96-99 454 Vortec owners?

[bankspowered98]

elkhunter, on the computer tune you have two options. You can either send you pcm in and have jesse tune it or buy a core from him already tuned. I would buy a core just for the simple fact of having two computers. One stock and one tuned. This will enable the truck to never have downtime in relation to tuning. As for headers, it doesnt really matter for these trucks as long as you get some with O2 sensor bungs already installed. Hedman Headers are a good choice as I had them on my 69 chevelle and have no issues what so ever.
If you would like to start playing with injectors, as NODIH talked about earlier in the thread....the pre 2000 ls1 injectors are a complete drop in injector. No modifications neccessary. The stock injectors in these trucks are at their limit from the factory. If I was starting over, I would purchase some used pre 2000 ls1 injectors, install those and have Jesse at waitforme send you a computer tune. I have faith that after those two modifications it will become an addiction. These trucks are very limited from the factory as most everyone on here would probably agree with me. Once you start playing with one, you keep wanting more.

[brianbgboy]

addiction is a damn understatement! i mess with this big dually like it a top fuel dragster. i love it though, even though the last issue i had almost made me go nuts!! i guess that is why i keep on modifying it. i just installed the magnaflow setup with the 3" pipe all the way back, no converters and turndowns behind the muffler. it is much quieter than the flowmasters but still has some sound. i didnt like not the loudness on the interstate with the flowmasters. i will do headers in the near future as well. i like the thorley ceramic coated. i used them on my last dually, and they fit well. i used the stage 8 bolts in them, and they never came loose. good luck with it!! you may need to have an intervention before long. later, brian

[elkhunter]

Banks-When you say to use LS 1 injectors I thought I read that Bosch 5.0 injectors were the best choice. Will they need much modifying to install? If the LS 1 injectors are comparable then I will go that way but I would rather buy the right stuff the first time. I also have had very good luck with the Hedman's. I have used them on older GM trucks, my Camaro, and my first gen. Mustang. Do you happen to have an address for Wait4Me or WaitforMe? I saw it a few, maybe a lot, of pages back so I guess I could use the 'Search' function for it. What roughly is the cost of one of those programmed PCM's?
Brian-Did you go true duals all the way out the back? I was looking and it looks like that would be hard to accomplish. From what I have been reading, Magnaflow is really the way to go.
I agree with both of you on the quest for power! That is one of my addictions with my cars. Now that I have sold my 81 GMC I need to get to work on my 97. It just seems that there is an awfully lot of power in there that needs to be found. I have looked at the stock cam specs and there seems to definitely be room for improvement! I have also looked at how hard it would be to swap the cam. Can it be done in place or does the engine need pulled?

[elkhunter]

Well, it has started! I found the Wait4Me site and now I know where I am starting. We have a fairly local wrecking yard, no such thing as a 'junk' yard, and I think it would be in my best interest to get a replacement from them, install it in mine, and then send the original to get reprogrammed. It sounds like I won't have the 'cam/crank' sensor issues doing it this way. Does this sound like the wise way to go about this?

[skills4lou]

Hey elkhunter, where in Wyoming? I was in Cheyenne for 4 yrs.
I have the Bosch injectors, and they seem to work fine with the stock motor. Since you're thinking cam/exhaust you'll probably want to go with the LS1 injectors. As I understand it the LS1 are capable of more fuel, whereas the Bosch are almost maxed out at stock hp. The Bosch injectors are a better design/more reliable than the stock injectors, I used them to cure fuel leak/hard start issues.
If I ever get to the point that I'm doing cam/computer/exhaust then I'll be getting the LS1's.
JMHO.

[elkhunter]

I lived in Saratoga for years but have lived in Sheridan since 1979. It is a lot nicer up North, way less wind! When you say LS 1, does any year matter or are all LS 1 injectors the same?
When did you leave Cheyenne? I have quite a few relatives there. If it has been awhile, you would be amazed at how big it is now. If that area keeps growing it will soon be populated clear down to Denver!
For some reason I am not getting email posts from this thread but do get them from others. I wonder why that is?

[brianbgboy]

i have true duals, just has a cross pipe from the left side to the right side from the manifold, and dual all the way to the turndowns. you cant run it on the lt side due to the gas tank is in the way... i love the magnaflow sound. it was a good investment for sure.

[skills4lou]

I was in Cheyenne from 2003 thru 2007. I definitely saw the expansion in that area.
Can't help with the years for LS1 injectors. I think it's pre-2001, but that's really just a WAG.

[rckymtn454]

Hey all,
Has any one experienced a coolant leak at the back of the intake area. I haven't crawled back there to take a look but i know most GM V8s have simmilar issues. If it is the intake leak does anyone have any suggestions to do while the intake is off? Second leak- oil cooler lines, we all know they leak, what's the best replacement brand?

Happy Independence Day

[rckymtn454]

Originally Posted by bankspowered98

Hell i use mine for towning. hahaha. I havent made it to the track yet but want to soooo bad. Just a bit scared something might give off a sudden hard launch

Made a little addition to the front, cowl hood. And before the question arises, yes it is finctional. haha. I have the SC air intake plumbed up to the underneath the filter actually sits about 3 inches away from the window.

When you get a chance can you post some pictures? I have the same hood and was thinking about doing some kind true cowl induction.
Thanks much

[xx_ED_xx]

Intake gaskets are plastic. So they leak if you use a replacement get felpro gaskets and silicone the ends and the gap betweens the heads. Oil lines short of custom braided ones. I would buy new gm ones

[bankspowered98]

LS1 injectors need to be pre-2000. I beleive they are 26-28 lb injectos. Work great for a power added as our litle 19lb stock injectors are very overworked.

I will try and get some pics. I have been busy at the shop lately and have not had time to even play with the truck at all.

Brian, tune is amazing! TQ management removed, timing adjusted, all kinds of fun and amazing stuff. Highly recommened.

[brianbgboy]

Originally Posted by bankspowered98

LS1 injectors need to be pre-2000. I beleive they are 26-28 lb injectos. Work great for a power added as our litle 19lb stock injectors are very overworked.

I will try and get some pics. I have been busy at the shop lately and have not had time to even play with the truck at all.

Brian, tune is amazing! TQ management removed, timing adjusted, all kinds of fun and amazing stuff. Highly recommened.

just got home from a camping trip. first time i have pulled my trailer since getting my truck fixed. all is good with it, it pulled great, but the torque managment sucks. can you pm me the info for the tune? i want to get it done. what did you have done to the timing?

[bankspowered98]

He advanced the timing I believe for the boost.

[bankspowered98]

NODIH, I am now in need of bigger injectors after the SC rebuild. The rotors were recoated which gave me 1 1/2lbs more boost. What are your suggestions for injectors? 50lb?

[FORMOAB]

Just finished reading the thread. Wow. What a wealth of information. I now know that I have leaky injectors. I have a 96 suburban, and it clears it's throat every time you start it, and blows black smoke. Other than that it runs good. I am going to go with the same set my dad put in his LT1, 24 lb Ford injectors. I will also get the computer re-flashed from those wait for me guys. Thank you to all who have already posted. I learned more about my big block from this thread than from anything else in the last 10 years.

[bankspowered98]

Formoab, no need to pay the expensive price of ford injectors. Run some pre 2000 take out ls1 injectors. You can pick up a used set for 50-75 bucks and they are a drop in without tuning needed. however for maximum performance you need a tune but save some money on them and put it toward something else down the road.

[DeMartino17]

bankspowered - do you have a link to who did your most recent pcm update?
what results did you get from it? was it worth it? and last question, would i notice a difference on an all stock motor?

[bankspowered98]

CDP Tuning
www.pcmtuning.net
Richard - 1.417.838.5846

The performance gain was amazing. I have great faith that you will be able to tell a difference without a doubt. He adjusted my shift points from 80%-100% throttle so I could stay in the boost harder, tuned for the bigger injectors, bumped trans line pressure up 5psi....which I suggest to anyone. He also adjusted timing, removed torque management and tuned a couple other items.

[DeMartino17]

Alright, cool.
i e-mailed him and told him that you referred me to him, hopefully that will help you out.

are cold-air intake kits worth the 150 dollars that they cost?
i read on LMCtruck that airaid or whatever the brand is dyno'd an extra 14HP specifically with a vortec 454.