2012 SS N/A Build
 

Ok guys here it goes. So, it all started when I bought my 2012 SS/RS with the l99 and automatic. When I got her, she was all stock except for a muffler delete and she had around 150k on the odometer. Other than that, she ran really well, and the oil looked like new inside, so I bought her in 4/2020 for a very good price of $12.500. It did have a front end and rear end impact where the bumper had a nice, crushed spot on both of them. Few miscellaneous chips and scratches here and there.

So, I drove it like that for about a year then got the bug to start modding. First thing was the exhaust. I got a full system for TSP 1 7/8 primaries with 3" pipe and cats. After that it was time to get more serious so, I went with a GPI SS1 cam with all the goodies. Car made like 415-420 whp with a remote tune form GPI and I wasn't satisfied. So, then I brought it to a local tuner her in Austin by the name of Exodus. The guy's name there is Tim and he got me 438 whp on a dyno tune. Then I was like oh yeah! So that's why I say the remote tune is a good way to get your car up and running but leaves a little on the table.

I drove it for a little over a year with a slight lifter tick that got louder and louder and finally after changing the lifters, getting new rockers, and even replacing the oil pump the ticking just seemed to get worse the longer I drove it. So I just couldn't take it anymore so decided to tear into it. And what I found made me feel better knowing what it was but with disgust. After my tuner took the heads off, we discovered that all the intake valves (I believe I'll have to double check on the picture because my tuner currently has it) had actually kissed all the pistons. Now I know what you're thinking how did that happen? Well, the shop that I first used to put the cam in had a problem when they went to first fire it up. It didn't start and seemed like it didn't have any compression. It got late so I went home and the next day they called me and said they had it running. I asked them what happened they said they had the timing off. At the time I didn't know what kind of damage it caused because now it was running really good just had that damn lifter tick. So, I willing to bet that when they had the "timing Off" it caused interference with the valves and pistons there for slightly bending all my valves. And also, you're probably wondering why I didn't see this when I changed the lifters and that would be a good question. The only thing I can think of is that I wasn't really looking for it and it didn't help that the tops of the pistons were all black at that time. Just really inexperience on my part not knowing what to look for I guess.

So now I'm faced with rebuilding the heads, replacing the pushrods. and the valve springs because it's about that time. With 170k mile I decided to go ahead and do a full rebuild now and build for some kind of boost down the road. Another thing I always wished I would have gone bigger on the cam and did a converter from the start so, that's what I'm going to do.

So, I had Exodus pull the engine for me and then took it to an awesome LS builder which I can't even name the guy or the shop because he likes to keep his shop off the map so he doesn't have everyone showing up at his door. He works alone and was 7 weeks out to build my engine but worth the wait after seeing his shop and current builds.

Now on to the parts list.
DSS FX Forged Pistons
Eagle Forged L19 Rods
Stock Balanced Crank
TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads
.040 Cosmetic Head Gaskets
ARP Main Studs
ARP Head Studs
King Bearings
GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft
Chevrolet Performance Racing Lifters
Molly Pushrods
OEM Rockers with CHE Trunnions
Melling 10355HV Oil Pump
Fast 102 LSXR Intake Manifold
Nick Williams 103 Throttle Body
Fluid Dynamics Hormonic Balancer
Circle D 3600 Stall Converter
Mishimoto Radiator, Catch Can, and Oil Cooler

I have two more weeks before the machinist is done with the engine and I'm thinking that Exodus will take roughly a week to reinstall it. I'll keep you guys posted on what goes down next. Thanks for reading.

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Page #8 continues with the new ride!

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Damn that’s awesome and shitty at the same time. You are going to love it when you get it back.

Definitely! I'm another one that experienced problems with a build, now I'm running a cammed LS3 with a 3200 stall. Instead of rebuilding an L99 I just went right for a new crate haha


It's going to be awesome and you'll love it

Thanks guys I appreciate it.

Good luck with the rebuild. :popcorn:

Thank you.

Here's a couple pictures for now.
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Finally, I am defenitly going to subscribe to this build! Looks like it is going to be awesome build! :happyanim:

Thanks Vicster.

Right on joe !! Now you gonna have a stout bottom end .. any plans for boost ?

Yes sir I think I'll take a pro charger please.

::thumbup: Hell yeah !!

Well, the pistons that I got have a negative 5cc with the large valve reliefs in them. With a stock LS9 head gasket that puts me at around 10.3.1 compression and I'm shooting for 11.1 so, it looks like I'll be milling the heads .035 or so to get me there. The machinist said it won't affect the intake manifold fitment, I sure hope he's right.

Hello,

If you are planning to add boost I would not go above 10-1 compression. My LSA and 427ci are around 9.5-1 compression.