Thanks Jason and thanks 02RCLB. Picked up the lq9 and converter today. Turns out its a TCI Streetfighter with an advertised 3000-3400 stall so hopefully thatll be fun for now until the 6.0 is built. I'll get pics up and start tearing down the truck soon.

 

right on man, is the converter new? you may want to have it cleaned. I hope it was not in a trans that **** the bed either.

 

no the trans it came out of is still good and up for sale, so yes its new and it might not be a bad idea to have it cleaned. you know anything about TCI converters and theyre reputation?

 

Well the truck has been down entirely too long, but its pretty much back together. I have a little plumbing to do to get the lines to the trucool (I'm retaining the factory lines for now) and, of course, the stock flex plate to converter colts don't fit the new TCI converter which requires 7/16x20 bolts. The stock bolts are the shoulder bolts but I cant find any grade 8 fine thread, shoulder 7/16x20 bolts. So I'm not sure if regular 7/16x20 hex head grade 8 bolts will be fine or not... Also I saw that I might have to elongate 1 or more of the torque converter holes to get the bolts to fit through...always something.

Here's my bed full of goodies. Disassembled LQ9.

For this job, that craftsman crawler has been the best tool I ever bought.

I was very surprised about the difference between the stock converter and the new one. Why is it so much smaller? Hopefully it works out decently.

Hopefully this job will get done by next weekend!

 

So after the longest converter install ever, ITS DONE. So the guy I bought the converter off of didn't give me the flex plate to converter bolts so I had to order some off of mcmastercarr. While I was waiting for the bolts to get here I got everything installed that I could so that id have less to do once I got the bolts. Well bolts came in and one hole on the flexplate needed to be drilled out, so I took everything apart again, dropped the trans, removed the flex plate and converter, drilled out the hole and made sure it all fit. Then reinstall...again.

It hasn't been hot recently in NC and driving around doing some pulls I only saw a max trans temperature of about 140F thanks to the trucool. Just pulling out of the garage I could tell the converter was a lot looser (ive never even been in a car with a high stall converter). The truck is a lot quicker. Its sweet. It seems to stall about 3300 when I step on it from a stand still, which is ok with me. Now I have to readjust my shift points and lock up speed.

One question if anyone has suggestions. After the stall, the engine sometimes doesn't like to slowly drop rpms as I come to a stop. It buck (exaggerated) the converter will engage more, which drags the rpms down real low, then the converter will release, on and on until I get to a dead stop, or the truck stalls out. I guess it might just be smoothing out the timing in those areas of the table...Any suggestions?

Heres a pic of the truck without the grill...its nice to dream that the trucool is actually an intercooler...one day tho!

 

Progress on the truck has been slow due to the holidays, but I've got some parts on order. Russell Stainless brake lines, new rotors, and hawk hps pads. I knew that I needed to do the brakes but I'd been avoiding it. Well on Tuesday while I was out tuning my rears were doing all the work and heated the rotors so bad they started dragging...a lot! So the trucks on stands again, waiting on parts. I'll probably clean up the calipers and shoes while im at it.

I also ordered ARP head studs, a Katech C5-R chain, and new upper and lower timing sprockets. Due to the cost of forging and building the lq9, that's on hold for now. I'm going to beef up the tired 4.8 and turbo that for now.
4.8l mods
-c5-r chain and stock timing sprockets
-ARP head studs
-LS9 head gasket
-injectors will probably be around 90lbs so I can use them on the lq9 as well
-planning to purchase a hi-ram intake too
-aeromotive 340lph pump (already have)
-new Ls7 lifters
-Trick or KB turbo kit

 

Go with KB Racing. He does amazing work, and great attention to detail.

 

I appreciate the input Rezin. I'm not partial to either one in particular. Once I get the lq9 built I plan to take my time and fab up manifolds for twins but right now I don't have the time, money or tools. Hopefully one day tho!

 

Some parts came in, but the truck is still on stands. Apparently the HPS pads Hawk tells you to order on their website aren't correct (I ordered PN HB323F.724 and they're not correct). My katech chain came in and head studs as well.

I've decided against using the aeromotive 340 because of others haing reliability issues and have ordered a Walbro 450. On one site, it was recommended not to be used on a vehicle with less than 500hp and will cause drivability issues...why is that? I'm not sure if I should be concerned or not because I plan to drive the truck for a month or two with the new pump before I turbo it...

I can't decide what I want to do for an intake. I'm either going to go with a TBSS or a Holley Hi-Ram. I just don't like how the Holley heat soaks (plus its couple hundred more than a TBSS). Knowing that you'd eventually be building a turbo'd 402, what intake would you all purchase?

 

I would use the holly intake if it was me. I'm running the TBSS right now and have been thinking about the holley. Mine as well get it the first time.

BTW, the walbro won't cause drivability issues if you can regulate the pressure properly.