LS Engine install guide

LS Engine install guide

Author
Discussion

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
You're totally right FC, a remote filter is the ONLY option here as I really would dread changing a regular filter at a later date.
As for the dry sump, I'm going to look into that further as I don't have an oil cooler and there's all the other parts to fit in
too, I was hoping to keep as much space as possible for the exhaust and fitting all this stuff will seriously reduce space.

356Speedster

2,293 posts

230 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Will take a pic or two later tonight when I'm home and in the garage. A remote filter is a decent idea, providing you've got somewhere to mount it that's not going to cause other issues. TBH, changing a filter is not hard as all you need to do is slip a jack under the back of the gearbox and gently raise it a few mm...... y oil drain pan goes under the engine without jacking the car up, so the sump can't be that low wink

LS3 tight fit?? Where?? Sure things between drive pulleys and bulkhead are a bit tight, but it's a mid-enginged car, you'll not find any other engine giving you more room there. Other than that, there's plenty of room around the engine and good access from underneath. That said, every install is different and if you're fitting things like dry sump tanks, Accusumps, etc, etc, then yes, you'll soon eat up room!

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
A couple of photos showing the sump and filter would be really great Mark, I can then compare to what I have here.
As for being a tight fit, it is the pully and belt end I'm talking about, I fitted everything exactly as per the factory layout but I'm going to have to shift the fuel regulator and the expansion bottle ( passenger side ) by quite a lot as it is so tight.
I'm also going to start that page on my facebook page today charting my work and progress with this as I am sure it will help others. I knew it wasn't going to be a straight and easy fit, but I didn't realize that I was going to have to counter sink bolt holes and take an angle grinder to the engine to make it all work!

Abbosevolution

352 posts

134 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all

So far my LS3 install has been fine - no issues with space - my oil filter is accessible for changes (just) and the sump's not vulnerable, wonder where the difference is - happy to supply more pics if needed - maybe not standing on my head rolleyes

Edited by Abbosevolution on Monday 10th November 09:38

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Where is your sump confused
I've just gone out and taken a couple of images,firstly from the side which is how i viewed it yesterday and from that angle it looks a lot worse and that's why i couldn't believe how low it looked, i then took one from the rear which i didn't do yesterday and it looks a lot better when you can see the bottom of the seat pans (however the sump is still slightly lower than those) I'm curious as to whether there are different sumps being fitted as standard to LS3's or if the factory has changed the engine mounts at some point baring in mind that my chassis is a few years old.

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
And from the rear....

Abbosevolution

352 posts

134 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all

Hope this view helps - yours does seem to sit lowerconfused
Your sump looks different to me ????

Edited by Abbosevolution on Monday 10th November 12:59

Abbosevolution

352 posts

134 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Just for comparison

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for these Steve, my sump is definitely a different shape. I have just received my engine from PWP and it was fresh from over in the states and manufactured in August according to the labels on the crate. Can I ask where you got yours from and when?
Cheers

Pete

Abbosevolution

352 posts

134 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Hi Pete - mine was from Autobionics sourced from Partsworld Performance, Cannock, in October 2011 - maybe give AB a ring and see if they spec a different sump idea

Boostaddiction

16 posts

160 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Abbosevolution said:
Hi Pete - mine was from Autobionics sourced from Partsworld Performance, Cannock, in October 2011 - maybe give AB a ring and see if they spec a different sump idea
Later LS3 crate engines are shipped with a different pan than the older ones. The easy solution is to change back to the original Corvette pan that was being shipped on the early LS3 crate engines.

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
A couple of photos showing the sump and filter would be really great Mark, I can then compare to what I have here.
As for being a tight fit, it is the pully and belt end I'm talking about, I fitted everything exactly as per the factory layout but I'm going to have to shift the fuel regulator and the expansion bottle ( passenger side ) by quite a lot as it is so tight.
I'm also going to start that page on my facebook page today charting my work and progress with this as I am sure it will help others. I knew it wasn't going to be a straight and easy fit, but I didn't realize that I was going to have to counter sink bolt holes and take an angle grinder to the engine to make it all work!

Boosted LS1

21,165 posts

259 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Abossevolution's sump is a second generation vette big wing sump with a detachable lower cover. I've always felt it to be the best sump GM made for these engines as it has nice internal baffling etc. The first gen vette sump was one piece and more compact. The ls3 sumps obviously work but are far cheaper to produce imo being basically a simple pan.

Abbosevolution

352 posts

134 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Boosted LS1 said:
Abossevolution's sump is a second generation vette big wing sump with a detachable lower cover. I've always felt it to be the best sump GM made for these engines as it has nice internal baffling etc. The first gen vette sump was one piece and more compact. The ls3 sumps obviously work but are far cheaper to produce imo being basically a simple pan.
Thanks for clarifying - as always the professionals help is appreciated

Abbosevolution

352 posts

134 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
chucknorris said:
A couple of photos showing the sump and filter would be really great Mark, I can then compare to what I have here.
As for being a tight fit, it is the pully and belt end I'm talking about, I fitted everything exactly as per the factory layout but I'm going to have to shift the fuel regulator and the expansion bottle ( passenger side ) by quite a lot as it is so tight.
I'm also going to start that page on my facebook page today charting my work and progress with this as I am sure it will help others. I knew it wasn't going to be a straight and easy fit, but I didn't realize that I was going to have to counter sink bolt holes and take an angle grinder to the engine to make it all work!
Pete - pic below shows solution to space issue beer

Steve_D

13,737 posts

257 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
I may be wrong but didn't the Factory produce a plate for the engine mount that moves the engine back a tad.

Steve

chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Yes Steve, that looks like a common sense solution to making room at the bulkhead and i could maybe do that with the fuel regulator.
Steve D: i have the latest factory mounts which moves the engine back as much as possible and that's why the oil filter ends up over that lower spar. But even still, it's very tight between the engine and bulkhead...made to measure is one way of putting it!

Racing Roj

488 posts

162 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
Going back to the position of the oil filter ove the chassis member, has any one fitted a remote filter?

356Speedster

2,293 posts

230 months

Monday 10th November 2014
quotequote all
It looks like Steve has beat me to the pics... we have the same package from AB, but for ref a shot from under my car is below. Pls ignore the grot, I've not given it a clean down since my Nurburgring trip wink

I agree with the others, it seems that your sump is different, so that does appear to explain your issue. I'd give PWP or AB a call to see if you can get the alternative sump pan from either of them.

As for the bulkhead issue, the engine mounts should be in 2 parts. The clamp that bolts to the chassis and a long plate that connect the clamp to the engine (essentially moving the engine a little). Do you have both parts? I've also attached a pic across the back of my engine, to help show where it sits. Note, I've got my fuel pressure reg & 3rd filter mounted on top of the engine and I've replaced the bulky 2-bottle setup of the factory cooling system with a single tank, which makes a big difference.



chucknorris

Original Poster:

180 posts

162 months

Tuesday 11th November 2014
quotequote all
Thanks Mark, as you say, Steve beat you to it but it's great to see other car layouts too (even though both are virtually the same). I'm waiting to hear back from PWP but i'm guessing i'll just have to source a replacement shallower one.
I've also started my install guide (idiots guide to engine installs...idiot being the operative word!)
and it can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ultima-LS37-install...

If anyone sees anything factually incorrect on there, please shout out as i want to make it as acurate for others as possible.