Project Daily Driver.

[Matts94z28]

As some of you know I bought the 2001 Z28 from Brett last month... The main purpose of this car will be DD to get me around town without issue. I have decided to pull the blown up LS1, which actually starts up and runs, out of the car in favor for a 6.0 swap. Brett supplied me with a TON of extra parts for the rebuild so I figured it would be prety easy. It turns out the car might be the spawn of satan... considering my LT1 is Satan himself. It looks like the only thing salvagable from the LQ9 in the block and pistons. Anyhow, I put some wheels on the car and started tearing into the LQ9 shortblock this past week so I figured I would post pics of the progress.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/DSC_0612.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/DSC_0642.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0666.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0655.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0659.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0648.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0632.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0017.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0009.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0008.jpg

[BadMrFrossty]

Good luck! The car is really clean looking and I absolutely love the stance & look of your '94.

[Matts94z28]

Thanks! The 94 is 4x4 mode but it sure does hook up nice. Looks like I will be looking for a whole rotating assembly out of a LQ9 that is reusable.

[Josh]

That car is too clean and low mileage for DD duty. On top of that, it doesn't like it's engines and is therfore not reliable.

[FourSix]

Man, that is a nasty bearing. Good luck with the swap.

[Matts94z28]

LOL, I noticed that it does not like engines. Neither does my LT1! I just e-mailed scoggin dickey about a 413ci rotating assembly. Maybe they can cut me a deal...

[Josh]

I'm not sure why it wasn't happy with the engines he tried. Maybe something big like that is just what it wanted.

[Matts94z28]

I also got a lead on some stock internals for the LS1 so I might have two motors to choose from here soon.

[Reaper]

what are you looking to spend in a rotating assembly (lq4)

[Matts94z28]

Not much at all, plus I need it to be an LQ9 assembly. I don't want to lower compression LQ4 pistons. Shoot me a PM with a price and we might be able to talk... How low on compression is the LQ4 again?

[Sean]

How many engines has this thing been thru.....?

[ChevyGirl]

looks good.

[Matts94z28]

Thanks guys... its been thru 4

[Onefast_03cobra]

Thanks guys... its been thru 4

Wait you or the car has been thru 4 motors

[Matts94z28]

The car has been. The one I build will stay together... unless I get brave with the juice.

[Onefast_03cobra]

The car has been. The one I build will stay together... unless I get brave with the juice.

Wow that's crazy when I had my bike I went thro 5 motors LOL damn turbos

[Reaper]

i think the compression on the motor in question is actually around 10 to 1 ratio. i would shoot you a pm but i would prolly want more than what your looking to spend. besides the cam would go with it, and for a little extra the stall, and if you need a built tranny guess what it can come attached for the right price.lol

[Heapashifter]

The LQ9 has 10.1 compression and the LQ4 has 9.4:1 compression.

[~MyLemon~]

Wow what happend to the Bearings>??

[Onefast_03cobra]

The LQ9 has 10.1 compression and the LQ4 has 9.4:1 compression.

10:1 fuck that

[BadMrFrossty]

12.5:1 FTW! lol

[~MyLemon~]

ill still roll with my 9:1

[11secondsnake]

good luck

[Josh]

Here is some inspiration for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF-8et4ZqNk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjustforwilmington%2Ecom%2Fcommun ity%2Fforum%2Findex%2Ephp%3Ftopic%3D334%2E0&feature=player_embedded

[04srt]

Here is some inspiration for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF-8et4ZqNk&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjustforwilmington%2Ecom%2Fcommun ity%2Fforum%2Findex%2Ephp%3Ftopic%3D334%2E0&feature=player_embedded

The impala wasn't racing :bsflag:

[Josh]

Nope, but Matt's new Camaro was!

[Surfstang2020]

hey im a ford man but whats that big @$$ ford deisel truck doin in the background?

[Matts94z28]

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/2001%20Z28/DSC_0063.jpg

[Heapashifter]

Is that the engine going in or coming out?

[Josh]

Looks like it's going in.

[Matts94z28]

Secrets!!! Thats the old one coming out... new one goes in this weekend.

[Surfstang2020]

sweet so hows the progress comin on the car?

[66 impala]

any news on my old shit son?

[Heapashifter]

or my old shit?

[Surfstang2020]

or my old shit?

was the grey one your old one ive heard about ?:idunno:

[Matts94z28]

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/img1252869908307.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/img1252869800279.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/img1252869850150.jpg

[Heavychevy]

Nice Jackstands, lol

[Matts94z28]

lol, they work great! I don't like having the car rock around while I am under it. I hope to have the car on the road by this weekend. I need to install the trans, bleed the clutch, plug in the harness and go.

This motor will be coming back out around december in exchange for a 4k miles LS2 that I just picked up for $500. Can't beat that!

[Heavychevy]

Hey it works. I'm trying to find a pair of old 9 inch wide wheels (I have 2, 9 inch Wide Cobra R wheels) to use for welding on sub-frame connectors on with. Gets the car up just high enough to get a nice weld down the frame. I can weld them on on my lift because it racks on the frame. Setting on the wheels would simulate the car sitting on the ground.

[Matts94z28]

Not a bad idea! I would check out the local unk yard or something.

[Drew]

I've seen worse for jack stands. But I'm the same, I hate the car moving around while I'm working on it. Nice work. In for the results

[Joker]

Hey it works. I'm trying to find a pair of old 9 inch wide wheels (I have 2, 9 inch Wide Cobra R wheels) to use for welding on sub-frame connectors on with. Gets the car up just high enough to get a nice weld down the frame. I can weld them on on my lift because it racks on the frame. Setting on the wheels would simulate the car sitting on the ground.

If you could settle with 8 inch rims, I have some for you to use.

[FourSix]

Hah, nice and innovative. Good to see progress.

[Surfstang2020]

sweet deal man

[66 impala]

do a vtek burnout as soon as it fires up......trust me i know what it wants

[66 impala]

here is some of my experience with this car putting in the fourth motor lol. In some sick way i actually miss that car

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i286/redneckin8805/100_0073.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i286/redneckin8805/100_0072.jpg

[Matts94z28]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqs5iT8WiFY

[66 impala]

congrats man

[Matts94z28]

Thanks! It sure is fighting me every step of the way. I should have some burn out video by the weekend.

[FourSix]

It lives...:rock:

[Matts94z28]

Passanger side head is warped... it's leaking water from the rear corner between the block and head. FUCKING GREAT. Motor has to come back out now.

[Heapashifter]

My old heads? That's kinda weird because I never had any problem with overheating or anything ever. Or did you put different heads on it? Also make sure it's not just the crossover tube/coolant plug in the back that's leaking before you pull the engine back out.

[Matts94z28]

Yeah its the heads that came on the motor I got from you. I already checked the crossover and everything. Its leaking from the corner of the head. I will get video in a little while.

This car is starting to piss me off.

[xlcooplx]

what casting heads? 317? i'll have a set up for sale within the next month if you need them.

[Matts94z28]

853's. I'm thinking the head may have a crack somewhere. It's the same head that had a valve replaced in it. Here is a vid of the leak...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ahIdaZWNWs

[98z-28camaro]

isnt that a head off of a 98 head???

[Heapashifter]

853's were on 97 through most 2000's. They changed to center bolt valve covers in 99, but were all the same casting number. Do you think it could just be a bad head gasket? Another thing; you can pull the head off with it in the car. I've done it that way many times.

[xlcooplx]

ohh...i thought this was a 6L in the car...my bad.

[Matts94z28]

I am pulling the head off tomorrow morning. I am hoping it is a bad gasket, but I think the head might be cracked. A friend gave me a set of 853's off of his car so I can just replace that one head if needed.

Have any of yall been able to properly tq the heads back down in the car? Seems like it would be a PITA. I could probably lift the car off the k-member in 30 mins if I had to...

[98z-28camaro]

yea... you can do a head removal inside the car with basic tools... ive done it before and the car still runs today and its been 3yrs... torqueing the heads down wasnt bad at all... do it in stages like GM says and it works perfect. remember no silicone... the gaskets already have it on there... ppl sometimes put it on there and they screw stuff up... other than that its easy and pretty fast. bout 3hrs taking you time

[Heapashifter]

I've never had a problem torquing the head bolts with the engine in the car. Definitely don't put silicon(RTV) on head gaskets. Did you get the graphite head gaskets or the multi-layer steel head gaskets? GM offers both.

[Matts94z28]

I've never had a problem torquing the head bolts with the engine in the car. Definitely don't put silicon(RTV) on head gaskets. Did you get the graphite head gaskets or the multi-layer steel head gaskets? GM offers both.

I used the MLS head gaskets. I think it would be easy to get every bolt on the heads except the very last ones on the back of each head. Especially with the heater core box in the way.

[66 impala]

I am pulling the head off tomorrow morning. I am hoping it is a bad gasket, but I think the head might be cracked. A friend gave me a set of 853's off of his car so I can just replace that one head if needed.

Have any of yall been able to properly tq the heads back down in the car? Seems like it would be a PITA. I could probably lift the car off the k-member in 30 mins if I had to...

i have done it before in that car actually it SUCKS ASS.....on the 6.0 gaskets i used this spray sealant called hi-tack and it worked great. Never had a problem with them. Here is what it is, of course this is for a case of 12 http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=62501&ucst=t
Definately make sure you do them in series and call arp if your still using the head studs i had and see what the torque specs are for what lubricant your using with them. Also why in the hell did u put on 853's when i had rebuilt and decked 317's in it? Sorry to hear the car is giving u trouble though man i hope this is the last of them.

[Matts94z28]

I sold the motor that cam out of the car to a friend of mine. Turned out the only good thing in that motor was the heads. I ended up buying keegans 99 motor for a deal anddecided to thorw that in the car. I got a free set of 853's that are in good shape so I am swapping everything over this weekend and hop to be running by the next, if not sooner.

If none of this works then I am going to say fuck it and put my LS2 in the car.

[66 impala]

sounds like a plan!!!

[Matts94z28]

I failed at teh keyboard on that last post!

[Heavyfoot86]

This car hates humans. I think it wants to spend the rest of it's life rusting away in a junkyard. Good luck with the head Matt.

[66 impala]

u got it fixed yet?

[Matts94z28]

Would have been done today, but found another bent valve in the head. The exhaust valve on the same cylinder that dropped the intake was bent so bad the valve wouldn't come out of the head. We are fairly sure the head is cracked too, this causing the leak.

I wish the POS machine shop would have caught the issue since I paid them to look over everything. Hell they didn't even pay attention to the 6 valve seals that were not seated and sitting near the retainer.

Should be running next weekend.

[66 impala]

so your gonna pull the other head off too right? u dont wanna get it together and have it burning oil and dropping valves in the other head.

[Matts94z28]

The other head is just fine. I reseated all the seals before I put the heads on the motor (it came with them off). I hope I can find one Ti reatainer for PRC duals some where... that is the only thing holding me back as of right now. I guess I should call texas speed and see if they can do something. I believe they were originally manufactured by Crane... the retainers that is.

[Matts94z28]

Got everything back together... I still need to replace one of the Ti retainers if TSP stops being douche bags and figures out which one I need. The one thats a little busted up will work for now, but I won't be getting into the RPM with it... all I need is to drop a valve. The head and everything went on just fine, took about an hour to get everything buttoned up. I also swappped over to a big boy FAST TOYS lid and another goodie... here is a picture below...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/Matthew103/img1254718240078.jpg

[66 impala]

as soon as it turns over spray it.........trust me i know what that car wants

[Matts94z28]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIaEynjgIfY

[BULLITT]

Congrats on getting it running. Sounds good. How does it run down the street?

[Matts94z28]

Thanks, it feels strong, just needs to be re tuned.

[Heapashifter]

That one retainer was the right one?

[Matts94z28]

Don't know yet... a PRC rep shipped one out for my today, been using the beat up one. Thats why I won't be driving it alot until it's replaced. He seems to think is the typical dual spring retainer so it should be worked out.

[66 impala]

where's the zr1's?

[FourSix]

Sounds mean man, glad it's back together again.

[Matts94z28]

Thanks guys... The ZR1's are on the purple car for now, had to DD it for a while and didn't wanna tear up my DR's. I am getting ready to order some deep dish c5's for it soon. I plan on running 18s all around with 335's out back. Should look pretty good.