"Geronimo" 54' 3100 LS built in PA

[99 to Life]

hahah funny I saw that too, actually saved the photo to my cpu because I never seen a dump COE like that. very cool truck indeed.

[joedoh]

you guys are giving me coe fever. I have a couple ideas I would like to try out

thats a lot of fence. I remember showing my wife how to gap the boards and make sure they stayed level with a handheld level, I looked over and the boards went |||||/////////. she wasnt happy when I pulled them all back off haha.

and of course it warms up the week AFTER the truck delivered to PA.

[99 to Life]

Great fence story! yeah too bad you couldn't have came out with the truck. Perhaps we can meet up sometime. The COE's are seemingly popping up more and more. I'd like to get one done bf it becomes flooded to max capacity.

[99 to Life]

12-28 sorry guys more engine riff raff. For some I know its boring. I got the heads on today, lifters, pushrods and one side of the rockers on. this always takes longer than it appears. I also scratched my head a bit on the water temp probes. The LS heads have a smaller port in the heads than the standard SBC probes. Furthermore my intake has no provisions for a water port. So...now I have to find the adapter if any that will allow a metric port in head and taper up into a bigger port for NPT. I knew the heads had a smaller port for the probe, but I overlooked the intake having a port. I'm running a mechanical sending unit and also an electric fan. So I need two ports.

Im going to get my start stand back, and just set this up on it. fire it up on stand and then proceed to work on truck. keeps it simpler and I like to mate the engine and trans in the truck once after moch up and that is it. speaking of trans, I was so bummed I got snaked on a 4l60e with 60k miles for two hundred bucks. took some wind outta my sails. I have a lead on another with 90k miles, other than that these things aren't that easy to find. Iv been going over the numbers for this build and I def can't get a rebuilt trans. The TCI tcu controller and throttle position sensor alone is about $750. I did luck out and get a shifter for 40% off. Those things are pricey. anyway hope to have some more photos and or vids for you in January.

[Advanced Design]

Hey 99, I always enjoy an engine build so thanks for sharing. That sounds like a great deal on the transmission you missed out on...ouch! Hopefully another will come along.

Why are you using a TCI controller for the transmission?

[iowaboynca]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

12-28 sorry guys more engine riff raff. For some I know its boring.

Not me. Any info is good info.

[99 to Life]

doug, I'm goin with the TCI controller because I want to use the electronic trans. I don't want an older tv cable trans for 1. to mate anything prior to 99ish I'd need a few things to adapt it to the LS, and 2. I like the ability to control the transmission with a cpu, I like the idea of electronic solenoids over the hydraulic, and lastly if we decide to go back to the EFI, the trans will already be in place and I can have a ecu flashed to run the engine and trans at that point.

I'v thought about looking into running a stock ecu but I don't have one and I'd still need a harness modified to run the trans off the stock ecu, if that will even work. I feel like it might but then I'd still be in a few hundred bucks I'm sure and have NO control of it unless I get a laptop and program to do so. with the TCI controller. I can if need control the trans very easily.

this is one of the biggest hurdles for choosing the carbed LS over the EFI. The further I go the more I think, why didn't I just get a complete combo and have a harness and ecu done for it. but.... its all a learning experience and I'll be doing many of both styles I'm sure. So I will have all the numbers on what it takes to make either or work. Just like going with the stock frame over an s10 frame.

[99 to Life]

so I did a little diggin on the temp senders. My temp gauge is 3/8 NPT and my sender for the Efan is 1/2 NPT. So I might just buy the adapter from summit to run in the head and use my temp gauge there.

Then tap my waterpump to run the efan probe through it. here is a pic of what someone did. Even though I have an earlier style waterpump. I think I may try and put the probe before the stat somewhere if it can fit.

Iv also seen guys run a steel tube in between the rad and heater hose and put their temp sender there.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

The TCI tcu controller and throttle position sensor alone is about $750.

sounds pricey is right. I dont know if I would go that route, you are braver than me. I would have used the stock EFI and trans.

[Advanced Design]

Thanks 99, I missed the part about the carbed LS. Whichever direction you go no doubt you will get it worked out.

[99 to Life]

If I had a good running engine, trans, harness ecu etc. It would have been a different story. all I had was the engine, harness, no ecu and or trans. So it woulda been a mix match pairing it all up. 2. I wanted to try the carb set up because I felt I could get it running faster and have less wires to deal with. Price in the long run might be more expensive for me bc I want the electric trans with carb. 3. if you look at dyno pulls for carbs and intakes etc there is a real good article in hotrod mag. results are very similar in performance. I also still just like the idea of having some type of mechanical old school feel to the truck. Though its not my truck, if the guy won't be able to deal with the carb, then we'll go to EFI. I still like the idea of being able to control some features with the trans with a handheld cpu. Unless I can dig up somewhere where a stock ecu and harness was modified just to run the trans and can be done for considerably less than TCI unit, I'm open to it. I will still need a TPS for the carb, that is 130 bucks or so.

[joedoh]

I was not questioning your decision, just saying you are a better man than me. I dont like tuning a carb, my father-in-law taught me a pretty foolproof shadetree way and I still dont like it.

WOT on a carb better be close to WOT on a fuel injected motor, thats the one place carbs are equal.

what is your target price for a trans? I am on craigslist every day.

[47 Fasttoys]

Hey '99, for the extra hole needed for the temp sensor: The common practice seems to be to remove the unused plug on the other head, drill it and tap to a 3/8 NPT. I have done this now 3 times with no issues. Hang on about the COE, the right one will come along. I picked my '47 up for $1000 and the '54 I had for $2000. The deals are still out there.
Rob

[99 to Life]

thanks rob, I already mounted the heads. Little hesitant to drill and tap it now. I'm going to try waterpump and if that won't work out, I'll go back to the head. 1k is cheap for that good of COE. I suppose I should start looking for others, this one kinda fell onto my lap from a friend.

[Advanced Design]

99, do you have any pics of the COE?

[99 to Life]

here is a pic, not trying to get my hopes all up. it needs rockers, floor and some dash work from the pics I'v gotten so far. I'm waiting on more pics. If it has alot of pitting up in the door jams, dash, roof etc. I'd prolly pass. i don't have time to fix every single thing on it like my 49' was. I learned from that build, to not spend the time doing all that.

[Advanced Design]

Thanks 99. Looks like it had some business lettering. Hopefully seller will get you good enough pictures to make a decision.

[Flysocal]

Man COEs are so damn cool. Would be killer to have one as a toy hauler. If i could fit one in my garage for the build, I would buy one. My garage is 17x21 with a low ceiling not gonna happen! Sure like following a Coe build

[99 to Life]

yah I like the old letting for sure. and yes I too wouldn't even be able to work on the truck until I get a taller garage! so....maybe I should just wait to get the garage up. I'v been sick past few days so haven't been able to work on geronimo.

[lower50's]

That COE is cool!!
As for trans controller I have Shift 1 and will be upgrading to this shift 4 in the spring. Very cool product you can change everything on the unit or with laptop. You can also have 4 different shift programs loaded in that you can change with a sw. I will have burnout, drag race, trailer and normal. Can't wait to hear that motor.
http://www.usshift.com/usq4.shtml

[99 to Life]

bob, thanks for the link. here is the TCI kit. I think price would be close to the same with either kit. The TCI one comes with the harness to connect to trans. Both kits would need a TPS which is about 130 bucks. I like the TCI kit because of the handheld cpu seems so easy to use.

Also for all you LS guys out there. I found a guy that sells a temp switch. I emailed them on some info as for the on and off temps. I got to thinking and the switch that came with my E-fan is an on at 185* which I feel is too cool for the LS engine. So i'll need a new temp switch anyway. They list this one at $25 bucks which is good deal considering I wouldn't have to tap my head or buy the $15 adapter.

For the temp gauge I just got the idea to drill and tap and adapter I have. I originally bought a kit that had all the LS adapter fittings. The one for the water temp is too small, so I'm going to look at it today and maybe I can drill and tap it for the 3/8 NPT and leave the 12mm threads alone.

[youngrodder]

Love the COE....very promising looking.
Good luck..I might be going to look at an old Studebaker truck this weekend..

Marc

[99 to Life]

1-14

joedoh, missed your post. My budget for a used trans is about 300 or so dep on miles. any more than that Id rather go with original plan and have a rebuilt one.

So some progress made. This all eats up waaay more time than a picture shows. Setting up the engine on start stand, wiring it all up, plumbing etc is very time consuming. I lucked out with some radiator hoses laying around that will work. I'm stunned the LS in and outlets are identical to a stock radiator. I will be upgrading to an aluminum reproduction rad.

gotta rig up the fuel lines, starter, kill switches, pwr and tach and I'll cross fingers I can get this thing started up.

[99 to Life]

1-16 gotta love when you order from summit and completely blow it cause of their titling of parts. Partially my fault, but I ordered the intake and msd box a year ago. Turns out after I get this thing all ready and fired it up I couldn't figure out why it was running so ruff and not idling. Turns out my half witted self got the intake for the LS3 square port heads. Funny thing is I put the intake on twice for test fit and didn't even notice the gap at the bottom of each and every intake port!!! I can't believe I got it fired up, I must say even with a gap on every port this thing is peppy and fires up like a dream. So...... I should have new intake on and a video this weekend.

I finally got the shifter for the transmission I'll have to put together. Looking forward to getting the engine out of my hair for a while. Its been about a 60hr journey so far on it.
Should be hitting some firewall work and other metal work very soon. I'm beyond happy to move onto something else and spring will be here soon!

[99 to Life]

here is first fire up. bare with it please. I was outta time and battery today. I'll surely get some better footage. overall thing fired right up and seems promising. can't wait to get some good exhaust on it and set the idle.

https://youtu.be/KGVcp6re-OM