The Great Critter Revival ‘09

[Critter]

Thanks Thealien, while I was wasting time doing stupid stuff (I was at work ) you were taking care of me.

Wasted Income, like I said, I would much rather have a 4L80e, but I just don't think it would work out like I want as far as driveline length and adaptation issues are concerend. If it were 2wd then this would be a whole different story. So I'm thinking I can build my 4L65e up to a point that will easily handle my expections for this Blazer.

As far as the HP of my LQ4 goes, it was originally a 300HP Silverado 2500 engine and I would like to have it bumped up a little at the computer, but I don't plan on adding any hard parts. So after a computer tune say we are up to 330HP or so, I will still be under the 345 of the LQ9. By the way I am going to disagree with you about the engine/HP of the H2. I don't see anything saying it EVER had a LQ9. It went from a 325hp LQ4 straight to a 390 HP 6.2L. I don't trust Wikipedia to be 100% correct on everything, but I have done research and most everything they say here about the 6.0 and 6.2 seems to be accurate. If you find info otherwise I would love to see it.

Anyway, I appreciate and encourage the discussion on this, I think it helps everyone make decisions.

[mcbassin]

Not trying to hyjack your thread Terry, but it sounds like you guys know way more about these drivetrains than I have ever thought about. Anyway, I have an 07 4X4 with vortec max 6.0. I was thinking it is around 367hp bone stock. First question, what tranny does my truck have 4l60e/4l65/4l80? Next question,
I hate the torque management thing I was thinking about a custom tune but don't want to trash my warrenty (100k or 5 years), will my tranny hold up if I do a tune? thanks,
Mike

[Critter]

Originally Posted by mcbassin

Not trying to hyjack your thread Terry, but it sounds like you guys know way more about these drivetrains than I have ever thought about. Anyway, I have an 07 4X4 with vortec max 6.0. I was thinking it is around 367hp bone stock. First question, what tranny does my truck have 4l60e/4l65/4l80? Next question,
I hate the torque management thing I was thinking about a custom tune but don't want to trash my warrenty (100k or 5 years), will my tranny hold up if I do a tune? thanks,
Mike

I'm not an expert by any means, but I believe you have a 4L70e transmission. It basically looks like a 60e or 65e on the outside, but has some better goodies inside i.e. harder, stronger parts. It's the same transmission that GM put in the new GTO, by the way. Also, I think you are correct about your engine, it should be the L76 which does have 367 HP like you mentioned.

I might not be the best person to talk to about the torque managament issue as I have never messed with it myself. I have read that people do start to trash their transmissions pretty quick after they allow all that "MAX" torque to make its way into the tranny. I will promise you if you do it and GM finds out then you can kiss that warranty goodbye!

[Wasted Income]

Originally Posted by Critter

ThBy the way I am going to disagree with you about the engine/HP of the H2.

Ah, sonofabish. I stand corrected.

Originally Posted by mcbassin

I have an 07 4X4 with vortec max 6.0. I was thinking it is around 367hp bone stock. I hate the torque management thing I was thinking about a custom tune but don't want to trash my warrenty (100k or 5 years), will my tranny hold up if I do a tune? thanks,
Mike

TQ management sucks. However, it is there for a reason. When I tune a truck, I will usually reduce it or eliminate it if the customer insists, only in tow-haul. Most of my customers want a "sporty" shifting truck, but only sometimes, thus the tow-haul works perfectly for that.
If you remove TQ management for daily driving, and you drive the hell out of it, mark my word, you will be putting a trans in it, and it won't be covered by warranty, as critter said.

[Chevy-Art]

Cool, thanks. Here is another good place. East of San Antonio on 87, in Adkins. http://www.hpsalvage.com/

[my67chevytruck]

looking good, i like the route you and thealien are taking, and i want todo the same to the 69 k10 i just picked up.

[mcbassin]

Hows the weather in San Antone? Have you had any days to work on the new shop?

[Critter]

It was abnormally cold the last few days, but it was dry so no ice/snow for San Antonio. At one point a few nights ago it got down to 11... FAHRENHEIT...that's cold for us! It's warmer now and looks to be a nice week in the 50/60s. I had metal delivered on Monday with plans of my dad coming up this weekend to give me a hand on the shop, but it looks like rain is going to roll in. That may delay me.

[Critter]

Small Update...

Well, "Slow" is my middle name, but me and my brother finally got most of the shop structure done this weekend. I was only able to snap this one pic, but you get the idea. Notice the Critter and the 6.0 (wrapped in shrinkwrap) anxiously looking on as their new home makes some progress. This weekend I hope to start on the roof.

Also, I found a 14 bolt full floater down the road from me, I will be going to pick that up tomorrow. I now officially have more parts than enclosed storage space! Hopefully that will change over the next couple weeks.

[vtblazer]

Get that roof done, soon enough you'll be needing the shade.



I'm guessing you told us earlier in the thread but how big will the new space end up being?

[Critter]

Originally Posted by vtblazer

Get that roof done, soon enough you'll be needing the shade.



I'm guessing you told us earlier in the thread but how big will the new space end up being?

The actual shop floor itself will be 30x30 but I will also get one of the "bays" in the 3 car garage for my Dodge. It is large enough for some extra storage and I think I am also going to put the air compressor in there to free up some actual shop room. The whole thing will eventually get enclosed with a divider wall between the shop and garage.

No kidding about the shade! I'm sure it will be 100 degrees here before we know it.

[Critter]

I got my 14 bolt FF the other day, sorry no pics at the moment. It is the newer style which I am fine with because the price was more than right. Please see here...linky

[Jtrux]

Hurry up, I got stuff I need to store over there!

[mcbassin]

Glad to see the shop coming together! Awesome!

[Critter]

Thanks guys, I am not the fastest person around when it comes to projects like this, but it's slowly coming together. My plans are to get the roof on by this weekend. Then I get to begin putting up the side walls.

[JHT67]

The wheels pictured on your Blazer, what are they called? I had a set, but the truck sat too long and the tires became dry rotted, so we swapped them out. My dad had the tires in his back yard, in front of his garage, with a dog(sometimes two), and some jerk still got away with 4 tires and wheels (ruining two sets), so he scrapped them all. Long story short, I'd like to find another set someday.

[Critter]

I think they are called "turbines", at least thats what I have heard them called. I think they are very cool in a retro way, honestly, if I could find a way to polish them and make them shiny I would probably keep them on my rig. Unfortunately as far as I know, magnesium will always look dull like that. Mine aren't perfect, a few dings and dents here and there, but if I am every ready to get rid of them I will let you know.

[JHT67]

Sounds cool man ,thanks. "Turbines" makes since, still don't think I would've figured it out on my own though.,

[hgs_notes]

Originally Posted by JHT67

The wheels pictured on your Blazer, what are they called? I had a set, but the truck sat too long and the tires became dry rotted, so we swapped them out. My dad had the tires in his back yard, in front of his garage, with a dog(sometimes two), and some jerk still got away with 4 tires and wheels (ruining two sets), so he scrapped them all. Long story short, I'd like to find another set someday.

Originally Posted by Critter

I think they are called "turbines", at least thats what I have heard them called. I think they are very cool in a retro way, honestly, if I could find a way to polish them and make them shiny I would probably keep them on my rig. Unfortunately as far as I know, magnesium will always look dull like that. Mine aren't perfect, a few dings and dents here and there, but if I am every ready to get rid of them I will let you know.

I know these are back in time a bit, but thought I'd chime in since I just read it. I'm pretty sure those wheels are aluminum. Magnesium wheels haven't been made for decades and I don't think they ever came in that pattern. I could of course be wrong. But I have some 5 bolts of those on my truck and I've seen several trucks with these in 6 bolt. They were made by Western and called tubines, cyclones and huricanes. They are fairly easy to find used. They should polish up ok, I hope, because I plan on using mine for a while yet.

Good luck with the build, both truck and shop, when you get to it.

[Critter]

Originally Posted by hgs_notes

I'm pretty sure those wheels are aluminum. Magnesium wheels haven't been made for decades and I don't think they ever came in that pattern. I could of course be wrong. But I have some 5 bolts of those on my truck and I've seen several trucks with these in 6 bolt. They were made by Western and called tubines, cyclones and huricanes. They are fairly easy to find used. They should polish up ok, I hope, because I plan on using mine for a while yet.

I am the farthest thing from a Mag wheel expert as there can be. I am just going by what a couple of the local tire shops told me along with the parts guy when I went in to buy some lug nuts. According to the PO they have been on the blazer since at LEAST the early 80's maybe longer. I know they are very hard to clean and the best I could get them came after alot of scrubbing with Eagle 1 Mag Cleaner. They don't look like any aluminum wheel I have seen but I could be wrong. Any way to check for sure? I'm EXTREMEMLY curious now!

Here are some "after scrubbing" closeup pics and a pic of the Mag Shank style lug they require.

[herb101]

Originally Posted by Critter

Any way to check for sure? I'm EXTREMEMLY curious now!

Got a torch? Magnesium burns white hot aluminum just melts.

Probably don't want to check it that way, huh?

Here's some magnesium wheel info: http://www.roadsters.com/wheels/#Mag

Herb

[Jtrux]

I told you a long time ago that those weren't magnesium, magnesium wheels were what some old school racers used, and they were expensive...the last thing I would call anything on your blazer. Curtis and Dave ran them on their roadster and Camaro in the 60's and 70's.

[Critter]

Hopefully some of y'all LSX gurus will jump in on this...I have a lead on a 4L70e just down the road from me for a reasonable price. It is pulled out of a wrecked Vortec Max with about 20,000 miles so other than a rear shaft swap, I don't think I would have to put a bunch of new parts in it. My understanding is that a 4L70e is just one step higher in the 4L60e/4L65e progression but I'm no expert. I know the case is virtually identical, but are there any additional sensors etc that would give me grief? As far as I can tell they simply have even beefier components compared to the 60 and 65 so in my book it is a no brainer to go with the 70 keeping in mind the last couple of pages on this thread. Can anybody give me a reason otherwise??? Thealien, Wasted Income y'all feel free to jump in with your opinions on this one.

Also, my shop is in the progress of being enclosed, the roof is on and the sides are going up...only time will tell how good of a carpenter I am!

[mosesburb]

Originally Posted by Critter

Also, my shop is in the progress of being enclosed, the roof is on and the sides are going up...only time will tell how good of a carpenter I am!

Well, since there are no updates on the truck, how about some pics of the building?? Gotta keep the masses entertained you know....

[Critter]

Originally Posted by mosesburb

Well, since there are no updates on the truck, how about some pics of the building?? Gotta keep the masses entertained you know....

Let me get a little more work done, don't want to be too anticlamatic with the pictures.

Originally Posted by Thealien

I would contact finish line transmission or I believe there are a couple of board members who could help. I am unsure if you can use the 70?

I've been doing what research I can, and I think I am going to stay away from it because of the speed input sensor. I'm sure the right person could tune/wire my computer for it or take it out of the equation all together, but it might be more trouble than its worth. Maybe I will just go back to my search for a good 4L65e.