Just Fishing's 09 Tahoe Build thread

[Just Fishing]

Never did much data logging, but i had no problem with regular with the 5.3.
I also never got a chance to haul the boat up the canyon...

 

[Just Fishing]

and i have two gallons of Lucas SAE 30 engine break-in oil on order.
overkill, but it cost less than the VR1 that i was planning to use.

Came up when i noticed that summits and amazon's price doubled for the VR1 stuff over the last few days.
found i could get the Lucas stuff for reasonable amount.

 

[iamdub]

I got my pistons!
did a quick mock up with one of them, perfect fit on the rod bushings (phew)

So looking at it, with the piston at TDC.
the top of the crown is roughly .008 from the top of the deck.

My gasket shows ".048" compressed thickness.

so my Quench will be pretty freaking loose.


So i can either try and find a different supplier of headgasket to meet my quench needs.
Or have the machine shop deck the the block to match up with the head gaskets available...
looking around, i should be targeting something like .030 - .040 quench
Does that sound right?

I've always known factory gaskets to compress to .051"-.052".

Since it's a new build (fresh bearings, etc.), all iron, and you're not looking to spin it beyond 6K, I'd aim for .035" quench. I went with .037" on mine due to 200K miles, original bearings, etc. I also measured all of the pistons to find the height of each individually. IIRC, mine were all .010"-.011" out the hole. I used an old gasket and clay to measure the PTV clearance, subtracting for the planned thinner Cometics.

 

[iamdub]

Hmm. Someone smarter than me will have to chime in but I' pretty sure you'll be in premium fuel range. IIRC you can mill down 317 and make it the same as a 243/799

317 flows like a 243/799. But, due to their larger chamber, if you milled them enough to reach 243/799 volume, you'd have dangerously close PTV. You also have to base everything off of measured volume since GM heads are almost always larger than advertised.

 

[pwtr02ss]

317 flows like a 243/799. But, due to their larger chamber, if you milled them enough to reach 243/799 volume, you'd have dangerously close PTV. You also have to base everything off of measured volume since GM heads are almost always larger than advertised.

The smarter person chimed in

 

[iamdub]

The smarter person chimed in

I believe "knowledgeable in obscurities" is much more befitting than "smarter".

 

[Just Fishing]

Welp, i made a decision on the torque converter.

I'm not sure if I'm going to regret it.
But i decided i wanted gas mileage, and to keep some of the heat down.
Something i fight with the vette and its high stall.

High altitude, and the summer heat here...

So i went with the Circle D low stall with double clutch disks.

Should let me enable some of the lower speed lockups...

I wish circle d had a more midrange stall.
Say 2200 - 2400.

As it sits, i ordered the 2000 rpm stall....

I think the factory stall was something like 1600 when i googled the pn on my converter the other day.


So, next order of business.
Replace the front pump seal with the converter?

I have never replaced one with the pump still installed...

 

[pwtr02ss]

Pump seal is up to you. You should be able to change it out though. If its still pliable and no visible damage, not sure I'd mess with it.

 

[Just Fishing]

I've always known factory gaskets to compress to .051"-.052".

Since it's a new build (fresh bearings, etc.), all iron, and you're not looking to spin it beyond 6K, I'd aim for .035" quench. I went with .037" on mine due to 200K miles, original bearings, etc. I also measured all of the pistons to find the height of each individually. IIRC, mine were all .010"-.011" out the hole. I used an old gasket and clay to measure the PTV clearance, subtracting for the planned thinner Cometics.

I kept my old head gaskets just for this.

Also might be a good thing that the top of the piston is lower than the top of the block.

Machine shop told me to mock up one piston and check the clearance.
I'm also thinking i should begin final assembly during that time.

Camshaft, crank, and atleast one piston.

One important thing will be piston to valve clearance... lol
I doubt I'll have an issue, it's not like my Camshaft has all that much lift.


Reminds me, i need to order some of that plastic type modeling clay... lol

 

[Just Fishing]

Welp, i got my converter.
Circle D sure does well with the packaging!

UPS smashed the fk out of the box.
I already took out the t-shirt and the pen before this picture...



New converter bolts, locktite, and some shims included.
nice!

I ordered a new input shaft o-ring.
Once that arrives i'll yank the old converter and install the new one.



And I called the machine shop on Friday.
Been two weeks now, they have not yet gotten to my stuff yet.

He thinks maybe they can start on it today.

I'm not going to push them too hard yet, i would prefer it done right vs quickly...

It does bring up the issue, i still want them to do some work on my heads.
If I'm looking at another 3+ weeks, then i might be better off rocking the heads as they sit, and with the full 10.1:1 compression.