Glock's new project: "Fred" w/ 5.3L LS swap info

[glock35ipsc]

I'm going to do away with all the OEM fuel lines that are on the truck now. Most of it is either braided or high psi rubber. Very little hard line, and most of it is what runs from the DS tank to the PS.

I will probably use the cross member that the hard lines are on that run from the DS to the PS, and fab a bracket on there right in the middle to hold both filters. Then basically both tanks will be plumbed to the middle of the frame, then 2 lines running together down to the valve. I'll probably ditch the Dorman fittings for the inlet side of the filters, and use Russell AN fittings. That way I can have 90* fittings coming off the back of the filter that will help to make a straighter shot over to the sending units.



Then I'll make a bolt-on cover to shield both filters. Mounting and shielding the filters will be a little more work, but I think the install will look cleaner in the end.

[glock35ipsc]

The tunes sound a little better tonight. I was hoping to put the components in the doors, but alas, I have power windows!

So, I pulled out the 4x9's (or whatever they are) from the cab corners, and made some plates to attach to the factory mounts, then mounted the components to them. The crossovers are stuck to the back side of them with some 3M double sided adhesive. They turned out pretty good, and I now have much more bass than those kick a$$ rocking factory speakers!

Tomorrow the kids and I are are gonna run to town and get new RCA cables and power wire for the amp, then I can get that hooked up and have everything ready for the new sub!

They don't fit perfectly, but it sure does sound better!

[Jonboy]

You can also run components in the front if you are so inclined. We put the two 4" speakers together in the center dash hole, and ran the tweets where the 3 1/2's are in the outboard holes on my 87. With 2 10's, it sounded pretty good (until it was thieved).

[JohnC]

Looks good Bob.

[menace121978]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

I'm going to do away with all the OEM fuel lines that are on the truck now. Most of it is either braided or high psi rubber. Very little hard line, and most of it is what runs from the DS tank to the PS.

I will probably use the cross member that the hard lines are on that run from the DS to the PS, and fab a bracket on there right in the middle to hold both filters. Then basically both tanks will be plumbed to the middle of the frame, then 2 lines running together down to the valve. I'll probably ditch the Dorman fittings for the inlet side of the filters, and use Russell AN fittings. That way I can have 90* fittings coming off the back of the filter that will help to make a straighter shot over to the sending units.



Then I'll make a bolt-on cover to shield both filters. Mounting and shielding the filters will be a little more work, but I think the install will look cleaner in the end.

that sounds like it will work and the cover is a great idea! i'm going to go get a filter today and take off my old lines and see what i can come up with.

does the gen III have a canister for the vent on the sending unit? just wondering if i can leave the vent hard line or take that off too

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by menace121978

does the gen III have a canister for the vent on the sending unit? just wondering if i can leave the vent hard line or take that off too

By canister, are you meaning the charcoal canister? If so, I'm not sure if the Gen III's have them or not. Fred does have a charcoal canister, and if that's where it runs, I'll have to decide if it stays or goes. For the tank vents, I was thinking of using one-way check valves that lets air in, but not let liquid out. They are for motorcycles, and they are just a few bucks each on ebay. A lot of the 67-72 guys use them on rear Blazer tank conversions.

[JohnC]

Some of the later C10's I think also used the cap to vent. I think the newer trucks do it that way as well. I don't remember seeing a canister on my 03

[glock35ipsc]

Good point John.

Well I got the amp installed today. Hooked up the components I installed last night to the amp, and I just have the 12" sub sitting in the passenger floor for now. Hope fully the new one will get here before I road trip it to Steamboat Springs next weekend.

The only bummer is one RCA connector on the stereo side is bad. It must have a broken wire right where the wire goes into the plug. So I'll pick up an RCA connector and solder a new one on tomorrow. Then when I do the engine swap I'll probably replace the entire cord.

Otherwise, it wounds awesome!! Such big sound for a little space. AC/DC thumps hard in there!

[ndametz32]

Hey Bob the new speakers look great! Rockford's are the best! Project is looking good!

[glock35ipsc]

Thanks Nick!

Well, I got a new RCA connector to solder on the cord this morning. My son and I got home and got it on, and , it STILL didn't work. So I'm laying there on the floor board scratching my head (cause I nailed it on the steering wheel getting out once) and I see all the little screws on the case. So now I'm thinking, "I'll tear the stereo apart and see if I can find something wrong on the inside."

Well, as it turns out, there WAS something wrong in there! On the back side of the female RCA's there are thin metal strips that run down to the PCB. So after a lot of head scratching I get everything pulled out of the case so I can get the PCB out. Sure enough, on the bottom side where those little metal strips go through the PCB, the solder is broken all the way around. When I pushed or mashed the RCA connectors around, they would make contact and I could get sound. Let go, and no sound. After seeing this, it made sense. So I soldered them and carefully put it back together.

Now, backtrack about 4-5 years ago. When I had this deck in my 03 Chevy, I always had problems with the RCA's hitting a bunch of stuff (thick wire looms, ducting, etc) when I had it installed in that truck. After awhile, I started having the same problem. It never occurred to me until I got the deck torn apart.

I didn't get pics during the destruction, but I did get pics of the the two spots I had to solder. The pick is on the middle one that needed soldered, and the one to the left was broken too.

[JohnC]

A kid I work with is having the same problem. I'll pass this along to him. Thanks Bob!

[glock35ipsc]

All along it was acting like there was a break in the cord right at the back side of the RCA plug, so I was convinced that was the problem. After that was ruled out with the installation of the new RCA, I figured it had to be inside.

I was ready to buy a new head unit this week. I'm glad I tried this, cause it saved me a lot of $$$. Tell him give it a shot, it's not hard to pull the deck apart. At least no this one.

[JohnC]

Yeah that is what he tried too. When he first told me about it I suggested the new cables. He said he tried them, and it was doing the same thing. So I showed him your post, and he said he might look into it.

[glock35ipsc]

This shipment is currently located in Fresno, CA
Service Center Phone Number: (559)445-1100

Picked up on: 7/31/2009

Estimated Delivery Date: 8/5/2009

[menace121978]

Bob, nice job on the deck!! ive tore apart my fair share of decks and i can only remember 1 time i got it back together and fixed the problem... and yes it still worked it was a jvc kamillion... about 7 years back!

on the "shipment"!!!

[JohnC]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

This shipment is currently located in Fresno, CA
Service Center Phone Number: (559)445-1100

Picked up on: 7/31/2009

Estimated Delivery Date: 8/5/2009

[glock35ipsc]

Fuel pumps showed up today.

Sent the 6-port valve back to exchange for a 3-port valve.

Also ordered another filter/regulator.

Then I remembered that I still have the Autometer electric fuel pressure gauge from my Whipple-supercharged 2003 Sliverado 5.3L.

[nlped]

Your making great progress collecting all of the assundry parts. I'm fired up about this since I bought that '04 5.3L. I actually went to pick it up yesterday and it was still in the truck, so I got to hear it run and put it through the gears (all worked smoothly ). I'm going to go back on Wed. to pick it up. I think I told the seller everything I will need, but are there any small parts that I may have forgotten?

Cheers,

Ed

[glock35ipsc]

Get everything they will let you take! If you don't need it, throw it on eBay or Craigslist.

The UPS guy just showed up with a little something I got last week......




He knows something is up! Every time I start getting a bunch of personal deliveries at work, he starts asking what I am building now!

[JohnC]

The toys are starting to roll in now!

[Lemield]

Looking good Bob!

[glock35ipsc]

Thanks Larry!

I might add yet another twist to Fred...... E85.

I was talking to an old friend today looking for LS1 parts, a machinist/engine builder by the name of Dave Slatten. Dave is a very well respected engine builder here in town, and has built a LOT of winning NHRA Division 5 drag racing engines. One of the things Dave is working on right now is building E85 and E98 race engines and fuel systems.

We got to talking about a piggy-back system that he has on his truck (a 2002) and has been using it for several years now. He says he has not noticed the power or mileage decreases that the naysayers talk about. He said on his truck, there is virtually no difference in power or mileage, just the cost to fill up. He runs his on E85 when ever possible, only using unleaded if the particular station does not have E85.

It's under $500 to do it, so I'll probably make sure I can make Fred run at all first, then do the E85 piggy-back system. I won't be doing it for mileage gains, or for performance gains, or even to be "green".

I only want to do it because......... well, I'm Bob. That's just how I roll! I just think it would be the nuts to pull up to an E85 pump in an 85 GM pickup and start filling up.

Oof.... E85 in an 85 GM.... there has to be a customized license plate there somewhere!!!!

[JohnC]

definetely sounds interesting. I know here in Oklahoma a lot of stations went back to no ethanol when gas prices dropped. So it wouldn't be as beneficial for me here. Would be a cool feature to have though. Like you said just to be different.

[glock35ipsc]

Colorado has blended with ethanol for years, so the spread stays fairly close here. I drove through a gas station in Wellington on my way home just to see what costs are now (I always fuel at a station in Ft Collins); unleaded was $2.45 and ethanol was $1.88. A $0.57 difference equals around $17 saving per fill up.

[glock35ipsc]

Sweet, just scored a full set of LS1 injectors and fuel rails off of ls1tech.com. Now I only need to get a car water pump or a 2007 and up truck water pump and the LS1 intake swap parts gathering is done.