Took some parts to my fab/welding guy and had some work done this weekend. Had him modify a spare transmission crossmember for the 4L80E as well as weld a bung into the 4L80E transmission pan to make drains easier. I do also plan to prep and powder coat both parts the same flat black as the other parts.

Modified Crossmember:


Transmission Pan:




I also picked up some manifold flanges for welding the hot side.


I am also going to start a thread for this, but I took him a spare set of engine mounts to have him weld them solid. After him and I talked for a bit we decided we are going to make some dedicated solid motor mounts and I am thinking about coating them and putting sets up for sale.

Regardless, those will be done in the near future.

 

This last weekend a friend and I installed the shift kit. I also cleaned up the transmission, scuffed it up and hit it with some satin black. I will try to get a picture or two of it up.

I may also be picking up an engine assembly this weekend. My truck has been eating coolant and I can't find the leak, which leads me to think I may have the dreaded Castech problem. I need to pull the valve covers to check. Anyway, the engine I am looking at has 862 head son it, so I am hoping that will be a safer bet. Along with which I will have a spare short block, which is never a bad thing.

 

Alright, as stated before did some work on the transmission the other day. After getting the shift kit installed I brushed on some KBS. Not perfect, but it will do what I wanted it to.

Before cleaning:


Then after degreasing and hitting with Roloc wheel:


Finally a quick coat of paint:


However, as will be posted shortly. My transmission parts may be put on hold...

 

Earlier I noted an issue with coolant going missing. Well, I feared I may have the Catech heads since they are 706 castings. So I decided to pull the valve covers...

This, was not a good start:


The driver's head was covered in sludge:


The passenger head wasn't ideal, but looked tons better.


So...I will be picking up a spare engine I found for a good price tomorrow and putting the 862 heads from that on to my current 5.3L. Then I will have a spare short block in case I need it as well.

Since I will be putting the new heads on, I figured I would go ahead and focus on the cam stuff while waiting for my converter to get here. So I will start ordering head gaskets, head studs, etc. for the swap. This way I can put the heads together with new springs and bolt them down. Then get all the other cam stuff installed, finish buying the few trans parts and then the truck will be ready for turbo parts to start coming in.

 

Picked up the spare engine this weekend. Picked it up, and here is how it looked.


Started getting it torn down, got the intake off. Was a bit on the dirty side.


Got the heads taken off, here is the driver's bank:


Here is the passenger's bank:


Cylinder head #1


Cylinder head #2


Going to get the heads disassembled, then hot tanked and spressure tested. Then put them together. Will be using Tooley springs, stock arms, probably Speed Inc. pushrods and Tooley lifters.

Also, the engine mounts are now ready to go.


For anyone following the thread for the mounts, I will be updating it as well. These still need to be powder coated, which I plan to do when I find some time this week.

 

How much did you pick the engine up for if you don't mind me asking.

 

$300 complete.

 

Dropped the new (Well, used but from the 5.3 I just bought) heads off to be hot tanked yesterday after I disassembled them.

Ordered basically everything needed to put the new heads on and make the cam upgrade. Most of which I pick up on Friday. A few other parts should come in as well. Hoping to have the cam and head replacement side of things buttoned up and tuned by the end of the month.

 

looks good. so what characteristic of the heads caused so much sludge in the to accumulate in there?

 

The heads will probably show signs of cracks, allowing the coolant to get in.