Just Fishing's 09 Tahoe Build thread

[Just Fishing]

I was going through my parts once more, and noticed they included the weight card for the engine balance!
so my main concern was that the piston ring or something else was off, but using my wife's food scale.
I confirmed that everything matches up.

I'm feeling much better about the balance now.

And they suggested to me that i should/could run the performance connecting rod bearings for HD towing/heavy foot usage.
They did say i could skip that for the crank bearings since it's just the rods that really take the beating.

Looking through bearing options, seems to get different results using the 5.3l vs the 6.0 as a search term.
so... I'm going with the 5.3 as a search term since I'm using the crank and rods from the 5.3.

I have No idea if there is a difference, but it's odd that i get more results using summits search engine via 5.3 selected.


Also, anyone know anything about the "coated" bearings?
Looking at the "H" series bearings, i have uncoated vs molly coated.

 

[Just Fishing]

Oh and i noticed most of the custom undersized options are apparently Narrow bearings.
wth?!

 

[pwtr02ss]

I was going through my parts once more, and noticed they included the weight card for the engine balance!
so my main concern was that the piston ring or something else was off, but using my wife's food scale.
I confirmed that everything matches up.

I'm feeling much better about the balance now.

And they suggested to me that i should/could run the performance connecting rod bearings for HD towing/heavy foot usage.
They did say i could skip that for the crank bearings since it's just the rods that really take the beating.

Looking through bearing options, seems to get different results using the 5.3l vs the 6.0 as a search term.
so... I'm going with the 5.3 as a search term since I'm using the crank and rods from the 5.3.

I have No idea if there is a difference, but it's odd that i get more results using summits search engine via 5.3 selected.


Also, anyone know anything about the "coated" bearings?
Looking at the "H" series bearings, i have uncoated vs molly coated.

I have coated bearings in my camaro engine. I don't see how it can hurt anything. Keep in mind, it may add some thickness to the actual size. We ran into something like that on mine. It's been over 10 years so I can't remember exactly

 

[Just Fishing]

Biggest thing throwing me for a loop is the narrow bearings.
Economy bearings have the standard width.
Upgrade/hd bearings are a bit narrower.
Leaves a gap on the rod... there must be a reason.

I just haven't found one yet.

 

[Just Fishing]

After getting my parts back from the machine shop, I noticed the pin bores felt a little gritty.

So last night i broke out my ultra sonic cleaner and filled with some fresh mineral spirts!

heated the tank to 50c, and put each piston in there with it's wrist pin sitting next to it for a good 30 min hottub bath.
Reversed the little bag after cleaning the outside as best as I could and back into the box!

The machine shop also mentioned that they weighed each piston and balanced them to the lightest one.
Looking at their lightening marks, it seems that one piston didn't match the others in this "matched" sealed power set of pistons.
If they had let me know, I might have just opted to return those pistons and get a different set.
But what's done is done.


I'll slowly do the same thing with the rods.

And speaking of rods, the first piston i separated from the rod when disassembling the engine, I managed to put a good gash in the rod end bushing.

So i bought a new set for the machine shop to install while they were at it.

They said it didn't need it and the pins fit the rod ends perfectly.
So doing some test fitting last night, I found that the rod end that had the gash was pretty tight when installed.
So i opted to use some car polish to smooth out the gash, and then cleaned.
It's fitting much better and has free movement now.


Next the crank.
Searching around, I see that the standard seems to be a full polish of the crank.
They did a pretty rough polish.
Maybe 220/400 grit.

I'm assuming it's to help with the oil film and for some bedding in.
But this raises the question of bearing types.

First, a coated molly bearing.
Would that damage the coating?

Then the different bi metal vs tri metal...

 

[Just Fishing]

This thread needs more pictures.

I installed the piston onto one rod for now, i really need to wait to do the rest unless i find a good container to store these assembled for a good two more weeks.



I'll bag this one, but for the remaining it will be one more cleaning when I'm ready to actually start the final install.

 

[Just Fishing]

and the machine shop forgot to give me my flex plate to crank bolts back.
Good news is, it appears they did the balance with out them.

So I ordered this set as a replacement, and received them today.
ARP 2442901 Pro Series Flexplate Bolt Kit for LS Series Small Block Chevrolet

ARP bolts are just so pretty, perfection in a bolt.

 

[Just Fishing]

I tripped over this container for the last time.
The Wife forfeited it.

 

[Sparksalot]

I tripped over this container for the last time.
The Wife forfeited it.

View attachment 279149

Argh, shiver me Tupperware.

 

[Just Fishing]

Well for this weekend tasks,
I decided i best go ahead and crack open the ATSG manual for the 6l80 to see what the pump to converter seal looks like, and the recommended replacement method.
They put in a c clip to retain it!!

Explains what i saw with the replacement that i have.
Has a nice little rubber seal on the outside.
Usually it's a smooth surface where they recommend to use some sort of locktite to prevent it from walking out under pressure.

That makes life so much easier, i was worried i would need a special tool or something in order to get around the input shaft.