CK5
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Well it's time for a update. I'd just been driving it around enjoying it for what it is when the factory engine decided no mas runno. I had just went down the block to get gas when I started hearing something 
. Got home and the thing was full blown knocking, smoking and generally unhappy. Checked the oil and guess what? Looks like silver paint.
Time to put in this engine i have had in the shed since 2018. I had ran the casting numbers and it showed to be a gm crate engine with tpi heads. Was cleaning it up and found a mercury marine tag on, guess it's a boat engine instead.
Pulled the old engine and took the head off, destruction abounds
. Got home and the thing was full blown knocking, smoking and generally unhappy. Checked the oil and guess what? Looks like silver paint.Time to put in this engine i have had in the shed since 2018. I had ran the casting numbers and it showed to be a gm crate engine with tpi heads. Was cleaning it up and found a mercury marine tag on, guess it's a boat engine instead.
Pulled the old engine and took the head off, destruction abounds
The new(ish) engine cleaned up and ready to go in. Was super clean on the inside and had some nice parts like a double roller timing chain and ARP hardware. Made a tbi lifting plate so the engine would clear the radiator support going back in.
Also threw in a B&m torque master converter since I was right there
Got er back in and fired with open headers
.
I went with the Hedman 69230 headers based on the recommendations from here, I am happy to report they fit perfectly.
Also threw in a B&m torque master converter since I was right there
Got er back in and fired with open headers
.I went with the Hedman 69230 headers based on the recommendations from here, I am happy to report they fit perfectly.
The final, and most aggravating part of all this was the exhaust. I wanted to build a 2.5" true dual exhaust and when I was looking at tubing kits from Summit stainless was cheaper, so stainless it is. I had originally planned to run the exhaust down both sides of the transmission and bring it back together behind the tcase. There just isn't much room on the passenger side so I ended up going under the transmission and running both pipes down the drivers side. It runs into a dual in dual out muffler and exits behind the rear tire. So far no leaks and it sounds mean
It does have more clearance than it looks like in the pictures and the whole thing will drop out for service once the transmission cross member is removed.
Only thing left now is a new chip and heated o2 sensor to hopefully take advantage of all this newfound airflow.
It does have more clearance than it looks like in the pictures and the whole thing will drop out for service once the transmission cross member is removed.
Only thing left now is a new chip and heated o2 sensor to hopefully take advantage of all this newfound airflow.
Installed the headed o2 sensor today since I was home recovering from Gonoherpasyphilaids or whatever this respiratory crap is thats going around. Used the Michigan Motorsports harness and a Ac Delco 3 wire sensor. The harness is nice, plugs into the factory o2 signal wire and the other 2 wires are long enough that I ran the ground up to the front of the intake and the hot reached inside the cab. Tapped key on power from the fuse block and fused it with a 4 amp fuse-right or wrong-its what i had.
Fired it up and it only took about 90 seconds from dead cold to go into closed loop. Fueling corrections indicate it's pretty lean so hopefully the 18 psi spring and chip can correct that.
Fired it up and it only took about 90 seconds from dead cold to go into closed loop. Fueling corrections indicate it's pretty lean so hopefully the 18 psi spring and chip can correct that.
Had little bit of time after work so I installed a transmission temperature gauge. I put the probe in the pressure test port, is it the best? Probably not... Is it convenient and good enough? Absolutely. It's good peace of mind to have something to reference.
Anyway, the factory WOT shift points on this th400 where 4000 rpm, good enough for the factory engine that was floating the valves at 3900. That will never do on this engine so I got a b&m shift calibration kit from Summit and messed with the governor. Replaced both weights, with the #2 and #3 from the kit and replaced one of the springs, a stiff white one with the green from the kit.
Quick test drive, went a little to far, wot shift happened at 5900
Little much for tbi, my target was 5kish.
Back to the drawing board on that, may try again tomorrow
Anyway, the factory WOT shift points on this th400 where 4000 rpm, good enough for the factory engine that was floating the valves at 3900. That will never do on this engine so I got a b&m shift calibration kit from Summit and messed with the governor. Replaced both weights, with the #2 and #3 from the kit and replaced one of the springs, a stiff white one with the green from the kit.
Quick test drive, went a little to far, wot shift happened at 5900
Little much for tbi, my target was 5kish.
Back to the drawing board on that, may try again tomorrow
Did get the transmission shifting right on the money at 5k. Did a little creature comfort upgrade today with a 90s steering wheel. Nice little improvement 
Been driving it for the last couple weeks just enjoying the Square Life and the alternator decided it was only going to alternate part time. While I understand the sentiment that is not happening on my watch. Enter a shiny new 200 amp alternator from Db electrical. It wasn't much more than the parts store reman that was already on it so f it, gonna try it.
Made a little cable to go directly to the drivers side battery while I was at it.
Happiness starts at 14.4 volts. Vast improvement over the weak sauce 12.8 the old one was making.
Made a little cable to go directly to the drivers side battery while I was at it.
Happiness starts at 14.4 volts. Vast improvement over the weak sauce 12.8 the old one was making.
Finally got a chance to install some of the parts I got from the Offroad Design 4th of July sale. Hd 1.25" tie rod with their all metal TREs. Painted it chevy orange just as God intended. Got a Rough County v3 steering stabilizer and a Amazon special tie rod clamp to mount it.
Quick tape measure alignment and it drives great.
A couple of weeks ago the exhaust exiting out of only one side was starting to annoy me. It was also just too loud(I know,I know) so a little redesign and some short stainless resonators and it is much improved.
Quick tape measure alignment and it drives great.
A couple of weeks ago the exhaust exiting out of only one side was starting to annoy me. It was also just too loud(I know,I know) so a little redesign and some short stainless resonators and it is much improved.
