Just Fishing's 09 Tahoe Build thread

[pwtr02ss]

 

[Just Fishing]

I'm finding it easier to process those videos by going to the middle to see the point and the interesting bits, then going back to the beginning to cover how to set it up.



Watching from start to finish = an "ugg" feeling.

So far per my wideband, i'm not needing much if anything.
But i'm sure i'll need fueling when i start playing with that 6.2 timing that has me dreaming.



I also seem to be getting a bit of false knock, really stood out as i went over one of those cattle grates in the road.


I'm betting it's the pushrods, once i get that quieted down i think it will be better.

I also ordered a spacer.
but since free shipping over $100, i went with the 3/4in spacer. same price as the 1/2in after shipping.

that should give my pcv some space to not suck up oil!

Spacer: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/icb-551641-7

 

[Just Fishing]

Received the Correct spacers yesterday.
Original order, i received what appear to be bbc spacers in a bag that said ls spacers.
Appeared to be an ICT billet side mistake.

Summit racing customer service had them verify they were actually LS spacers this time, and they sent them out with expedited shipping.

This time i received a package that appeared to have been on the shelf for a few years, not nearly as shiny and clean as the bbc spacers i received.
but hey, they are the correct ones this time!!

My last experience with the valve cover gaskets, they expand after a one time use.
So this time i decided to do some light bonding of the seal into the groove.

I used some black rtv for this task.



Here is the valve cover side of the spacer for reference.
clear notch for the valve cover alignment tab



I wish it had the tab like the valve cover on the head side of the spacer...

Per the instructions, I'm to oil the seal once installed.
Last time i put these on dry...


Hopefully this also fixes the slow dripping leak that i'm getting from the passenger side.

 

[Just Fishing]

And here is my updated valve cover, cleaned up and ready to install.

(ETA: ^ this is the wrong picture, i took another one where i removed that overspray... oh well )



Painted to match the other valve cover, and ready to install!



for the paint, i used some etching primer as a base, then while still sorta wet i coated that with some engine primer.
My hope is to raise the temp rating of the etching primer just a tad...
(Etching primer said something like up to 200f)

I got some light chipping around the rubber grommets, but i also didn't remove them to paint this time around.

the red color was some paint i had laying around originally, red caliper paint.
Then coated with some engine clear coat

I got a slight run in the clear, but i think i did a better job overall when compared to my last attempt.

The valve cover casting was a little rougher at both ends.
Like a clear line of rough casting like 3 to 4in towards the middle.
then the middle of the cover was smooth.

When painting, i did my best to smooth that out so it would not be so obvious.
I ended up using the clearcoat to really smooth that out.

Anyways, it should be good enough.
Once the coil packs are installed, you really only see a mild hint of red anyways.

The valve covers also came with new bolts installed.
to remove them with out damaging the rubber grommets.
I used some oil and then used the bolt to gently work the seal out of the valve cover.
Sorta like fitting a tire to a rim is the best way to describe it.

Last time i tried this with out lube, i ended up damaging the grommets.

 

[Tonyrodz]

And here is my updated valve cover, cleaned up and ready to install.
View attachment 347645
(ETA: ^ this is the wrong picture, i took another one where i removed that overspray... oh well )



Painted to match the other valve cover, and ready to install!
View attachment 347647


for the paint, i used some etching primer as a base, then while still sorta wet i coated that with some engine primer.
My hope is to raise the temp rating of the etching primer just a tad...
(Etching primer said something like up to 200f)

I got some light chipping around the rubber grommets, but i also didn't remove them to paint this time around.

the red color was some paint i had laying around originally, red caliper paint.
Then coated with some engine clear coat

I got a slight run in the clear, but i think i did a better job overall when compared to my last attempt.

The valve cover casting was a little rougher at both ends.
Like a clear line of rough casting like 3 to 4in towards the middle.
then the middle of the cover was smooth.

When painting, i did my best to smooth that out so it would not be so obvious.
I ended up using the clearcoat to really smooth that out.

Anyways, it should be good enough.
Once the coil packs are installed, you really only see a mild hint of red anyways.

The valve covers also came with new bolts installed.
to remove them with out damaging the rubber grommets.
I used some oil and then used the bolt to gently work the seal out of the valve cover.
Sorta like fitting a tire to a rim is the best way to describe it.

Last time i tried this with out lube, i ended up damaging the grommets.

I used some red engine high heat paint on my calipers. I wish they would've stayed red lol. Did it maybe 4 years ago. Now they're red-ish.

 

[Just Fishing]

I used some red engine high heat paint on my calipers. I wish they would've stayed red lol. Did it maybe 4 years ago. Now they're red-ish.View attachment 347652View attachment 347653View attachment 347654View attachment 347655

I used red caliper paint on the vettes calipers, still nice and bright!
But that thing never gets driven in actual "bad" weather, so I'm sure it has something to do with it.

I have seen some caliper clearcoat, i have been tempted to give them an extra coat, but i also have some exposed aluminum.
Brakes on my C4 vette are a mix of C5 and C6 brakes, after painting them i used a fine file to remove the red paint as to expose the "Corvette" logo.


Old picture, this was when i first did the conversion.
I'm sure they are a slightly different shade of red now.

 

[Rocket Man]

This stuff right here is the bomb for things like valve covers, brackets, etc that have irregular casting marks. The crinkles cover all that up and they come out perfect. Plus it’s high heat. No primer needed.

 

[Just Fishing]

Got one of the valve cover spacers installed.


the valve cover will center in the spacer, but the spacer has nothing to center it in the head.

I went with a thin coat of grease, FSM says to use engine oil on the cover seals.
(Used "Slide glide" aka areoshell)

the grease helped me slide the spacer and the cover around until i felt I had it centered.
Pretty much used the edges of the head to find the center, and the retaining bolts as a general reference of where it should be.


For the rockers and pushrods.
I found the valve had a nice clear mark from the roller that was inboard slightly.

If i'm thinking correctly, adding a longer pushrod should push that contact pattern out just slightly.

Now to the next cylinder head!

 

[iamdub]

Got one of the valve cover spacers installed.
View attachment 347696

the valve cover will center in the spacer, but the spacer has nothing to center it in the head.

I went with a thin coat of grease, FSM says to use engine oil on the cover seals.
(Used "Slide glide" aka areoshell)

the grease helped me slide the spacer and the cover around until i felt I had it centered.
Pretty much used the edges of the head to find the center, and the retaining bolts as a general reference of where it should be.


For the rockers and pushrods.
I found the valve had a nice clear mark from the roller that was inboard slightly.

If i'm thinking correctly, adding a longer pushrod should push that contact pattern out just slightly.

Now to the next cylinder head!

You're gonna have one bolt left over from this project.

 

[Rocket Man]

You're gonna have one short 10mm bolt left over from this project.

RR coil bracket f it