questions..rebuilding engine

[Chris Stone]

OK so I bought this 1996 Camaro 3.8L 1 1/2 years ago and have only driven it twice like 6 months ago. car ran fine the entire time (friends borrowed it). Now that I wanted to drive it lol it knocks badly. Sounds like either a bad oil pump or a spun bearing.

I hate lolly gagging around with messed up motors so I said screw it and am going to rebuild the engine.

Thing is, its been almost 5 years since I did one and before I was doing LS1s and old-school 350s/305s, never did a V6 before.

Heres what I've got so far:

remanufactured crankshaft w/ sealed power main and rod bearings

sealed power moly piston rings

Melling oil pump repair kit

oil pan gasket set

PT1 Fel-Pro head gasket set

rerar main seal kit

timing cover gasket set

head bolts

Sealed Power lifters

connecting rod bolts

main bolts

intake gaskets

Valve seals

Valve cover gaskets
----------------------

I want to wait until I tear it down to inpect the pistons then decide if they need replacement. I dont reall want to buy new pistons right now because eventually I want to do a turbo build then tear it back down and replace the pistons with lower compression ones. If I have to replace them now I'd be buying another set later on :(

Anyways, my question is...what am I forgetting?

I dont even have an engine lift or an engine stand anymore, or ring pliers or ring compressors...Im going to have to borrow all of that. Lost the Haynes manual I think so Im going to have to buy another one of those lol.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Chris Stone]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

BTW engine has 120k miles

[Chris Stone]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

Okay dropped the Y pipe(snapped a manifold bolt on drivers side and the other one took an hour to get off almost....very rusty. Thanks WD-40! FYI if you cant get the boltoff grab a bigger wrench!! lol

took out the radiator & fan, disconnected & pulled the wiring harness back, took off the belt, the alternator, pull the fuel rail & injectors, air box, throttle body, upper intake manfold, vacuum hoses...thats it I think...

Get a couple of stripped bolts on the water pump and snapped the bracket on the drivers side that holds the coils :(. I'll weld it back together, at least it doesnt hold any weight or has no purpose other that holding the coils.

Wish I could do more tonight but its my friends birthday so I have to make an appearance.

Still no input guys?

[Chris Stone]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

*FORGOT

Still debating whether to pull the engine from the bottom or the top....

[pace2006]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

Haven't done this myself, but it'd probably be easier to pull it from the bottom.

[Pewter2K1]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

You can pull the motor and trans as 1 unit from the top. I did it with the heads off...

Removed the fans and radiator assembly, everything from the top of the engine, and disconnected every wire that attached to the motor... a few grounds here and there.

Have a friend help you for sure. attach diagonally across the engine, using 2 of the head bolts. keep it as tight across as possible.

Disconnect the wiring harness on the trans and shifter linkage (if your auto) then have your buddy drop the crossmember out and support the tailshaft. Undo the motor mounts and start lifting. once theres enough room for the oil pan to clear the K member pull the motor forward as far as you can.... Continue lifting... causing the motor and trans to go vertical. Once the tailshaft can clear the cowl just swing it up and over the radiator support and lower it down on somthing soft.

The removal should be nice and smooth, as it comes up, pull it out.... I did it this summer... my dad helped me and it was out in less than an hour from the time the chain was bolted to the motor.

[Pewter2K1]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

Oh, and dont forget the plastigauge for the bearings. and you may want to get a timing chain tensioner, im sure your 120K old one is a bit worn.

[Chris Stone]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

Oh, and dont forget the plastigauge for the bearings. and you may want to get a timing chain tensioner, im sure your 120K old one is a bit worn.

Yeah the plastiguage was already on my list of things to get..timing chain too.

Im going to wait and see if I'm going to replace the pistons before I spend any more money.

Still not sure if I would go with the cast hypereutectic, or jut say screw it and get the forged ones and spray the motor with a large shot of nitrous...lol so indecisive. :)

I really want to just reuse the stockers until I get a turbo on and the bugs worked out then install some lower compression pistons and turn up the boost.

I dunno but for now it's just rebuild the motor and get it running perfect as is.

Anyways..I had a hell of a time with all these old rusty bolts lol. Finally got the mean ones off. :)

Got the power steering and water pump off, also disconnected the A/C compressor and removed it and the evaporator and condensor. Sucks because I just changed all the fluids before I parked it now I had to drain it all out.

Sidenote: One of my bearings in the Sealed Power main bearing kit was scored so Im going to have to return it.

Need to get the water pump gasket also.

So as of now still need:

Water pump gasket
timing set
plastiguage
15mm ratchet wrench(lost the one I had)

I love tearing a car apart but hate when I get hung up on a darn bolt that is either stripped!!

Putting it together is always funner though :)

[Chris Stone]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

OH! BTW I couldnt get the lower intake plenum removed. All the bolts that are readily visible are rmoved and like I said the water pump and alternator bracket are off...I dont see anything holding it back except maybe there is something on the back that I cant see??

I found one on the back of the intake closer to the passenger side, thats it...
took that one off....also there was a ground back there..

The bracket that hold the coil packs on the drivers side, and the bracket on the passenger side just above the valve cover and lower intake....they each have a bolt at the back of the head keeping me from removing them...

Do those bolts also hold the lower intake on??? Is that why I couldnt get it off??

Thanks guys!

[cam98aro]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

get the forged pistons, i dont trust hypereutectic.. they are known to break apart into pieces, they are a good piston, but if you have just one knock from detonation.. you are gonna have a shattered piston

[RadRacer]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

there's 2 bolts inside the lower manifold. Check the corners :)

[Chris Stone]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

there's 2 bolts inside the lower manifold. Check the corners :)

in the back around the back of the heads?

Or actually INSIDE the intake?

[Archer]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

if you are looking at the motor. the last port on your right has a bolt inside the intake port.

the first port on your left has a bolt inside the intake port.

2 bolts. inside the intake (lower) manifold. front left, rear right.

Archer

[Chris Stone]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

if you are looking at the motor. the last port on your right has a bolt inside the intake port.

the first port on your left has a bolt inside the intake port.

2 bolts. inside the intake (lower) manifold. front left, rear right.

Archer

Ah I see. Thanks! gonna go start pulling stuff off again now lol. :)

[Chris Stone]

Re: questions..rebuilding engine

Thans Archer...got the lower intake off, starter, all the sensors are unplugged, all the grounds...harness is completely disconnected.

Got the valve covers, rockers, pushrods and pedestals off. Started removing the exhaust manifolds...got the heat shields off the drivers side. Got the two front manifold bolts off, the other two I was having problems getting to...lol what a PITA. It was late and I didnt have much time to mess around today so thats all I got done.

I have to say its harder to get to a lot of stuff cmopared to the LS1 F-Bodies to me...or maybe I feel that way because 1. the car is older and has more rusty bolts etc 2. I am used to the LS!s and know how where eveything is.

This is my first time period doing anything at all on a V6 F-Body...much less pulling a motor.

How the -F- are you supposed to change the spark plugs with everything bolted on...I am looking at them am it looks like a PITA with the motor torn down lol!

I think I am going to take the motor out the top...still not sure if I am going to pull the motor/tranny together or just the motor. Probably both because it might be easier that way.

With the heads off it seems like I am going to have enough room...I was planning on assembling the longblock while still on the stand... but I am not sure about how much room I will have with the heads on???

QUESTION: Do you guys use loctite on engine internals? Rocker arms, connecting rod bolts, head bolts, main bolts???

I have always used it.

BTW any tips on removing the exhaust manifolds? I was going to just remove the heads with the manifolds attached but I can get to some fo the heads bolts without removing them..

I am thinking of buying headers just because I dont wanna have to take them back off for it later lol.