99 Denali

[Snowbound]

Sad sight to see.

At least I got to keep my engine.

Dropped the old engine back in and he came and got it.

 

[jerryjoe28]

Sad sight to see.

View attachment 181643

View attachment 181644

At least I got to keep my engine.

View attachment 181645

Dropped the old engine back in and he came and got it.

View attachment 181646

well this is sad but at least u got to keep the engine

 

[Snowbound]

One thing happened while I was pulling engine. Not sure I shared this with you guys because I thought it was my doing with tuning and was desperately trying to fix it.

After PCM swap and base tune loaded, I was tuning without mass air flow sensor hooked up, its speed density tuning based off manifold absolute pressure sensor (MAP). It's so I could dial in my fueling. I did mention that I couldn't find the data I needed for injectors, I was told to tune around it. Basically what your doing is dialing in fuel based off air flow and forging the fuel scale to get the correct air fuel ratios.
Anyway, while I'm dialing things in by taking it for a ride while computer data logs everything thru the software, I kept getting a knock on cold starts. It sounded like the exhaust was bouncing against something like the frame rail or something solid. I checked it out and couldn't find any signs of anything hitting. So then I'm thinking it's gotta be spark knock but really violent spark knock. I tried taking fuel away on cold start, adding fuel, taking away timing, adding timing, nothing seemed to work. It would only knock for 3-4 seconds and then go away. I'm thinking I'm gonna pop a hole in my piston any day by the detonation. That was pretty much the whole reason why I said screw it and wanted to convert to an LS. So I sold intake and fuel system and was afraid to do any more damage to pistons, cylinders or heads.

I'm thinking the entire time while I'm pulling engine that I'm gonna have to tear the thing apart and see what damage was done. I'm under the truck and removed the starter, torque convertor inspection cover and the torque rods that run from bottom of bellhousing up to the plates that mount between the block and engine side upper clamshell mount. I noticed that the TC bolts weren't tight. They didn't back out, they were flush with flexplate but a film turn loose. All 3 of them. So I'm thinking no shit, this is my knocking noise. Nope. All bolts were not damaged in any way nor was the flexplate mounting holes oblinged whatsoever. There was traces of red thread locker still on the TC bolts. How they backed out is beyond me. So I continued to pull engine. Removed bellhousing bolts and supported the trans. Hooked up the engine hoist and knocked out the 2 bolts that hold each of the clamshell engine mounts together. I pumped hoist maybe 1-1/2 times and heard a loud metal hitting concrete noise. The plate that holds the torque rod on the drivers side that is sandwiched between the upper engine mount and block fell to the ground!! All 3 bolts came out of the block securing the mount to the block. The bolts were still trapped in there but came out when I lifted the upper mount off the lower. They too had traces of red lock tight on them. That was my noise. With the new cam when I would start truck cold would bang the block against the motor mount for a few seconds until the PCM would smooth out the idle the best it could. I would have never found that unless I brake torqued it with the hood up and seen engine flex. That's about the point where I was upset with myself for agreeing to sell the truck. At that point the intake was already gone and I wasn't gonna renig on my deal to sell the truck. I can't believe something that stupid had me stumped. Good thing I never got into WOT tuning because I could have really done some damage if that engine would have decided to roll over in its cradle. I taught myself something with that one.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Too bad the f body isn't a 3rd gen. I love those! I had 2 89 350 tpi's with the dual cats, 3:27 rear with Aussie rear, pbr rear calipers, etc, etc. Those were some badass cars back in the day. One of my birds was a bonafide DEA pursuit car, ordered by the GSA. I was able to get a copy of the order sheet from gm, right there in black and white it said DEA, and ordered by Government Services Administration in Oklahoma. You gotta do a fbird construction page now!

 

[bigfootchiro]

Just read through all 22 pages of this build thread, and OMG I'm envious! Wish you still had that Denali.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Just read through all 22 pages of this build thread, and OMG I'm envious! Wish you still had that Denali.

Def good stuff!

 

[Snowbound]

Little bit of an update to this build. Came across a few pictures the guy that bought it from me sent.
The day it came off the trailer at his house.

Few weeks later he sent me a message saying the engine was in. Then a month after that he said that engine he put in was junk so he had to swap that out at the junk yard for another one but it’s finally running. I really wish i would have just kept it like I had it. Especially since that engine is still just sitting under my bench in an engine bag.


Few months later I get a message, he hit a deer with it and screwed up the front end! Oh man, why did he have to tell me that!!

Did a quick rig job and put it back together so he could be driving again.

Then it finally happened! The weak 10bolt gave up the ghost. I knew it would. I did more than a few good launches with it and that motor was no slouch. Lol. That was why I was planning on the 4L80e/14 bolt swap. He swapped out the entire axle because the ring and pinion broke. That would be my fault. Sorry Ron!

Then he hit another deer, but didn’t send pics. He put an Escalade front end on it after that.
When I bought the 02 Esky for Jack I posted it on Facebook saying since I missed my Denali so much I bought another one just like it. He commented and said I could take the Denali back for $1000. He put 2 new doors on it, new tires but the same because he said they were great tires. I never had them long enough to know. New fuel lines, brake lines, shocks and some interior stuff like speakers and what not. I’ll see if I can find the comment.

And of course look what my wife has to comment! Haha. She told me if I bought that back she was leaving. Lol. Empty threats!

But that’s all. Just figured I’d give an update on where she’s at now. Still running but not as good as she was, that’s for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tonyrodz]

Little bit of an update to this build. Came across a few pictures the guy that bought it from me sent.
The day it came off the trailer at his house.

Few weeks later he sent me a message saying the engine was in. Then a month after that he said that engine he put in was junk so he had to swap that out at the junk yard for another one but it’s finally running. I really wish i would have just kept it like I had it. Especially since that engine is still just sitting under my bench in an engine bag.


Few months later I get a message, he hit a deer with it and screwed up the front end! Oh man, why did he have to tell me that!!

Did a quick rig job and put it back together so he could be driving again.

Then it finally happened! The weak 10bolt gave up the ghost. I knew it would. I did more than a few good launches with it and that motor was no slouch. Lol. That was why I was planning on the 4L80e/14 bolt swap. He swapped out the entire axle because the ring and pinion broke. That would be my fault. Sorry Ron!

Then he hit another deer, but didn’t send pics. He put an Escalade front end on it after that.
When I bought the 02 Esky for Jack I posted it on Facebook saying since I missed my Denali so much I bought another one just like it. He commented and said I could take the Denali back for $1000. He put 2 new doors on it, new tires but the same because he said they were great tires. I never had them long enough to know. New fuel lines, brake lines, shocks and some interior stuff like speakers and what not. I’ll see if I can find the comment.

And of course look what my wife has to comment! Haha. She told me if I bought that back she was leaving. Lol. Empty threats!

But that’s all. Just figured I’d give an update on where she’s at now. Still running but not as good as she was, that’s for sure.


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Damn! It sux when your baby goes to a new home, and then you see all the bruises it gets. Lol, your wife is pretty funny too. Doesn't she already know that she married a gearhead?!
I've always liked that body style Escalades. They just look really good to me. So.....$1000 is a steal, plus you'll get extra parts lol. Whatcha gonna do? I know what I'd do.....lol. HINT, HINT

 

[Snowbound]

I can’t take it back now. If I was in a new place with some property, I would in a heart beat. My parents are dragging their ass getting their stuff together to get moved. I’m ready to say screw it and go elsewhere. I’m tempted with this one. My agent sent it to me but it would be an hour and a half to work one way. But it would be worth it. 4 bedrooms 4 bath and 8 car garages on 2.5 acres and taxes are only $4800!! I keep trying to talk myself into it.

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[Tonyrodz]

I can’t take it back now. If I was in a new place with some property, I would in a heart beat. My parents are dragging their ass getting their stuff together to get moved. I’m ready to say screw it and go elsewhere. I’m tempted with this one. My agent sent it to me but it would be an hour and a half to work one way. But it would be worth it. 4 bedrooms 4 bath and 8 car garages on 2.5 acres and taxes are only $4800!! I keep trying to talk myself into it.

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Freakin gorgeous!! I lived in the Poconos and worked in NJ. 100 miles 1 way, and 1 1/2 hr to work. Something to think about tho. Love that house with property--And the garage? FUHGETABOUTIT!