Project Mr. Green Jeans (now 5.3 LS turbo build!)

[bnoon]

Well, I'm so glad I didn't try to take the truck on Power Tour now. I'm having a low oil pressure at idle issue when warm. Even driving down the slower areas of the interstate seems to drop pressure and start to knock and/or tick. Pop it into neutral and a few revs and it's fine again for a while. This blows. I'm hoping/thinking it's the oil pump bypass or the o-ring on the pickup tube and not the plastic barbell near the rear of the engine. Time will tell. New high pressure pump ordered today and should be here next week. Feeling lame. I think I'll order a few Mustang parts to help me feel better.

[bnoon]

Over the last couple of nights, got the front of the engine torn down and pulled the pan loose. Pan had to fully be dropped loose, but I couldn't quite get it all the way off, so I had to fish out the bolt with a spring mounted magnet. I tried to use fine project wire to hold the bolt, but it slipped out and dropped down in. Otherwise, it was a fairly easy remove and replace. New pump is on and awaiting the rest of the reassembly.

[bnoon]

Everything is back together and driving again. I have GREAT oil pressure now from the Melling pump. Shoots to 60+ when revved and holds a steady 45 at hot idle in P/N.

80# injectors are in a tune adjusted, running E85 and speed density tune has been tested, but I will wait to get deep into the speed density tuning once the turbo is fabbed up and installed. No need to tune things that I will have to tune again you know...

I've been making video updates on youtube too. I'll add the link to my sig as well. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1T...X-j1iEBEKix5Wg

[gmachinz]

Hey, Brad! Just been reading through your build thread-your sign language makes me laugh every time I see it! How do ya really feel? Lol

[bnoon]

Originally Posted by gmachinz

Hey, Brad! Just been reading through your build thread-your sign language makes me laugh every time I see it! How do ya really feel? Lol

LOL, hey bud... Ya, I can get worked up a bit. At least I haven't thrown any tools or punched anything in about a year. Just fyi, a stack of pallets does NOT make a good punching bag!!! Sounded like squishing a stack of saltine crackers and the wood made some noise too.

[mattcrp1]

Glad to hear you got the oil pressure issue figured out.

[gmachinz]

I'm gonna have to stop over and check this thing out....I have a pretty stout 383/TH400 all fresh ready for my 80 Monte project but I'm hesitating because I'm leaning towards a 5.3 install for less weight....isn't that LS9 a blower cam? Is your turbo a custom build? Area Diesel in Pleasant Hill builds custom compressor/exhaust housings, impellars, etc. if you need a source-talk to Manny over there!

[bnoon]

Originally Posted by gmachinz

I'm gonna have to stop over and check this thing out....I have a pretty stout 383/TH400 all fresh ready for my 80 Monte project but I'm hesitating because I'm leaning towards a 5.3 install for less weight....isn't that LS9 a blower cam? Is your turbo a custom build? Area Diesel in Pleasant Hill builds custom compressor/exhaust housings, impellars, etc. if you need a source-talk to Manny over there!

Yes, the LS9 cam is the ZR1 camshaft. It was only like 105 dollars plus shipping from GM Parts Direct, PN 12638427 (just checked, it's $104.20). I'm running it with 1.8 Scorpion aluminum rockers, and the cam change requires the LS2/LS7/LS9 front engine cover and cam sensor PN 12586481 and 12591720. The LS9 cam has been shown to add quite a bit even N/A, though it's obviously meant for boost. A couple of people are showing 50+ HP/TQ over the stock 5.3 cam. The longer duration of the exhaust side will help turbo spool and since it's a boost cam, has very little overlap to keep the boost from blowing on through during intake/exhaust transition. Very cheap for a boost cam. Not really hoping for more power out of it once the boost is applied, just better boost manners.

The turbo is a custom unit of the ultra cheap variety from VS Racing. 88mm .96ar T4 flange. I was kind of leery of the China-chargers, but Sloppy Mechanics has made some REALLY good power with several of them, so I'm going to give one a try. It hasn't shown up yet, but it could be any day. They said 2-3 weeks, which I'm sure means 4-6 instead, but you never know. The turbo should be good for 1000 horsepower, but I'll keep it between 600-700 (500-550 whp) as a starting point and save the rest for later when I add better brakes and suspension. Thanks for the recommendation on the local source though, always good to have them if something should go wrong with the turbo itself.

[bnoon]

So look what finally showed up last weekend. Mmmmmm turbo!!!

[Hankster]

Ohhh, sh!t just got real!

[bnoon]

Rust free fender picked up this weekend. Rust cure soon...

[68Timber]

I've never read what all it takes to make a turbo work on the LS. Aside from the hard parts, what manages the additional air and fuel? Is it just a matter of changing the tune?

[bnoon]

A 2 or 3 bar map sensor must be used and the tune is file will need to be licensed to expand the VE table resolution for the higher kpa zone values. Then, you either dyno tune with a wide band, or buy a wide band o2 setup and tune wot.

[bnoon]

And obviously the larger injectors and fuel pump...

[bnoon]

Just ordered my Innovate LC2 controller/gauge/O2 wideband kit. The ad says LC1, but the seller confirms that they are all LC2 now.

Amazon.com: Innovate Motorsports 3796 DB RED...

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by bnoon

A 2 or 3 bar map sensor must be used and the tune is file will need to be licensed to expand the VE table resolution for the higher kpa zone values. Then, you either dyno tune with a wide band, or buy a wide band o2 setup and tune wot.

See that's a different language to me.

[bnoon]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

See that's a different language to me.

OK, so translation for those that did not understand = "Buy these things and take the car/truck to a shop and have it tuned"!

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice work on the truck Brad! I saw it at Good guys on Sunday but didn't see you by it. At least the oil pump issue didn't wreck anything.

[Dads79GMC]

Brad, any updates? Mike

[bnoon]

Just been driving it all summer. Still needs a better tune and turbo hasn't been installed, but I still enjoy the crap out of it. I should still do it eventually, timing is just off now. Buying a house to flip to get more funds, so I need a truck right now... I'll update as priorities return to the hotrod side.

[Dads79GMC]

Brad, do you have the engine pushed all the way back on the Dirty Dingo brackets? I don't have my cab on yet so I'm not sure if I push it [engine] all the way back, that I'll have room up against the firewall? I compared this pick with some of yours and I can tell I'm way forward from where your are. I also need to make sure that I have room for the radiator, fans etc out front. I think I'll be OK if I go all the way back?? What do you think? If you're wondering, those are 98-02 F-Body exhaust manifolds. Had to do a little mod on that one.

Mike

[bnoon]

I have mine very near the true zero position, but it fit the engine bay all the way forward or all the way back. The determining factor for me was that I didn't want to modify the stock driveshaft. The Ford Aerostar fans cleared with ease.

[Dads79GMC]

Thanks Sir!! Regardless, I'll have to shorten the driveshaft. I think I'll push it all the way back. Mike

[bnoon]

Broke the lense to one of my vintage fogs changing the bulb on Sunday. I was so heartbroken I had to go take a nap. Found some new old stock similar ones... We'll see when they get here. Snif...

[bnoon]

Originally Posted by bnoon

350 sold at the end of January... Yay!

Ordered today:
LS9 camshaft PN 12638427 (only $105!!!)
LS6 springs (80-something for the set)
LS2 timing cover PN PK12600325, gear PN 12586481, LS2 sensor PN 12591720
LS2 timing chain Summit Racing PN SME-143012
Full gasket set ($247 from Rock Auto)

Hopefully this weekend I won't be sick (been sick since end of January) and can get the 5.3 torn the rest of the way down and cleaned. Been too long since I've been out to the garage to play!

FYI, the cam gear PN 12586481 was the incorrect timing gear!!! I will update my post as well as this reply just in case someone uses my list to order their parts. The correct part is 12576407 for a 1x setup. The 1x is different in that it is used with no displacement on demand components. Solved my slight miss and inability to tune the low end correctly. Use the right parts... huh... who'd have thunk it... Just thought I'd update you folks.

No real project update for the turbo build because I got side tracked with a house flip project that's still ongoing. Been driving the truck daily and have about 5,000 miles on the 5.3 and Monster trans. Hauled a few bed loads to the scrap yard, still just putting along....

I did manage to get some used parts... like partially reconditioned 243 casting heads recently. I got them for a hundred bucks shipped because they have a few stripped out holes in them... I heli-coiled them and voila awesomeness!!! Just need to assemble with the new hardware and then swap them out.

Then I also picked up an LS2 type truck intake manifold from a 2007 5.3 truck. Same manifold as Trailblazer SS, but about half of the cost of one! I got this one for 70 bucks shipped because people just don't know... Now I need a 90mm throttle body and some manifold gaskets... and some time to fab the fuel rail crossover pipe.