78TranzAm

Got more done on the **** box today.

Been procastinating on doing the trans mount because i knew id have to do some cutting to the crossmember and welding on another plate etc etc. Im not a welder, i will never be a good welder as i don't care enough to be one lol. I will also never be a good fabricator, Ill just be "good enough" lol.

But after thinking about it for a couple min figured i could use the stock mount which leaves the crossmember alone and keeps the factory pinion angle, and this is what i did.

Then i hooked up the trans temp sensor. I pulled the volt gauge out because for me personally theres really no need for the gauge. Anyone thats messed with cars long enough knows the symptoms of no charging or over charging lol.

I also got the trans pan removed and cleaned up along with putting on a new filter and gasket. I found a good amount of sludge on the pan magnet or maybe it was metal. Wouldn't be surprised lol. But i know the trans works because the yoke i have in the back to keep fluid from running out spins while its running. We'll just have to see how long it last... lol

I went to do exhaust but got put on hold. The engine developed a loud knock that sounds like its coming from the top of the engine and it doesn't sound like a typical rod knock. It also didn't knock like this last weekend when i got the car running for the first time or the couple times after that. Im thinking maybe the torque converter bolts backed out on me but we'll find out tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

78TranzAm

So bad news but not surprising news... The engine as far as i can guess is toast. Checked converter bolts and they were good and tight, so i removed them and started the engine to see if that would tell me if its either engine or transmission related. Loud knocking still occurred. So, pulled the trans just to make sure and loud knock still occurred. So, only thing i can figure is that the slight misfire noise ive been hearing since i got it running last week was a faint rod knock that now has grown into a very loud knock. It might be cam related but honestly, its not worth tearing the engine apart to find. This is exactly why i got such a cheap engine. It was mainly for mock up purposes and so that i could figure out what would and wouldn't work on the swap, where i needed to clearence/cut things etc. The engine actually being good would have just been icing on the top. Im only $200 into the actual engine so, now im on the hunt for another engine. We'll see what happens. Kind of bummed because everything in the engine bay was 100% complete and i was moving on to things that got me closer to it being on the road but oh well, thats just how it goes for me...

68Formula

Like you said, at least you had something as a mock-up and now you have spare parts (heads, coils, etc.). Maybe work on the rest of the items while you hunt for that LQ4 you eventually wanted.

Bspeck82

Roll around with an ls swapped Cuda and the Mopar mafia will hunt you down, it's a cardinal sin to those guys

Jimbo1367

F those clowns. Come out with a engine as good and cheap/plentiful as a LS and their loyalists woulldnt be forced to abandon ship

78TranzAm

Exactly. All I need now is just a good long block I can transfer every over to. As far as an LQ4 I just don't think I'll bring myself to buy a used one for $1500. I think you can get a rebuilt long block at oriellys for $2500? But at some point I definitely want to hop up an LQ4 and drop it in. This light car would be so much fun with the lighter LS engine pushing a simple 450hp to the tire.

For now I'm searching for just another basic 4.8/5.3. There's a local junkyard I haven't been to but online it says their 4.8 are $650 and 5.3 are $750 and the engines are tested and all info on them is disclosed when posted for sale. Last night I saw they have a 4.8 with only 110,000 miles so hopefully I can get to it before someone else. We'll just see what happens. Main goal is getting it mechanically done first, then I'll move on to the next thing.

78TranzAm

Everything is a sin to those boomers. All I see them crying about online is how someone didn't use the correct factory nuts and bolts or the correct paint color or the correct interior color, blah blah blah. Mopar purist don't know how to do anything other than whine. And most of them haven't owned a Mopar since the 80s lol

G Atsma

Hey, I'm a boomer, and I'm totally with you guys! Some so-called "purists" get way too **** about the hobby!

78TranzAm

I don't men all boomers! I apologize! Lol. It's really just the Mopar Facebook group "boomers" lol.

G Atsma

Naww, you're cool with me! I should have stuck a "LOL" in my post to indicate I was smiling big when typing it.
I watched "Graveyard Cars" for a long time, and while some car owners were flexible with some very sensible mods, others made me laugh about "correct bolt head markings" or crap like that.
Have a good one!

jasons69chevelle

I’ve done a few car shows and people get mad when these old cars have LS swaps. I usually tell them good thing I didn’t build the car for you.Did you have any luck sourcing a engine?
I pulled a good modified 5.3 and 4l60e. But I’m in central West Texas.

78TranzAm

Theres a local yard just off the highway about 10-15 min from me that i've never been to. A while back a guy told me that the yard sells engines ready to go and that they disclose any issues the engines have as they test the engines before they pull them. So, on their website they have a couple 4.8/5.3 ready to drop in for $650-$750 (plus tax) so, maybe sometime this coming week ill swing by there and see what he has.

Where at in Central West Tx are you?

jasons69chevelle

Abilene

78TranzAm

Ah ya, thats a good ways from me. I appreciate you reaching out though. Ill keep searching around me. Im going to try that junkyard i mentioned sometime this week and see if i can score one.

ryeguy2006a

iTrader: (27)

Keep an eye out for an L33 motor too. They are considered an HO 5.3, that is all aluminum with flat top pistons and 243/799 heads. Will make some good power with a cam, and would get you pretty close to the 400 HP mark. The other thing you could keep an eye out for is an LY6, L76, or L77. All are 6.0 motors with square port heads. These are a really good bang for your buck, but are Gen4 motors and some have DOD or VVT.

Alwhite00

iTrader: (1)

The Mopar guys definitely wouldn't like me, I don't leave anything stock or OEM. 😁

78TranzAm

Yes, im pretty well versed in the 2000s model motors. I just prefer the gen 3 truck motors especially now since prices are just stupid for LS engines, and theres absolutely everything possible aftermarket wise for them now.

78TranzAm

Most purist hate me now. Weird how even chevy guys get mad at me for putting a chevy in a mopar. Internet people are weird and i thoroughly enjoy getting them butt hurt and doing it for far less money then what they put in to their cars lol

78TranzAm

Minor update today.

Went to that junkyard i mentioned a couple days ago. I purchased a 2003 4.8 with what they said only has 110,000 miles on it. i checked it out as it was in the wrecked suburban and i mean its hard to tell by looking at the outside. It was full of just oil so i guess thats a good sign. Honestly if i don't personally see the cluster or run the vin, i don't believe it... But we'll see. I told them when i first went in there that i saw a 4.8 listed with 110,000 miles on their website and id like that one. The guy at the front desk had to go ask his boss about the price i saw it for online then came back and said "i got lucky" because they didn't flag it in the system to be priced higher than what i got it for because of the mileage. Then he proceeded to tell me that its going to take all week, maybe longer to get it pulled and ready for me to pick up. So of course i have to wait. Also, me not being a very trust worthy person. After he told me how lucky i was then how long itll take to get the engine pulled im very skeptical on if theyre gonna try and switch motors i get. Guess we'll find out.


****UPDATE ADDED TO UPDATE****

I just ran a carfax on the suburban i already paid for the 4.8 out of that they said only has 110,000 miles. CarFax determined, THAT WAS A LIE. As of 8/10/2020 it had 200,xxx miles. Then was wrecked and claimed as a total loss on 6/7/2021. So, im going to assume it has around 200-250k miles on it which isn't a whole lot but i definitely thought i was getting a 110,000 mile motor for $650 but i mean even a 250k mile motor is $650 if not more here in Tx so, guess ill just have to stick it in and hope for the best. If this one doesn't pan out it has a 90 day warranty and if it doesn't pan out. Ill probably just get a running and driving tahoe/suburban for cheap from now on. We'll find out how it goes!

jasons69chevelle

What a bunch of crooks. I’d take that car fax to them. With all these floods that happen back in June not sure if I would trust a junk yard. What about a remanufactured short/long block. Maybe look into getting a Copart account and purchase a wrecked truck.