Build Project Rehab (Chopped LS Swapped 80 Series)

[bicycleagent003]

Dude, mad props to you for pulling that off. I'm sure you have some gremlins to figure out in the last 2% of the build, but that is sweet as hell. You had a dream, a vision, and you're right at the finish line. Great work! Very impressive.

 

[White Sheep]

Dude, mad props to you for pulling that off. I'm sure you have some gremlins to figure out in the last 2% of the build, but that is sweet as hell. You had a dream, a vision, and you're right at the finish line. Great work! Very impressive.

Thank you very much . It's been a lot and sometimes overwhelming doing the chop and engine swap at the same time.

 

[White Sheep]

As of now, I have six issues and two need to be addressed in order to drive the truck to GSMTR.

Oil leak - 1 of 2 issues needed to be addressed for GSMTR. As previously mentioned, I think it's coming from the crank seal. I'll get a better diagnosis this Thursday.

Engine temps - 2 of 2 issues needed to be addressed for GSMTR. I haven't drove much, but pretty early on at idle temps jump to 210° - 220°. When Google'ing my engine temps it says this is normal, but looking at the 8× V8 swap page, they are saying normal temps in the 195°- 200° range. Electric fans come on at thier prescribed temps, and when reving the engine and driving, the temps do drop. I have drove far or more than 50mph.

Engine tune - Flashed PCM only came with a startup tune. For sure need RPMs adjusted because need to give gas when sometimes stopping or going in reverse or it'll die. Also need the other benefits of a tune.

AC - Checked for leaks, pulled vacuum, and filled with freon. . Still warm AC.

Radio/speakers - I'm getting pretty bad interference. Sure it's a ground wire somewhere.

New instrument cluster - Tach and speedo don't work. Using Scan Guage for those functions now.

 

[White Sheep]

Confirmed that the crank seal is leaking. Going to address that, and I bought another radiator, fan clutch, fan blade, and diy fan shroud.

Still getting mixed messaging on what engine temps should be, but I figured if I run fan clutch/blades (like OEM) temps should be normal. On the 8x V8 swap page, some are saying thier temps are 195°- 205°, and other are saying normal 210°- 220°. When I drive on the freeway and street, my temps were 206° - 210°

 

[cruisermatt]

It's hot as balls out, those temps aren't too bad. You probably still have some air in the system to work out too.
80 series owners have historically obsessed over 5-10 degree coolant temp differences.. which is 2-5% of the overall operating temp. NOT a big deal.

 

[White Sheep]

It's hot as balls out, those temps aren't too bad. You probably still have some air in the system to work out too.
80 series owners have historically obsessed over 5-10 degree coolant temp differences.. which is 2-5% of the overall operating temp. NOT a big deal.

Thanks for the input. In your professional opinion, what are "normal temps", and what's considered overheating?

 

[cruisermatt]

Thanks for the input. In your professional opinion, what are "normal temps", and what's considered overheating?

190-210F depending on ambient temps and situation.
Keep in mind, if it is 10 degrees, or 20 degrees hotter ambient temp at one time then another that means that the air that is going through your radiator is warmer, cooling your coolant. It is completely reasonable to expect your coolant temps to be higher when it is hotter out.
I would be concerned if I saw +235 for extended period of time. If it was for a few seconds while hammering it up an obstacle, in July, at a hot dusty offroad park with little fresh airflow, that would be understandable.

 

[White Sheep]

190-210F depending on ambient temps and situation.
Keep in mind, if it is 10 degrees, or 20 degrees hotter ambient temp at one time then another that means that the air that is going through your radiator is warmer, cooling your coolant. It is completely reasonable to expect your coolant temps to be higher when it is hotter out.
I would be concerned if I saw +235 for extended period of time. If it was for a few seconds while hammering it up an obstacle, in July, at a hot dusty offroad park with little fresh airflow, that would be understandable.

Thank you

 

[McDowra]

190-210F depending on ambient temps and situation.
Keep in mind, if it is 10 degrees, or 20 degrees hotter ambient temp at one time then another that means that the air that is going through your radiator is warmer, cooling your coolant. It is completely reasonable to expect your coolant temps to be higher when it is hotter out.
I would be concerned if I saw +235 for extended period of time. If it was for a few seconds while hammering it up an obstacle, in July, at a hot dusty offroad park with little fresh airflow, that would be understandable.

Somehow missed you sayin that, thanks for the info

 

[White Sheep]

Crankshaft seal fixed, and now i see i have a little power steering leak at the seal. . .i can live with that for now.

Did a bit of driving yesterday. Went to a tuner that game me a little bit better of a tune (now the LC doesn't drop idle and die whenever I coast/stop), and he also told me about some problems I have.

#1. Injectors. Due to running a Cam, i need Injectors that push out at least 35lbs. I think my current ones are 25lbs.

#2. Might need to swap bank 1/bank 2 O2 sensors because once side is receiving 25 (some measurements) and the other side is -18 .

#3. And/or it might be my spark plugs (I bought new spark plugs. They recommended NGK TR55's. Dont remember what I have in there now).

So it's still in limp mode until the end of next month when they can get me in for a tune.

Then went to the meet with Olde North State Cruisers, and discussed our GSMTR convoy next week.

 

[White Sheep]

In other news, stay away from the Walbro GSS342 Fuel Pump (or maybe just Walbro in general). After the 5 minutes, the Pump whines obnoxiously, especially outside of the truck, until you turn the truck off. I thought it was the pump going bad, but Google'd/YouTube this morning and it's a common complaint. I think ill buy the deatsch Werks 200 fuel pump and eventually swap out.

 

[White Sheep]

Look closely. . .do you see it? Thanks @logicbyondreaso I finally put them on.

Messed around with the cooling system today. Not much luck, but a little better. I took the Chinese fans off and put on some Spal's. It runs a hair cooler, but if I move the thermostat to heat, it will stay below 213° at idle, ~205° while driving.

Before I went in the house for the evening, I noticed steam vent coolant hose (probably not the real name) on the passenger side looked kinked. Corrected that and I'll see if there's any difference tomorrow.

 

[White Stripe]

Maybe try pulling the shroud and fans and drive it down the highway with just the radiator and see if it runs cooler on the highway. If so, you know your shroud is an issue.

 

[SNLC]

View attachment 3649634
Look closely. . .do you see it? Thanks @logicbyondreaso I finally put them on.

Messed around with the cooling system today. Not much luck, but a little better. I took the Chinese fans off and put on some Spal's. It runs a hair cooler, but if I move the thermostat to heat, it will stay below 213° at idle, ~205° while driving.

Before I went in the house for the evening, I noticed steam vent coolant hose (probably not the real name) on the passenger side looked kinked. Corrected that and I'll see if there's any difference tomorrow.

Bro, you want some advice of the cooling system?

Cheers

 

[White Sheep]

Bro, you want some advice of the cooling system?

Cheers

Sure. Wouldn't hurt.

 

[White Sheep]

Drove to the gym (~5 miles away) temps are lower after removing the kink in the hose.

Thermostat on cold: ~216° at idle; ~207° while driving; and driving at a "crawl pace" it hit 224°.

Thermostat on hot: ~206° at idle; while driving between 198° - 204°.

I'll still be listening for what @SNLC has for me.

I also have a new radiator, OEM mechanical fan/clutch, and DIY fan shroud on standby.

 

[MMaxim]

I am in the early stages of the swap myself (just finished rebuilding and LQ4 and 4l60e). Made up my mind to stay with the mechanical fan and custom shroud long time ago because of all the overheating issues that electrical fans seem to have. Looking forward to seing what difference the mechanical fan will have when you switch back to that.

 

[SNLC]

I was out of town most of the weekend.

Seems you are already on it but mechanical fan. Right shroud and correct placement of the fan in it and you won’t have any cooling issues.

Cheers

 

[White Sheep]

Mission complete. Drove the LC to GSMTR, "didn't break", and drove home 4 days later.

Engine heat/cooling is oookkk for now. Typically running ~206 on/off the trail. There are noticeable engine issues is we replaced spark plugs and wires. . .no change. No matter what, I do need bigger injectors, and I'm also remembering that the injectors did sit in the truck for about 7 months without being started so hopefully changing them will fix it

Any who, played on the trails with @Fort Knox @Hokie LX @SeanLX @AWOLDoc and @cruisermatt. Cruiser Matt lead me on the black trails, and AWOLDoc wanted us to believe we were doing greens, but kept us on blues.

4 low, center diff lock, front and rear lockers all work. Still getting use to the truck. Only been 2 weeks on the road and I drive (limped) it out of state over 300 miles each way. Had a few tipsy rear end lifts, but after breaking the rear swaybar links, and removing the swaybars, she's a bit more flexy now.

We didn't get many pics while on the trails.

 

[cruisermatt]

We had a good time.
We didn’t get a chance to talk about it but mine never went under 200 really all weekend. It was very hot out so that is completely fine.