Bucketlist Blazer -Restomod build 6.6liter L8T

[NDM]

Wow! I swear, I am not really stupid......but I goofed up and figured it out today. I was looking at the coolant thinking...."why is that so thick?". I never saw 50/50 mix coolant that was so thick. I looked at the bottles and ....EUREKA!!! I grabbed concentrate dexcool bottles and not 50/50 mix. I drained the coolant out of the radiator and mixed a little more distilled water than what came out of the radiator to make what should be close to 50/50. I burped the coolant for the third time. Now I barely cracked 202 degrees with the motor idling for a while. If I really want it to run under 200 I could change the stat but I think I am okay with it where it is.

I am going to try to fast track the remaining work tonight so I can drive it. The ecu and motor are pretty well married now in stationary conditions. Now I need to drive it so it can learn further through the rpm range.

[Richard]

Great to see the progress you have made. Waiting to see first drive! I can see wanting to bolt that stuff on. Should not be out without most of the clothes on

[Richard]

Sorry, maybe I to dumb to get it? The trans does not send a signal. It sees the ground. Are you sure the connect point is providing ground in neutral and park? Did you try direct grounding the wire and see if it works?

[NDM]

Originally Posted by Richard

Sorry, maybe I to dumb to get it? The trans does not send a signal. It sees the ground. Are you sure the connect point is providing ground in neutral and park? Did you try direct grounding the wire and see if it works?

When the trans tcm tells the ecu that is in park or neutral, the ecu grounds the yellow wire. Since the tcm is not telling the ecu what gear it is in, the trans will not ground that wire.

[NDM]

A car guy helped me realize what is likely my issue and it ain't good. He owns a trans shop and after I told him that it won't heat up to operating temp and given that I can now see p,r,n and drive, he knew what it probably is. He says, "You probably broke your pump during install". Oh crap! That makes 100% sense. It is not pumping fluid so therefore it is not able to get up to temp.

I am looking at a grand if I bring it to him and 1500 if he has to do it. Damn!

[NDM]

As he was telling me what he thinks was wrong, I remember when I was putting in the trans and heard a funny loud sound. At that moment I realized that the noise was the simple but major mistake I made. I just wish I had positioned the trans better and avoided this costly mistake.



At this point, while I have done everything myself, I amjust going to drop off the Blazer by tow truck and let him work his magic. I am blowing through cash trying to fix it myself. At lease I can rest knowing thatI should be able to drive it home when he is done.



For those that are installing their own transmissions, make sure you seat the trans flat on the motor before tightening those bolts. Mine had gotten hung up and I apparently ramrodded it in there. Costly mistake that I knew better.



Funny thing is that the techm actually fixed the other issues! I can see all gears now but the broken pump will not allow fluid to move through the trans. Soooo close to driving it!



So I will get it towed on Monday and hopefully drive home on tuesday with empty pockets!

[NDM]

First time that we have been apart in months. Not sure how that door got so misaligned though.

[NDM]

Yesss!!!
It is home and the shakedown begins!

It drove pretty fine on the short trip. Now I have to drive it to tune it. I already know that the steering rack is leaking (preexisting) and that I need to run the exhaust out the sides.

It rumbles so nicely!
I really messed up that pump!

[NDM]

Shake down-
1. Power steering rack is leaking like crazy. Need a new one or rebuild.
2. Brakes are terrible. I know that I need hydroboost but the brakes also need to be serviced.
3. passenger front leaf spring is broken...like not falling off broken but broken. Time to get on that 4 link build or buy a couple springs. Probably will bet the leaf springs for now. Hell I can build a 4 link for less than leaf springs though.

[NDM]

It has already seen highway duty and holy crap! I have been nervously giving it a little more and a little more abuse. I am nervous about breaking something. We'll yesterday, I accidentally whooped on the gas and those 33in tires broke loose into a loud screech! I was pleasantly surprised so I started giving more throttle from light to light. Let me be very clear when I say, "this thing is definitely no longer slow"! I am not even on e85 yet and this mofo scoots. I need not brake torque it to break the 33's loose. The best part is that I can throttle it like a grandpa and it is totally composed. When I stomp the gas though, the animal emerges.



I think that this cam profile is going to be fantastic for what I am going for. The ability to lightly accelerate when I want and pure violence when I feel the need.



I am looking forward to giving it just a little bit more each day now. As of yesterday, it really came alive after I tuned the 6l90e trans.

[NDM]

Uh Oh!....Got my e85 sensor working tonight. I may add some to my tank just to see if the changes that I am making to the tune are working.
What is cool it that I can see what ethanol % is in the fuel that I pump. Obviously, I would need to either drain the old fuel first or I can just fill the tank when really close to empty. For now, I want to add a little e85 to my fuel at a time to watch the ethanol content with my sensor readings. It is an AC delco/continental part that GM uses so I am confident in it's accuracy more or less.

Tonight's discovery. ... we'll ain't that some sh!t!
I took this photo on the highway quickly to document my rpm vs speed at around 79mph. I noticed that it was not matching the glonass gps. Huh....that is weird. So later I decide to try to get some E85 before bed and googled what the gears are on a 72 k5. It said 3.73 for a manual and 3.08 for auto. Well my holley is set for 3.73. So I head out with my computer and change the ratio to 3.08...way off! So I go the opposite way for grins and lo and behold, my gear ratio is 4.10! That must be why my old motor hollered so loud on the highway with the sbc350 and 3 speed trans. It took off fast quick ish though.

So now I have 4.10 gears and good trans gears....technically I could get some 4.56 gears to bring out more of the animal. 🤔

Most times you hate the previous owner. In this case, I wish I could thank them!

[NDM]

As of tonight, I am up to 49% E85 in the tank. It has already started coming alive. It rips so hard! I am talking very violent when the light turns green. I can feel the frame doing weird stuff though. I will need a bunch of stiffening if the body and frame. I am super disappointed about one thing though. It appears that these tires do not leave streaks on the road. I did a couple nasty rips off the line and went back to snap a few pic to share with you guys. To my surprise there was nothing there. I 100% know that the tires were spinning and there was nothing. That is not cool.



I know that you guys probably think that I am being dramatic about this thing. I am talking about the Blazer from the perspective of the cars that I have owned (below). So far the Blazer feels more violent than all of them. I have not gone full throttle yet because I am scared to break the original driveshaft. (Front shaft is not in yet. Too short)



76 Regal with about 500 hp 3997 lbs 6.0 Liter LS/6l90e

2006 Jeep grand cherokee SRT8 450 hp AWD 4,788 lbs

2013 Jeep grand cherokee SRT about 530hp AWD 5,150 lbs

2008 Pontiac G8GT 475hp 3,995 lbs

[bambbrose]

Would love to see some videos of this thing going down the road!

[NDM]

Originally Posted by bambbrose

Would love to see some videos of this thing going down the road!

I will make it happen today. Just gotta get my tripod after work.

[Badride76]

I want to see pics and video of this please...... 76 Regal with about 500 hp 3997 lbs 6.0 Liter LS/6l90e!!! I had a 77 Regal in high school.

[NDM]

Originally Posted by Badride76

I want to see pics and video of this please...... 76 Regal with about 500 hp 3997 lbs 6.0 Liter LS/6l90e!!! I had a 77 Regal in high school.

Yup. I will get something today. I just took a co-worker on a short rip. It is very violent. He texted our boss that he was going to need to file paperwork for his on the job incident.

[NDM]

Good news- I did not break a driveshaft.
Bad news-I broke a u-joint and am waiting on a tow truck!
Good news- I have a posi and can leave rubber on the ground.
Bad news- major wheel hop makes my wheel rings fly off.

Good news- I captured the annihilated joint experience on video.

Bad news- you may never get to see the video.

Good news- I think I will be able to repair it quickly

Here's a couple pics though! I should be driving again tomorrow. No more burnouts until I get a stout driveline.

[NDM]

I would like to add to my Good news bad news story. Everything happens for a reason. So the timing of this was odd. The moments that happened leading me here where I sit at the hospital. I had a fantastic day at work which was weird. I had a great time in the process of breaking my truck. The tow truck took too long but it is ok. Due the way that time worked out, I was about to pay the tow truck guy when my neighbor stopped me to ask me to come to his house. He is a veteran from a generation before me. It was weird and I walked over and he asked me for help.

I listened. We called the suicide prevention hotline. They listened.

So, here I sit with him. He is getting the help that he needs. He was so worried about my time. I told him that time does not exist tonight.

My message to you all. If you are given the honor of being trusted enough to help someone....please do not pass up the opportunity to earn your good karma. I believe that we all will be placed at a crossroad to help someone. Some of us will be placed there many times. I am thrilled that whomever or whatever it is that controls our destiny has trusted me with this responsibility. My broken truck does not matter. Nothing else matters. What matters is that this old Marine trusted me, a much younger Airforce guy with his deepest struggle. The fact that we are veterans does not matter. He is in need. I had a fantastic day today. I was put exactly where I needed to be to provide that help. I was a bit frightened. I still am. But I used my mind and heart to do the best that I can for him in his crisis.

Please be good to each other. No matter the color, the weight, age or any other difference. I am not a saint. But one day I may need help too. We are all connected. Remember that.

Good night and for anyone that prays. Send one out to whomever you believe in to give this old guy a boost. Thank you.

[NDM]

Austin_Jim said:
I have no words other than you are a stellar human. Prayers inbound


RedT131 said:
Thank you for taking the time to sit and listen to your neighbor in need. I'm certain it was difficult for him to ask for help. You were put in the proper place at the proper time. Kudos to you. Thank you again.

My Response-
That is the thing. I am not a "stellar human". I am a normal guy with seemingly more flaws than perfections. My message is that you do not have to be a stellar human to just be human. This man is three decades older than me. This man spent a year in a VA hospital recovering from a round from an AK47 while serving in Vietnam. He is a retired police officer and has served his country and his community for essentially my entire lifetime. It was an honor for me to put in a spot to be able to serve him. Even if he was not a Vet or an officer, he needed someone.

I deserve no kudos for something that I was supposed to do. But thank you. If you really want to thank me, please rise to the occasion if you are ever placed at a similar crossroad. Listen to the soul of the person. Ignore your fear and take a chance at doing the right thing. You may one day need help too.

[NDM]

Here is a little treat for you. This is the moment that my driveshaft let loose and the wheel rings popped off of the vehicle. I find it quite amusing! Note the three items under the vehicle.

[NDM]

I have new u-joints in and the driveshaft is back it. It does not feel right. I think I am going to take my day off to correct some stuff tomorrow. It drives again bet something is weird.

[bambbrose]

God has a place and a time for all of us. Kudos for you seeing your purpose in that moment.

Prayers sent!

[NDM]

Ok, This is a list of things that I wish I did differently on this build so far.

1. I am getting old, I kind of wish that I had gone with rubber bushings on the motor and trans. I actually might change them out. I realize that I want it to sound choppy but I did not realize just how much vibration the truck would have. Polyurethane for now but I may switch then out before summer.

2. I wish I had mounted the mufflers further forward. It is going to be tricky to get the pipes routed out the back.

3. Speaking of the exhaust, I kind of wish I had gone with 2.5 inch pipes vs 3 inch. I think that it would have lowered the volume of the deep stuff. Don't get me wrong, It is cool but, it is very rumbly.

4. I wish I had known that I could tune my trans with my HP tuners. I would have never bought the Holley 6l90e controller. I could not get it working correctly and just tune it with my HP tuners and do not need credits.

5. I wish I had mounted my motor in a position where the transfer case output was in the factor spot. I have some driveline alignment to do. I did not get the angles right as I thought. Unfortunately, the intake is very close to the fans. I only have about 3/8th inch at the most of clearance.

6. I wish I had just done hydroboost when the motor was out.



This one it touchy given the past 24 hours.....

7. I wish I had stuck to my plan to avoid burnouts. It is good to know that I was right but I could have gone without the broken driveline. It was bound to happen though. I will take this one back!

[NDM]

OMG! My spring perches are bent! I am not a genius but I am pretty sure that this is a big part of my problem.

[NDM]

Originally Posted by JoshHefnerX, post: 6360018, member: 15057

How the hell did you do that?

I looked at my epic fail burnout video again. I think this was the result of a few burnouts and two of them had axle hop. I can tell you that this was not like that during my motor swap. I think you need to see the video. You can see the axle moving around.



Next week I am getting a new driveshaft made that will support 800 horsepower. Until then, I have to drive like granny on my slightly dented shaft with two new u joints and upgraded straps to hold them in. My driveshaft guy was very clear that I should not do any more burn outs. I 100% promise that I will not be doing that again until I upgrade the shaft and probably build my 4 link.



Again, I am telling you that this thing is violent. These old parts are not sufficient for this power combo. Not saying that my truck is the special. I am just saying that it is definitely giving the frame, body, drivetrain and suspension a workout.


Edit....Confirmed. This photo was when I installed the tank. This happened within the last week or so.