Tony’s express van engine upgrade/swap

[Tonyrodz]

I think you’re forgetting I have young kids. Dad doesn’t get much free time lol.

I didn't forget. Maybe dedicate a couple of hours Saturday and or Sunday. Early morning or evening. Gotta make some dad time too.

 

[pwtr02ss]

Pretty bummed out to be typing this. I think I have accepted that I just don’t have the time to dedicate, patience, skill, or proper tools to rebuild engines to this depth.

I made a couple whoopsies tonight when I was reinstalling the pistons. When I started to torque down the connecting rod caps at some point I realized I couldn’t turn the crank anymore. Wasn’t sure if this was just because of new bearings and pistons rings but google told me something was wrong so i started unbolting the rod caps. Found one of the connection rod bearings weren’t seated properly and now I damaged that bearing. Also between taking the cap off and on again I somehow scratched up the crank.

View attachment 480641

Idk how severe that is but everything I read online is pretty much “if it isn’t perfect, then it needs to be replaced” blah blah blah

Last but not Least. I somehow mixed up the caps and also found out that that’s a big no no. Once you torque down the wrong cap, it’s damaged? So I’m looking at new connecting rods now I guess


All in all I have some decisions to make

- call around to see how much to have this rebuilt professionally

- fork out the money for a long block , maybe a short block since I have the heads

- find a low mile drop in

- just rebuild the top end of my existing 4.8 and call it a day. (Although I’m still concerned that I have a rear main seal leak)




I will continue to update this thread but I think for now I’m throwing the towel in on this block.

Sucks to hear, but you learned some things. Are those rods fractured? I assume so. If thats the case and you havent torqued them, should be pretty easy to get some back in order. They will only fit one rod, then the crack completely disappears.

Not sure I'd be very concerned with that little bit of scoring on the "Non-bearing" surface of the crank. Dont give up yet my man

 

[SpareParts]

That scratch is nothing to worry about.

 

[Tonyv__]

Sucks to hear, but you learned some things. Are those rods fractured? I assume so. If thats the case and you havent torqued them, should be pretty easy to get some back in order. They will only fit one rod, then the crack completely disappears.

Not sure I'd be very concerned with that little bit of scoring on the "Non-bearing" surface of the crank. Dont give up yet my man

I’m not exactly sure what that means lol

I did torque them then I realized I couldn’t spin the crank by hand anymore. Did some googling and I came across a few threads that pretty much said once they’re torqued, I’ve damaged them and I’d need to replace the rods. Maybe they’re overacting idk but so far I’ve ruined 1 cam bearing and 1 crank bearing so I have to buy them again lol


As of right now I loosely reassembled the engine and placed it on a moving dolly so it’s all together and able to be moved around. I’m not gonna ditch it 100% but it absolutely doesn’t have all my attention right now. Too many other projects going on

 

[SpareParts]

If you torqued the wrong rod/caps they are junk. Cracked is how they were made. Some are cut and some are cracked. Yours are cracked.

 

[Tonyv__]

If you torqued the wrong rod/caps they are junk. Cracked is how they were made. Some are cut and some are cracked. Yours are cracked.

Yay more money. Thanks for confirming

 

[pwtr02ss]

Ls engines have "fractured rods", meaning they are cast as one piece, then they break them. This creates a perfect piece. When they are assembled, you can't tell they are broken because they fit together flawlessly.

Here's an example I found on from a google search

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

A set of stock rods shouldn't be very expensive. Again, just a lesson learned. That's how we learn the most, when it costs money. Hell, I may be able to round you up a set. Let me ask around.

Edit:there's a bunch on eBay for cheap. Research which gen you have so you get the correct ones

share.google

 

[Tonyv__]

Ls engines have "fractured rods", meaning they are cast as one piece, then they break them. This creates a perfect piece. When they are assembled, you can't tell they are broken because they fit together flawlessly.

Here's an example I found on from a google search

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

A set of stock rods shouldn't be very expensive. Again, just a lesson learned. That's how we learn the most, when it costs money. Hell, I may be able to round you up a set. Let me ask around.

Edit:there's a bunch on eBay for cheap. Research which gen you have so you get the correct ones

share.google

well I know it’s a gen iv 6.0

Very interesting, I had no clue that they were 1 piece when they’re brand new. that explains a lot.

 

[pwtr02ss]

well I know it’s a gen iv 6.0

Very interesting, I had no clue that they were 1 piece when they’re brand new. that explains a lot.

eBay had several sets for $150 or so. That should get you set up.