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

[glock35ipsc]

Just a quick update -

I got the driver door hinges rebuilt the other night. It still doesn't shut well at all, but at least they have no play now. I have a door alignment tool on the way. I should have that Wednesday, then maybe I can get it all lined up and shutting correctly.

Tonight I installed the drivers wing window and the door glass seal off the Suburban. Now, with those two things in, along with adjusting the Nader pin a few days ago to help pull the door tighter in to the cab, there is hardly any wind noise now. I still need either an inside rattle strip for both doors, or just break down and buy a new set.

I'm taking another trip to Denver this Sunday, and my wife and I are taking Fred to Steamboat Springs in a couple weeks, so at least now the highway speeds will be much quieter!

[glock35ipsc]

OH, SCORE!!!!!! I was looking over the Burb making a list of stuff I want to pull and noticed the Nader pins seemed fatter than what was on the truck. Looked at the truck and the pin for the drivers door is missing a plastic sleeve around it. NO WONDER there was a metal-to-metal sound when slamming the door.

So I pulled the left rear pin off the burb, it looked almost new, and stuck it on the truck. OMG, that door closes sooooooo much nicer!!!! It's still a little off, so the door alignment tool will still come in handy. But holy cow!!! I don't have to slam the crap out of it now.

[JohnC]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

OH, SCORE!!!!!! I was looking over the Burb making a list of stuff I want to pull and noticed the Nader pins seemed fatter than what was on the truck. Looked at the truck and the pin for the drivers door is missing a plastic sleeve around it. NO WONDER there was a metal-to-metal sound when slamming the door.

So I pulled the left rear pin off the burb, it looked almost new, and stuck it on the truck. OMG, that door closes sooooooo much nicer!!!! It's still a little off, so the door alignment tool will still come in handy. But holy cow!!! I don't have to slam the crap out of it now.

Cool! That's a nice thing about having a parts vehicle readily available!

[texasfunk]

truck is looking good! love red trucks, wanted mine red but dont want to change interior! i myself got a burb parts truck and they come in handy haha keep up the great work!

[menace121978]

right on bob! im glad you got that door all figured out. probably feels like a new one and no wind noise too!!

[glock35ipsc]

It is from Eastwood, but I got it from their eBay store. It was a little cheaper there at $27.

[glock35ipsc]

This morning, my son and I went to the shop and tinkered for a bit.

I got the rear end pulled out of the burb. This rear has 3.42's and will work beautifully with the 5.3/4L60E combo. I need to get axle seals and bearings, and a pan gasket. Then when the time comes, I'll swap the backing plates off of Fred onto this rearend.

Also got both rear wheel well lower rear pieces of sheet metal cut out. This body is very solid, so these saved my about $80 in patch panels. I'll weld these in this winter while the bed is off doing the engine swap.

[glock35ipsc]

Just fueled up both tanks. Got 14.7 mpg on the tank that was used to go to Denver and back. Not bad considering about 140 of the 177 miles on that tank were above 75 mph.

The other tank is just back and forth to work (almost 40 miles round trip) and running around town. That tank yielded 15.65 mpg!!

I plan on taking the top of the fuel pressure regulator off soon and do the quarter trick; that is, putting a quarter or similar sized washer under the FPR spring. That is usually good for a .5 to 1.0 psi increase.

[JohnC]

Those are pretty nice mpg!

[menace121978]

X2 on the milage!!

kind of a question out of left field bob...

how do you tune the 5.3 after you get it installed and then after you start modding it?

[JohnC]

Don't mean to butt in here, but you have more options with the computer. There are companies that can do just about whatever you want with these computers. Put it on a chip, plug it in, and boom instant hp gain. I know it won't work as much for you out in CA, but they can also go in and take out all the extra emissions stuff that you don't need, and sensors that you won't use too. This is mainly more off of what I have read so far. I'm still in the research stages of this setup as well. So I'm curious to see someone's swap, and their results.

[glock35ipsc]

John pretty much nailed it. The tune is all in the computer. Along with removing emissions items, they can adjust for tire size and gear changes, shift points, air/fuel ratios, timing.... more than I can type out.

For mine, I am getting one of my ECM's programmed and tuned by Jesse at Wait4meperformance. Jesse has done many tunes for me and some of my friends in the past and has always done me good. This one will get me on the road and moving.

After I have all the bugs worked out of it, I will grab another ECM that I have and take it to one of the local shops that has a chassis dyno and tune the snot out of it. This way I can make a pull on the dyno, we can then change xxxxx in the settings, and make another dyno pull until we squeeze all we can out of it.

[menace121978]

gotcha! now if you dont mind me asking how much is the initial tune?

[glock35ipsc]

For Jesse to rework the harness and do the tune will be $360. If you rework your own harness and send him your ECM, I think the tune will only be $75 or $85 then.

I have no idea how much the dyno tuning will cost though. For all I know, Jesse's tune may be staying in there for a long time!

[bigbadjohn84]

I hear that man! Im thinking of the same concept with my 83. actually a 4.8, 5.3, or a 6.0. really I guess bang for the buck 6.0 would be nasty in these trucks with them being lighter. mileage wouldnt be too bad. but a 5.3 is more readily availiable it seems.. keep on

[menace121978]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

For Jesse to rework the harness and do the tune will be $360. If you rework your own harness and send him your ECM, I think the tune will only be $75 or $85 then.

I have no idea how much the dyno tuning will cost though. For all I know, Jesse's tune may be staying in there for a long time!

dang thats not bad at all. what do you mean rework the harness? splice into my factory one or just get the donors wiring ready for plug and play?

the dyno tune on the goat was $450 if i remember right. kinda pricey concidering how bad i still get heat soak...

sorry for all the ???'s buddy... right in the middle of your thread and all...

[bigbadjohn84]

bad thread jacker you! lol

[glock35ipsc]

No worries here, I like getting the info out!

By reworking, I mean to make the engine harness a stand-alone harness. It will have like 4-5 connections that I will need to make to the truck for it to work.

[glock35ipsc]

[menace121978]

thread jack finished...


unless i can think of another question! oh yea 2 more, so for the fuel lines just use fuel injection hose and clamps, acdelco "in take" pump and sending unit w/ a high pressure switching valve? will i need the corvette fuel filter to regulate the pressure also?

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by menace121978

so for the fuel lines just use fuel injection hose and clamps,

I haven't looked to see what the OEM fuel line sizes are on the truck right now, but I will either run hard line from the filter/reg up to the fuel rails, or stainless braided. I just don't feel good about running the regular soft FI hose all the way. But definitely FI line to make connections with the smooth stainless FI clamps.

acdelco "in take" pump and sending unit w/ a high pressure switching valve?

Yup. In fact, when I'm done typing this post, I'll go copy a PM I sent to AceX with parts and part numbers for the fuel system parts with dual tanks.

will i need the corvette fuel filter to regulate the pressure also?

You will if your engine uses a returnless fuel system. That's easy to tell.... if the fuel rail has two lines together pointing to the rear, one is a return, so no Vette filter/reg. If there is only one line on the rail, then yes you will. A returnless is preferred, at least for me. Only 1 line to run instead of 2. Less hassle, and less $$$.

[menace121978]

Bob, you are the man! thank you!!!

[JohnC]

Great info man! Now I'm wishing I would have gone the LSX way on mine this time. Oh well defintately the next truck!!!!


Won't be real soon though. Don't think my wife will be so forgiving on the next one!!!

[Jonboy]

Glad that worked, Bob. Now swap the engine already!

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by JohnC

That's pretty cool. I'll have to get me one of those!

When I go to get one what do I look for? Butter Tool, or Butta Tool?

Look for a Butta Tool!

Originally Posted by tvblazer78

That is very cool Bob!! So are you going to sell that tool now. Hint Hint for half price, it has been used.

No blue light specials just yet! I have a few friends in line to have me tweak their doors.

Originally Posted by Jonboy

Glad that worked, Bob. Now swap the engine already!

I'm working on it! Since LKQ hasn't given me a price yet and won't return my phone calls, I guess they don't want my business. Scratch them off the list! Highway Auto and Tennessee Auto Salvage have not returned emails either, so they are scratched off too. Certified Auto Recyclers is the ONLY one who has bent over backwards to return phone calls and emails very promptly, usually within the hour. So they are the ones I will be buying from. I'll have all the money together by July 31, and have already told the C.A.R. rep I will be calling him first thing August 3rd. They have been great to deal with so far.