring cut in half. It's the perfect fit in the groove.
Great video - just a quick tip. Install the cam before the crank - it's easier to guide the 'shaft in the hole'. lol
Your my hero
Nice video! How do I learn all this?
Where do you suggest I get a CAD parts & pieces into subassemblies for your vehicle? Even just for the engine assembly. I’d kinda expect that engineering drawings / tech data like that are not something automotive companies would offer? I have a 3 volume service manual for a yukon/suburban but that’s probably as far as I can get right?
Hello,
I have yukon 5.3 v8 2008 with 4L60E transmission, and DOD DELETED and I will add in my yukon:
1-long tube HEADERS (Speed engineer)
2-cold air intake(volant)
3-full system exhaust with Y pipe
The qustaion Is which cam should I buy to make more hp and tq:
1-BTR GEN III & IV LS TRUCK NORRIS CAM
Or
2-BTR GEN III & IV LS TRUCK NORRIS NSR CAM
Another qustaion do I have buy valve springs and pushrods?
Thanks a lot and you are helping the people who want to get more hp and tq in thiers cars
Hello! New to engine building. Do you have to rebalance the rotating assembly?
How did you get that pushrod clearance problem with everything being factory spec?
Thanks for the video but why the music in the background? Is that the video software?
It's odd the pushrods were too long, but it's good you caught before firing it up. looking forward to getting back to the mustang!
so I think I cut the part out where I talked about the cylinder head for time. But the cylinder head was shaved by about .050 in the machine shop because it was so warped. They also replaced the valve stem seals so that's why that wasn't in there either 😅
Dude do u live in crowley?
Yo, go to harbor freight and get a few of the $22 led shop lights. You can link 8 of them and have tons of light
Did you install new Cam bearings in this motor?
Worked in 20 degree weather today.
I really enjoyed this but can you elaborate on the shaft, lube, hole procedure? I’m a bit confused.
Well you see... you never want a stuck shaft 😂
What changed that required different pushrods?
I always heard (from an old mechanic) to NEVER let the hb pulley turn backwards when tightening bc it can skip a tooth on the timing. I noticed you did when you were getting the angle set on the hb bolt. Have you had any issues with it jumping a tooth going backwards? Great video tho
The fact it was shooting in the background
It's been a second since you posted this video, but I was thinking: could the issue with the pushrods being too short have been caused by a lack of head gaskets? The compressed thickness of a lot of stock LS headgaskets is a little over 0.050", which would perfectly explain the 0.05 inch reduction in pushrod length when you did the test with no head gaskets.
Where did you learn all the measurements at
👍 For using the term MAGAZINE instead of CLIP when referring to the gun fire 😂
I see you too are a man of culture lol
Is there a manual for ls engines with torque specs ?
My felpro head gaskets looked nothing like those, thank God lol
Yeah MLS is the way to go!
When you mean ls do you mean Honda civic ls I had a Honda great videos bro
Good job doing that video it helps answer a lot of questions that I had about doing my ls engine . and now i have started my build on a 5.3 ls it been ever bit about 20 yr since I have built a motor 🛻
Can you help me with some info on coil packs
Also, I can't really tell if you're depressed or not but you're pretty cool so don't sweat it 👍