Love the longer video format mate. I was a Fitter Machinists in another life and always wanted to build my own engine. Your detailed videos are just what I've been looking for as I'm about to embark on an engine build project for my 4x4. Nothing as powerful as what you're building but it gives me the information I need to get an idea what I want to build.
Man, I envy that Rottler. I remember spending a LOT of time with the "Nascar Bar" dwelling at certain spots with a CK10 chasing .0002“.. And that robo-hone just knocks it out like nothing. Good stuff.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I came here to learn more about how to build high powered engines but e.g. setting up the honing machine is also very interesting to me :)
Great video man. What I wouldn’t give to borrow that machine for an hour. Trying to build my engine for 3 years and all I lack now is taking the block 20 over and I can finally build it. Life and kids though. Loving the build vids so far man keep them coming.
You said "thrown into this machine" and about a 2sec delay of me realizing that speed up from the time lapse 😆 I'm like "oh he really about to throw that in there 😮"
Just wondering if you have read the May 2019 HOT ROD article of a 2,625 horsepower (40psi boost) buildup of a 441 cubic inch LS that Ken Duttweiler did? It's a very in depth with all dimensions and clearances listed. Thought it may be some help to you, and keep up the great work!
Is the goal of reducing the crosshatch angle to reduce how quickly the the oil "drains off" the cylinder walls? Like going down a less-steep waterslide?
So now you make me want to take a sledgehammer to my CV616. Still. It's nice to beat the demon and be able to get within a tenth on the old green monster 😅😅
@JacobVillemain how did you get into the engine building/performance industry? What paths did you take to get you to where you are? What do you love + hate about your job? Honestly love your videos man, so informative and interesting, even inspiring.
Thank you! I had a Foxbody mustang when I was in high school. I wanted to build an engine for it but didn’t trust my local shops, so I learned how to build it myself! Got a job at Smeding Performance 7 or 8 years ago and the rest is history!
Anything! Just get your hands into something and don’t be afraid to make a mistake. I learned more building my first engine, than I have on any other engine.
Awsome brother. I love watching machine work. I have a L94 6.2 I am turning into an Ls3. It had to get bored to 4.085 to get rid of the bad taper. I've heard from some you can and from you can't. It's not going to be boosted and a mild cam. Or is the block junk. I'm sure a race engine is a no go. But a stockist rebuild?
Good video with a nice piece of machinery but I have a question. Since you are working within tenths of thousandths does the plateau hone make a measurable difference in the finished bore size?
I'm wondering why your using a non-skirted/cross bolted block...I would think that would/does add a lot of structural integrity...just thinkin out loud...build looks insane!
The larger splayed main caps on the Dart block are a stronger design than the standard LS 6 bolt design. This block has 1/2” inner studs, and 7/16” splayed studs.
I might have missed it, but are you going to dry-deck the engine? The LS platform has a bad habit of lifting the heads and puking all it's water out, at the power your going for.
Short answer, no. Long answer, the block and heads are machined for top fuel style hoops, and I am going to run the engine on M1 methanol when racing. When using M1, I don’t need to run any coolant in the engine, and with the hoops there will not be any head gasket blow out issues unless the tune up is off.
This machine’s advantage is how quickly and repeatedly it can achieve a 100% perfect hone. You can still use an old machine and get the hone 100%, it just takes more time. Therefore a 100% perfect hone on this machine vs an old school machine would not be any different
This after market LS is a non skirted block last I checked non skirted block are 4 bolt main so you can run traditional sbc parts If there is 6 bolt non skirted block what be the part number