Just Fishing's 09 Tahoe Build thread

[Just Fishing]

Cold case radiator test fitting,


Seemed to bind somewhere when installing, odd...

Seemed like if I did some light trimming of the OEM standoffs at the bottom, it helped.
I still need to look closer to see what's happening.
but this is a very solid/tight fit...

 

[Just Fishing]

Moving onto the transmission cooler lines, doing -8AN (aka 1/2)

Very time consuming to get this worked out.
First attempt got me close.
But I totally re-made the lines after doing some test fitting and hand adjusting/bending.

Then I still managed to fk up a ton, even with a template.

I had wanted to keep the lines all hard lines, right up until I got up to the front where I wanted some flex.

But this turned out easier to use a short section of flex.


I forgot to get some shielding before completing the hose ends, but this is close enough for now.

The hard lines as previously mentioned, has coiled stainless protectors over the lines.
To prevent chafing and buzzing that would probably find it's way inside of the cabin, I used a bit of electrical tape as a buffer before installing the coil.

I didn't get any images of that since it was sorta ghetto, I installed as a loose spiral to give me enough clearance to get the coil on there.
But even if it starts to come loose, it will still give me a buffer to separate the stainless coil from the hard line.
The other option I played with was to use shrink tubing, but the tape was much easier and cheaper to do.

Then moving onto the filter adapter,
This still needs a ton of work, so I haven't completed the ends and braces.

But you can see my idea with the heat shielding over the braided stainless hose.

 

[Just Fishing]

Also, that stainless coil to protect the hard lines; it's working out great.
That stuff is very hard, like dulling my dikes hard.




I almost didn't use it since I wanted to use more heat shielding, but I'm glad I went with it.

Then moving onto the transmission cooler install.
What a pita, this would be so much easier with the bumper cover removed.
I still might go that route...

This is pretty solid for the double pass cooler.
But I decided I wanted to use as many existing bolts as possible.



I'm happy with how solid this turned out, however that bottom bracket.
I used an existing mounting spot and shoved my bracket in between the plastic part there.

Well apparently, that's used for the bumper cover!
That sorta pushed the cover alignment off...

Future Chris problem there, I'm moving forward with the setup.

Then my next issue,
I want to retain the OEM "tow package" cooler.

The way this is working out, I need to mount the old cooler in front of the new cooler.
That pushes everything forward.

So, more head scratching to come.

 

[Just Fishing]

Next issue i tackled.

I had noticed a bit of carbon in the oem manifolds.

So yesterday morning I tackled the cleaning of them.
I also wanted to get them cleaned up so I could rattle can on some header paint.

So, cleanup started.
That turned into me wanting to do some light balancing of the ports since the castings sort of suck.

then I noticed that the output to exhaust was off.
Like it didn't align with the exhaust.
Leaving a ridge going from the transition.
The place of the ridge, would have deflected some exhaust as it entered the cats.


So I ended up using the old exhaust seals to use as a template, then matched it up nicely.
Pictures lacked, but it's much better than it was.

I had wanted to run these things through the bead basting cabinet, but that's buried.
So I went with the cross buffs to do the cleanup tasks, then followed up with some sandpaper.

Shot them with a couple coatings of header paint, then installed onto the engine after coating the manifold seals in a nice coating of copper sealant.
I reused the gaskets from the last install, I have the MLS gaskets for that...
so hopefully I don't regret it.





Engine bay looks much better.
but that alt bracket is ugly.
And it will stay ugly!

 

[Just Fishing]

Next step, Install the balancer.

Install went pretty smoothly, fitment was much better than the old crankshaft.
Much tighter fitting.

With that installed, I can finally remove the flywheel lock tool and bolt the converter to the flywheel.

Since this is a new flywheel, crankshaft, bellhousing, and transmission pump.
I need to get fresh measurements!

Converter setback spec, I converted to decimal for ease of my brain using feeler gauges and my caliper...
3/16 max = .187
1/8 min = .125

Setback measured = .143
I could tighten this a little, but it's pretty much perfect.
So, I'm running it.

And now I have the starter installed, and I can complete the wiring and exhaust installation!


Then I get to move onto the intake...
Exciting times ahead!

Getting closer to firing it up trying out the transmission.


I'm saving the transmission cooler lines for last.
Most thinking involved.
Hoping to get the actual work out of the way before I finalize everything.

I would be done by now had I just decided to run fresh OEM cooler lines.

 

[Just Fishing]

So, one of the things I like to do with the wife, estate sales!
Like garage sales, just higher prices and often nicer things.

I always look for tools when I visit them.

My rule has been, look for good pliers and wrenches.
And if I find a tool that I have no clue what it is, then I pick it up.


One of those tools, is this little thing.




It's always a fun adventure trying to figure out what it is.
This sat in the unknown/junk drawer in the garage for a while.

Then one day I saw something like this being used on a youtube video.

What is it?

tried it for the first time on the transmission fluid cooler mount I made.
Used a little safety wire as an extra, since I didn't have much space to secure it as well as I would have liked.

Watching his channel, I have found that I have so many tools that I had 0 clue what they were used for.

He also sold me on my air saw.
I love my air saw once I ordered a selection of different blades.
With the right blade, it's a turbo hack saw.

I

 

[Jimmyy]

I don't need one but now I want one.

 

[Just Fishing]

I got a bunch done last night.

When installing my exhaust, I seriously thought about hitting it with some header paint after doing some cleanup of the rough areas.
I did that on my vette when the exhaust system was new, and it has held up very well over the years.

Buuut... this has dragged on long enough.
And I'm not sure how well the header paint would hold up on the cats...

Maybe I'll do it once I replace the exhaust system, and I'm not doing that until I have this thing pretty well tuned.


Front axle installed last night after messing around with the new transmission cooler lines.
Made sure they don't rub.

I used the OEM cooler line brackets, and then that safety wire plyer to tie them down.
That thing is 1 million times better than using regular pliers to tie things down.

I'm very happy with the results there.

I took my oem engine oil cooler lines, flushed them out really good and reinstalled before reinstalling the front axle.
I wish I had that installed before I primed the engine but having that power steering bracket clear of the priming port with the radiator in place is difficult.


Next on the list,

Reinstall the O2 sensors
Connect my line pressure gauge to the "Line" pressure port on the transmission.
Torque down the front drive shaft to front axle bolts.
Lay under tahoe for a while and stare up just in case I remember anything that I might have forgotten.
Reinstall intake and coil packs, but leave the coils and injectors unplugged for the final engine priming.
Connect hoses
Fill Fluids
Complete transmission cooler line install.
Prime engine with the spark plugs still uninstalled (allows enough RPM to get an oil pressure gauge reading)

Install spark Plugs
connect plugs, and install spark plug wires.

Fire it up!!
Let it idle and warm up while checking and topping off the fluids.
change oil

Tech2 to re-learn the clutches

Take it out for a drive and hope I didn't fk anything up.

 

[Just Fishing]

I have gotten a bunch done as time allows.

I'm pretty much ready to fill the fluids, do a cranking engine priming.

For my first run i have some cheap valvoline synthetic in there.
And for good luck, two quarts of VR1.

I now have my transmission cooler connected.
But not the oem loop.

That's connected to the radiator, but i have the top/outlet capped off for now.

For the -8an loop, i placed my valve under the hood near my catch can.
I'm pretty happy how that turned out for the most part.

Now i just need to go back through and tighten the an fittings at the transmission.

One issue i don't like with the setup (until i finish it).
I have a valve that will block the cooler lines and could take out my thrust bearing... lol

So I'm hoping to get the oem cooler mounted soon in order to complete the bypass idea.

 

[pwtr02ss]

I have gotten a bunch done as time allows.

I'm pretty much ready to fill the fluids, do a cranking engine priming.

For my first run i have some cheap valvoline synthetic in there.
And for good luck, two quarts of VR1.

I now have my transmission cooler connected.
But not the oem loop.

That's connected to the radiator, but i have the top/outlet capped off for now.

For the -8an loop, i placed my valve under the hood near my catch can.
I'm pretty happy how that turned out for the most part.

Now i just need to go back through and tighten the an fittings at the transmission.

One issue i don't like with the setup (until i finish it).
I have a valve that will block the cooler lines and could take out my thrust bearing... lol

So I'm hoping to get the oem cooler mounted soon in order to complete the bypass idea.

I was always told to use cheap conventional oil when first firing them off? Maybe it doesn't matter anymore but thats what I did on my avalanche. Cheapest conventional they had at walmart and an ac delco filter.