Rebuilding ls2
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 38
Likes: 2
From: Dallas Texas
Rebuilding ls2
Hello! I recently had my LS2 brought into a machine shop and had them rebuild the short block, I would just like to know any other tips or crucial things I might be missing going forward. I installed a double roller timing chain from summit and a melling high pressure oil pump with the necessary adjustments to the pickup tube. Going forward is there anything else that needs to be done under the oil pan or can I go ahead and seal that off? Also is there anything specific I should use lubricant on and what type of lubricant.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 806
From: West coast CA
Hello! I recently had my LS2 brought into a machine shop and had them rebuild the short block, I would just like to know any other tips or crucial things I might be missing going forward. I installed a double roller timing chain from summit and a melling high pressure oil pump with the necessary adjustments to the pickup tube. Going forward is there anything else that needs to be done under the oil pan or can I go ahead and seal that off? Also is there anything specific I should use lubricant on and what type of lubricant.
I would center the oil pump with shims. Use alignment tools such as Sac City's to center the front and rear main seals. Use a feeler gauge to make sure the front and rear covers have even gaps to the oil pan surface. Apply a thin layer of RTV under the heads of the main bearing cap side bolts. Apply a dab of RTV at the four points where the cover gaskets will meet the pan gasket. Temporarily bolt up the bell housing to the block. Then install the pan, tighten it to the block a little, tighten it to the bell housing a little, tighten it to the block some more, and so on. Remove the bell housing. Now the pan should be flush with the back of the block. Use a torque wrench.
Your oil galleries are bone dry. Once you get the engine together, consider priming the motor before first startup with an external oil pump. At the very least, turn over the engine on the starter with the plugs out (to prevent loading the bearings) and with the gas pedal floored (to disable the injectors). It might take 30 seconds to prime the pump and make oil pressure.
