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84 K20 "Ethel" Not an Sbc/NV4500/241C

Semi restoration of a 1984 K20 pickup. 5.3 LS, nv4500, np241c.
Overview Gallery Discussion
sreidmx said:
What's the stuff to look for when buying a used ls? Is it reasonable to ask for them to pull the pan to check the main bearings cylinders etc??
How can you check if the cam bearings are good without looking?? Or should I buy a runner, pull it down ring, bearing and gasket it?
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I think it depends on what your buying and the price you pay for it, are you buying a complete engine with harness and computer or just a short block?
If I was buying a complete engine with brains and guts my requirements might be different if I found a shortblock for cheap. I think it comes down to budget. But if you find something and plan not to dig into it, pulling the pan, hearing it run, checking it out really well isn't out of the question.

A good yard shouldn't complain about letting you hear it run first.

Just use standard used engine buying protocol and you will be fine.
 
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beags86 said:
I think it depends on what your buying and the price you pay for it, are you buying a complete engine with harness and computer or just a short block?
If I was buying a complete engine with brains and guts my requirements might be different if I found a shortblock for cheap. I think it comes down to budget. But if you find something and plan not to dig into it, pulling the pan, hearing it run, checking it out really well isn't out of the question.

A good yard shouldn't complain about let you hear it run first.

Just use standard used engine buying protocol and you will be fine.
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If I don't have to pull it down that would be ideal. The yard idea is a good one, I saw some CL adds for these and I don't need the trans. I'll poke around and see what's what.
 
The cylinder walls hardly ever get torn up in these engines, mine were though because it sat up for a while and had rust in the cyl walls and a few dicked up cam lobes.
If the engine doesn't have a guarantee on it or known verifiable mileage I'd suggest the following
Tear down/ inspection
A book! I have just the one, I'll send you a pic of it when I get home
Victor Reinz gasket kit
LS7 lifters (like $100 off of Texas speed)
High volume oil pump
And the other shit we discussed
 
Sorry to hear you're getting what you always wanted, Steve. :pimp: :haha:

If you were on in the fence I'd ask how much you care about a crack, as there's no guarantee it would be fatal.

But for a boosted basket case like you, I wouldn't even mention it. ;)
 
campfire said:
Sorry to hear you're getting what you always wanted, Steve. :pimp: :haha:

If you were on in the fence I'd ask how much you care about a crack, as there's no guarantee it would be fatal.

But for a boosted basket case like you, I wouldn't even mention it. ;)
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Haha!! I actually inspected those cracks more closely last night and found that they're really bad.. one nice thing I also found was the piston skirts looked almost new and the cylinders still had cross hatching on them. Bums me out more that has this not been cracked I bet it would have been a great motor.
 
If you are so bummed, and you wanted to go with a turbo, why are you not going with a decent turbo 6.5 setup?

I tow a lot, and quite often with mine and it doesn't miss a beat. I would choose my 6.5td over an LS 6.0 any day, and I've owned quite a few LS's.
 
sreidmx said:
Haha!! I actually inspected those cracks more closely last night and found that they're really bad.. one nice thing I also found was the piston skirts looked almost new and the cylinders still had cross hatching on them. Bums me out more that has this not been cracked I bet it would have been a great motor.
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You sound rather attached when talking would-have-beens, maybe I should retract that earlier post.

Time for a stud girdle? It's not broken yet, ya know...
 
I'm not that attached, I just pointed out that the engine ran good, and the fact that this is present has shown me the inherent weakness of the 6.2 block.. I won't make that mistake again by dropping another OG go diesel in. Not when I have to rely on it daily.
 
sreidmx said:
I'm not that attached, I just pointed out that the engine ran good, and the fact that this is present has shown me the inherent weakness of the 6.2 block.. I won't make that mistake again by dropping another OG go diesel in. Not when I have to rely on it daily.
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I understand the attractiveness of the LS engine, so don't think I'm saying they suck, but I was relying on my diesel daily for a couple years without any issues. I just wish you could drive my truck for a couple weeks to see what I see.
 
Oh c'mon now, there's no one attacking. I just hate see the diesel go. They are so misunderstood it isn't even funny.
 
beags86 said:
I knew this would happen.
Your getting attacked by the two guys that love these things.

Here's to a Happy gasoline swap.:burnout:
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Hahahaha.

It's hard to tell who's the cat and who's the mouse, eh? This time I trolled you into your predictable response. :pimp: :haha:

I'm not sure why I enjoyed that, but I did.
 
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