LBZ piston replacement

[TrentNell]

so to change the rods and pistons, and nothing else, the block HAS to go to the machine shop? Exactly how necessary is that? Thinking along the lines of running this engine one year, then tearing down to build appropriately the following winter.

Basically want to take pistons and rods out and put used cut lb7s with fresh rings and new rods and go. If I have the rods and pistons balanced, do they have to balanced with the crank?


I want to know what trent did to get his done for less than $5k! :thumb:

In a nut shell , keyed the crank and cam myself , cut the pistons myself , bought Howards rods and new bearings , re-used piston rings , bought head studs , re-installed everything into the motor with the minimum gaskets / seals needed , and no i didn't balance my motor but did make all the piston / rod assembly's weigh the same . I have no clue how it will hold up but so far so good

 

[RENODMAX]

In a nut shell , keyed the crank and cam myself , cut the pistons myself , bought Howards rods and new bearings , re-used piston rings , bought head studs , re-installed everything into the motor with the minimum gaskets / seals needed , and no i didn't balance my motor but did make all the piston / rod assembly's weigh the same . I have no clue how it will hold up but so far so good

i wasnt gonna say it directly but i hinted at it

 

[ripmf666]

In a nut shell , keyed the crank and cam myself , cut the pistons myself , bought Howards rods and new bearings , re-used piston rings , bought head studs , re-installed everything into the motor with the minimum gaskets / seals needed , and no i didn't balance my motor but did make all the piston / rod assembly's weigh the same . I have no clue how it will hold up but so far so good

Also to add to this Trent just pointing out not picking on build. Trent left the crank in the block never removed it. The main issue with balancing is like with crower and carrillo rods there lighter once you have the lb7 piston swaped over for a lbz build with a lbz crank shaft. With mine they had to take alot of weight out ofmy crank shaft. With a lb7 crack and still runningthe same style pistons that came with that crank there's not much weight difference the rods are close to the weight of the factory rods so with a lb7 you could get away with this easier. Now Mitch with a lbz not going to happen at all if youwant call me I can tell you better over the phone 443-907-4838

 

[SmokeShow]

thanks guys... I'll figure something out. :thumb:

 

[Stingpuller]

Motors

One would be surprised how much a stock motor will take when you keep the heat out and not be affraid to turn a little rpm. Jeff

 

[SmokeShow]

how about a lot of RPM? :thumb:

 

[TrentNell]

Also to add to this Trent just pointing out not picking on build. Trent left the crank in the block never removed it. The main issue with balancing is like with crower and carrillo rods there lighter once you have the lb7 piston swaped over for a lbz build with a lbz crank shaft. With mine they had to take alot of weight out ofmy crank shaft. With a lb7 crack and still runningthe same style pistons that came with that crank there's not much weight difference the rods are close to the weight of the factory rods so with a lb7 you could get away with this easier. Now Mitch with a lbz not going to happen at all if youwant call me I can tell you better over the phone 443-907-4838

I agree Henry , and by no meens do I recomend any one else run a un-balanced motor or even a build simalar to mine , its kind of a science experiment , some times you do what you have to do you know .

 

[Redbowties88]

Henry, would it be safe to say that if you cannot do such a build yourself that 5-6k would be about right for labor?

 

[custom8726]

Henry, would it be safe to say that if you cannot do such a build yourself that 5-6k would be about right for labor?

Not to speak for Henry, but every shop is differant, in the little bit of shopping around I did the prices ranged from $500 -$3k differance for the same amount of work.. Trent is an exception to most of our situations, he has skill's and resources most of us do not I would say if you don't have atleast 8k set aside, wait untill you do before you store ripping and tearing. JMHO Though

 

[DIESELMAFIAPER.LB7]

[/U][/B]

I am learning this now And you are correct:thumb:

uh....ya they do wish i had money for carillos maybe i'll wait 6-8months longer.....not just buy a new short block to build

mine broke down like this parts wise
$200 headgaskets
$600 studs(head) i really didnt pay that but...
$800 maching included race balance, keyed crank cam swapping pistons to new rods, delipping pistons,ect..
$575 nozzles 45%
$free-ported heads by mike_s
$400 piston rings
$200 misc seals, gaskets, sealant, ect..
$2200 turbo
$170 rod and main bearings i think i paid that much anyway cant remember
$270 lmm rods

i think that's all probably not but theres an idea of a knida stock rebuild

 

[TrentNell]

uh....ya they do wish i had money for carillos maybe i'll wait 6-8months longer.....not just buy a new short block to build

mine broke down like this parts wise
$200 headgaskets
$600 studs(head) i really didnt pay that but...
$800 maching included race balance, keyed crank cam swapping pistons to new rods, delipping pistons,ect..
$575 nozzles 45%
$free-ported heads by mike_s
$400 piston rings
$200 misc seals, gaskets, sealant, ect..
$2200 turbo
$170 rod and main bearings i think i paid that much anyway cant remember
$270 lmm rods

i think that's all probably not but theres an idea of a knida stock rebuild

I would have skipped the turbo and bought rods , then swapped turbo in 6 months , JMOP , buti def know how it feels to have the truck down , it sucks .

 

[ripmf666]

Henry, would it be safe to say that if you cannot do such a build yourself that 5-6k would be about right for labor?

As I said about a year ago when we did mine. You have about 60 hrs wrapped up in pulling the motor and tearing it down bagging everything cleaning checking parts running to the machine shop calling for parts then rebuilding the motor then installing it back into the truck. Also test driving to make sure all is well and do 3 oil changes before returning truck I was saying around 5k and you pay for parts and machine work.

 

[DIESELMAFIAPER.LB7]

i didnt pay that much for the turbo but i cant be posting dealer prices an ya it blows but i got the power and goodness of my v6 grand prix:spit: rods ya i guess i could have bought another stock turbo were as i blew mine up didnt make sense to buy another stocker to me either so but rods would make more sense now that i think bout it maybe i'' cancel the turbo ha ha

 

[TrentNell]

i didnt pay that much for the turbo but i cant be posting dealer prices an ya it blows but i got the power and goodness of my v6 grand prix:spit: rods ya i guess i could have bought another stock turbo were as i blew mine up didnt make sense to buy another stocker to me either so but rods would make more sense now that i think bout it maybe i'' cancel the turbo ha ha

Cancel turbo , buy Rods , and run Looooots of Spray :rofl: 10 sec recipe right there :rofl:

 

[TheBac]

In a nut shell , keyed the crank and cam myself , cut the pistons myself , bought Howards rods and new bearings , re-used piston rings , bought head studs , re-installed everything into the motor with the minimum gaskets / seals needed , and no i didn't balance my motor but did make all the piston / rod assembly's weigh the same . I have no clue how it will hold up but so far so good

Also to add to this Trent just pointing out not picking on build. Trent left the crank in the block never removed it. The main issue with balancing is like with crower and carrillo rods there lighter once you have the lb7 piston swaped over for a lbz build with a lbz crank shaft. With mine they had to take alot of weight out ofmy crank shaft. With a lb7 crack and still runningthe same style pistons that came with that crank there's not much weight difference the rods are close to the weight of the factory rods so with a lb7 you could get away with this easier. Now Mitch with a lbz not going to happen at all if youwant call me I can tell you better over the phone 443-907-4838

Unreal.....that small an expense for engine work/parts and the truck runs 10.0's....on OEM mains, to boot. Trent, that is truly a-freakin-mazing.

Hell, Ill have almost half again that much money into mine...and only to run low 12s. I think Ill go cry now.....

 

[DIESELMAFIAPER.LB7]

but im a drug free kid:rofl::hug: damnit now im mixed bout what to do again i already got the psitons in the block though it wouldn't be hard to hurry and take them out while the blocks on the stand

 

[TrentNell]

Unreal.....that small an expense for engine work/parts and the truck runs 10.0's....on OEM mains, to boot. Trent, that is truly a-freakin-mazing.

Hell, Ill have almost half again that much money into mine...and only to run low 12s. I think Ill go cry now.....

Tom, my motor could break tomarrow like i said its a science expeirment , we will see how it holds up before we call it amaizing :rofl:

 

[custom8726]

but im a drug free kid:rofl::hug: damnit now im mixed bout what to do again i already got the psitons in the block though it wouldn't be hard to hurry and take them out while the blocks on the stand

Get rods, there way harder to replace then a turbo I know for me, I choose the built motor first and the accessory's later due to $$.. I ended up with enough left over for my small turbo (s300) and in another month or two it will have a big set of twins and either a modified fueler or twin fuelers, but in the mean time I will have 10k in motor work wrapped up in a 12 sec truck Not includiing previous modds

 

[DIESELMAFIAPER.LB7]

Get rods, there way harder to replace then a turbo I know for me, I choose the built motor first and the accessory's later due to $$.. I ended up with enough left over for my small turbo (s300) and in another month or two it will have a big set of twins and either a modified fueler or twin fuelers, but in the mean time I will have 10k in motor work wrapped up in a 12 sec truck Not includiing previous modds

problem is more down time and would have to spend like 250-400 bucks for stock ihi that i would just be pissing away and i would maybe have to rebalance and rods well carillos are 2500 bucks plus other little shit mould make it like another 1000 bucks more to do that which im not sure ill have. i think i'll get a short block build it over the year that way i can take my time an do everything right no shortcuts

 

[TheBac]

Mafia, the more I think about it, you want so much more than the stock LMM/LBZ rods will hold....listen to the guys.

There's always 2011 for the turbo and all the rest...