Standard & specific tools required for LS engines...........
Standard & specific tools required for LS engines...........
Author
Discussion

m3desmo

Original Poster:

582 posts

242 months

Sunday 3rd September 2006
quotequote all
Does anyone on here know the most common spanner/socket sizes required for working on the LS series motor??

Also, are there any specialist/specific tools which could be recommended to make life easier with maintenance?confused

Any help would be appreciated as I want to make sure my tool collection includes the necessary before arrival of my crate motor (which will be ordered soon).

GTWayne

4,595 posts

246 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
Don't know a thing about the specs. with regards to maintenance tools for these motors but am almost positive all will be AF. Nothing on these LS motors is rocket science and I can't imagine anything to out of the ordinary will be required. I know you are eager and want to be prepared but remember 'softly softly, catchy monkey' and a personal favourite of mine, 'where's the fire'?

m3desmo

Original Poster:

582 posts

242 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
With the new addition to the family, I need to get going with my orders, or I'm sure the missus will find something else to spend the dosh on!!biglaugh

Besides, I need the tools to do the job right - my build budget doesn't extend to employing the services of a car builder like you! (I would rather spend it on trick bits)

Anyway can anyone give me the answers to my original question before my amigo hijacks my thread again???

bandit-GTWayne, bandit-LuckyP, bandit-M3desmo

harshman

17 posts

241 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
I am almost positive the lsx is all metric. Contact a local chevy dealer to verify. Maintenance? Other than oil changes, what are you needing to do?
Here is a link for you.

www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/120/products/249549/LS2-60L-Gen-IV-Crate-Engine-Assembly.htm

Email them with any questions you might have.

p15ton

499 posts

265 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
It's all metric. I've even had to buy a load of metric stuff....what ever next...?

GTWayne

4,595 posts

246 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
Just goes to show.............a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Being that the yanks are normally so insular in their way of thinking, I am very surprised that they have at last seen the light and gone metric, after all, what can be more simple than multiples of ten?

crafty

2,291 posts

266 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
Its hard to believe that the frogs came up with something as sensible as the decimal system... I mean these are the same people that make Renaults!!

crafty

2,291 posts

266 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
Oh yeah....the best tool you can get for the LS is an air pump attached to the inlet.

GTWayne

4,595 posts

246 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
crafty said:
Its hard to believe that the frogs came up with something as sensible as the decimal system...



What did the Newts come up with then?

m3desmo

Original Poster:

582 posts

242 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
crafty said:
Oh yeah....the best tool you can get for the LS is an air pump attached to the inlet.


Only any good if you have a half respectable tool behind the wheel!!!!hehe

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

289 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
Its all metric and some of the threads are oddball (flywheel bolts spring to mind here). Our american cousins don't seem to have grasped metric just yet Major bolts are TTY and set in 3 stages using angular settings. Of course you could use studs instead. The GM tech tool kit is comprehensive and an electronis digital torque meter is an assett, nay essential for a full build.

Unless you plan to open it up, a selection of sockets will suffice. Even the sump has to be torqued correctly as it's a stressed member. If you lift the inlet you should fit new seals and use an ickle torque wrench

Boosted.

m3desmo

Original Poster:

582 posts

242 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
Cheers for the advice Mike.

I don't intend to open the motor at the early stages but who knows in the future. Interesting to hear about the use of torque-to-yield bolts - are new bolt sets/spares readily available in the UK for the LS7, or would you recommend changing to aftermarket studs? Shouldn't be an issue early on as I won't be performing major surgery on the motor, but still good to know if neccessity dictates that I need to pull the motor apart.

I already have an extensive collection of metric tools used to work on bike motors - but was wondering if like my Ducati, there are any unusual tools / socket sizes which make life a hell of a lot easier when performing certain functions on the motor? Am I right when I assume that you are referring to Snap-on's GM tech service tools? Otherwise where would I get hold of such a set?

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

289 months

Monday 4th September 2006
quotequote all
[quote=m3desmo]Cheers for the advice Mike.

I don't intend to open the motor at the early stages but who knows in the future. Interesting to hear about the use of torque-to-yield bolts - are new bolt sets/spares readily available in the UK for the LS7, or would you recommend changing to aftermarket studs?

You won't need any special tools for basic stuff. Once you start pulling of the front pulley or lifting heads you are into GM tooling territory and torque angle meters. So don't go there unless you have to I stock most engine parts inc some ls7. Studs (rolled threads etc) are way superior to bolts and quicker to torque down. The ls7 may be assembled by one person but they don't say that most of the parts are preassembled beforehand

The GM tool box is for technicians hand stripping & assembling engines post production. Torque angle meters can be found from good tool stockists. You need 250lb/ft to cover an lsx engine. I've had customers with flywheels falling off which were torqued to 150lb/ft by firms who should have known better! The quick guys use air guns but that risks stripping head bolt threads from blocks or stripping the threads in the crankshaft for the pulley bolt. Try getting a bolt out with only some threads, lol!

Boosted.