1971 Stepside LS Build

[AU Doc]

I know with aftermarket ECMs, remote tuning is pretty common.

[1971Stepside]

I know with aftermarket ECMs, remote tuning is pretty common.

Mine is the GM ecm from the Denali donor.

[AU Doc]

I would think a tuner could do the same for a factory ECM. I see people discussing remote tunes pretty regularly on some of the FB groups I'm in, and on some pretty wild combinations at that. But every tuner is different. And if you've found someone that's good at it, it may be worth taking it to them if that's how they prefer to operate.

[Custom 68]

I believe a tuner can e-mail you the file or even get into the ECM so yes it can be done remotely however I believe it requires the owner to have HPTuners or EFI Live (depending on what they are using.) That purchase can add up pretty quickly. I know he is looking local for the tune that makes it easier to get updates and not have your truck down.
Dave

[1971Stepside]

I believe a tuner can e-mail you the file or even get into the ECM so yes it can be done remotely however I believe it requires the owner to have HPTuners or EFI Live (depending on what they are using.) That purchase can add up pretty quickly. I know he is looking local for the tune that makes it easier to get updates and not have your truck down.
Dave

I've asked ShowMe Speed if they can get me on their dyno this week. As of Friday, they said they could. I asked for Thursday since it is supposed to be 70, but I have not heard back.

[Custom 68]

Good luck Shannon

[71cadc10]

what I like to do to try and get all the air out, is unhook the 'steam fitting' cross over at the front under intake. Put a towel under the metal line where you unhooked the rubber hose here....
you want to keep filling the radiator slowly until you start to push water out that metal cross over line. That way you know the block and heads are full and air is pushed out.

[Low Elco]

Looks great, hope to see it in April!

[derotoreut]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

I've asked ShowMe Speed if they can get me on their dyno this week. As of Friday, they said they could. I asked for Thursday since it is supposed to be 70, but I have not heard back.

I hope this works out for you. I explored the notion of putting my K10 on the dyno with a local company. They also have several options for tuning, including HP Tuners, which was how mine was set up. I used Pacific Fabrication / Tilden Motorsports for mine. By the time he added up everything I was pushing $600 - $700. He also said that he needed to add an extra bung to my exhaust system for monitoring. I quickly said no to that. I have a nice SS exhaust system that I don't need hacked up. Also, my tune seems to be OK. It's just that I wanted to see about tweaking the shift points and looking at my fan temperature settings. Good luck with it.

[1971Stepside]

I have the dyno run scheduled for Friday if the weather cooperates. The shop I'm going to has a love them or hate them reputation. I've seen a little of both in the process, but I think they will get it pretty close. Once it is fully going and warm again I can tweak it. I've spent the weekend going over everything I can think of to make sure we have a good run Friday.

I also worked on a new set of kick panel speaker enclosures. I just didn't like the first set that I built. I laid the speaker flat this time so the enclosures would be much thinner overall. I made sure I had room for the dimmer switch and I angled the tweeters to hit about the middle of the back glass. I am really happy with how they fit and look. A little more sanding and I can drop them off to be covered.

[derotoreut]

Sweet. You can always move the dimmer switch a little if you need to. I decided to put mine in my Ididit steering column just for this reason. Looking great though. Nice work.

[1971Stepside]

Some old school fun here. Found this picture. I'm guessing around 1989 I was putting a new stereo and speakers in the truck. I since repaired the cut dash.

[1971Stepside]

While digging I found these two square bodies that were my dads. I would love to build a 79 GMC like that green one. It was my favorite truck he had.

[72 tigger]

Nice square bodies!

[Kronald_70GMC]

Those speaker enclosures are awesome man! Good work!

[MDPotter]

Yep, those speaker enclosures are top notch. My grandpa had an 84 K20 with the 6.2 diesel (about the slowest truck I've ever driven) and it was parked in the weeds for a couple years before a neighbor bought it for farm use and had it repainted and then sold it to another guy who swapped in a 350 and I think it's changed hands again. Should have kept it...

[88Stanger]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

I have the dyno run scheduled for Friday if the weather cooperates. The shop I'm going to has a love them or hate them reputation. I've seen a little of both in the process, but I think they will get it pretty close. Once it is fully going and warm again I can tweak it. I've spent the weekend going over everything I can think of to make sure we have a good run Friday.

I also worked on a new set of kick panel speaker enclosures. I just didn't like the first set that I built. I laid the speaker flat this time so the enclosures would be much thinner overall. I made sure I had room for the dimmer switch and I angled the tweeters to hit about the middle of the back glass. I am really happy with how they fit and look. A little more sanding and I can drop them off to be covered.

I am curious, what size of Mids are these? 6.5"? I am looking at doing the exact same thing and want to order the precut round wood speaker rings.
and then i need to find the tweeter ones. lol
Thanks

[1971Stepside]

I am curious, what size of Mids are these? 6.5"? I am looking at doing the exact same thing and want to order the precut round wood speaker rings.
and then i need to find the tweeter ones. lol
Thanks

They are 6.5" mids. Grab you a piece of 1/2" MDF at Lowes or Depot and cut your own rings. You just need a jig saw. I guess you might need a router too. Good luck.

[1971Stepside]

I sanded them last night. Won't take much filler at all to smooth them out.

[Putzer]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

I sanded them last night. Won't take much filler at all to smooth them out.

looks great!! Are you going to paint or wrap them?

[1971Stepside]

looks great!! Are you going to paint or wrap them?

Thanks! They will be wrapped with the red vinyl like the door panels, seat, etc.

[1971Stepside]

Dyno run cancelled for tomorrow....ugh. It is amazing how hard it is to spend your hard earned dollars sometimes.

[SkidmoreGarage]

sorry to hear about that setback.

That's been my experience as well, especially with "tuners" and "high end shops who do racecars/restorations". Maybe it is just surprising how many people who get into the automotive aftermarket just don't act like professionals. Why is it "okay" for shops to cancel/turn down work/treat you like crap/do shoddy work when they want, but not okay in other areas of our lives? I wish there was something that could change, these guys (and gals) can't be having fun. Maybe it's all economics, but there is more money than ever in cars... Sorry to hijack.

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Dyno run cancelled for tomorrow....ugh. It is amazing how hard it is to spend your hard earned dollars sometimes.

[Custom 68]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

Dyno run cancelled for tomorrow....ugh. It is amazing how hard it is to spend your hard earned dollars sometimes.

Ugh Shannon I was wondering if you were gonna be a go today. I got mine out on this nice cool morning. You will get there!
Dave

[1971Stepside]

Ugh Shannon I was wondering if you were gonna be a go today. I got mine out on this nice cool morning. You will get there!
Dave

I'm looking for another place out of town. I may take it to KC to have it tuned. Hate to go that far, but we just don't have any good options here. I really don't need it to be perfect right now, I would just like it to run clean enough to circle the block a time or two so I can verify everything is working.