Many drivers asked the same quick question,” What is the LS main cap torque sequence“? It is an important part when you want to assemble the engine.
You have traveled a long journey and want to rebuild your engine. You obtained the necessary tools and began the process of engine disassembly.
However, you are stuck when trying to reinstall the engine components together.
You are not alone, as many drivers face the same problem with the cap sequence. Continue reading, and you will know what to do.
What Are LS Engine Torque Specs?
Should we want to assemble the engine, we must know some information, including the proper torque sequence and torque angle step.
We also need to know the cap torque specs and rod torque specs. Worry not; we will review all the information and steps to install the engine parts.
What Is The LS Main Cap Torque Sequence?
We must follow its sequence when we torque outer bolts or inner bolts. Otherwise, the engine may not work, or its lifespan will be shortened.
We can check the diagram below for the LS torque sequence.
What Are The LS Main Cap Torque Specs?
Not only do we need the main cap torque sequence, but we also need to know the torque specs. We should not tighten the aftermarket fasteners, nuts, and bolts too tight or too loose.
Either way can lead the engine to operate inefficiently and reduce its longevity.
The torque spec for the main cap inner excellent bolts should be 15 lb-ft. We must also use our angle gauge to torque these inner main bolts at 80 degrees.
Meanwhile, the main cap outer studs-final pass is tightened to 15 lb-ft, and it should be 53 degrees.
What Are The LS Connecting Rod Torque Specs?
When tightening connecting rod bolts, we must remember that the torque should be 15 lb-ft. Remember to twist every bolt an extra 75 degrees when inserting the torque angle gauge.
What Is The LS Bolt Torque Rear Cover Torque?
No matter what, when assembling the engine, we must go through the step of installing the rear cover.
Some steps require us to know its bolt torque values, which is important to keep the engine parts in place.
Before torquing the rear cover bolt 18 Ft Lb, utilize a cover alignment tool to match the sealing surface with the block’s oil rails. Plus, we also have 15 Ft-Lb front cover bolts.
What Are 5.3 Flexplate Torque Specs?
The Flexplate bolts or Flywheel first pass in the sequence is 15 ft-lbs, while the second pass bolts are 37 ft-lbs. The final pass is 74 ft-lbs.
Align the extra hole in the flexplate or flywheel with the hole in the crankshaft’s back.
Tighten the engine flywheel bolts of the thread locker to the threads with the torque above.
We also need to follow the method illustrated in the diagram, then repeat for the second pass and the final pass of 74 ft-lbs.
What Is Gen 3 5.3 Head Bolt Torque Specs?
Another important engine part when assembling is installing cylinder heads and bolts. For the M11 x 2.0 x 155.5 and M11 x 2.0 x 101.0, the bolts should be torqued to 22 ft-lbs in the first pass.
Then, we use a torque angle gauge to twist 90 degrees and 50 degrees, respectively, in the second stage.
For M8 x 1.25 x 46.0, we tighten the bolts numbered 11 to 15 to 22 ft-lbs. There is no need to add an angle to these bolts. Plus, the torque of cylinder head stud nuts is 80 ft-lb.
What Is The LS Cam Plate Torque?
When it comes to installing the camshaft plate retainer plate, we have to install the four bolts and torque to 18 ft-lbs.
In case we use TORX-head camshaft retainer plate bolts, the torque spec should be 11 ft-lbs.
What Are The Basic Steps For Engine Assembly?
We now have all the necessary information to assemble the car engine. Some would want to ask additional questions about engine assembly.
However, the steps are complicated, and we need technical knowledge to finish the task. If you are unsure, bringing your car to a technician is better.
Install Main Bearing Caps and Bolts
Place the engine block on its base upside down. Reinstall all screw-in block plugs, including the coolant plug assembly and oil gallery.
Insert the front oil galley plugs into the engine block’s driver side.
Put the thread locker around its circle and secure it into position with a flathead punch. The rear oil gallery plug and main bearings may now be installed.
The upper bearing shells must be fitted in the block, while the lower bearing shells should be installed in the main caps.
Remember to place the thrust-bearing shells in the center-bearing block.
Ensure that the upper bearing shells are lubricated. Gently put the crank in the block while holding the crankshaft by the rear flange and snout.
Once oiling the lower shells, insert the main bearing caps, ensuring each numbered cap is installed in the precise spot.
Assemble Pistons To Connecting Rods
After placing the main bearing caps, we tighten the inner and outer main bearing cap bolts, as indicated in the diagram above.
It is important that you follow the main cap torque sequence and specs for the engine to work effectively.
With the crankshaft in position, it’s time to install the pistons to our connecting rods. When we’ve got a clip on one side, gently use clean oil to lubricate the friction surfaces in the rod and piston.
Move the pin down the rod bores and piston until it reaches the piston clip.
Install Piston/Rod Assembly
It is better if we have a crank-turning tool. However, in case we don’t have the tool, we should install an old crank bolt and use a 24mm wrench for crankshaft turning in the final assembly stage.
Now we install the connecting rod bearings. We place the lower attaching rod-bearing shell to the rod cap and the upper one into the top part of the rod.
For installing the rod assembly or piston into the ring compressor, we first need to turn the engine on its stand and turn the crank to the bottom dead center.
Begin by carefully lubricating the skirt of the right number rod assembly/piston and gently pressing the piston down the sleeve-style ring compressor by hand.
Install Camshaft
Next, we install the piston into the bore by keeping the ring compressor against the table surface. We tap down the piston using a rubbery hammer.
Then, we install the rod into the journal. Once it is done, we can put the rod caps in.
We should do the connecting rod bolt assembly with torque and specs as above. Now we install the crankshaft position sensor. Tighten the crankshaft position sensor bolt at 18 ft-lbs.
Install Oil Pump
The short-block construction is now complete! Take a well-earned rest. We now install the camshaft. Its front is identified via the sprocket locating pin and bolt hole(s).
Then install the cam until these rearmost cam bearing journals rest on the block’s front cam bearings.
Next is the camshaft retainer plate, which is installed as described above. It is time to insert the sprocket and crankshaft key.
Using a rubber mallet, insert the key into the keyway of the crankshaft snout. We can just glide over the snout for aftermarket sprockets, and it will sit completely on the crank.
Once it is done, we can install the timing chain and oil pump.
Rear Cover
Before installing the rear cover, we must insert the pump pickup tube and oil deflector tray. Lubricate the oil pump input and O-ring opening with oil before inserting the pickup tube.
The retaining bolt is torqued to 106 ft-lbs, whereas the oil deflector tray is torqued to 18 ft lbs.
Now we can install the rear cover. Be cautious when placing the rear cover into the block since the crank seal lips might easily get misaligned.
It will cause an oil leak later. The rear cover bolts must be torqued to 18 ft-lbs.
Cylinder Head and Bolts
We need to install the front cover, oil pan, camshaft sensor bolt, then valve lifter guide bolts, and guide trays before the cylinder head.
We now lay the head gasket on the block and check for the gasket incompatibility recess.
Check that the deck surface is entirely clean. There are 15 cylinder head bolts, ten of which have a big diameter (M11). As mentioned above, the rest will have a smaller diameter (M8 thread).
For tightening the M11 Head Bolts, we tighten the ones numbered 1 through 10 in sequence in the diagram to 22 ft-lbs.
Next, we twist 90 degrees with the angle method. After securing all M11 bolts, utilize a wrench to torque the M8 inner bolts in sequence from 11 to 15 at 22 ft lbs.
Rocker arms And Intake Manifold
The process depends on the types of rocker arms we use. The essential thing to remember while setting up an adjustable valve rocker arm is to reduce the lash adjusters.
By doing it, they won’t interfere with the steps of fastening the mounting nuts.
Also, we will install the valve covers, oil pressure sensor, and coolant air bleed pipe bolts. We can now think of the intake manifold.
The intake seals might crawl out of the grooves during the process, so ensure they’re properly installed before continuing.
Take the masking tape out from the intake ports, clean the sealing surface, then install the 11 ft-lb manifold bolts.
Flexplate
Before the flexplate installation, we must insert the fuel rails and throttle body. Align the extra hole in the flexplate or flywheel with the one in the crankshaft’s rear.
Insert the six bolts by applying the thread locker to their threads. Torque at 15 ft-lbs by following the steps outlined in the diagram above.
We will install the harmonic damper lastly, and the engine assembly is now almost complete.
Conclusion
You can check the above diagram if you are looking for “What is the LS main cap torque sequence.” You must follow this sequence unless your engine lifespan is shortened.
Engine assembly is a complicated process, and you must have some skills. Otherwise, you should take it to a mechanic.