lololol, have another update

[Jrs3800]

Glad to see this still going... Just remember it takes a certain someone to build an engine just like it takes a certain someone to build a trans... I really wish you the best...

[Backhoe]

Keep at it. It is all about perspective. If this stuff was easy, then there would be no such thing as an unique car. You have the opportunity to build something special. There will be nothing on the road like it. Guaranteed! So keep at it. Your hard work will pay off, just keep a level head and persevere through the hiccups and frustration.

The greatest engineers and scientists of our time never felt success without an understanding of failure. That applies to everything we do in life.

This is my new personal mantra! Although my project is nothing like this one, there have been times where the doubts have entered into it, and there was no guarrantee that at the end of it that I would have what I set out for. I know of at least 1 other LSS owner who threw in the towel after being unable to unlock the PCM, and bought a Bonnie for easy modding.

Since then, I have managed to get the the PCM cracked for tuning, (it is an unsupported model year) and that is supremely satisfying, because when I'm done, I know I will have one of the very few modded LSS's in existence.

I'll bet many here are following your progress, including me, and I'm sure your efforts are a great inspiration for others.

[BonnieBoy08]

Well said!

[yourgrandma]

Droped the engineoff today. They should be digging I to it tomorrow. Hopefully it's something they did.

In the meantime I have a badass intercooler reservouir to mount up and I need to finish that plumbing. Also with the engine back out I can tidy up some wiring and such that I wasn't happy with the first time.

I'm thinking it might be worthwhile to have it run on an engine dyno before putting it in the car but I don't know what that would cost.

[deano55]

chassis dyno would be my choice to dialing it in

[yourgrandma]

Me too but I'm thinking more to avoid a repeat of the current situation. Also might be interesting to see what it makes at the crank. Plust it would get a proper break in without worrying about going to jail.

[deano55]

haha

[nubuilder]

lol at new thread title

[BonneMe]

lol at new thread title

Definitely.

[Jfridge92]

Hopefully they can track down what's up with it, and like you said hopefully it's something they did.

Not sure about engine dynos, but I know most automotive colleges tend to have dyno's for teaching purposes. It may be worth looking into to see if maybe one around you has an engine dyno they'd be willing to let you use.

[Zeik75]

The community college im at is the tech school side and we have all the automotive like ASEP and the engineering classes here. The ASEP School has a couple dynos that i know of and it is usually free for people to use since they teach students with it. You just have to schedual in advance and what not.

[00Beast]

Not sure what all it would take to get a 3800 to run on an engine dyno, though.

[yourgrandma]

Yeah, id have to cut mot of a harness out of a junkyard car I think. Surely not worth it, but an interesting thought. Id be able to determine exactly what my powertrain losses are as well as run some diagnostics that would be much harder in the car. Stuff like monitiring AFR of each cylinder.

[MattStrike]

You need a stand-alone pcm to run the engine. Probably need to pull from a '97-'99, as the VATS is easily defeatable, which might defeat the purpose of the tuning on the dyno. You would need to bring a 'turn-key' box that houses the pcm and any other functions you desire to test, including a switch to allow the pcm to think it's in D, and some basic LED/lights to indicate circuit functions, manifolds with a muffler, etc. The dyno might only have a low-pressure fuel supply, exhaust ventilation, and a cooling hookup.
All arechallenges that are simply overcome, but still takes time.

The problem with a school dyno is it's usually setup for a specific engine or lab experiment, and they might not want to change it. We had a N/A series 2 dyno setup where I went; it was a pretty elaborate setup without 'foresight' that it might have to be removed some day.

[yourgrandma]

Such a familiar sight.



I have the intercooler tank more ore less ready to be mounted. Pretty tricky really. Looks like the hoses should line up. The bottom bracket was a pain to bend without a vice that works. Just need a spacer, a hole in the iner fender and some hardware.

I'm hoping tomorrow I break my typical pattern and actually get something done. I need to finalize the plumbing for the most overthought intercooler in the history of bonnevilles, tidy up a lot of wiring, hopefully get good switched power to the wideband, order more parts and burn a bunch of propane.

[yourgrandma]

Yeah, Matt youre right, Im sure I "could" do it... No real need though. Seems like taking the motor out isnt that bad if youre motivated. Lets see what putting it back is like.

[yourgrandma]

Didn't do a whole heck of a lot this weekend. Got the bracketry made up for the reservoir, hit it with some wrinkle coat to match the blower and valve covers, cleaned the garage a bit and tonight I'm going to try to order up the last bits of plumbing stuff I can't get locally.

Hope to hear from the builders tomorrow but I'm sure I'll have to call them as usual. I'm planning to drop the engine back in Friday and maybe have it back running by the end of the weekend. That is if I get off my butt and rebuild the blower snout by then.

[yourgrandma]

Talked to the shop that has the engine. They said the balance shaft bearing was where I was loosing pressure so it's tapped and plugged like I wanted. Should be picking it up tommorrow.

Ordered mls head gaskets as well so I won't be able to install the engine til those get here.

[2003 SSEi]

*dang* i thought i would see this thing over the weekend at the Mega Meet

[yourgrandma]

Hah! That was sort of a goal of mine before the oil pressure problem.