SHENANIGANS

[DannyH]

I'm super happy with mine.

Just one thing, it doesn't "self tune" as well as the internet makes it seems to. Offroading puts all kinds of weird loads that don't play well with self tuning.

There is a lot of work left to make the engine perform at its best. I'd still take the car to get it dyno tuned by a reputable shop.

So I’ve been researching this some lately as well. If it still needs to be tuned why not just have a stock PCM tuned with a standalone harness, which is like $500 cheaper? What makes it better?


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[Bebop]

You can't compare the 2 units.
1 is a brand new package that includes a digital dash, a wideband and gives you full control of the engine. Also lets you run input/outputs to your system.
The other one is a used ECU you have no access too. Plus, if you add some gages to your $500 budget, the price gap is closing.



If you have access to a flat field and want to spend the time tuning, the holley is a great platform to learn on. That's why I bought mine. I'm not interrested in making an engine run the cheapest way possible. I want to learn how to tune too.

 

[BigSouth]

My part of the Dana 60 is complete. Really happy with the way it went together. YouTube was very much my friend though. Not an expert by any means, but I do feel confident that I can tear it down and make repairs if need be.

And a shot from the drivers seat. I may have made a few engine sounds. I may be able to see both front tires at ride height. Time will tell.

 

[BigSouth]

My LS threw up in the garage. Can somebody get me a towel?

 

[HGSR]

Your cam and springs should be here Thursday.

 

[Buffy]

Tequila will do that to you.

 

[BigSouth]

Heads were dropped off at the machine shop yesterday morning. Spent the last 2 days cleaning, prepping, and painting other pieces and parts. Still waiting on a few parts to arrive before I can start reassembly. There’s just a few upgrades going in. For now, I’m just looking for healthy and reliable.

 

[BigSouth]

...and speaking of upgrades. @HGSR picked out a new cam and springs for me to breathe a little life in this old 5.3 LS. I also opted to buy a little insurance and ordered a BTR trunnion upgrade kit for the stock rocker arms. All new stainless bolts for the intake, throttle body, and coils.

 

[BigSouth]

Little progress on the motor today. Got the new Howard’s Rattler cam installed with a new thrust plate. Hinson’s Motorsports C7R timing chain installed behind a new Melling oil pump and pickup tube.

Dropped in the new LS7 lifters which, depending on where you read, rev higher than stock or do nothing at all.

And then I picked the heads up from the machine shop. Got a good cleaning, resurface, and a basic valve job. They also installed some new seals and the Howard’s springs to match the cam.

More tomorrow hopefully.

 

[frankenyoter]

Looking good brother!

 

[BigSouth]

Little more done today. Front cover is on with a new seal and the crank pulley is pressed back in after a fresh coat of paint.

Rear cover is back on with a new rear main seal.

Also got one head mounted and torqued. Can’t do the other side until my missing dowel pin shows up in the mail. USPS lied to me when they said it’d be here today.

 

[Pennsylvaniaboy]

what dana 60 brake kit did you go with? entertaining a lightweight/affordable kit like lugnut4x4.

 

[BigSouth]

what dana 60 brake kit did you go with? entertaining a lightweight/affordable kit like lugnut4x4.

The setup I have came with the SOLID 8 on 6.5 conversion kit. My axle didn’t have any of the OE stuff on it when I bought it. It’s probably the same thing Lugnut4x4 sells as a kit. What I really like about it is that all 4 corners of my buggy run the same rotors, calipers, and pads.

 

[BigSouth]

2 steps forward and pause... water pump bolts that come with my spacers aren’t long enough. Lap through town didn’t find any. EBay for the win. Maybe I’ll get it all buttoned up next week.

 

[HGSR]

Inch by inch.
Sorry I’ve been crazy busy and haven’t had time to swing by to check those pushrods.

 

[Bebop]

Such an organized rebuild. Good job !

Mind sharing what cam you went with ? I'm looking to throw one in my 5.3 but haven't found something that doesn't kill all torque before 3000rpm.

 

[BigSouth]

Such an organized rebuild. Good job !

Mind sharing what cam you went with ? I'm looking to throw one in my 5.3 but haven't found something that doesn't kill all torque before 3000rpm.

It’s a Howard’s Rattler cam. I trusted @HGSR with picking out my cam and springs. Pretty sure it’s the same setup he has in his hopped up GMC Sierra only in the 4.8 variety. His sounds awesome, has instant throttle response, and pulls strong all the way to the limiter. I’ve got a video of it doing a burnout from a dead stop with no brakes applied. I was impressed and just told him to make my LS do that. Here’s the specs on the cam:

And the springs:

 

[Jody Treadway]

2 steps forward and pause... water pump bolts that come with my spacers aren’t long enough. Lap through town didn’t find any. EBay for the win. Maybe I’ll get it all buttoned up next week.

View attachment 311351

Looks fancy. Wars the distree booter?

 

[Bebop]

Thanks for the response.
I know comments have to be taken with a grain of salt, but it seems like torque below 3000 isn't it's forte either :

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hrs-198035-09/

 

[BigSouth]

Looks fancy. Wars the distree booter?

Ford guys...

coil packs and a Com-putter.

 

[BigSouth]

Thanks for the response.
I know comments have to be taken with a grain of salt, but it seems like torque below 3000 isn't it's forte either :

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hrs-198035-09/

Like you said, grain of salt. I’m going with what I’ve seen with my own eyes. It’ll be a major step up from stock and combined with the rest of my valve train upgrades, should be pretty healthy in the end. You have to consider I’m running a stock, 140K bottom end. Don’t wanna push my luck.

 

[Bebop]

I hope we can ride together one day and I can see how it's behaving in your rig.
I'm on the other side of the spectrum, I've got a 140+++k bottom end, so I don't care

 

[HGSR]

That 4.8’s next home is in the S10.

 

[BigSouth]

Another productive couple days in the shop. Longer bolts came in for the water pump and spacer. Drilled and tapped the spacer to accept the return from my steam line kit. Got all that routed and secure.

Also had to elongate the holes in my flywheel in order for it to mate up to my 96 4L60e. Got it all installed with the proper spacer.

Then married the transmission to engine. It’s a huge weight off my mind to see it all together finally. I also put a fresh coat of 1300 degree paint on a set of Camaro manifolds I picked up.

 

[Bebop]

Very cool !!!!