3500GMC
What T F, over
My right foot would probably need a balanced rotating assemly... 
It's only money, right?
It's only money, right?
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Missy and DaHoooley, the SAGA continues
- Thread starter Missy Good Wench
- Start date
mohawkmike82
Member
How about .88 cents from Napa. Doesn't say a brand name though so who knows on the quality right?
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
Latest update
Looked over this thread and it has become a tad cluttered and I did not want to read throught all of it, so here is the real deal, straight scoop on things.
The Block is a 2002 GEP bare block that was not supposed to get loose, but some did.
The block is finish bore now and all reay for assembly.
I landed a set of heads that came off a brand new P400 that was bought for a Hummer.
Ther heads that came on the engine had the 90 degree angle on the intake bolts (pickup truck/Burb style) and they needed the 60 degree ones for the Hummer.
The engine had not even been fired.
I paid $650 for the pair of heads.
So the bottom line is that this engine will be a GEP 6.5 block (optimizer) with GEP Optimizer heads and a scat crank.
Very low mile stock GM 6.5 STD sized pistons on my original 6.5 rods that were reworked for the Yellow engine last time.
Hope to get onto this thing soon.
Keep ya updated as things happen.
Missy
Looked over this thread and it has become a tad cluttered and I did not want to read throught all of it, so here is the real deal, straight scoop on things.
The Block is a 2002 GEP bare block that was not supposed to get loose, but some did.
The block is finish bore now and all reay for assembly.
I landed a set of heads that came off a brand new P400 that was bought for a Hummer.
Ther heads that came on the engine had the 90 degree angle on the intake bolts (pickup truck/Burb style) and they needed the 60 degree ones for the Hummer.
The engine had not even been fired.
I paid $650 for the pair of heads.
So the bottom line is that this engine will be a GEP 6.5 block (optimizer) with GEP Optimizer heads and a scat crank.
Very low mile stock GM 6.5 STD sized pistons on my original 6.5 rods that were reworked for the Yellow engine last time.
Hope to get onto this thing soon.
Keep ya updated as things happen.
Missy
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
OOOOOOOOOOOOK, I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK
Got the block on the stand now and all the oil galley plugs in as well as the water jacket soft plugs.
The dowels are all in on the bell housing, the front of the block for the timing cover and the rear main for the oil pump.
The bypass for the cooler and the filter are in.
The new oil squirt nozzles are in as are the main bearings.
Cam bore rear plug is in as is the cam and the retaining plate.
Water jacket drain plugs are in too.
Soon I will bring the cranks home from the shop and get it in the block and check the main clearance with some plastigage.
Once the crank is in, its Rodeo time and this sucker can go back together pretty quick.
Just wanted to post a long overdue update.
Got the block on the stand now and all the oil galley plugs in as well as the water jacket soft plugs.
The dowels are all in on the bell housing, the front of the block for the timing cover and the rear main for the oil pump.
The bypass for the cooler and the filter are in.
The new oil squirt nozzles are in as are the main bearings.
Cam bore rear plug is in as is the cam and the retaining plate.
Water jacket drain plugs are in too.
Soon I will bring the cranks home from the shop and get it in the block and check the main clearance with some plastigage.
Once the crank is in, its Rodeo time and this sucker can go back together pretty quick.
Just wanted to post a long overdue update.
btfarm
America First!
Damn Missy... Long time no see! Glad to see yer still kickin' 
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
OH Yeah, Im still around and pluggin away at it.
Had a real tough time this summer getting enthused about much of anything.
Work has been slow (DUH) and so I have not been in much of a hurry.
About a week ago I got on the stick and started gathering the little bits an pieces together.
My goal is to get the DaHooooley back up and running before the fall rains show up.
If I can accomplish this, I will be happy.
At least I dont have to go out and buy a lot of new hard parts for the installation.
With only a year on the previous build everything (other than gaskets) is all new and good to go.
Oh and for anyone interested, Yesssssssss THIS ONE IS GONNA BE CAT YELLOW TOO.
Im not superstitious about the color of the engine. I just hate BLACK. I was never fond of the Orange that GM had for years, then the blue was not a fav either and then black, YUCK
I guess I dont like much of anything in the way of engine colors.
The yellow does brighten the engine bay up a lot though.
Missy
Had a real tough time this summer getting enthused about much of anything.
Work has been slow (DUH) and so I have not been in much of a hurry.
About a week ago I got on the stick and started gathering the little bits an pieces together.
My goal is to get the DaHooooley back up and running before the fall rains show up.
If I can accomplish this, I will be happy.
At least I dont have to go out and buy a lot of new hard parts for the installation.
With only a year on the previous build everything (other than gaskets) is all new and good to go.
Oh and for anyone interested, Yesssssssss THIS ONE IS GONNA BE CAT YELLOW TOO.
Im not superstitious about the color of the engine. I just hate BLACK. I was never fond of the Orange that GM had for years, then the blue was not a fav either and then black, YUCK
I guess I dont like much of anything in the way of engine colors.
The yellow does brighten the engine bay up a lot though.
Missy
3500GMC
What T F, over
I was just wondering where the 'wild blonde from cloud mountain' was...
Well whaddaya know, there you are!
And of course, since we are a visual lot, don't forget to post up the photos. Please.
Well whaddaya know, there you are!
And of course, since we are a visual lot, don't forget to post up the photos. Please.
Acesneights1
New Member
cool.
Brooklyn Tow
9 11 Never Forget
Nice too see your back Robyn....Looking forward to your posts, along with the build. Seems you arn't taking any chances with anything but PREMIUM parts....The Optimizer/Scat crank, (Premium Hybrid of sorts) should be tough **Chevy Jingle music insert** "Like A Rock".... and "Purr" like a kitten.
Looking forward to updates, pics, commentary and whatever else that goes into this "Final build."
Lots of luck!
Looking forward to updates, pics, commentary and whatever else that goes into this "Final build."
Lots of luck!
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Now
Got out yesterday morning and went at it, with the intention of geting the crank all in and buttoned up. NOOOOOOOOOOOO did not happen, yet another SNAFU
Dropped the crank into the mains and went about checking the clearance. Well that lasted about 2 minutes. Tightened the number one main and then removed the cap to check the plastigage
only about .0005" clearance.
Pulled the crank back out and then set to checking the mainline bores.
The mainline is about .002" too small. I studied the Chevy manual and looked over all the specs, yupppp the mainline is gonna have to be line honed a bit to get the diameter opened up to spec.
I am at a loss as to why this happened. This is Supposed to be a Navistar block that was headed for AMG/GEP
Again there are more ugly conspiracy stories surfacing, the latest that I have heard is that ther there were a batch of blocks cast overseas using a Navistar block as a pattern and then machined in Canada and shipped to the US. :???:
This block had bores that were slightly under 6.2 size and left rough. I can see why this may have been done deliberately but why would the mainline be left .002" undersize ?????????
This worries me to no end.
I am begining to think that this truck is jinxed from the gitgo.
Here in a bit, when the shops open I am going to call and see about getting the mainline opened up a tad.
Soooooooooooo, I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning pistons. I had obtained a set of very low mile 6.5 pistons that came from a 6.5 that had cracked a #8 cyl wall and the thing was parted out.
Cleaning ring grooves is not my Fav pastime
Nasty filthy job that takes time and patience, I did not want to buy a gring groove cleaning tool for this one job, so I am doing it the old fashioned way. ARRRRRRGH.
Got 6 of the 8 done.
Once these are done, I will get them on the rods and ready to go in.
Still just at a loss for why that mainline was left too small ?????????
Got the scat crank out of the box and checked it over for size too.
The mains and rods are right in the middle of the spec for using STD bearings.
Most of you know that the 6.2/6.5 are a select fit engine. This applies to the pistons and the bearings.
The bearings are available in Standard, .013mm US (.0005" half thou) and .026mm US (.001" one thou) and are used in matching pairs or combinations to get the clearance desired.
I like to see about .0025" clearance on the mains and about the same on the rods.
Spec on the mains is .0017" to .0032"
There is no way I would build one of these at minimum clearance.
The last couple engines have been at .0025 all the way and the oil pressure was great.
Well, all for now, will update as things progress.
Missy
Got out yesterday morning and went at it, with the intention of geting the crank all in and buttoned up. NOOOOOOOOOOOO did not happen, yet another SNAFU
Dropped the crank into the mains and went about checking the clearance. Well that lasted about 2 minutes. Tightened the number one main and then removed the cap to check the plastigage
only about .0005" clearance.Pulled the crank back out and then set to checking the mainline bores.
The mainline is about .002" too small. I studied the Chevy manual and looked over all the specs, yupppp the mainline is gonna have to be line honed a bit to get the diameter opened up to spec.
I am at a loss as to why this happened. This is Supposed to be a Navistar block that was headed for AMG/GEP
Again there are more ugly conspiracy stories surfacing, the latest that I have heard is that ther there were a batch of blocks cast overseas using a Navistar block as a pattern and then machined in Canada and shipped to the US. :???:
This block had bores that were slightly under 6.2 size and left rough. I can see why this may have been done deliberately but why would the mainline be left .002" undersize ?????????
This worries me to no end.
I am begining to think that this truck is jinxed from the gitgo.
Here in a bit, when the shops open I am going to call and see about getting the mainline opened up a tad.
Soooooooooooo, I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning pistons. I had obtained a set of very low mile 6.5 pistons that came from a 6.5 that had cracked a #8 cyl wall and the thing was parted out.
Cleaning ring grooves is not my Fav pastime
Nasty filthy job that takes time and patience, I did not want to buy a gring groove cleaning tool for this one job, so I am doing it the old fashioned way. ARRRRRRGH.Got 6 of the 8 done.
Once these are done, I will get them on the rods and ready to go in.
Still just at a loss for why that mainline was left too small ?????????
Got the scat crank out of the box and checked it over for size too.
The mains and rods are right in the middle of the spec for using STD bearings.
Most of you know that the 6.2/6.5 are a select fit engine. This applies to the pistons and the bearings.
The bearings are available in Standard, .013mm US (.0005" half thou) and .026mm US (.001" one thou) and are used in matching pairs or combinations to get the clearance desired.
I like to see about .0025" clearance on the mains and about the same on the rods.
Spec on the mains is .0017" to .0032"
There is no way I would build one of these at minimum clearance.
The last couple engines have been at .0025 all the way and the oil pressure was great.
Well, all for now, will update as things progress.
Missy
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
Got the block into the machine shop yesterday morning, should have it back by the end of the week.
Putting together the pieces of this giant puzzle and trying to figure out just how this whole convoluted story with these blocks came to be.
After a couple phone calls and some prodding it would seem that what likely happened was as follows.
The machining line that produces the blocks for AMG/GEP was likely running at full swing and it was discovered that there was an error in either the CNC programming or the tooling and the mainlines were out of spec.
Ok these lines do not just make one block at a time and by the time that QC caught it there were a bunch of blocks already done and off the line and yet others that were not completed.
Several of the blocks that were sold had bores that were slightly under 6.2 size and yet others were finished at 6.5 STD.
Now the machine line that does these blocks is not set up to go back and redo a mainline as the boring is done with a tool head and not a line hone as we would do it in a small rebuild shop.
With a bunch of blocks "out of spec" they were most probably sidelined and possibly ordered to be scrapped.
At this point I suspect that someone decided that "Hmmmm these are all good usable blocks and can be finished in a small shop and work fine"
Likely someone decided to sell them off (out the back door) rather than scrap them.
This story would explain unfinished bores and a mainline thats undersize.
This is conjecture on my part and most probably the truth will never be known.
Buttttttttt the scenario I have here at least makes sense given the physical facts that are available.
Ahhh well, such is life.
Missy
Putting together the pieces of this giant puzzle and trying to figure out just how this whole convoluted story with these blocks came to be.
After a couple phone calls and some prodding it would seem that what likely happened was as follows.
The machining line that produces the blocks for AMG/GEP was likely running at full swing and it was discovered that there was an error in either the CNC programming or the tooling and the mainlines were out of spec.
Ok these lines do not just make one block at a time and by the time that QC caught it there were a bunch of blocks already done and off the line and yet others that were not completed.
Several of the blocks that were sold had bores that were slightly under 6.2 size and yet others were finished at 6.5 STD.
Now the machine line that does these blocks is not set up to go back and redo a mainline as the boring is done with a tool head and not a line hone as we would do it in a small rebuild shop.
With a bunch of blocks "out of spec" they were most probably sidelined and possibly ordered to be scrapped.
At this point I suspect that someone decided that "Hmmmm these are all good usable blocks and can be finished in a small shop and work fine"
Likely someone decided to sell them off (out the back door) rather than scrap them.
This story would explain unfinished bores and a mainline thats undersize.
This is conjecture on my part and most probably the truth will never be known.
Buttttttttt the scenario I have here at least makes sense given the physical facts that are available.
Ahhh well, such is life.
Missy
3500GMC
What T F, over
You don't wanna hear this but, why the big bore 6.5? Keep all the MEAT in that block that you possibly can. Your block would finish good right at 101mm 6.2OEM, right?
Just my opinion of course.
Just my opinion of course.
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
Yup, but its already finished out to 6.5 diameter so my pretty set of low mile 6.5 pistons will fit.
I thought about making it a 6.2 but did not have a fresh set of slugs.
Missy
I thought about making it a 6.2 but did not have a fresh set of slugs.
Missy
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
OOOOOK
Just got the good word that my block as all ready to pick up and the mainline finished right where I wanted it.
Keep Y'all Posted as things happen
Missy
Just got the good word that my block as all ready to pick up and the mainline finished right where I wanted it.
Keep Y'all Posted as things happen
Missy
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
As soon as its home today or tomorrow, I will get some piccy's coming along.
I am going to pick the block up in a few minutes from the shop.
Missy
I am going to pick the block up in a few minutes from the shop.
Missy
turbonator
Member
not to be a stick in the mud, but x-2 on that one.... imagine a 6.2l navistar... mmmmm meat...LOL
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
Well the Block is all home and nestled back on the engine stand once again.
The decision to go with the 6.5 pistons was made for more than one reason.
One I had a set of very low hour pistons and two, I wanted pistons with anodized crowns and not the bare top 6.2 pistons.
I did have two sets of brand new 6.2 pistons, but I sold them off a few months ago.
Anyway, the build is going to continue. I may get out there in a bit and start fitting stuff up again.
I will try and get some Pix, probably tomorrow now as I left my DSLR sitting in the gun shop last night.
I have high hopes that this will be the last time I have to lay a wrench on this engine.
I would like to be able to drive the DaHooooley for some years without any real issues.
Starting to think about a set of stacks and a 6" lift kit for the truck.
I just hate a 4x4 that looks like a LOWRIDER six inches on the suspension and some tires would do wonders for that rig.
Missy
The decision to go with the 6.5 pistons was made for more than one reason.
One I had a set of very low hour pistons and two, I wanted pistons with anodized crowns and not the bare top 6.2 pistons.
I did have two sets of brand new 6.2 pistons, but I sold them off a few months ago.
Anyway, the build is going to continue. I may get out there in a bit and start fitting stuff up again.
I will try and get some Pix, probably tomorrow now as I left my DSLR sitting in the gun shop last night.
I have high hopes that this will be the last time I have to lay a wrench on this engine.
I would like to be able to drive the DaHooooley for some years without any real issues.
Starting to think about a set of stacks and a 6" lift kit for the truck.
I just hate a 4x4 that looks like a LOWRIDER six inches on the suspension and some tires would do wonders for that rig.
Missy
Missy Good Wench
Wild Blonde from Cloud Mt
UPDATE__ UPDATE
Hey
I got downstairs a bit ago and uncovered the block and went at it.
Got the bearings in and dropped the crank in DRY, checked all 5 mains with plastigage and JOY AT LAST Everything checked out fine with clearances coming in right around .002" with the front main being just ever so slightly less.
Plastigage is not an absolute anyway but its a good way to fly.
Clearances are good. Yanked it back apart, installed the squirt nozzles and then replaced the bearings, lubed everything well, installed the rear main seal and buttoned it up.
Crank spins free as the wind with end clearance just right too at around .010" or so. ( I use the THUNK THUNK with a pry stick on the crank method and look at it)
Sooooo, Its off to the rodeo again.
Later troops
Missy
Hey
I got downstairs a bit ago and uncovered the block and went at it.
Got the bearings in and dropped the crank in DRY, checked all 5 mains with plastigage and JOY AT LAST Everything checked out fine with clearances coming in right around .002" with the front main being just ever so slightly less.
Plastigage is not an absolute anyway but its a good way to fly.
Clearances are good. Yanked it back apart, installed the squirt nozzles and then replaced the bearings, lubed everything well, installed the rear main seal and buttoned it up.
Crank spins free as the wind with end clearance just right too at around .010" or so. ( I use the THUNK THUNK with a pry stick on the crank method and look at it)
Sooooo, Its off to the rodeo again.
Later troops
Missy
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