ls1 experts

Tom Meyer · 08-02-2009, 06:53 PM

Just finished putting a cam in the sons LS1 99 camaro with a new dual roller chain. What do you think about checking the bearings, will I have to replace the bolts when this is done. And do you have to resize the rods if you put in good bolts?? It had good oil pressure and ran ok. Thanks Tom

J DeForrest · 08-03-2009, 09:25 AM

I am not an expert, but I had a heads/cam street car with a stock bottom end, and drove it everywhere. Ran 11.50's @ 3700#'s still had a/c, I would say just run it unless he plans on using the bottle. The stick cars can be a problem for the rear end if using good tires and it hops at all. A couple mfgrs sell lower control arm brackets that move the rear control arm mount down on the rear that will help. If changing rear gears, I would recommend a solid pinion spacer.

From my expierence,
Jason

ls1tech.com is a good source if info - at least it used to be when I had a street car.

J DeForrest · 08-03-2009, 11:55 AM

Tom,

I take back stock bottom end - I upgraded rod bolts.

http://store.katechengines.com/share...unt2=201011300

If I remember right they were ARP stuff sold by Katech. I just took the old ones out and lubed/torqued the new ones one by one.

Jason

W J · 08-03-2009, 01:29 PM

Tom, like Jason said...get some good (boxed) lower control arms, the re-location brackets, drop the lca's down to lowest holes, a right side airbag for a little pre-load, a T/A rear cover and HD stud bolt kit, some HD (I used Moser) aftermarket axles, and the 10 bolt 7.5" rear will live---for AWHILE. 4.10's worked great for me w/my stick car, and a Vig. 3200 stall w/3.73's works very well w/the automatic cars....this, w/your cam, headers, and a good computer re-tune, and a set of M/T d.o.t. radial drags should put you very solidly into the 11's. Best wishes. WJ

Mike Taylor 3601 · 08-04-2009, 06:51 PM

Bolts are supposed to be replaced if removed If you use ARP they can be reused they torque instead of
torque/angle should not change size of rod because fractures line rod/cap up bolts just clamp LS rods
together bolts do not align rod and cap on LS rods.
Mike Taylor 3601

Alan Roehrich · 08-04-2009, 09:02 PM

You do not recondition LS-1 rods in the normal manner. If changing the bolts causes them to go out of round, you resize the rod to a lrger bore size, and use a special rod bearing sold by Clevite (now Mahle).

I do not encourage people to waste money on rod bolts for fractured powdered metal rods. Just buy a set of rods, even the budget import rods are better than the powdered metal stuff.

08-02-2009, 06:53 PM	#1
Tom Meyer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Pierce NE Posts: 933 Likes: 74 Liked 351 Times in 120 Posts	ls1 experts Just finished putting a cam in the sons LS1 99 camaro with a new dual roller chain. What do you think about checking the bearings, will I have to replace the bolts when this is done. And do you have to resize the rods if you put in good bolts?? It had good oil pressure and ran ok. Thanks Tom __________________ Tom Meyer 5240 SS Stock ???

08-03-2009, 09:25 AM	#2
J DeForrest Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ramsey, MN Posts: 112 Likes: 95 Liked 73 Times in 18 Posts	Re: ls1 experts I am not an expert, but I had a heads/cam street car with a stock bottom end, and drove it everywhere. Ran 11.50's @ 3700#'s still had a/c, I would say just run it unless he plans on using the bottle. The stick cars can be a problem for the rear end if using good tires and it hops at all. A couple mfgrs sell lower control arm brackets that move the rear control arm mount down on the rear that will help. If changing rear gears, I would recommend a solid pinion spacer. From my expierence, Jason ls1tech.com is a good source if info - at least it used to be when I had a street car. __________________ superstock5150@gmail.com

08-03-2009, 11:55 AM	#3
J DeForrest Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ramsey, MN Posts: 112 Likes: 95 Liked 73 Times in 18 Posts	Re: ls1 experts Tom, I take back stock bottom end - I upgraded rod bolts. http://store.katechengines.com/share...unt2=201011300 If I remember right they were ARP stuff sold by Katech. I just took the old ones out and lubed/torqued the new ones one by one. Jason __________________ superstock5150@gmail.com

08-03-2009, 01:29 PM	#4
W J Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Paxton, Massachusetts Posts: 638 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: ls1 experts Tom, like Jason said...get some good (boxed) lower control arms, the re-location brackets, drop the lca's down to lowest holes, a right side airbag for a little pre-load, a T/A rear cover and HD stud bolt kit, some HD (I used Moser) aftermarket axles, and the 10 bolt 7.5" rear will live---for AWHILE. 4.10's worked great for me w/my stick car, and a Vig. 3200 stall w/3.73's works very well w/the automatic cars....this, w/your cam, headers, and a good computer re-tune, and a set of M/T d.o.t. radial drags should put you very solidly into the 11's. Best wishes. WJ

08-04-2009, 06:51 PM	#5
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,361 Likes: 335 Liked 279 Times in 96 Posts	Re: ls1 experts Bolts are supposed to be replaced if removed If you use ARP they can be reused they torque instead of torque/angle should not change size of rod because fractures line rod/cap up bolts just clamp LS rods together bolts do not align rod and cap on LS rods. Mike Taylor 3601

08-04-2009, 09:02 PM	#6
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,090 Likes: 1,534 Liked 1,758 Times in 398 Posts	Re: ls1 experts You do not recondition LS-1 rods in the normal manner. If changing the bolts causes them to go out of round, you resize the rod to a lrger bore size, and use a special rod bearing sold by Clevite (now Mahle). I do not encourage people to waste money on rod bolts for fractured powdered metal rods. Just buy a set of rods, even the budget import rods are better than the powdered metal stuff. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S