Safe resurface limit of cylinder block l59 5.3 vortex?

TOBY CANTRELL

MEMBER
2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE
5.3L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
170,000 MILES

I just got back my block from the machine shop. I forgot to ask what was removed, but from what is written on the block it appears.040 was removed. I have purchased a truck Norris cam, 7.4 chromoly pushrods, .560 beehive springs, 243 heads milled.0015, std bore flat top pistons, .050 head gaskets, and everything else is std/ stock. The question is, have I exceeded the safe mill limit for block? And is this set up going to work still or what do I need to do to have good quench and compression? I was aiming for 10.1 originally. Thank you!

5 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,709 POSTS

Hi,

Are you referring to the bore size or did they shave 40 off the heads/block? I'm not sure which you are referring to.

If they took 40 off the heads, I wouldn't go a lot more by any means.

Let me know.

Joe

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Sunday, April 23rd, 2023 AT 8:08 PM

TOBY CANTRELL

MEMBER
3 POSTS

.040 off block deck surface. Bores are std and.0015 off heads.

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Monday, April 24th, 2023 AT 5:06 AM

RYAN L

ADMIN
256 POSTS

So, the block is safe, I would not worry about that. If I were you, I would assemble everything for one piston and slowly rotate the engine over by hand and see if you can feel anything make contact. My guess is you are okay due to flat pistons, but I cannot tell you for sure off the top of my head and it is obviously super important to get it right.

To calculate your compression ratio just use the calculator by our good friends Summit Racing https://www.summitracing.com/newsandevents/calcsandtools/compression-calculator

Thanks for using 2CarPros!

Best,
Ryan

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Monday, April 24th, 2023 AT 2:08 PM

TOBY CANTRELL

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thank you! I really enjoyed your junkyard LS build (sponsored by Summit). I bought the book and have read it from cover to cover but it is still good to see the content walked out on video. I bought those same headers from summit. Do you like those? I’m really hoping to find someone local who can help me make this thing sound like a Corvette lol last question, those coils you put on are you truly happy with them or should I just stick with my factory coil?
Thanks!

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Monday, April 24th, 2023 AT 3:40 PM

RYAN L

ADMIN
256 POSTS

That is awesome! Thanks so much for watching!

I like them more than I thought. We just wrapped putting that engine in my 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air with those headers and minimal mufflers. It sounds burly as my neighbor puts it.

The Summit coils are great! But if you have your stock ones, I would rock those until they fail. My tuner told me the stock GM coils are good up to 1,200 hp or something crazy like that.

Best,
Ryan