OBS conversion success

Well, the newly rebuilt 1998 LS1 and transmission are installed and working great! A little bit more fine tuning by the master programmer will be needed to finish it up.

I installed the Auburn limited slip diff this after afternoon. Found out I have 3.42 gears. 12 pinion and 41 ring gear teeth.

I started out with a 1998 PCM and harness. I sold the 1998 PCM and got a 2002 PCM from Allen. I repinned the 1998 harness as a 2002 harness.

There now resides in the transmission a Kevlar band, Kolene steels, Red Alto clutches and 9 clutch OD pack. The Transgo 4L60E-HD2 kit is fully installed with the .500 boost valve and clutch apply springs from the kit. There are now 2nd and 4th gear apply pistons from Superior and PATCO installed. All the plastic pistons have been removed and replaced with pinless accumulator pistons. The Precision Industries Vigilante 3600 torque convertor is HOT!! When I get on it the transmission acts like I have a stick shift and have side stepped the clutch.

The engine has rebuilt heads, Comp cam, 7.400 Comp pushrods, Manley dual springs with titanium retainers good to .650 lift, ARP rod bolts, LS2 20% larger volume oil pump, LS2 complete timing chain and sprockets, the crank was ground -.010 mains and -.020 rods. Stock pistons that were glass beaded were re-installed with the 100,000+ mile rings since everything was in perfect condition in the cylinders. I am using the stock F-body manifolds. For the intake I have a 90 degree silicone elbow to MAF to 3.5 tube to K&N filter mounted next to the fender. I mounted the air temp sensor by drilling a hole in the aluminum tube and putting a rubber wire hole grommet the appropriate size for the sensor.

I installed the 2005 electric fans and used the wiring diagram I posted earlier. It's working really sweet. I need a little sheet metal work done to mount the fans in permanently since there are no mounts to clip the lower section of the fans into the clips. The top mount to hold the new 34" radiator and electric fans also needs to be fabricated. The new radiator has fittings for an additional cooler on the driver side.

Next on the to-do list is to install the NX nitrous kit. I am thinking of going straight to the 150 HP pills. I am hoping that has me at 600 hp at the crank but that might just be wishful thinking.

The truck came equipped with a Gibson mandrel bent exhaust system. I had a muffler shop build a y-pipe. It looks a little cheesy but it works for now. It's 2.5" tubing both sides and merged by cutting out the area it met up with and then welding it together.

All I have to say right now is WHEW!!!!! It took a while but the results are worth the time and effort. The family has suffered but they know my pains and anguish after the other truck being stolen and that I would never be happy with the stock 1993 drivetrain.

wow, looks like your hardwork paid off, good job i bet that thing is a rocket! tranny sounds bullet proof. im kinda new here, what was yor old truck and how it get stolen? that is :bs: but its good to see you got a nother project to play with.

Good job! I'd love to be on my second conversion, but not the way you did it (truck stolen and all). We'll all have to meet at the track again soon! :thumb:

The old truck is the one in the avatar picture. I bought it brand new in 1992. Its a Victory red 92 xcab with 2000 escalade front clip, lowered 4/6 with chrome 1999 Corvette wagon wheels. It had a fiberglass tonneau cover. The engine was a 1998 F-body LS1 that I had put ported 2002 head upon. The transmission was built by me with most of the goodies I have in the new one. It had an Auburn LSD with 4.10s. For fans it had Camaro dual fans on a 34" radiator. I used the 1LE Camaro intake elbow which I bought for about $50 with the intake air temp sensor included. The stereo had two Audiobahn amps with Polk 4x6's and 2 10" Kicker CompVRs being enticed by a Panasonic CD head unit.

It was stolen in front of a salvage yard while I was picking up an engine for my son's car on Friday qualifying day here in Dallas during the spring race. Not one part of the truck has been found.

That's awesome Red!!!!

A stall with the LS1 is great! Keeps it in the power band all the time.
I know you live a tad north of me, but try to get it down here and we'll throw it on the dyno and fine tune it. Or meet up with us and we'll tune it at the track!
Or, just let me know what needs to be done and we'll get you another PCM.

Congratulations on the truck, I know it's been tough,

allen

Hey Red thats awesome man. Hey what a way to start the brand spankin new 06 than with a kick ass truck! Hopefully someday Ill see it. BTW I got less than 2 months left out here in asscrackistan, WHOOOOHOOOO!!!

Well, lets wind the clock up a little tighter and get your stint finished up over there so you'll be back here in the states just in time for race season. I know Super Chevy Show starts up in the Houston area some time just after you get back. That's a great show to attend!

Glad you got things together RHB, sounds sweet!! :thumb: I'd like to see some pics. I finally got time today to work on mine. I was wire wheeling the frame on the passenger side and had a ground strap out of the way. I guess the windage from the grinder let the strap loose and it got caught uo in my wheel breaking the strap hitting me in the leg and then breaking 2 fingers on my right hand with leather gloves on. LOL What a bitch!! I still kept working and got the frame and crossmember painted. I need to paint the outside of the frame tomorrow and I'm ready to put the suspension back underneath it. I'll have some pics in the next couple of days for ya'll to see. I can't wait to meet you at the track when I get mine together so I can crack your ass!! LMAO Just kidding but it would be fun to race.

Owww!!! Damn Lance, at least you had you're gloves on. I am glad to see you had time to work on it for a little while. It's a shame you got injured while doing it. I'm glad you were working smart. You easily could have lost those fingers instead of just breaking them. I caught my finger with the cutoff blade on my 4-1/2 grinder while cutting an exhuast pipe off. The wheel bit and then the blade and grinder came at my other hand. Luckily all I have is a scar. It easily could have taken the finger off, too. I wish I would have been wearing gloves that day. I do wear safety glasses all the time, though.

You were lucky too!! I had safety glasses, ear protection and gloves. I'll be OK, thanks for your concern. I can't wait to drop the motor in. I'm sure it will be at least another month before it's all together. We're fixing to start making gasoline again and you know what that means O.T. $$$$$$$$&# 036;$$$$$$$&#03 6;$$$ I hope I'm ready by Super Chevy, it would be awsome to meet you and some of the other guys there!

RedHeartBeat...Those 18" Corvette wagon wheels... They are a 4 3/4" bolt pattern. The truck is a 5" bolt pattern. Did you use wheel adapters? If so, what thickness adapters, front & back, did you use? Thanks, Gar

Gar, I have 2" wide front and rear. 1.75" on the front would probably be better for tucking them under the fenders but the 2" worked after rolling the fender lip with a baseball bat. I bought the set from www.motorsportstechnologies.com . I think they were $160 plus shipping. Order them with the 14mm studs or they will put 12mm studs in place instead. They are 5" to 4.75" adapters. This is my second set and they both worked great. You can't go much more narrow than the 2" rear adapter, tires get pretty close to the springs otherwise. I also had to notch the lower front A-arms since I have 2" dropped Belltech spindles. I bought the adapters on Ebay but you can order them direct. They will also sell you lugs for $1 each if you need them. I had to buy them for mine, open end plain 14mm. I bought 20 for the adapters and 16 for the wheels and picked up 14mm open ended locks for the wheels.



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RedHeartBeat...Those 18" Corvette wagon wheels... They are a 4 3/4" bolt pattern. The truck is a 5" bolt pattern. Did you use wheel adapters? If so, what thickness adapters, front & back, did you use? Thanks, Gar
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Got the modified rocker arm trays installed today thanks to NITROUS. The valve train is a lot quiter. The .025" off the rocker trays was definitely the right thing to do since I didn&#39;t have 7.425 pushrods available according to COMP Cams. I did have a vendor email me that he has 11 sets of the COMP pushrods. Jeeze, those tech support guys at COMP must be ex-autozone employees. :laugh:

RedHeartBeat...Great wheel info... :cool: Thanks, Gar

I can take some pics of what I have to show you how they fit if that will help. Let me know.

Greg

Sounds pretty sweet RedHeartbeat. What&#39;s the drivability like with the 3600 stall? Mine&#39;s not too bad with the 3000 but it definitely shows in slow stop n go driving. Once on the highway and she locks it&#39;s great, that&#39;s why I&#39;ve decided to go up to 3.73&#39;s. I&#39;m with Nitrous, I think we need to all get together and run em. I&#39;m just north of you in the Wichita Falls area. The dragstrip here doesn&#39;t open up until March and it&#39;s killing me since I finished my swap just after they closed for the season. I&#39;m dying to know what it&#39;ll run. Yall post up when your going to the track and I&#39;ll try to make it down there. Oh yeah, what are you doin about gauges?, I&#39;m fixin to install a complete set of Autometers and I could use any info you got especially for the fuel an speedo.

I&#39;m 100% stock gauges. It all works without issues in my truck. DentonDragway.com opens Friday night the 20th of January and I will be there.

Driveable is cool. I love the higher RPM take-offs at all intersections. The PoPo don&#39;t like it though. They watch me like a hawk when the engine comes up to about 2500 RPM. Fuel mileage around town is about 15 but the highway gets 22.

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I can take some pics of what I have to show you how they fit if that will help. Let me know.

Greg
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Greg...A couple photo&#39;s would be cool, at your leisure. :cool: Thanks, Gar

Sweeeeet&#33;&#33;&#33; that&#39;s like tomorrow. I&#39;ll try and make it too. Yeah my exhaust gets this really cool growling sound when I&#39;m on the converter.

Yeah, look me up if you make it. My truck is a burgundy 93 xcab on chrome 18" vette wagon wheels and has a sand colored tonneau cover. I&#39;ll be there trying to tear it up&#33; :lol:

Of course it has a couple of LS1TRUCK.COM stickers on it, too.

Pics of the world&#39;s ugliest conversion. Examples of what not to do.


http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...at/P3090042.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...at/P3090041.jpg
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http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...at/P3090036.jpg
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http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...at/P3090033.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/red...at/P3090032.jpg

dont be so dam hard on yourself, that motor looks great in there, you got the hard part done, just do a little tidying and it&#39;ll really look good. besides, chrome and paint never made me faster :lol:

:point: Holy crap... Now I don&#39;t feel so bad about my tie-wrapped radiator&#33; Don&#39;t mean to poke fun, but that just made me feel a little less of a jack-leg. I decided to remove the old compressor. Looks like yours is similar to mine. If your truck is running, you still have me beat. :thumb:

Yeah, if I could keep things from breaking or screwing up for 15 minutes I could work on that. :laugh:

It&#39;s for fun, not show. I wouldn&#39;t care if it was held together with bailing wire just as long as I can still dust the Rustangs at the track at whim. :thumb:

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:point: Holy crap... Now I don&#39;t feel so bad about my tie-wrapped radiator&#33; Don&#39;t mean to poke fun, but that just made me feel a little less of a jack-leg. I decided to remove the old compressor. Looks like yours is similar to mine. If your truck is running, you still have me beat. :thumb:
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Eventually I will build a new mount to hold the original compressor. Didn&#39;t you see my tie-wrapped electric fans? :laugh: I still need to build a permanent mount to tie the core support to the 2005 fans.

Looks pretty good to me Red, just needs a few things tidied up here & there. One ? though, what&#39;s up with the top rad. hose, is it not hitting the p.s. pulley?

Dude, JFWY... At least you&#39;re rolling. My truck&#39;s like Ole Yeller... been shot & don&#39;t move. All you need is wire loom, and custom brackets. That&#39;s small change. Thumbs up to ya&#33;

-Ron

EXCELLENT , EXCELLENT , EXCELLENT &#33; I&#39;m happy for ya Red and it looks great . These things are almost always under some sort of construction . When you think about it , you know it&#39;s better than buying a factory built turn key job . At least a lot more fun , in retrospect . You haven&#39;t seen under my hood if you think yours is ugly (which I don&#39;t think yours is :rock:) . The guy up at LT1350.com who did my wiring harness said he&#39;d be glad to post pictures on his website but I"m afraid for anyone to see it - really need to do some tidying . But considering I swapped it and got it running in 3 weeks isn&#39;t too bad I guess. Here&#39;s what I really wanna know . How are you gonna stop this one from getting away from you ?&#33;&#33; Those steel posts that go down into your driveway behind the vehicle are supposed to work pretty good. I knew a guy who had a secret valve under his seat that locked with a key. When you stepped on the brakes and turned the valve the brakes locked the car into place . Anyway , have fun eating Poonstang at the track . Congrats &#33; :cool:

Hey bro, thanks for posting the pics&#33; You&#39;ll get the way you want it soon. At least your up and running, I&#39;ve been down for a year now and have a few other vehicles to drive while I play otherwise mine would look like a rustbucket like it did when I pulled the vortec out.
LOL

I think street and performance has a bracket that will fit the LS1 for that style compressor. My buddy put the first LS1 in a caprice for them to make the engine mounts and he made some A/C mounts as well. The compressor looks the same as the caprice&#39;s. I would give them a call unless you make your own.

im so jealous, i cant wait to get started. hopefully i can get my done in a couple months, running and everything.

The rad hose is out of position right now, doing a transmission rebuild right now. Just threw some 7.450" pushrods in it and have a different intake to install so some things are just laying in there. I am surprised nobody noticed I have the radiator hose installed backwards. It loops around behind the P/S reservior.

As for someone stealing this one, it will take a tow truck. I have numerous things that circumvent the normal ignition system. Believe me, sometimes I forget and go WTF&#33; why won&#39;t it start now? :laugh: Oh yeah, there&#39;s no transmission in it right now so it would be hard to drive away with it.

If anyone seriously worries about getting a vehicle stolen, check out LANDAIRSEA.COM for a GPS tracking system that let YOU search for your vehicle any time. Why let the police have all the fun? :laugh:

Well, the transmission rebuild was a success. :thumb: I took the truck for a drive last night, it&#39;s been down for almost a month while I was gathering parts, pieces and advice from transmission builders. It shifts like a dream, other than the solid feel at torque convertor lockup under light acceleration. I would assume that&#39;s normal for a 3600 rpm stall though. The 7.450 pushrods sure quieted the engine tremendously, no more valve train clatter. While I had it apart I took the LS1 throttle body out and then unscrewed the throttle stop screw so that I could mount it from the top where it&#39;s easy to reach and adjust instead of the bottom. Now I can fix my stall at idle when I come to a stop. I had Allen adjust the PCM while I was in SanAntonio to compensate for the dying at stop, now I&#39;ll to have him undo that work since it feels like it pulling about 1800 RPM(like cruise control) while on the road and at stop signs. At a stop sign it only does it for a couple seconds and then drops down to 850 rpm idle.

Looks good. your ahead of me but im working on it. Got my frame work for a/c clearance complete yesterday. Ill be up there with you soon.