Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
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Engine first fire

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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 11:57 AM
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Default Engine first fire

OK, I have finished with the wiring of my engine. The ls-1 is in my 51 Chevy truck project. The engine is ready to fire once I install the battery and add gas. Is there anything special I should do or look out for? The engine was purchased with 49,000 miles. oil change and filter, new plugs and wires, add power steering fluid, check all fittings and fuel lines, ?? short prayer !!
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 02:29 PM
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pull the fuse for the Injectors and Coil. Crank it over to (Hopefully) get some oil pressure. the replace the fuse and it should fire right up.

Did you have the PCM flashed to disable the VATS and anything else not be used (2nd O2, AC, HVAP, etc).

Make sure you fill the coolant by removing the Radiator hose from the upper hose at the Radiator and fill through the hose, then reconnect and top off.. this help avoid air pockets.

Good luck and keep us posted.

BC
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Old Oct 28, 2013 | 06:54 PM
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I like to bleed the coolant by loosening the steam lines on the heads. Its a little easier to contain the mess that way.

Nothing special has to be done. Check for leaks, have a fire extinguisher handy, and crack it off.

If you didn't get VATS disabled it might fire but it won't run.
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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by i r teh noobz
I like to bleed the coolant by loosening the steam lines on the heads. Its a little easier to contain the mess that way..
When filling a dry block you still need to fill through the top hose. Just pouring coolant in thr the radiator will not get into the engine since the thermostat is in the lower hose. The thermostat also will never open since the coolant will be on the wrong side of It. Pouring through the upper hose fills the block and not just the radiator.
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Old Oct 29, 2013 | 10:26 AM
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Originally Posted by ls1nova71
When filling a dry block you still need to fill through the top hose. Just pouring coolant in thr the radiator will not get into the engine since the thermostat is in the lower hose. The thermostat also will never open since the coolant will be on the wrong side of It. Pouring through the upper hose fills the block and not just the radiator.
Not needed. Just pull a steam vent and keep topping off the radiator until coolant comes out the steam vent then cap the vent again. Coolant will find it's way through the top radiator hose from the radiator IF it has some way of pushing the air out of the motor (i.e. an open steam vent).

Jacking up the front of the car so the radiator cap is at the highest point helps tremendously.

also if you want to build oil pressure more quickly GM recommends pulling all the plugs and cranking 10 seconds on/30 seconds off until you get an oil pressure reading. manually filling the oil filter before cranking helps build pressure more quickly.
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Old Oct 30, 2013 | 09:23 AM
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Unless you're running caps on all four corners, then they are already open through the steam line, so you shouldn't have to take one of them off, but it's much faster to just pour it in through the upper hose. Most upper hoses are at about the same level as the radiator cap so filling the radiator and letting it run into the block takes more time.
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Old Oct 30, 2013 | 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by ls1nova71
Unless you're running caps on all four corners, then they are already open through the steam line, so you shouldn't have to take one of them off, but it's much faster to just pour it in through the upper hose. Most upper hoses are at about the same level as the radiator cap so filling the radiator and letting it run into the block takes more time.
Well, no. I'm not trying to be an *** and I'm not picking on you, but I've done it enough times that pulling a vent is far and away the best way to do it. Pulling the hose simply doesn't get all the air out of the very top of the block and letting it vent through the steam line just doesn't do much of anything. The vents are O ringed with a single bolt, super easy to get off and on and almost impossible to break something doing it. Can't say the same thing for tugging a radiator hose on and off. I even pull a vent when I drain the radiator, cuts the drain time by a factor of 10.

Try it, you might never go back to the radiator hose again.
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Old Oct 30, 2013 | 04:48 PM
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What kind of front suspension and oil pan are you using in your truck?? Curious to know as I plan on starting to put an LS into my 48 5 window truck....
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Old Oct 30, 2013 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by mighty mex
What kind of front suspension and oil pan are you using in your truck?? Curious to know as I plan on starting to put an LS into my 48 5 window truck....
I am running a mustang II front suspension, with the lowered spindles. (don't use the lowered spindles the truck will be low enough) as is. My truck is 6 inches from the bottom of the bumper to the ground. I currently have the truck oil pan which is way too low, I will either by a new Moroso shorter pan or have the present one cut down??
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