79' GMC C15 - Spruce Caboose

[bix]

Ive decided to go with the Brian tooley stage 2 cam , I figured I should check my pushrods first and order some at the same time if I need any. None were showing any bits of wear so that's good.


I also didnt know if I should order a new timing chain or dampener with the 3 bolt sprocket I'll need. So I pulled the balancer and took the cover off, chain seems good. From what I've read I should change the dampener anyway so that'll be way to go probably.

Also got around to dropping the pan and didn't find much gunk in the pan. Just a thin layer at the bottom, threw at magnet at it and nothing stuck so that's good.



The DOD kit comes with head gaskets and bolts so I'll take the heads off and check all that out and make sure I don't have any surprises there, I doubt I will but why not if I'm this far already.


My belltech drop kit showed up so the parts hoarding is continuing.

In a few weeks I'll be able to park this thing for the winter and start tearing her down.

 

[bix]

Got around to taking the heads off today, gaskets didn't show any sign of burnt spots , pistons were a bit gunky but nothing unexpected for a 200 k km motor. Got the AFM lifters and trays out, cleaned up the pistons with some utlra fine scotch pads and cleaner and also baptized the shop floor with coolant.

 

[Justin V]

Aren't flat tops a 4.8 thing?

 

[6872xtc]

Aren't flat tops a 4.8 thing?

I wondered the same thing, but I don't know for sure.

 

[bix]

2007-2009 ly5 5.3s got flat tops. Must be what bumped the standard 9.5:1 compression ratio of the gen 3 motor, to 9.9:1 on these gen 4 ly5s.
I already almost had a mild jammer when a best friend told me it was a 4.8 because of flat tops. Stroke is 92 mm though.

 

[Justin V]

I knew it was a gen 4 and I wasn't sure about the flat tops in regard to the gen 4.

Hooray!

 

[bix]

Got the timing gears , oil pump and cam out. Started to clean up the oil pump. Might take it a part and give it a clean also. Inside looks decent though so we'll see. Cam has no signs of wear or anything suspicious, not to be expected after all the lifters were in good shape.






Started cleaning up the heads also. New springs are in the mail from summit... One day atleast. Covid has really messed up shipping so we'll see. I have noticed some crap ontop of the valves in the ports so I'd like to drop the valves out and clean all that up real good before it ends up in the combustion chamber.

 

[Truckman4life]

If you have access to some decent solvent you can prop the heads up and fill the ports with solvent and let them soak.

 

[bix]

If you have access to some decent solvent you can prop the heads up and fill the ports with solvent and let them soak.

Would like parts cleaner solvent work? And then just blow it out with compressed air.

 

[Truckman4life]

Would like parts cleaner solvent work? And then just blow it out with compressed air.

Yep that's the stuff.

 

[Truckman4life]

I just watched a budget build of a 5.3L on Power Nation on YouTube. I might have to do one of these for my little Mazda truck. I am having one swapped out in a 2015 Silverado for work and gonna get to keep the core that has a bad cam and lifters and tons of run time on it but should be a builder.

 

[bix]

I just watched a budget build of a 5.3L on Power Nation on YouTube. I might have to do one of these for my little Mazda truck. I am having one swapped out in a 2015 Silverado for work and gonna get to keep the core that has a bad cam and lifters and tons of run time on it but should be a builder.

I recently just watched that myself, some neat tips on wallowing out the oil pump a bit to make it more efficient. Should still be a good builder for sure! A 5.3 in a little b2200 would rip!

 

[bix]

Slam your truck they said, it'd be fun they said... Until you stove a road plate with your control arms..

 

[bix]

 

[6872xtc]

Holy OUCH! Is that a buddy's truck?

 

[max 02]

Oh boy!

 

[bix]

Holy OUCH! Is that a buddy's truck?

Oh boy!

yea its a good buddy of mines truck. I have some empty shop space so we will tear it down, find another frame , and swap it all over.

 

[bix]

Frame is absolutely dinked, doors are salvageable, but we think the A pillars got a bit tweaked as well, so a new cab is most likely needed.

 

[max 02]

Is Buddy Ok? That must have come to a dead stop!?

How cool is that from no shop to extra space in a shop!

And I love all the trees you got, reminds me of home at my Moms place in BC.

 

[bix]

Is Buddy Ok? That must have come to a dead stop!?

How cool is that from no shop to extra space in a shop!

And I love all the trees you got, reminds me of home at my Moms place in BC.

Yea, him n the misses were banged up but definitely alright which is wicked. He actually pushed the road plate too which must of made it a little less harsh of an impact.

It's a serious dream come true for sure. Especially with the property around the house, the forest is so nice to be in. Where abouts did ya live in bc again? It was on the island no?