Junkyard Gen 3 lower end

BPADRNOS

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET 1500
116,000 MILES

I got what I was told was a 2002 LM7 w 116,000 miles on it. Pulled the cam and lobes and journals look great but I can see copper coming through on the bearings. So I am going to change those out along with the lifters. But what is your opinion on the bottom end? Pull the rod caps and plastigage the bearings at a minimum? Just leave it alone and go with it? This is going into a 64 Coupe de Ville so it's just a cruiser so not looking for big power, just want dependability.

Thank you and great YouTube videos.

-Brian

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,443 POSTS

I would go through it completely, if there is copper showing it was likely run hard to get that much wear. Plus you would have a known starting point with the internals as you can flush out the block, check the bores for wear and at a minimum replace the bearings and rings with a light hone of the bores. Then go over the heads the same way, clean them, and at a minimum new stem seals and lap the valves to see what the seats look like. It won't be a new engine but refreshed enough that it should run well and give dependable service.
Good luck with it. Those are a nice car to make a cruiser out of.

Junkyard Gen 3 lower end

1 Reply

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