GB,, yea, looks familiar! Your block surfaces look cleaner then mine were. Awaiting updates 
EnjoY!
Top End Install Time
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Top End Install Time
A buddy came by tonight and helped me finish tearing down my motor. When we got done, he said there was no way I'd get all that back together! I didn't tell him that you all were helping me. 
Here is where I'm at. I'll post some more pics and questions tomorrow. Let the fun begin!!!
Here is where I'm at. I'll post some more pics and questions tomorrow. Let the fun begin!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I haven't ordered any parts yet, but I'm going with the Brodix IK200 and Lunati cam. I'm in the process of measuring how far the pistons sit in the bore at TDC to select the head gasket and then I'll be ready to order everything.
If anyone is interested how I made my parts selection, here is that thread: Need help picking topend
Here are some pics of the valves and pistons. Anything look out of the ordinary?
If anyone is interested how I made my parts selection, here is that thread: Need help picking topend
Here are some pics of the valves and pistons. Anything look out of the ordinary?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I also noticed that the cylinder holes on the head gasket are not perfectly round. Is that typical or the result of someone not following the correct torque pattern/process?
Last edited by redman76; Aug 27, 2009 at 01:52 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
The bottom end is stock? looks stock. Be sure to chase the treads in the block with a thread chaser (not a tap).
On reviewing my pictures, the pistons you have do NOT look like the stock L48 pistons i have. Notice the beveled edges and pressed in center on mine, where as yours are flat accross.
On reviewing my pictures, the pistons you have do NOT look like the stock L48 pistons i have. Notice the beveled edges and pressed in center on mine, where as yours are flat accross.
Last edited by RunningMan373; Aug 27, 2009 at 05:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Motor is not original and I don't know the history on it; I've been using the L48 designation loosely since that is how it started out. It runs great and screams, but no power. Little Mouse looked at my compression test #s and thought they were high for stock L-48. Thanks for the piston comparison . . . it really helps as I plunge into the unknown.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Here are some shots of me measuring the piston depth. I'm not sure if I'm doing this correct or not, so if someone can step in and help me out.
I do have a couple of questions about the process.
(1) Should I clean the deck before making measurements?
(2) I get different reading from the left side of the pistion to the right side. Is this typical or a problem? Should I just measure as near the center as possible and not on the sides?
(3) Does my dial indicator bridge positioning look about right?
In this first shot, I set the dial indicator on the deck and set dial to 0:
In this shot, I'm measuring the pistion at TDC and get a reading of 47. Since the needle is revolving counterclockwise, I substract from 100 to get actual reading of 53. That's .053 - correct?
I do have a couple of questions about the process.
(1) Should I clean the deck before making measurements?
(2) I get different reading from the left side of the pistion to the right side. Is this typical or a problem? Should I just measure as near the center as possible and not on the sides?
(3) Does my dial indicator bridge positioning look about right?
In this first shot, I set the dial indicator on the deck and set dial to 0:
In this shot, I'm measuring the pistion at TDC and get a reading of 47. Since the needle is revolving counterclockwise, I substract from 100 to get actual reading of 53. That's .053 - correct?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
53 sounds wrong. Apparently, stock is 25 mils in the hole, and according to what i read in your previous thread, they should be either stock- 25 mills or 0 mills. you should probably have someone rotate the motor *just* back and forth around TDC the get the lowest reading. the mark won't be *perfect* on the balancer to marker, mechanically. meter reading -,, CCW would be the feeler moving out, so that sounds correct, at least in the direction and reading direction, but 53 mills sounds way to high.
Last edited by RunningMan373; Aug 27, 2009 at 06:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
1. looks like the tops are flat.....
2. you should definitely clean the deck, razor blade that entire area smooth
3. I would read at a couple of points on the pistons, mainly looking near the center. As long as the variance is just a couple of thousandths, i wouldn't be to concerned about it, there's some carbon on the pistons
4. Dial position looks fine.
2. you should definitely clean the deck, razor blade that entire area smooth
3. I would read at a couple of points on the pistons, mainly looking near the center. As long as the variance is just a couple of thousandths, i wouldn't be to concerned about it, there's some carbon on the pistons
4. Dial position looks fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
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Put the bridge at an angle take your measuerment off the outside edge of the piston, you need to turn your crank back and fourth look at your gauge until you see the lowest number on it. I have not read all these posts but your deck must be perfectly clean the top of the piston where your taking the measurment from clean. your dealing with thousands make sure everything is clean. its very easy to not be at top dead center you need to wiggle the crank back and fourth till you see the lowest number.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Aug 27, 2009 at 09:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
and after you get the highest point on the piston, press your finger on the opposite side to take any "rock" out unless you're measuring directly over the pin.
I use 3M scotchlock discs to clean gaskets off the block, followed by a razor blade. Someone else pointed out chasing all the head bolts- don't forget that, and clean all the bolts on a wire wheel. Get all the old goo off them.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
Put the bridge at an angle take your measuerment off the outside edge of the piston, you need to turn your crank back and fourth look at your gauge until you see the lowest number on it. I have not read all these posts but your deck must be perfectly clean the top of the piston where your taking the measurment from clean. your dealing with thousands make sure everything is clean. its very easy to not be at top dead center
you need to move the crank back and fourth till you see the lowest number.
you need to move the crank back and fourth till you see the lowest number.
and after you get the highest point on the piston, press your finger on the opposite side to take any "rock" out unless you're measuring directly over the pin.
I use 3M scotchlock discs to clean gaskets off the block, followed by a razor blade. Someone else pointed out chasing all the head bolts- don't forget that, and clean all the bolts on a wire wheel. Get all the old goo off them.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
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From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
When I have to use a bridge for this, I just position the bridge directly over the pin axis - which eliminates the need to rock.
Typically I use a bridge to find TDC, then a depth micrometer to find deck height.
Typically I use a bridge to find TDC, then a depth micrometer to find deck height.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
