LTX Jimmy/ Beginners Swap Guide

[Ghettogmc23]

Hello All,
I recently finished the long journey of swapping my LTX into my truck. I waited to post a build thread because I thought it would be more helpful to others who find themselves in my shoes: lost. So now that it is officially running I will post from start to finish and hopefully my issues will help others who are wanting to swap but are a little intimidated.
I know that my work is not perfect and there will be countless times you will yourself asking "who would do something like that" or maybe more like "how is it possible to mess that up" and thats the point of it mostly. If your okay with knowing you will think this then read on...

My background: I live in Northern Indiana so snow is rather common and with it comes alot of rust on older cars. My dad has had a 1964 Nova II that he has owned since before i was born so needless to say i grew up fascinated by cars and couldnt wait to get one of my own. My favorite growing up was an 80's style El Camino cuz i liked the little windows behind the door lol.
Dads Nova


The trucks background: I purchased the truck at 15 for $150 from my brothers friend. He had hit a pole and smashed the grill into the radiator along with hood, core support, frame horn, etc. Fixable but in rather bad shape altogether. Rusted rockers, busted steering column, no 4wd, doors rotted, just to name a few extra issues. But i fell in love with it and lets be honest without a job i was more interested in the price. Everything i know about cars has more or less been tested on this one.
It started as a basic 4.3 TBI which i was constantly doing anything i could to. It ended up blowing a head gasket my senior year of high school and shortly after graduation it spun a rod. So at that point it was pulled, machined,bored .040 cuz the cylinders were that worn, rebuilt with a cam, and put back in action. Course at this point i had bought a new DD so it was rarely driven due to wiring issues. After that i put a Powerdyne supercharger on it with a 2114 intake and vortec heads, but still couldnt get the wiring issues figired out. So i gave up on it for a while....

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The engines background: (kinda long but i like to be dramatic about my work) So about 2-2.5 years ago they opened a Take-A-Part about 20 miles from my hometown. before then it was all just basic junkyards. Priced off of make and model, plus sports cars seem a little rare to them so anything camaro was out of my price range. One day while strolling through TAP i noticed an interesting intake on a chevy V8 and thought it was just the coolest. I had been trying to get my dad to go fuel injected on his 350 so i decided that id pull this intake and pcm, etc to use on his, but didnt feel like doing that much work that day. When i talked to him about it he wasnt very interested and said "Im old school and dont wanna lose the carb for something i wont understand" lol. At that it got me thinking though "if i can do all this work to a V6, why not just step it up to a V8 and have a variety of options on parts? a SBC has millions of different combos to it, and with a cool tunnel ram intake like that one why not start with this motor?" Pause for a moment.... remember the fact that i bought this motor for its unlimited aftermarket support..... laugh at me a bit..... ok now continue. So i went back the next day with nothing but a lunchbox full of misc. tools and my fiance who spent more time on her phone than helping (its about the moral support though lol). Arrived at 10am and had the motor in the truck and back home by 2:30pm. Donor car was a 1995 Caprice with no hood, no front fenders, the entire front assy. off the motor was gone, no balancer, no wiring harness or pcm, nothing. But hey its a SBC how hard can all that be to replace.....:jest:

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So it begins......

[Ghettogmc23]

Teardown: motor was relatively clean inside. still had a good cross-hatch on the cylinders.
Builld tip #1: MAke sure to keep ALL extra parts in a box. I bought everything brand new and still found myself looking for parts in the box i was gonna throw away. Learned that not all parts are easy to replace, especially the coolant crossover setup. Also, before you even tear into it, identify the year of the motor. I started buying sensors and parts and didnt realize that 92-93, 94-95, and 96-97 are all different in certain ways.
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[Ghettogmc23]

I tore the motor down, decided to go online and buy a set of corvette aluminum heads with stainless swirl port valves, screw in studs, upgraded springs, the works. So bye bye cast iron. I had the block machined .030 even though it was uneeded because i had already bought forged flat tops for it. polished up the crank (didnt even need turned at all), forged Scat I-beams, all Clevite bearings, and some Hellfire rings.
build tip #2: Do your homework. I looked at my parts list and thought i had it all planned. When i took it to my machinist he schooled me so bad lol. Make sure you know what you want from your motor: N/A, nitrous, boost whatever. Be sure to know what you want for deck height! It makes calculating quench and everything else easier. I didnt plan this so i had a little bit of work to do lol. I wont explain quench and all that cuz im not an expert but the forum has tons of info on it and everything else as far as machining.
After that it got painted. Big thanks here to my mom who is awesome at masking stuff for paint!
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build tip #3: piston rings. I searched online and found that most recommend Hellfire rings. So i got them. PLEASE invest in a ring filer if you do the same. Nice saturday evening, garage open, radio on, nothing to do but work...... and i cant cuz i cant file the rings. I knew i would have to but thought i might pick one up locally. Maybe some can but around where i live even the speed shop didnt have one in stock, most couldnt even order one. Nobody around town had ever even used one before lol. Dont even plan on picking something up locally if you know you need it in advance lol.
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[Ghettogmc23]

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measuring ring gap. sorry forgot to upload in last post.
I got the short block assembled. Time for the rest
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ARP studs
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Torque down
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Clevite kit just to be safe
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LTX next to my dads fully forged blower motor. He only paid $1000 and bought it like it sits + blower, carb, and distributor.

[Ghettogmc23]

Next step: valvetrain
Okay to some this may be basic knowledge or worthless knowledge depending on preference and whatnot. Double roller timing chain. Thats my personal choice just cuz i like the thought of it. Now, a stock LTX CAN NOT run one due to the water pump drive, however if you run an electric water pump you can. I researched it and now its here also. Put your timing chain on and smear thick grease on the outer edge near the timing cover. Install your timing cover WITHOUT the gasket to make sure you have clearance. rotate the motor once or twice and pull the cover off. whatever parts have grease need ground down. repeat until no grease is on the cover and finally install with the gasket. Gaskets arent thick but it gives that extra room in case your not supercar perfect at your work.
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Also make sure to measure your pushrods. For me i went a little longer than stock cuz it seemed to fit better with my new rockers and everything but every motor is different and if your this far into it a quick measurement is worth the work. As for sealing the water pump drive i think i read it on here to use a quarter, put the seal over it to kinda press it in place and just silicon it. working so far :D

[Ghettogmc23]

So now a quick post for just the 4wd s10 crowd. Check your oil pan. Yup, factory lt1 pan wont work. So you can buy aftermarket or make one or whatever but you still have on issue: the windage tray. Personally i talked to my machinist and he agreed it should cause an issue. So we just cut the studs off the main cap bolts for the windage tray. The Canton pan i bought had one built in anyways so good deal.
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Installed an oil pan stud kit cuz it looked cool and made it a little easier. Plus im sure the clamping force is better like it always seems to be with studs.
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new professional products 58mm tb

[Ghettogmc23]

Next step: Ignition
Now as we all know there is no distributor. Instead we have the Optispark. I personally like it, but learned it can be improved.
1. Loctite the rotor screws. It increases life at high RPMs. how? it doesnt self destruct itself by breaking loose lol.
2. 24x conversion. I dont know much about this setup cuz i saw a price before info and gave up lol
3. LTCC conversion. This setup was straightforward and seemed like my personal favorite so i bought it. With that i needed 8 coils so i hit up ebay for a set and bought pigtails. Then came the brackets. Online you can find a huge selection of what others have done and most are custom setups. Mine, I was lookin at the motor with the coils laying on the intake. I told my dad i wanted it to mount on the valve covers like an LS and my dad said "go home, give me a week and if you dont like it dont use them." A week later i painted the brackets and this is what it was
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Ive read its good for a few hp but more for reliability and, my personal favorite, looks awesome!

[Ghettogmc23]

Now during the time the motor was going through this transformation, the truck was going through this
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and finally
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[firebird_1995]

Great writeup!! Thank you so much for sharing! It looks great!

[Ghettogmc23]

Now, this is where the beginners guide comes in to play.

It looks like my truck was done but was still far from it. At this point i was ready to install all the accessories and everything else, but i couldnt. The impala bracket would not clear the frame on my truck. So i bought a camaro bracket, only to find out it does the same. Ive heard the corvette bracket will clear but at that point i called on my dads fabrication skills and he made me a bracket for my alternator that tightens like a V-belt setup but still uses a serpentine belt, even if its only like 25 inches long lol. Im also not running power steering or anything so that made it easier.
After i got that out of the way i tried to start it. It cranked and cranked with no fire. Checked the LTCC and the lights were blinking. Looked it up and it said bad optispark. pulled it off, checked the pin alignment and put it back on. still no start. So i ran all new ground wires. Still no start. Checked all my wiring and it was good. Still wouldnt start though. So i put it on the battery charger and after charging it started. Shut it off and tried to start it again and no start. Checked the LTCC and the red light was blinking. So i began to question the box and gave up.
A few days later i tried starting it again and still wouldnt. Hooked up the battery starter and started right up. Shut it off and tried again and wouldnt start. Did this for about a week, and come to find out the harness from the wiring harness to the optispark was cheap and not connecting properly. So ordered a new one from ws6store.com and viola ran fine.... the first try. After that it was hit and miss if it would start. Seriously?!?! What was the deal!? Checked all the wiring, all plugs, replaced the opti harness, checked the LTCC, checked the opti alignment, even bought a new battery. WHY A RANDOM NO START!?!?!?!
Well, its because i was dumb and didnt charge the battery when i got it. The one i was originally using was junk and when i got the Optima it was almost dead. Threw it in my DD for a week or two and put it back in and havent had a problem since. I was mad, but at the same time i went back through and double checked everything so now i dont worry about any of it being wrong lol. So was the Opti harness bad? yes, it would fail even on the battery charger were as the ws6 has never failed.
I spent at least two months on this issue and didnt want to post it on the forum because using the search button i showed all the symptoms of a failed optispark. Being that i bought a cheap ebay brand opti i believed it every step of the way. I feel bad about it now but that dang opti is just so sneaky sometimes. Just thought id post my issues so maybe some others can use it for their swaps. I was worried about this swap because i had never heard the motor run, had to rewire all of it, rebuilt the motor, it was just a little scary cuz every time i had an issue i had to start from step 1 and check EVERYTHING. It was definitely worth it tho once i got to drive it.
So with that the last update i currently have is my C5 air intake. Other than that ive brought this up to speed and am gonna update as i make progress, hopefully including photos from the 2013 LTX Shootout.....

[Ghettogmc23]

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C5 air bridge setup.

[Badbird_96]

I was waitimg for the finished results. Nice write up and nice build. Looks good although the intake looks a little tight lol

[popo8]

Excellent write up... def well worth the read. I was waiting to see this since ur thread about the custom intake.

I look forward to checking it out at the shootout. Btw, u said how old u were when u bought the truck...how old are u now?


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Thanks. The intake is a little tight but I figure the air bridge will be the bigger restriction than the bends lol.

Ya I figured I would do my build thread since I posted a picture of it n broke the secrecy. Btw I'm 22 now and I hope to make it to the Shootout. Well see how it does on the 20 mile drive first before I travel 200+ lol

[Jayz28]

Great job! Excellent write up!!

[Ghettogmc23]

Just for Popo, a pic of the air filter if it shows up
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[popo8]

I can see it... great job man.

I like this build alot!


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Much appreciated Popo, I know when I first built my truck I posted on a few forums and got less than respectful responses so I was hesitant to post but I can tell this is definitely a more friendly forum than others. Definitely made the right choice with the LTX lol. You can be sure to see me post more often as I learn more.

[popo8]

Much appreciated Popo, I know when I first built my truck I posted on a few forums and got less than respectful responses so I was hesitant to post but I can tell this is definitely a more friendly forum than others. Definitely made the right choice with the LTX lol. You can be sure to see me post more often as I learn more.

we pride ourselves for being better...and different.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

we pride ourselves for being better...and different.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

Different.... now that I like :D

[Ghettogmc23]

Replaced the OSIRIS banner
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And just for fun an interior pic
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Lightweight carpet
Autometer tach
Autometer/ Sunpro cluster and pillar gauges
Summit racing seat (haven't swapped pass. yet, it's an srt4 neon seat)
GMC Syclone center console with custom aluminum trim
C4 carbon fiber shifter knob
Plus custom fabric wrapped dash

[Ghettogmc23]

So little update. I have been tuning my truck and was having issues with my idle. It would only idle at about 1000 and when I revved it there was a hesitation until about 2k. When I data logged it I noticed the iac was reading 160 at all times. So I decided to pick another iac up until I saw the price of them. At that point I figured I would test it first by replacing it with the one from my brothers van. I swapped them and realized I had the wrong iac sensor! I had an LS style from my extra throttle body off my daily driver 4.3 vortec because I didn't know they made different ones other than bolt-in and thread-in. So one new iac later my idle is dropped and iac counts are about 60, which also cured my hesitation.
Guess I'm still learning the basics lol

[firebird_1995]

Representin'! Looks good man. How do you like that summit seat? Looks sharp. Is it comfortable?

[popo8]

NOW ^THAT^ is a SEXY banner!


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Representin'! Looks good man. How do you like that summit seat? Looks sharp. Is it comfortable?

Well..... Ill try to put it in a way that makes sense lol. I put it in my daily driver that I was kinda setting up for autocross as far as suspension n stuff. The seat racing-wise I think is a good compromise cuz it is comfortable but it still holds you really well cornering HOWEVER I drove 25 miles a day to work down country roads and between the poly mounts and the seats it wasn't a harsh ride, but it was enough to make you just want to relax in a big recliner lol.
So weekend driver/ racecar: good seat
daily driver: possible but would not recommend it unless you drive with a Cadillac suspension to counterbalance lol
sorry if I'm confusing n off topic, I get passionate about cars lol.
And I agree, the banner suits the truck more than the last two ive had

[popo8]

...
And I agree, the banner suits the truck more than the last two ive had

:thumbup:


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Well little update. Haven't been posting much cuz I've been getting everything ready for my wedding. Stayed up til 2am the day of just putting the finishing touches on my truck to get there. That'll be a whole other story tho...
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Anyways I started digging through my spare parts room looking for a project to keep me busy until I hear more on the house were buying and stumbled across a set of shocks I bought a while back. As you know I was building my DD for autocross and I bought them for it, however with the rear sway bar there were clearance issues. So I decided I would put them on my LTX. Started taking the bolts out and broke both shock mount bolts trying to loosen the nuts. So now I'm waiting on new perches to arrive. While I was at it I decided to buy a set of plates to center the rear axle in the wheel wel since they sit forward a bit.
pic of shocks18940

[popo8]

Awesome.... Im really digging this project...

Any plans on paint...or are u ALL GO.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Paint will be same as it is. Last time it was painted was a few years back and the paint was a free gallon from a guy I know at a paint shop. It was actually what they use for steel buildings so its just a basic paint, no clear coat or anything. Since then I added the ground effects and the fiberglass fenders and am soon going to replace the front doors with a nicer set from my parts truck. Once I'm for sure done with all the body work ill be going with base coat clear coat and in corvette white so it's really pure.
But for now it's all go lol. Paint will be the sign of a finished project (that's why my dad hasn't painted his nova in 22 years lol)

[popo8]

Awesome...Im not a big paint guy as u can tell by my camaro....

Was just wondering.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Your camaro looks good, well at least from my point of view lol. I agree tho, I'm not much for paint mainly cuz I always want to modify something and dont want to deal with touching it up n stuff.
I did manage to get my cooling fans mounted but ran out of time before work to wire them. Switched from a single 10" to dual 7" to gain some clearance and also some cooling, my old setup had an issue that caused a little overheating in traffic lol.
Also bought a grill top cover on the syty forums to close off the top of the grill and make it look a little more fancy. Just gotta cut a hole for the intake pipe, and of course wait for it to ship out first lol.
As for the shocks still waiting for the perches. Scheduled arrival is Saturday.

[popo8]

wekl thanku... but up close ull see she is done up to look ok from a distance.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

wekl thanku... but up close ull see she is done up to look ok from a distance.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

Nothin wrong with that, doesn't make it any less fun right?

Got my cooling fans wired and ready to go today. Started it and let it idle up to temp just to see if they would kick in and work. Temp hit about 195 and they turned on and it dropped to 190 n didn't move for a minute or so, so I'm calling it good lol.
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Also received my offset blocks for the rear axle, just have to get the perches so I can drive it. Finally have a full weekend off and waiting for parts...

[popo8]

ur doin well man....im excited to check it out in peraon.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Shocks installed but I didn't do the offset blocks cuz I was afraid the 3/8" drop would make it rub the flares, although the shocks gave it about a 1/2" lift so looking back I should have just thrown them in lol.
Never done coil over shocks before and I guarantee I will NEVER do them again by myself lol. I only had to compress them maybe a thumb length but I had to put a floor jack under them to do that much! Definitely looks stronger tho.
Plus I painted the perches just for a little flare.
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Before ride height
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After ride height. May still need to settle but still jacked it up a bit.

[Ghettogmc23]

So small update with a little story and a lot of foreshadowing. I was working on the shocks and spent some time looking around the underneath and got me to thinking it was time for the body mounts to be replaced. Now this is a bittersweet project for me because while I want to swap the poly mounts I also fear the main issue with it. When I first bought my truck we realized the body mounts behind the front wheels were rotted beyond repair. So when I got my parts truck we cut the mounts out of the floor to put in mine. This project has given me nightmares for years knowing that eventually it would have to be done. We did make temporary replacements but they were just that, temporary. So I busted out the impact today and stripped, broke, n removed the rest of the body mount bolts. Plan is to replace all that I can with poly n get it sittin good on the frame, then well cut the front two and weld the patch panels in at the correct height. Just so scared to do such major surgery lol. My dad is a welder/maintenance at work so I know he's gonna make sure I don't ruin it but still worries me.
Only other thing I got done today was I pulled my drivers exhaust to weld in my o2 wideband. First time welding! Lol didn't do too bad since it sealed up good (reading a nice 13.8-14.7 which is better than I was expecting). While I was at it I also adjusted my mufflers n got them mounted like they should be, not pointing at the rear axle lol. More updates when the body mounts arrive.

[popo8]

I can understand ur fear...but all that u have shown us that u have done...I have faith in u man.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Thanks Popo. I think what worries me is that my dad is worried lol. He's done a lot of patch panels but mostly skins, never a floor or anything. He even bought a plasma cutter just to do this cuz he doesn't wanna risk issues with the sawzall or cutoff wheel. Definitely anxious to get it done. Be the first time EVER that my doors will line up with the fenders and first time in years that the doors will shut without slamming them lol. It's just where I live all of them at the junkyard are as bad as mine so it's like a one shot deal unless I pick some up on the way to the Shootout lol. Indiana n it's annoying snow....

[popo8]

WELL good luck.. when is the plan to do it?

[Ghettogmc23]

Well, my poly mounts should be here around Tuesday, plus we're waiting on the plasma cutter to arrive also. My dad wants to take a day or so to get the corvette cleaned up n stuff, then he wants to take a week off n get the nova pretty well streetable. So he's thinkn first week of June or so just pull it in the garage, pull the doors, pull the carpet n everything, fenders, wheel wells, get it fairly cleaned out at the corners and then just cut n paste both in the same day. He wants to get used to the plasma cuter a bit tho cuz he's never used one before lol. Pls he's wanting to get some gas for his welder to make sure the welds are nice and solid. I was ready with the sawzall today but thought I should probably follow his lead on this and not kill my baby cuz I'm impatient lol. So depending on how things go with work and the house and everything else we should be good to go first of June. Til then the temporary mounts are holding up, just you can see through the floor to the ground cuz the rust is getting worse lol.

[Ghettogmc23]

Got the mounts swapped out. Still waiting to test drive it but just idling it feels more solid.

Kinda off topic but our realtor stopped by, told us the appraisal on our house is scheduled today and as long as it goes good we should be closing by the end of the month. All that translates in is a place to finally store my truck and room for another project

[Ghettogmc23]

Well not much update. Got the plasma cutter a few days back and started playin around with it to get some practice in before cuttin the floor out. Went and picked up my new to me rear axle with an Auburn posi unit and a higher gear set. Gonna pick up a disc brake setup from the junkyard and install it all at once, plus considering a C clip eliminator kit but still doing some research on it.

Focus has kinda gone towards the daily driver until the floor pans are ready to be removed. Recently decided that for reliability in the Indiana snow the DDs gonna get a stance upgrade.... and perhaps while its down maybe the turbo setup.

[Ghettogmc23]

Haven't been on for about a month cuz of issues with my phone so ima do an update.20439

Single to dual piston upgrade in front and swapping from drums to single piston discs in back. Also going from an open diff 3.42 rear axle to Auburn posi with 3.73s


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[popo8]

Welcome back man... was hoping you were coming back.

Thank You for updating... now keep your phone straight... lol

[Ghettogmc23]

Lol I tried just cleaning some stuff out n messed up my Internet settings. I could get on to the site but it was really annoying to do lol. I didn't miss anything important did I?

btw a pic I forgot in last post

[popo8]

Lol I tried just cleaning some stuff out n messed up my Internet settings. I could get on to the site but it was really annoying to do lol. I didn't miss anything important did I?

btw a pic I forgot in last post

LOL.. I think you did... but I will let it stay "DEAD," or should I say...M.I.A.

[Ghettogmc23]

:( now I feel left out... although sounds like its better I not know lol

[popo8]

:( now I feel left out... although sounds like its better I not know lol

Pm sent.

Co-Owner/Admin @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Thanks Popo. Feel all warm n fuzzy inside now lol.

well kinda goofed the other day. Decided to weld up a spot on my exhaust n forgot to unhook my battery.... now when I turn it on my pump primes n everything but I have no spark, no injector pulse, no power to any sensors... so I'm hoping I just burned the pcm n not something serious.

On another note..... I let it get the best of me... dang research. I haven't even got the new dual piston calipers bled n I bought some Z06 calipers lol. Well I guess I should explain.
When doing research for my new setup I kept looking at corvette brakes to go with my theme and while the grand sport 6 pistons look awesome! I just couldn't justify upgrading rims n tires since I just got them. Anyways I was planning to upgrade the brakes on my daily cuz I recently removed the lowering kit, bumped it up with a lift kit, and threw some big tires on it and now it tends to stop rather slowly lol. So I couldn't decide: buy two identical kits, or buy one kit, but a c5 setup, and just split the kit between them? Obviously the C5 plan won, mainly cuz I found adapter brackets for cheap on eBay and found the calipers for a good price. Now just abutment brackets n rotors & pads n ill have good brakes for the whole crew lol.

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Daily with the 17s and the new Goodyear Wranglers that are like 265/75r17? Something like that lol. I bought them used on eBay for about 200 so definitely happy with em.

[popo8]

I like that daily also...


Sounds like u cooked ur computer btw.

Co-Owner/Admin @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

I like that daily also...


Sounds like u cooked ur computer btw.

Co-Owner/Admin @ LTXtech.com

idk what it is but it definitely gets a lot more attention now, but don't those front brakes just look tiny! LoL

It sucks if I fried it but ill consider it a blessing if it keeps me from replacing my LTCC or the opti or something expensive like that. Just give me an easy one for once lol

[popo8]

They def look tiny... Got the same issue on my truck behimd the 22s...

Co-Owner/Admin @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

I know theres a set of CTS-V 4 piston calipers on eBay right now. That would probably slow your roll real quick. I think they mount like c5 calipers.

[popo8]

I know theres a set of CTS-V 4 piston calipers on eBay right now. That would probably slow your roll real quick. I think they mount like c5 calipers.

Lol... nah... Red caliper paint is as high tech as i get w brakes.

Co-Owner/Admin @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Lol o jeez.... ur one of "those" people lol!

[Ghettogmc23]

So not much update. Finished running new brake lines n got them bled so new brakes are done! Well at least til I'm ready to install the Z06 setup. Went to start it up n it would crank but no start. So I replaced the pcm n fixed it. Then today I go to start it n it would crank but no start, but at least I had power to all my sensors. So I was lost. Put the jump starter on it n it started. It's a yellow top Altima why do I have to jump it from sitting overnite!?!? Then I realized: I've had the same alternator for 5 years. Swapped it for the spare from the Blazer an now it starts fine. Two problems taken care of, off to the rest.

Also our local circle track had the first night of drag racing. It was only about a 300ft track so most cars never left first gear, but it dd bring out some 3rd n 4th gen F-body's, a bracket racing gen 1 camaro, a sbc foxbody, and an LS1 swapped chevy Lumina lol. Got rained out halfway through but still fun for a $5 entry. No LTX cars tho unless the 4th gen firebird was but I think it was LS by the sound (I can't tell by lookin at em)

[Ghettogmc23]

Ok so just a recap. Since the last drive My truck has received: new rear shocks, new poly body mounts, new brakes all around, new lower ball joints, new rear gears & posi unit, new alternator, exhaust welded up, rear spacer plates (center the axle), new brake lines for most of the truck, and new cooling fans.

The truck for the most part runs really well. The tune needs work now that everything is getting good power, and the brakes need a bit of attention still because they can stop but don't have much for holding power. Overall tho its a bit more street able I think and has a bit more kick with the new 3.73 gears. I may just have to get my overdrive figured out now lol.
Did a little test on the brakes by tryin to power brake it. Not much luck but still impressive considering it kept Rollin lol.

[popo8]

Nice...sounds like she is back on track... What are u gonna do for the tune?

Co-Owner/Admin @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Well I was always fighting a really rich condition so I tuned it lean, then when I swapped the alternator it may have given the coils the power they need cuz it runs really lean now. So I'm just gonna go back to my base point and retune it all now that its mechanically sound. Just wish I would have known the alt was bad before I retuned it all lol. Plus I didn't swap the knock module so it's pickin up a lot of false knock.
Also on another note we've been in the closing stage on our house for 18 days now waitin for the government to okay it. My truck is about the only thing keeping me sane and its not being nice about it lol. The reason I mention this is because the day we close I get to pick up another project and bring it home..... stay tuned

[Ghettogmc23]

So got a few updates. Since my last time I posted trucks been giving me all sorts of trouble. To start with I went to move it one day and it started to blow the injector O-rings out. After about the 3rd one I figured they were all just rotted or something so put all new ones in too and bottom. With that solved it was running good but when I would rev it up or shift gears it would get about 8 degrees spark knock. So I lowered the timing across the table n richness it up a bit to make sure it was gone and it was running good, but at cruising speeds would have a slight miss and the afr gauge would go lean when it did. So after two days of retuning to try to fix it I came to the conclusion that the MAP sensor is bad based off the fact that the voltage is at 1.71 from key on to wot lol. So this could have been my issue all along I'm hoping.

It did run good enough that I could move it to the new house tho, proud of that. So after I pick up the map from my 4.3 ill test it n if it runs good I can start my tuning all over again.
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[popo8]

I really like that truck.

Sorry its givin u a hard time... Hope u can still bring it to the shootout.

Co-Owner/Admin @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Thanks popo. This truck has always been like that tho lol. We're gonna try for the shootout.
I put the new map on it and it runs completely different now. Just needs a bit of tuning to make it perfect but at least it's not leaning out anymore.
I took it for a test drive and decided I need to recalibrated the governer in the trans because it shifts a bit high on its own. It was fine out in the country at my parents house but now I live in the city about two blocks from the police station and I'm sure they don't appreciate me revving it up to about 4k just to hit 2nd at 20mph lol. So a new governor will be on the list to compliment the new gears.

[Ghettogmc23]

Been a while since I updated so thought I would stop by. Last time I posted I had replaced the map sensor and had it running good. A few days later I went out to adjust the pcm to get a better tune and it wouldn't start. I tried and tried to start but it would just crank. Pulled the cover off my LTCC box and I had a solid green light, but I also had a solid red light. I got so frustrated I threw the keys on the seat and just walked away. So I started to work on my other truck and started my turbo swap on it, meanwhile my poor LTX just sat in the yard, watching as I devoted my time to a different project. Now to most this might seem easy but at work I have a friend doing a v8 s10 build and it just killed me to talk to him about it knowing mine was done and just wouldn't start. To add to this every time I was working on the turbo swap there were countless 5.0 mustangs that kept driving down the street (and an LS GTO) n just hearing them go by made me miss the sound of my LT1. To make it even worse I have been helping my dad with his supercharged 350 n that just made me miss my truck like crazy. So the other day as I was tuning my black truck I decided I'd put a full charge in the Yellow Top, grab a clean set if plugs, and just get to it and not rest til it started up. • new plugs• new coil grounds• fully charged battery• base tune that was goodAll of this and it still had no spark. So I thought maybe with the spark issues it was flooded. Pulled the fuel pump relay and hit the key. Fired on the first crank. Thought to myself "wow it was just fuel" put the relay back in, wouldn't start. Pulled the relay back out , fired right up. So then I got creative. I pulled the relay, leaned they the door n started it up, then quickly reinstalled the relay. Ran like a dream. Shut it off and tried starting it again: started right up. So at this point I have NO clue why the relay is stopping it from starting, and since there's no pattern to it I'm lost. Main point is the truck is running again, the other truck is turbo now, my dads nova is tuned with a fresh paint job, and the acura is still just and acura lol. More updates to come, hopefully some car shows or something with it, right now I'm too scared to drive it cuz I can never tell when it won't start.

[popo8]

Maybe the relay is just takin a dump...do ubhave another u can swap out?


Different topic...one week till the shootout...u still think u will make it?

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Ya I've got a spare. I was working on it and accidentally locked my keys in it and had to drive to my parents for my extra key, otherwise I woulda kept goin on it lol.
Doubtful ill be at the shootout. I was looking forward to it but towards mid July my wife's car got damaged from a car rim laying in the road, had to spend the shootout budget to pay the deductible. Next year I won't have a wedding, house, and car to eat up my savings tho lol so I'm already saving for it. To add to it I had this weekend off from work to go and realized I was a week off schedule.
On a positive note my wife got hired full time at work and now has vacation time so if we do make it next year I can show up earlier than Friday night!
So kinda bummed about not getting there this year, but if I would have this year would probably have been the best year ever for me lol, gotta leave something to look forward to I guess.
Next year I'm planning to have the truck there full force under its own power, if not I might just show up in my little acura n show y'all what a real race car is like lmao!

[popo8]

I understand...injust hope we have a shootout next year...so many people not coming...

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Your making me feel guilty now.... not to mention a little sad to think there may not be one.... Ill still set my goal for it regardless. Maybe this is just a bad year for our engine family lol

[popo8]

Your making me feel guilty now....l

Lol

. Then its working.

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Lol ya its working, but theres no chance ill be there this year. I wouldnt wanna create Cinderella story: Motor found in the junkyard, installed in the early months of the years, battled to overcome all kinds of issues and setbacks to show up and dominate the competition in every event possible, winning the hearts of millions and becoming a celibrity overnite who gets mobbed by magazine and television crews constantly...... and no I havent ever thought about this being a reality these past few months lol..... would be cool tho. Kinda like Real Steel....

For now ill just raise a toast to all those lucky enough to go and pray on sundays for the next year for a second chance to make my grand appearance. Maybe by then itll be repainted, reinforced, and rehabilitated from its problems lol.

I did get an idea and it may be more of a mental thing than actually helpful but i started working on my tune since its running. I have lean/ rich points and alot of hesitation when revving it. I was trying to smooth out my tables on Tunercats and found myself getting frustrated trying to get it smooth. Then the idea hit me to use my HP Tuners to do it. So i copy/ paste all the tables to one in HP Tuners, used the smoothing option and did a few adjustments, then copy/pasted it back to Tunercats. Like i said may be more mental than helpful but i feel better knowing it was computer calibrated than done by myself for the main points. Plus i swapped relays so now im just waiting til tomorrow morning to see if it will start first try or if i have to pull the relay again.

[popo8]

Well maybe next year gmhtp will be checking out ur ride...

How far are u fro. BEECHBEND raceway.

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[SMok3 Em A11]

Just read thru this entire thread and let me say it took a while. Very detailed. I love the truck and the story being the ltx. Out of all the options you picked it at random and it turned out to be an awesome build. Hope you can work out the last few gremlins and get her up and running without having to worry.

[Ghettogmc23]

Beechbend? If that's the one for the shootout I'm thinking its like 200-250 miles for me. It could probably make it if I was a gambling man but I like to stay on the safe side cuz I tend to have bad luck lol. My sister in laws dad has a car trailer that we might just haul it down on next year that way I could race it. This year I think I woulda been scared to race. LTX + posi 3.73 + C5 rims on drag radials + 210k transmission with NO mods = no drive home lol. The transmission is slipping a bit now just from its age but as long as I'm gentle it does good.
Next year I may have it back to all wheel drive and the good part is I already have drag radials front and back to match lol. Just need a new front diff with 3.73 gears n to modify the drivers side exhaust to clear the propshaft. Oil pan, transfer case, everything else is ready to go for the setup.
Thanks Smok3 em. This trucks been a long painful build. Being used a a beater/ mud truck before I got it didn't help at all either lol. Hopefully with this relay issue ill be good to go finally. My dad and brother both installed new motors into their projects same time as me and I'm the only one who had any issues at all, but I guess that's the price of updating to fuel injection compared to a carb setup. Just adds to the frustration when something doesn't go right though.
my brother gave me some advice on my relay though. I'm gonna do a bit of rewiring because he feels that having the power for the ltcc and fuel pump relay coming from the same source may be causing a voltage issue, which could explain the loss of spark on initial start up but not when starting after that. So the relay will now have its own dedicated power and ground wire rather than splicing off of one of the current power wires from the battery. Hope it fixes it. I'm sure it's due for a trip to the gas station lol.

[popo8]

Yes...beechbend is the shootout. I was gonna suggest coming and hangin out.

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

It's tempting.... I would if I could swing it right now but I'd be in trouble for it lol. I've never been to anything like this and I'm dying to go but I'm gonna play it safe this year and just wait for the next one. That way I know my truck is tuned good enough, ill have a good plan for the week before, and most important of all ill have the cash to cover everything I know ill need and some extra for the unexpected lol

[popo8]

It's tempting.... I would if I could swing it right now but I'd be in trouble for it lol. I've never been to anything like this and I'm dying to go but I'm gonna play it safe this year and just wait for the next one. That way I know my truck is tuned good enough, ill have a good plan for the week before, and most important of all ill have the cash to cover everything I know ill need and some extra for the unexpected lol

Understandable...

Find our ustream thread and join up to watch our live feeds

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Ill have to do that. Hope to see some good racing. I checked out the pics from 2012 when I first joined up and was definitely impressed with some of the cars.
update on the truck. I swapped relays n it didn't help, but I've noticed if I leave the battery connected it doesn't seem to be as hard to get started. Maybe it's not a voltage issue but just a problem with the memory being reset? I was always unhooking the battery cuz I thought I had a parasitic drain (turned out to just be a bad alternator) but kept doing it since as a habit so maybe I was causing my own problem all along lol.

[Ghettogmc23]

Installed my door handle escutcheons today. Front set were available on the GMC Typhoon. A set for the rear doors were never available withing the USA, only sold on international models. That was an interesting search lol.


Just thought I'd throw in some pics if what I've been up to the past few months.
syclone/ typhoon turbo setup on my 97 jimmy. T04B Garrett turbo.


Helped my dad paint his nova. First time I've ever seen it not in primer lol.

[popo8]

.... I was causing my own problem all along lol.

Lol.

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[popo8]

Installed my door handle escutcheons today. Front set were available on the GMC Typhoon. A set for the rear doors were never available withing the USA, only sold on international models. That was an interesting search lol.


Just thought I'd throw in some pics if what I've been up to the past few months.
syclone/ typhoon turbo setup on my 97 jimmy. T04B Garrett turbo.


Helped my dad paint his nova. First time I've ever seen it not in primer lol.

Love the sy/ty ppwerplant. Where did u find one of those?

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Thanks. I didn't get the whole setup tho. Just the exhaust manifolds with crossover and the downpipe. Cut the flange off the downpipe and welded on the one for the turbo, then the rest of it was just a bolt on install with most of my supercharger setup being reused on the cold side piping. Intakes a marine setup off a boat for real fuel injectors lol. On a decent take off it spools up around 3,300rpms so I'm pretty happy. Using spark maps from the supercharger tune but it seems to want more fuel than it did before. I like it tho. I wanted to turbo the LTX but was persuaded not to so when it wouldn't start I decided it was time to do the syty install lol

[Ghettogmc23]

Well I ran my new power wire for the fuel pump relay and now all my starting issues are fixed. Pump even sounds stronger. Everything just seems to be syncing up on this build all at once. Beating out the gremlins one at a time and almost got it where I was hoping to be back in march lol.
Current issues are its idles lean at about 16:1 but once I hit the gas it goes to 11:1 almost instantly so once that's fixed I think ill be good to go. This weekend will be a few small test drives/ data logging and the rest of the time ill be watching the shootout footage. Still kicking myself for not going but the closer it got the more I realized I was way unprepared lol. To those that are going: I wish everyone luck!

[popo8]

Lean idle keep# the plugs clean...(imo)

I idle 16/17 sometimes it bounces off ----

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

That's true.... guess it won't hurt at idle lol. Only problem is it shakes real bad when it does it, that's what bothers me most. I also found that without my maf hooked up my stumble goes away. I think I need to just retune my VE and get my o2s centered.


Btw I signed up on Ustream. All ready for the shootout!

[popo8]

That's true.... guess it won't hurt at idle lol. Only problem is it shakes real bad when it does it, that's what bothers me most. I also found that without my maf hooked up my stumble goes away. I think I need to just retune my VE and get my o2s centered.


Btw I signed up on Ustream. All ready for the shootout!

Cool.... 2moro at the car show...i will attempt some TEST u streams...so keep ur eye out.

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Ill be tuning my pcm so while it loads ill be checking for it

[Ghettogmc23]

Ok so after messing with the tune for a while I had absolutely no luck with it. Ran fine til it hit closed loop and the BLMS plummeted to 96 and it stalled out. Start back up at 128 and they would do it all over again til it stalled. So I pulled a tune from the LTX database to try and see if it was a tuning issue. Loaded the new tune and it was fine. BLMs stayed 127-130 but the mV on both o2s read .0xx instead of .xxx figured I'd give it a shot so took it down the road and it ran a bit lean until about 10mph then I noticed the o2 kicked back to regular range (.xxx) and it was still fine.... until I realized my cooling fan wasn't kicking in (tuning issue). So I cranked it off into the bank parking lot and headed it home.
Love hearing it hit the road again after so many stupid little issues. Plus having to go trough the lane at the bank while some old lady was waiting in the lane next to me was priceless: exhaust thundering off the brick building, I'm watching to make sure I don't hit anything and I glance over just to see her look as if she was having a heart attack! Lol love this truck!

[popo8]

Lol... Thats funny man.

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

So I did something today I had mixed feelings about, and I know Popo isn't a big fan of lol. With my current tune leaving me a bit leery and with the starting issues I decided that a tow hook would be a good idea because to tow it means risking damage to my fiberglass air dam and since the place I got t no longer carries it I can't afford to break it towing the truck if it should leave me stranded. Problem is the factory tow hooks were located on the frame which isn't visible behind the air dam. So my only option was to make one or buy one. So for now this is what I have. Not a big fan of the color, so it'll either get blasted and cleared as bare aluminum or will get blasted and painted black to blend in a bit. I know it looks ricerriffic but its more function than fame believe me on that lol!
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[popo8]

Lol... I have no prob w a tow hook.

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Ill have to look it up but I remember you sayin something bout kids driving imports with tow hooks lol

[popo8]

Ill have to look it up but I remember you sayin something bout kids driving imports with tow hooks lol

Lol... That does sound like me. Haha

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Its fine if the reason is a dd...or if thats someones passion... But i cant stand fart cans...or stupid tow hooks...or boost guages hooked up that only read vac....cause there is no boost!.
@chile has a 6spd caprice on here.


We also have a twin turbo b body here as well...so all the things u like about the mazda... Ehhhh. We can donit too...and the note from the tail pipe is way better. Lol


Co-Owner/Admin @ LTXtech.com

i knew I read it cuz it was right after I got my integra... what a coincidence lmao!

[popo8]

i knew I read it cuz it was right after I got my integra... what a coincidence lmao!

I def have a vague recollection.

Its ok... I approve it on the ltx becausr RACE TRUCK!

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Lol I had only one other option... except on the front
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[popo8]

Hahahahahahah

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

One good thing was I pulled the air dam off while doing this and while taking a break I looked to see how much of a clearance issue the exhaust would be for the front propshaft and it looks like it won't even be close. So all I gotta do is get my new front diff and bolt in the new transfer case, bolt up some complete cv shafts, and run my oil filter relocation again. AWD LTX will definitely be fun at the track. Won't even have to heat the tires up.

[Ghettogmc23]

Back seat hasn't been bolted in since I swapped in the blue carpet so I put that in the basement. Figure I won't need it until we decide to have kids. You know what that means......

[popo8]

Lol

MEMBER @ LTXtech.com

[Ghettogmc23]

Finally made a video. It still has a stumble on the gas which I think ive fixed by readjusting the idle screw and the TPS. Ive also retuned the pcm for a lower idle since adjusting the screw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwimSmK-goM