New winter beater

[94SilverSSEi]

So, kinda got some bad news back from Blackstone labs.

It has high levels of potassium and sodium in the oil. I.E. coolant. Even though it doesn't show up on the dipstick and I haven't noted any coolant loss. Otherwise wear is low.

My very limited experience with GM small block V8's is that it's probably the LIM. That would be the cheapest and easiest - BC

Yup. Just had to do the intake on my tahoe. Not very fun but not as bad as other vehicles.


BTW, those tail lights look great.

[CMNTMXR57]

When LIM's go though, they go.

I have nothing in terms of coolant loss or visible signs in the oil. It was only through chemical analysis that this came about.

Remember, I've worked on 100's of L31's in service over the years...

[sandrock]

You could always start now and build up a new Vortec. Once the SSEi is done that's what I'm going to start to do. Only I'll be doing away with the spider injection and putting on a TPI base meant for Vortec heads. Since I'd never take the engine past 6k the TPI manifold would be the cheapest most ideal way to go.

[CMNTMXR57]

I'm gonna monitor it for awhile. Oil is clean as all can be, same as the coolant. So it's such a small amount, that it's only detectable by chemical analysis. But it isn't going to get any better, sadly, so...

[CMNTMXR57]

So I found a Volant CAI on the cheap, bought it, and installed it. Now, I've had several other Volant's on other GM trucks and they were top notch stuff. The reason I like them is because of the sealed box.

Anyway, put this on Saturday and it is the worst designed, worst fitting piece of crap I have ever put on. The complicated Spectre CAI on my Caddy fit easier and better. The design of the tube and how it mounts to the TB is stupid, it's angled too far away from the harness for the MAF and IAT (thankfully I had a MAF extender plug laying around), the spacer tube that runs from the MAF into the airbox is too long, and the location for the IAT sensor (because it is too long), is inside the box (Not that that is a bad thing, but now I have to get the wiring in there). Oh, and the hood makes nice contact with the box upon closing...

So I did some re-fitting last night and got it a little better. I still want to cut down the spacer tube and mount the box better (so it doesn't move and wobble), which will also hopefully pull ot down in front enough to avoid hood contact.

On a positive note though, the old school SBC sounds awesome with it...

[SSEiMan01]

On a positive note though, the old school SBC sounds awesome with it...

Now you just need exhaust!

[CMNTMXR57]

I'd love to, but she (the Wife unit), has emphatically argued against it as this is a vehicle we plan to take on family trips and she doesn't want to listen to the drone of an "annoying exhaust" (to her), for thousands of miles.

Even having to replace the OEM unit on her van, the replacement is a tad louder (it is a walker OEM replacement), than stock and she's fretting over that. She just doesn't like noise. Remember to her a vehicle is nothing more than another appliance to get from point a to point b.

I can kinda see her point though. I actually do enjoy the peace and quiet when driving the 'Burb after driving the Caddy. I drove the Caddy yesterday and have the 'Burb today because of the rain and it is a nice change of pace to not have excessive resonance inside the vehicle...

[CMNTMXR57]

I purchased a new (well used), "Accessory" for the truck yesterday...



Clean, rust free Moldboard


The sexy backside, 7 rib and 4 trip spring protection, all wrapped up in an UltraMount setup that's so easy, even the Wife can hook it up


8ft Pro Plow


I went a little bigger than the truck is really meant for, but I'll just crank up the torsion bars to compensate. I wanted UltraMount, I wanted chain lift, and the price was right.

[CMNTMXR57]

Mounts on, Plow On, bring on winter...

[SSEiMan01]

I had to.

I'm not as excited as you for winter.

[CMNTMXR57]

Normally I wouldn't be, but I gaurantee you now that we will get NOTHING!

You'll thank me later.

[SSEiMan01]

Lmao. This is true. And more correctly, the GXP will thank you! Lol

[nos4blood70]

So how much to plow my drive way? XD

[CMNTMXR57]

I don't go into Chicago. I might get taxed on the weight of the plow.