Maintenance/upgrade
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx
Maintenance/upgrade
I have a 2008 manual base model. I have about 130,000 miles on my Ls3. I have an oil leak but not sure where from. I’m looking to rebuild the engine, fix the oil leak, add a stage 2/3 btr cam, as well as upgrading anything else that needs to be done when putting a new cam in, and lastly long tube headers. Is there anything else I should be thinking about or should do instead. Any tips on what kind of valves or rocker arms, etc I should look at getting. Fairly new to this and wanting to hear opinions from more experienced people. Thank you
Pro
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 723
Likes: 398
From: WI
You'll already have the balancer off for the cam swap so plan to put a new balancer and front seal on. I also recommend getting a pinning kit to pin the new balancer to the crankshaft. Don't use another OEM balancer, get something like the Summit C-2501 or Powerbond PB1117N or PS1117SS, or even the ATI balancer but it's more expensive and overkill for most people.
I'd also be installing a new oil pump and obviously new oil pickup tube o-ring as well as a new oil pan gasket.
I'd also be installing a new oil pump and obviously new oil pickup tube o-ring as well as a new oil pan gasket.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 1,849
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
New valve seals, oil pump, timing chain. I would also recommend new lifters (Johnson 2110R's), new GM lifter trays. You will also need new push rods. New front cover HB seal, new water pump gaskets, new front cover seal.
Even at 130K miles, your engine is likely to not need any rebuilding. Heads should also be fine but not a bad idea to have them checked out.
As for the oil leak, check the valve cover gaskets, the valley cover gasket, and oil pan gasket. Those are the most common areas of leaks.
It is possible you could have a leak at the engine rear main seal. If so, you will need to drop the drive train out from the engine back to change that out.
Even at 130K miles, your engine is likely to not need any rebuilding. Heads should also be fine but not a bad idea to have them checked out.
As for the oil leak, check the valve cover gaskets, the valley cover gasket, and oil pan gasket. Those are the most common areas of leaks.
It is possible you could have a leak at the engine rear main seal. If so, you will need to drop the drive train out from the engine back to change that out.
