My long term 57 project

[Az. Hank]

I'm swiping the dash idea. Already have the parts just need time...
Nice job

[ChuckDriver]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Ok, ok JJ, I just rechecked dates and it's been since Thanksgiving that you posted these GREAT upholstery and headliner photos. I think I KNOW you've been up to something on the truck since then. You don't sit still for long, thank God. So far, I dig EVERYTHING you've done on your truck and I'm jonesing to see what's next.

Are you building a frame? Working on the Cameo bedsides, gathering parts, what?

Dan I know I can always count on you for calling me out!! You are right I have been up to something. LOL

I've been watching your LS motor come together and decided I was ready for an upgrade too. So I picked up a wrecked 2013 GMC Sierra from Coparts with only 22K miles on it! It has the 5.3 with the 6 speed auto, should be a lot of fun with a cam swap and tune!!

Here are a couple of pics, hope to have it removed with the week!

[oldman3]

JJ, that's like a brand new engine, great deal I hope?...Jim

[ptc]

Another one lost..... to the "darkside".....



Good luck Chuck!

[Russell Ashley]

Wow, very nice. Are you sure that you want to open up that 22K miles 5.3 to put a cam in it?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Wow JJ, I thought I knew you were up to something but I'm a little flabbergasted at this news. Huge congrats! With 22,000 miles that's a brand new engine/trans for all intents and purposes.

"Mike" says he's pulled down LS's with almost 200,000 miles and they showed virtually no wear. Mine had "only" 81,000 miles (almost 4x yours) and it looked clean as a whistle inside.

I think you're going to love the "dark side" as ptc put it. Personally, I think LS engines ARE "traditional" in that true old time hotrodders were always putting newer, bigger, faster power plants in their cars. Pretty hard (for me) to argue with over 300hp and torque and still get great mileage.

[Roadkill58]

Nice score on the GMC!

Your truck is going to be too mean for the common public.

I think that will apply to PTC's truck as well.

[RockinKees]

Pretty nice wreck!!


I hope I come across something like this if my engine blows up

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks guys!

I've been looking for a LS trans combo since I saw Dan's engine plans. I was able to find the GMC at a good price so I jumped on it.

It has the Displacement On Demand, and from what I've read I may need to remove this system, so if I have to tear into it I might as well upgrade the cam!!

Worked today on removing all of the connections from the engine and trans, planning to pull it out on Tuesday!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

Thanks guys!

I've been looking for a LS trans combo since I saw Dan's engine plans....

Yikes, the pressure!

Displacement on demand is what GM calls "VATS" i think. Yes, it gets removed.

Just an FYI, NOT knocking other transmissions, but when I was making my choices Mike told me there are pages of upgrades described for 4i50e's and many fewer for 4l80e's. If you'd putting a higher performance cam in it, i.e. More hp & torque, you'll want to make sure WHICH trans upgrades you do. I don't pretend to know much about the LS and their tranny's though i have been reading everything I can about them.

[ptc]

Everything LS is more expensive too.... isnt that grand! $$$

hot rodding has become like BOAT -ing (Break Out Another Thousand)

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ptc

Everything LS is more expensive too.... isnt that grand! $$$

hot rodding has become like BOAT -ing (Break Out Another Thousand)

So far, i can't agree with this. I had(still have) a nice 283 with Camel hump heads/Edelbrock Performer/Holley & headers on it and it would have cost me more to have it machined, new parts, balanced, etc than to buy a new 350 short block.

But remember too that comparing an SBC to an LS is NOT an "apples-to-apples" comparison. The LS are much more durable with features like their 6 main bearing bolts, deeply skirted block, not to mention you're getting a lot more power in stock configuration compared to a like sized stock conventional SBC and they give you dramatically better mileage. Yeah, not everyone cares about that but i do.

[47 Fasttoys]

"Displacement on demand is what GM calls "VATS" i think. Yes, it gets removed" Actually DOD is a system in which GM cuts off 2 or 4 cylinders by lowering oil pressure to the lifters for those cylinders. VATS is Vehicle Anti Theft System. Vats must be removed in a computer re-flash for a stand alone set up. DOD on the other hand requires changing lifters and a reprogram. Some other things may also be involved in removing DOD.
Rob

[ChuckDriver]

Originally Posted by 47 Fasttoys

"Displacement on demand is what GM calls "VATS" i think. Yes, it gets removed" Actually DOD is a system in which GM cuts off 2 or 4 cylinders by lowering oil pressure to the lifters for those cylinders. VATS is Vehicle Anti Theft System. Vats must be removed in a computer re-flash for a stand alone set up. DOD on the other hand requires changing lifters and a reprogram. Some other things may also be involved in removing DOD.
Rob

Yep! I'm been looking for as much info as I can find on the pro's and con's of leaving the system in place.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by 47 Fasttoys

"Displacement on demand is what GM calls "VATS" i think. Yes, it gets removed" Actually DOD is a system in which GM cuts off 2 or 4 cylinders by lowering oil pressure to the lifters for those cylinders. VATS is Vehicle Anti Theft System. Vats must be removed in a computer re-flash for a stand alone set up. DOD on the other hand requires changing lifters and a reprogram. Some other things may also be involved in removing DOD.
Rob

Yes you're right of course. I got my acronyms confused.

PS: Why would you hve to replace the lifters if you're NOT going to use DOD? Seems the engine would just run like it ordinarily does when DOD is not in use?

[ChuckDriver]

Still doing research on the DOD, hopefully I can leave it in place, just not use it.

[Dan in Pasadena]

JJ, Just an FYI that we're using the Holley HP EFI system on my LS.

It's a little pricey but Mike is crediting me back for the factory EFI controller, harness, etc. that was bought along with my engine/trans. It will allow us to tune the engine without paying the $500 license for the first time it goes on the dyno and the extra about $100 he has to pay every time we need to go back on the software to make minor changes like idle speed, timing changes, fan temperature cut in/out - if i were using electric fans, etc.

I just thought you might want to know. I found this website:

http://forums.holley.com/forumdisplay.php?13-Holley-EFI

I haven't explored it yet but it SEEMS like it will answer a lot of questions. I'm pretty clueless about EFI and it won't make me proficient, but I want to at least understand the basics.

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks for the link Dan!

[Roadkill58]

My neighbor would say "Fuel injection is nice, but I would rather be"
well he had a fuel altered so he did have a blower.

.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Just to follow up on my earlier info post, I'm going to be using the Holley HP Dominator engine control system. It's more expensive than the non-Dominator HP system (natch, what uisn't on this build) but it will also allow control the electronic transmission (4l85e in my case).

If I stay with the factory stock engine management system it will work fine. But the problem is every time I have to put the truck on the software to change the idle speed, change a shift/down shift point, change electric fan kick on/off temp (I'm using a mechanical fan, but this will apply to many others), change the engine speed for the AC coming on, etc. I will have to pay another $100 in addition to the fees for the dyno and mechanic labor.

Now in my case Mike is giving me over $500 credit off the purchase because he wants to use my truck as the pilot for him getting into tuning using it. It may be too pricey for others but i am glad to have it.

[ChuckDriver]

Well guys I was able to get the engine/trans combo out without hurting anyone! It's nice, just need to clean it up a little. I think I'll paint to iron block black and clean and detail everything up. Will try to make it look like a factory install.

Here are a couple a pic's!!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by ChuckDriver

....I think I'll paint the iron block black and clean and detail everything up. Will try to make it look like a factory install...

This is what I did, but Mike talked me into leaving the heads natural aluminum. In hindsight, I'm not positive I like that but I hate painted gaskets so I won't repaint them soon. Way in the back of my pointy little head is the idea of turbocharging my engine someday and if I ever do that, the heads will have to come off anyway to open the top ring gaps some.

I would have left the stock truck intake on my engine too but I frankly find it kinda ugly - YMMV. On YouTube there is a short video of someone who "shaved" the crap off the top of the plastic cover and painted it. Looked much better.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cg9bc2vJL9A

[ChuckDriver]

Thanks guys, should clean up nice.

Dan, shaving the manifold makes it look better for sure, but man that's a lot of work!

[Kim57]

Looks real clean.
Kim

[Scottish58chev]

Nice! It looks like brand new, nice score indeed.