Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Pics wouldn’t load on the post above.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Trucks looking fantastic. Fingered crossed it’s just a slight electrical/dash fault and you’re back on the road.
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Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

beautiful truck dan

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Your truck came out great.
Hope you get years of enjoyment out of it.
Kim

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan, truck is beautiful and the wheels fit the look of the truck. LS engines do run to what we call hot, but normal for them. Heck my old V6 Blazer ran 215 from day one brand new. Enjoy the truck, hope the oil thing was just a clitch...Jim

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Very nice Dan! Not used to seeing an engine ran that warm. I din't know that 225 was normal for the newer engines.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Thanks you guys. I feel a little better having other people tell me that the LS engines tend to run hot by old-fashioned SBC standards. Once it got over one 180-190 I was getting concerned.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

here is a good blurb on the cooling system. I know it is talking like the reader is a first timer but it does have some good info on how the lS engine cooling system works. the thermostat is on the coolant return hose but senses engine temp so you need to have things hooked up correctly to sense properly. heater hoses factor into the system.

https://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Cooling/

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Good article, dsraven. I havent read the entire thing yet but I read enough to ask some questions about the steam ports on my heads being capped.

What I didn’t see was any statement or explanation that LS engines tend to run hotter than SBC/BBC’s. MAybe I missed it.

Any just because I’m giddy about my truck being home I took some pics of it in the same place where it was when it was in it’s shop truck look. What a huge difference. I think I still like looks of the old Torq Thrust knock offs better.

EDIT: Looks like I need to park it a little further back and take the shot from the sidewalk to truly get comparable pictures.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Looks great Dan. That red is juicy! Getting the bugs out can be scary (no oil pressure yikes!) but is just part of it, glad there was no damage and just a gauge glitch. :metal:

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan, truck looks really great. LS along with most newer vehicles run "hot" but that is normal for newer engines. hope the Oil PSI issue is just a electrical problem. Enjoy driving it.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Yesterday Mike loaned me an old fashioned manual oil pressure gauge with plastic tube that carries the oil to the gauge instead of using an electronic sensor. I’ll hook it up and drive it around awhile - assuming it shows normal pressure. The warning went off after a couple miles and reaching full temperature.

I want to make sure the pressure “failure” (IF there really is one) isn’t real but intermittent.

Also, there’s a whole calibration process for the DD HDX cluster I haven’t done yet. Cluster says Speedo & fuel gauge require calibration. Maybe more things get calibrated in the process too.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Your truck looks amazing Dan! There's bound to be some bugs to sort out on such an extensive build, just keep after it and before you know it the truck will be done.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

FYI - I put these little green felt dots between my tailgate and bedsides to hopefully prevent marring the new paint. You don’t see them when it’s closed. I have some thicker white ones I may use if these aren’t effective.

The blue tape holding chains up was just temporary to get her home without scratches. I slid some tight fitting “roadie” bicycle tubes over the chains temporarily as I’ll have some guards sewn up to match the upholstery later. Clear tubing looks good but I've always seen it turn cloudy or yellow. But I may reconsider.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan you can get clear self-adhesive bumpers dirt cheap for the tail gate, they are commonly used on cupboards and cabinets. They would probably do a better job than the felt pads.

https://www.wwhardware.com/3m-clear-...0%7C%20%240.81

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

black sheep, good call on the clear rubber bumpers. I was thinking of one of the door stop bumpers because they push into a hole and would stay in place well, that would require a hole though. the clear cupboard door style are also self adhesive so they stick pretty good. different sizes as well, diameter and height. I would say maybe stick a clear dot over the bump area where they contact the other body part as well, like the protection stuff they use on hoods etc. anybody that installs that would probably be able to give you a little piece of scrap.
love the color. looks wet all the time

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan, what size tires are you running?

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Tires are 235/55x17's

The green dots are kitchen cabinet project leftovers. I felt (no pun intended) I had to put SOMETHING in immediately to avoid wear/chips. I have thicker white ones but agree the clear would look best - though no one will really ever see them.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
I need to get over to AAA today to renew the registration.
I have new inside door handles & window cranks and of course I couldn't find them, DOH!
I also am missing the glove box door lock retainer thingy. There are probably a few other things so there's another trip to The Car and Truck Shop.


But before everything else I have to determine if there's really an oil pressure issue. I'll make a run at that tonight when I get home from work.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Truck is looking great.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

there is a cover/plate on the side of the oil pan, above the oil filter, held on with 2 bolts ,called the oil cooler block off plate, that can be used to tie in an oil pressure fitting to supply a guage. the plate is easily removed, drilled and tapped for whatever thread you want (within reason). a small copper line would be better than a plastic line in this case because the plastic may end up touching the exhaust. fire hazard, leak to clean up at least.
check this link for a pic of the oil pan with the cover attached above the filter. mayber easier than getting to your oil sender behind the intake manifold. there are also predrilled/tapped covers sold as well

https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...-oil-pans.html

https://paceperformance.com/i-814627...eaded-cap.html

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...off-plate.html

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=493630

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Danny boy,
thanks for the tire size, it's the same as what I had planned to run. I was curious what the rpm would be like at freeway speeds with that size tire and 3.73 gears. I found my link to the calculator so no worries. what diff ratio are you running, just out of curiousity?

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

3.73’s!

It had much lower (numerical) ratio but I thought it would be a dog with a ratio in the high 2.00’s. Switched them out

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan

Fandamtastic !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfiltered thought: use the port that has been suggested to check oil pressure, and use copper for the line, and then add an engine oil cooler to help with the higher temps.

I'm with you cooler is better. Just a thought

Keep on keepin on

NC

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

some engine temp info here. a good reliable gage would be a bonus as would a second sensor in the other head if you worry about it. steam ports connected properly may also help. like nut case says, an oil cooler would be a bonus as well.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Happy Halloween gentlemen.

I stopped by Mike’s last night. He and one of the guys that did a lot of the work on my truck were saying the sensor at the top rear center of my engine is 1 of 2. The top one is connected to the Holley computer. The one sending a signal to the HDX is on the driver side of the oil pan.

Thanks to dsraven for the links to the pictures I am posting below. On my engine they drilled and threaded the factory indent on the cover and it looks exactly like the ones in these pics.

The obvious thing is to swap out the sensor on the pan. But I can connect the manual S&W gauge I borrowed from Mike to that location, drive around a bit to make SURE there is no intermittent oil pressure issue - though Mike says it’s impossible to have an “intermittent” issue on an LS and is almost certainly a sensor issue.

He explained/showed me that the LS oil pump drive is directly off the front of the crank. It reminds me of a “Wankel” style eccentric pump with no sacrificial breakable part like the plastic/phenolic connector on an SBC/BBC engine. The only way the oil pump can fail catastrophically is if the engine seizes. Otherwise he says the oil pressure would go away slowly like if a cam bearing were wearing out fast. I’d notice 5 or 10 psi lower pressure after drive.

Also, again he mentioned the valve train will make noticeable clatter the moment it has low oil. I heard none of that when the issue happened and also my transmission cover was off and my windows open when happened at low speed so I would have heard. I WAS listening for any odd noises too; it was the first longish drive.

Last, I asked him if the computer would shut off the engine if it’s sensor detected no/low oil pressure? He said it would not.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

the ls engines have an issue with the oil pump pick up tube where it goes into the oil pump. the "O" ring can leak air if it is not sealing like it should. this would be on a used engine more so than a rebuilt engine due to the "O" ring getting hard over time but still possible. it is, as said, likely a sensor issue. the manual check should tell you. maybe a good idea to keep the guage in there for a bit just to make sure it's all good.
what I have done in the past, on offroad buggies and large equipment or vehicles where there is a lot of noise etc, is hook up a low oil pressure switch to a large light in the cab, like the "idiot lights" that a lot of cars have but something huge and in your face, so when the oil pressure drops or goes away the light comes on to draw your attention to the dash. not too many people are driving around with their eyes glued to the cluster so low oil pressure could be going on for a bit before you know it. the light could be connected to something discreet, like a loud buzzer in the fuse panel even, so the dash stays nice and clean looking but whatever you connect it to would get your attention for sure.
one thing to ask would be if the fuel pump is connected to a low oil pressure switch so the fuel would get cut off under these circumstances. some have that and some don't. good idea though. gm did that way back in the 70's when the electric fuel pumps were becoming more common. I remember having a 72 chevy vega that had an in tank electric pump which was controlled by the oil pressure switch (yep, a v8 vega guy back in the day).
anyway, just some thoughts.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

the sensor on the oil pan is likely connected to that oil cooler block off plate. you could easily install a "T" fitting there and run the sensor and the oil line to the manual guage. like said, use a copper line from there up to the guage or at least past the engine and exhaust heat. I know a nice stainless braid hose looks great under the hood but they are usually teflon or plastic/nylon tubing inside the braid. not that great with high heat. make sure to use some clamps on the tubing to keep it from vibrating because the copper can develop cracks next to the fittings from work hardening of the copper.
I have often thought a small manual guage installed in the glove box temporarily (or not) or somewhere out of sight would be good to have for situations like this. if you have a low oil pressure indicated on the cluster you could simply open the glove box for a look at reality the old fashioned way, analog.
keep us posted on how it all works out

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

I would call the manufacturer and ask for tech support. Chances are they have seen this issue before and can suggest some checks to drill down on the problem.

You could also install a T fitting and add a temporary mechanical gauge so you can monitor them both. Then you would know if it’s the gauge or the engine.

I’m guessing it’s something simple like the sender or a bad connection

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Dan can you get into the Holley injection system and read oil pressure out of that sensor?
I can go into the GM ECU and read oil pressure out of it using the sensor at the back of the manifold.
My Dakota Digital sensor is in the the cooler block ff plate as pictured above. If in doubt get a manual gauge on it to verify the electrics.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Mike, Yes there is a hand held monitor under my seat I can use to check the readout on the main HDX. Mike suggested I do that too.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Just an update for my own records:

I haven't had the time to even hook up the oil pressure gauge to the truck because we're prepping for a weekend camping trip with the extended family, BUT I did pull it out of the garage.

Took it for a ride around the block, went to back it into the driveway and at idle it died. It restarted but ran like crap. It was coughing and struggling. Managed to get it up the approach but it died again and would not restart.

I know it has gas because the gauge says it's full and because I filled the tank before installing the bed wood - I haven't cut the access door to refill it yet. The fill hole is taped shut but since it ran for maybe 2-3 miles before the oil pressure thing made me shut it down I assume the lack of a vent isn't the issue(?)

Anyway, it got pushed down the driveway into the garage and will stay unaddressed until after this weekend's outing. It had been starting and running absolutely fine before. Any ideas come to mind anyone?

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Sounds like a bad fuel pump.
Hope you get it figured out.
Kim

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

if it wasn't carbed I would say check your maf sensor or the connection to it.
pull the air filter and see if you get gas from the accell pump when you pump the lever. if good, pull a plug and see what it looks like, clean or sooty.
maybe you had a mouse drag a nest into your exhaust. had that problem with the brother in law's scooter, finally got it fired up and it backfired and blew popcorn and rice all over the place. sister in law said the mouse displaced almost a whole bag of rice while they were away for the winter, didn't know about the popcorn, lol.
also check all the vac fittings, hoses and wires to ensure something didn't come loose or burn on a header etc. you come this far, you'll figure it out

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Funny you say that because I stopped to talk to Mike and his first question was if I could hear the fuel pump when I keyed it? I honestly haven't noticed.

Then he reminded me (I should have remembered) there is a handheld screen for the ECM under my seat. I just have to pull it out and it will likely tell me what the issue is. Supposedly it's intuitive like a smart phone so I should be able to use it.

I've been prepping our RV & new "toad" (2012 Fiat 500) for an upcoming camping trip so I moved the '55 into the garage and haven't messed with it. again. Possibly tonight after work.

I'm hoping it's fuel starvation from the lack of a vent on the filler neck. I have tape over it (still haven't installed the in-bed fill door/cap), the fuel pump fuse, or the pump has crapped - though it's brand new so I kind doubt that. As I'm typing this the thought that it drove 2-3 miles before the oil pressure issue surfaced makes me wonder if the pump was pulling against the vacuum created by the taped filler and either drew too much power -fuse blown OR actually pulled the tape off the filler into the tank and clogged the feed tube - UGH.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

It's NOT carbed. That's a Holley throttle body but I like your thinking. More things to check - thanks!

PS: Man, you're terrifying me with the mouse suggestion. Why? Because I DO have issues with rats in our detached garage and shop. I've snap trapped them, poisoned them, etc. and they eventually come back every time. I wish there was some way to train a rescue cat to live just in my garage/shop. Of course my little dogs wouldn't like it! Back when the truck was in it's shop truck look I'd just totally cleaned, repainted the engine Chevy orange, put on a new aluminum manifold and finned valve covers and it was looking good, I had it parked in front of the garage for two weeks and when I went back rats had nested on my new manifold and peed on it, etc. SERIOUSLY pissed me off!

The thing that lessens the mouse/rat concern is that I was able to easily start it and run it out of the garage and around the block before it suddenly died at idle/won't restart. But I will definitely be taking a look down the throttle body.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Sorry to hear about your problems.

Be sure to check the wiring under the hood for chew marks, those pesky varmints love wire insolation .

An other trick is to keep the hood fully up to keep them from nesting in a closed space.

BTW do vent the tank when running the engine.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Thanks Glen. Good idea on leaving the hood open. Anyone know what that does to the pneumatic shocks on my billet hinges? Anything of concern?

No chew marks or evidence of any damage but I don’t want to wait for it to happen. I’ve heard that mint oil and mothballs work for mice.....but not indefinitely. No idea if they do anything at all to rats?

I’ve used snap traps with SOME success. Some because I once had one get partially snapped and it screamed running off with the trap on it. Weirded me out. I want them gone but I don’t want to torture or maim one! I still feel bad about that.

Poison has worked til i started finding dead ones in my dog’s water bowl. I guess they get a morbid thirst trying to neutralize it so that’s out.

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Happy Holidays everyone ☃️
From Glen and Jane ��

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

Same to you and Jane!

From Jim and Lois

Re: Danny Boy is BAACK! w/ '55 Big Window
 

And Seasons Greetings from "La Belle Province" (Quebec)!