Just Fishing's 09 Tahoe Build thread

[Just Fishing]

Oh and my lifter trays that i modded look great still.
I have new ones on hand since i'm dumping that high volume oil pump.

 

[Just Fishing]

Making a slight edit to my transmission cooler line filter.

Derale Cooling Products 25729 Derale Remote Filter Mounts | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Derale Remote Filter Mounts with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Oil Filter Mounts at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

Since I was looking to add a power steering filter, I started looking at options.
It seems Derale has their own line that looks nearly identical to the true cooler ones.
This one uses more common filters, and it says it has 1/2in npt ports vs the 1/4 npt ports of the true cool one.

Big selling point is a filter like this bad boy.

Wix Filters 51794 WIX Filters Oil Filters | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - WIX Filters Oil Filters with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Oil Filters at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

I don't know if it will even clearance.
So, I ordered it as a test.

From there I can use wix's little filter search tool to tailor the length to match my needs.

 

[Just Fishing]

Engine torn apart, cam bearings look good.

Cylinder walls show some light streaking.
I noticed the same thing on the pistons.

Looks like some of the thrust bearing probably got thrown up into the cylinders and did some light damage.

It's not bad, but the cross hatching from the factory hone job was also pretty light.
So, I'm thinking a ding le berry hone is in order.

Since I know the cylinder is round, and nothing funky with it requiring a line hone.
the ding le berry hone should do perfect since it won't change any of the shape of the cylinder from what i read.

And I'm thinking about tossing a new set of piston rings for good measure, but the question is if i should even bother...
It's another $70...

But I don't see any damage to the piston other than the skirt.
Making me think it didn't get past the rings.
But it might have damaged the lower part of the oil ring....

Thoughts?

Or am I just over thinking this again?

ETA: Ding "le" is blocked?
we can try "ball hone" maybe?

 

[Just Fishing]

Oh, and I got the new filter housing.

Much better!
I did some light flowing of the housing.
Lots of material that's not used.

Probably not an issue, but since I have the tools...
The new filter is amazing.

I'll test fit it later and get some pictures.


I also decided to get some black 90's for the -8 AN fittings.

The colorful ones look cool under the hood, but I don't want it to stand out in the grill view...


And i got one of the transmission cooler lines made.
Calling it v1.1 beta.

Always fun to attempt to copy an existing line.
Not perfect so I had to do some manual straighten of the tube and re-bending

Not great looking but it will flow.
Now I get to copy that run for the return.
and if I get it figured out, then I'll probably try one more for a cleaner bend of the original.

But before I go much further, I'm waiting for the engine to be installed.
I need to make sure the new run clearances everything before I commit another long run of tubing...

I also needed to buy a new tubing bender.

My summit racing branded 37 degree flaring tool luckily does 1/2in tube, but my $11 bending tool does not.

So i went on the search for something that would do 1/2in.


Lead me here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002P8UUD2?ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Compared to my old bender, this thing is amazing!

I made a mistake when I originally ordered it, and bought the other one with "roto lock indexing"
but when received, I noticed it only goes to 3/8in tube.


I had hoped to do a quick cleaning and inspection of the engine, and then a reassemble this weekend.
But I'm held up on a decision.


And I also noticed some signs of oil burning.
Build up on the plugs, pistons, and exhaust port.

So, I need to find something to clean up the carbon before I reinstall.
But won't damage the ceramic coating on the top of the pistons.

For the oil burning, I don't see any signs that it came from the streaking in the cylinders.
I believe it came from the original intake since i saw a nice oil film on the cylinder head intake ports.
And i don't see any signs that the oil came from the PCV + i have a catch can.

Meaning I'm feeling pretty sure that it's left over from that oil puddle mess that the intake was holding somewhere inside of it.
While I thought I got it all out, I also found some of my engine degreaser and water coming out of it when I laid it on its side...

So I'm thinking pretty seriously about a new intake to prevent this crap from causing any pinging...

So, I can either go with a factory new intake, or some aftermarket one.
Thoughts, suggestions, etc.?

 

[iamdub]

...Meaning I'm feeling pretty sure that it's left over from that oil puddle mess that the intake was holding somewhere inside of it.
While I thought I got it all out, I also found some of my engine degreaser and water coming out of it when I laid it on its side...

So I'm thinking pretty seriously about a new intake to prevent this crap from causing any pinging...

So, I can either go with a factory new intake, or some aftermarket one.
Thoughts, suggestions, etc.?

I sprayed Super Tech engine degreaser inside my intake- through the throttle body and into each port. I let it soak, flipped and rolled it around then used a baby bottle cleaning brush to scrub each port in its entirety. Flushed it out with a sprayer on the garden hose (again, through all ports) and repeated until I used the whole can of degreaser. Sprayed brake cleaner into each port, flipped and rolled it, hosed it, then shot air through it with my Dirty Harry blow gun in both directions. It was factory fresh after that.

Oh, I did this to it just as it came off the engine. Throttle body, injectors, fuel rails, sensors, hoses, etc. all in place.

 

[Just Fishing]

I sprayed Super Tech engine degreaser inside my intake- through the throttle body and into each port. I let it soak, flipped and rolled it around then used a baby bottle cleaning brush to scrub each port in its entirety. Flushed it out with a sprayer on the garden hose (again, through all ports) and repeated until I used the whole can of degreaser. Sprayed brake cleaner into each port, flipped and rolled it, hosed it, then shot air through it with my Dirty Harry blow gun in both directions. It was factory fresh after that.

Oh, I did this to it just as it came off the engine. Throttle body, injectors, fuel rails, sensors, hoses, etc. all in place.

Yeah, i went crazy with mine.
Did it twice.

Once with the AFM delete.
Added a catch can at that time.

Then with the new engine, more oil managed to come out?!!

now I'm looking at this again...

I sorta want to cut one of these intakes open to understand wtf is happening in there.


Weirdest thing was the degreaser and water, and that was after driving this for a good 1k miles in summer heat.

Very good chance this is the final, and it just had this little bit left...

 

[Just Fishing]

Did some research last night, and it looks like the preferred method for carbon removal is ATF + Acetone.
So, I picked up some last night, and mixed up some of that + as much ATF as I was willing to spare.

Probably near 50/50 mix

I left the pistons soaking last night, and one of them is nearly cleaned.
the other is slowly getting there.

So, I have the heat on in my ultrasonic @ 50c and running its vibrating magic.

I sure hope this works faster than 24hrs per.
I can do two pistons at once, no more than that.


I also noticed that the ATF and acetone didn't mix well, kept separating.
But ATF and mineral spirts mix fine...
I added a dash of Mineral spirits to see if it helps.
So far, I'm seeing less separation...

But I'll see how it looks after an hour or so.

 

[pwtr02ss]

You're making some great progress on this thing. I'm glad the cam bearings looked good. This time, she'll be perfect!

 

[Just Fishing]

You're making some great progress on this thing. I'm glad the cam bearings looked good. This time, she'll be perfect!

Yeah, and in a strange way, this was a good thing.

This allowed me to notice an issue with the crank "polish" where it was killing the rod and main bearings.

I still remember, they told me to run "Race" bearings for the rods...

I believe that would have resulted in a rod bearing failure eventually since the race bearings won't "polish" like standard bearings will.
(Assuming I understood that correctly that is)

Gordan Johnsons machine shop.
I don't think I'll use them again.
But I do plan on having them look at the old crank.


And mineral spirits did the trick, now acetone and ATF mix together just fine.
In the back of my mind i was worried it would react somehow... lol

 

[pwtr02ss]

Yeah, and in a strange way, this was a good thing.

This allowed me to notice an issue with the crank "polish" where it was killing the rod and main bearings.

I still remember, they told me to run "Race" bearings for the rods...

I believe that would have resulted in a rod bearing failure eventually since the race bearings won't "polish" like standard bearings will.
(Assuming I understood that correctly that is)

Gordan Johnsons machine shop.
I don't think I'll use them again.
But I do plan on having them look at the old crank.


And mineral spirits did the trick, now acetone and ATF mix together just fine.
In the back of my mind i was worried it would react somehow... lol

Definitely wouldn't be using them again after the bs you've gone through with it. Sucks having to do things twice