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'90 K5 - Project Betty - LS3 Swap for a DD/Offroad/Utility Build

Overview Gallery Discussion
I'll try to be as informative as I can, worse case scenario, I make a lot of posts bc I always need help.

I am doing things a bit different than most. I am going to remote mount the oil pressure gauge (worried about the heat and vibration), etc.
 
I am creating a custom dash, so I havent gotten that far, but shouldnt be a problem.

Those gauges are sick. If they made them in red, I would return mine now. Thanks for the link, I'll have to check that site out.
 
all it is a cover.... there's four screws, and you can swap covers. if you search the sight, it comes in blue and teal, but its the exact same guages just different covers. they sent me both for some reason. you could probably have a cover made for you in red pretty easy. i can post a picture of the cover if you'd like.
 
A pic would be nice, but no hurry. I have already opened the autometer gauges and probably cannot return them.

I actually bought blue digital gauges 2 years (was just one panel 14" x 6" or something), but decided to go with red since I had painted some of the underbody red. Never took them out of the box, had to sell them on Ebay for $150 loss ($100 of it was bc they sell them for $100 cheaper). Now I still want to do red, but my damn compushift screen is blue.
 
cliles said:
I am doing things a bit different than most. I am going to remote mount the oil pressure gauge (worried about the heat and vibration), etc.
Click to expand...

Well I guess I spoke too soon. The installation manual states multiple times that the ECM does not use the stock oil sensor. So I am going to pull it and mount my autometer one there for convenience.

It is not the easiest thing to get to, but should not require pulling the engine.
 
Stranger Baby

You ever stop a 615 hp LS3 build to do some favor for a baby you dont even know? Well shiat, guess I better get used to it.

Dresser topper so wifey can change the diapers (yes, I'll probably be elbow deep in the gumbo myself before its all said and done).

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A Beating

So tonight was a beating.

My tubing bender (that was suppose to arrive today) was apparently damaged sometime between going out for delivery and getting to my house. Not sure what UPS will do with it.

I did not have the right socket, could not get a crescent wrench, etc to remove the factory oil pressure sensor.

My water pump is for a corvette and does not have any decent flat spot to tap for the temperature sensor. Plus Its already installed. My recommendation would be to tap it before hand so you can thoroughly get all of the metal fragments out before start up.

A couple of other ****ty things as well. But not to complain, I just needed to spit the blood out before round two.
 
You would have to remove to water pump to tap it, if you can find a good spot to tap it. The spot doesn't have to be completely flat to work.
I had to purchase a tap set and drill set from Harbor Freight to get the ones I needed for that. You are welcome to barrow it if you need it.

There is a plug in the back of the passenger side head, that you can get an adapter for, to put your water temp sensor in. Just didn't read good thing about doing it there(interference with some exhaust, sticks out to far, leaking), was why I went the other route.
 
Water Pump Compare

So while I have the same flat spot as Teck, my throttle body is too low to mount it there. The other flat spot has belt interference. The only place I see to mount it would be at a 45 on the right or upside down on the left.

I am going to check out that passenger side spot. I was unaware of that.

Temperature Sensor Water Pump Compare.jpg
 
Oil Pressure Sensor

Well I thought I was on a roll after Ryoken's encouragement. I managed to get the stock oil pressure sensor our using a 1-1/16ths socket kinda angled, but the autometer adapter in, only to realize the pressure sender is too wide and interferes with the intake manifold. I guess I will have to get a 45 degree elbow or something.

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Looking at your pics is there enough room to the left of the upper hose connection
 
They swear that the passenger side port is money.

I called S&P to check on the headers (bc clearance would be the only issue). They have been waiting on tube for 3 weeks now (said it should have arrived yesterday). They are thinking it will probably be a couple of weeks before they can get mine out.
 
Pipe Bender

Got the bender in, the box was all beat to ****, and missing some items (UPS admits the items probably fell out bc the box had to be re-packaged). The owner shipped me replacements asap.

Putting it together was little bit more trying than I wanted. Took me almost a full day to do (once you allow time for painting, etc). I have to admit I made a couple of mistakes that cost me some extra time. I will have a more thorough review later.

Got my test bends to plug into Bend-Tech. This software is truly awesome. It is one thing to help you with the math, but to have the ordered (and pictured) bend list, plus videos is awesome.

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Parts Unpacked.jpg

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B Pillar Construction

Started work on the B Pillar. Got it pretty close the first time (it is actually more level than it looks in the pic, easily between the lines), which is awesome for me. Especially since I have never used a bender, seen a bender, dont know anybody that has a bender, etc. I guess that is a point in Bend-Tech's column.

All pics are cell-phone pics, the test fit pictured turned out kinda crappy, will have to get another one, but it ultimately is within a 1/4-2/5th an inch from the cab and stock pillar in most areas.

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Got a 45 degree fitting for the oil pressure sensor ordered last week, should be here any day.
 
Cage to Frame Question

So, I was going to go from the bottom of the DIY4X plate to the frame using the DIY4X frame kit with poly bushing like this (except with the bushing turned at 45 to eliminate sheering potential).

Seems like Greg72 and a couple of guys got into a heated discussion over this, but I never came to a clear conclusion. Does anybody have a better idea?

Cage Frame Time In.jpg
 
DOM Questions

These sound like easy things, but I could use a little advice here as well about DOM tubing.

So the tubing is greasy as shat, what do you clean it with? I imagine it will have to be pretty clean before painting, right?

Marking the tubing is not that easy. I have been using chalk, but the marks become very faint as they are pulled through the die (the 2nd, 3rd, 4th bends). Something better to mark this with? I wanted to say I seen people use a paint like marker on metal before.
 
lacquer thinner, brake cleaner, etc..


silver sharpie
 
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