Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

LS1 Intake Alignment - ports not aligning to gaskets and leaking

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 25, 2022 | 03:48 PM
  #1  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default LS1 Intake Alignment - ports not aligning to gaskets and leaking

Hi All,

I bought one of the cheap chinesium "Fabricated Sheetmetal Intakes" off of ebay that looks to be a clone of the Holley Sniper and have had nothing but trouble with it. I know you get what you pay form but I though $800AUD was fairly steep for an intake anyway.
Anyhows, I've been chasing vacuum leaks and lean conditions and found yesterday after removing the intake that the individual gaskets/seals for each intake port were right on the edge of the ports on the head. The heads are 241 Higgins ported heads, so the porting may have contributed a little to it, but the intake itself seems to sit about 2-3mm too far back on the engine.

I've tried pulling the intake forward as I put the bolts in to torque it down but doesn't seem to help.

From what I see I have 2 options:
1. Take the intake off and elongate the bolt holes to allow for a bit more adjustment, but this will then require getting the ports aligned perfect "by eye" which is not ideal.
2. Replace the individual rubber seals with one of the Felpro Printoseal intake gaskets which are a single piece per head to cover all the surface area to compensate for offsets.

My only concern with the 2nd option is that the felpro gaskets don't look like they'd have anywhere near as much "squish" and might leak also anyway.

Any thoughts or ideas how to fix this pain in the *** issue?





Reply
Old Aug 25, 2022 | 05:09 PM
  #2  
G Atsma's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,293
Likes: 3,617
From: Central Cal.
Default

Yes- get a properly manufactured intake manifold. This one is obviously way out of spec. Anything you do would be a bandaid at this point.
Whoever sold this one should be drawn, quartered, then put thru a tree shredder for seling this crap at such outrageous prices.
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2022 | 05:38 PM
  #3  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by G Atsma
Yes- get a properly manufactured intake manifold. This one is obviously way out of spec. Anything you do would be a bandaid at this point.
Whoever sold this one should be drawn, quartered, then put thru a tree shredder for seling this crap at such outrageous prices.
Long term that is the plan but short term I have just under 2 weeks to have the car back together and running for a car event here in Australia and not enough funds or time to get another intake.

I have the stock LS1 intake which I could put back on, but I have to then convert it to a return-line fuel rail, which would mean having to get someone chop and weld on some 6AN fittings which is another pain I'd rather not deal with, and then my tune will be all out of whack going from 102mm to 85mm TB.
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2022 | 05:57 PM
  #4  
jetech's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Veteran: Air Force
5 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 239
From: Dade City, Fl.
Default

use these or these
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2022 | 06:08 PM
  #5  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by jetech
Ok thanks.

I have already order the Felpro 13123 instead of the 13121. Will these work as well?


Reply
Old Aug 25, 2022 | 06:12 PM
  #6  
jetech's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Veteran: Air Force
5 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 239
From: Dade City, Fl.
Default

Probably both will work. The -1 doesn't have the Printo-seal and is .030 thick instead of .060 thick
Reply
Old Aug 25, 2022 | 06:16 PM
  #7  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Awesome, I'll give them a go and hope for the best.
Reply
Old Aug 26, 2022 | 05:06 AM
  #8  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

So some good news, after completely removing the intake and looking at possibly dremelling the bolt holes I found that the spring washers supplied with the intake were too small, and had actually pressed into the holes, taking away any wiggle room for alignment.

I holepunched them back out and replaced them in addition to inserting a larger washer to span the hole.
Replaced the busted seals with some spare ones I had and it looks like it's a much better fit.

While I've got the intake off I'm going to re-route the fuel lines to the rails a bit to tidy them up out of the way, but should have that done tomorrow and fire up and see.

Worst case scenario it still leaks and I wait for the gasket order to arrive.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 28, 2022 | 03:30 PM
  #9  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

So it worked, the MAP reading at idle is 55-60kpa instead of 90kpa but I've still got glowing headers (both sides) once the car gets to temp and goes into closed loop.

https://youtu.be/KaDXZmYODn4

Fuel pressure is at 58psi and wideband was reading 15.1 at the time.



timing?

Reply
Old Aug 28, 2022 | 06:28 PM
  #10  
jetech's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Veteran: Air Force
5 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 239
From: Dade City, Fl.
Default

What rpm is the tune set up to idle at ? I would think a little richer afr would be in order. What was the ect reading during that video ? If you resolved all of the vacuum leaks, sounds like the tune needs attention.
Reply
Old Aug 28, 2022 | 06:34 PM
  #11  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by jetech
What rpm is the tune set up to idle at ? I would think a little richer afr would be in order. What was the ect reading during that video ? If you resolved all of the vacuum leaks, sounds like the tune needs attention.
ECT was 102 degrees Celcius (215F)
AFR is set to 14.2 and idle is scaled from 900rpm - 550 at high temp



Reply
Old Aug 29, 2022 | 07:15 PM
  #12  
jetech's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Veteran: Air Force
5 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 239
From: Dade City, Fl.
Default

What are the stft / ltft readings when idling?
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2022 | 07:32 PM
  #13  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by jetech
What are the stft / ltft readings when idling?
STFT +/- 2%
LTFT -10 to -15%

But this is about a minute's data and when temp is peaking.

I've been told by the tuner assisting me that the drilled hole in the throttle body was not a good idea so I've replaced the throttle body with a new one, and then increased the throttle body opening up to 0.70v
Problem now is the car doesn't want to start.

Before with the hole drilled it would fire up instantly with 0.45v TPS.

Reply
Old Aug 29, 2022 | 07:36 PM
  #14  
jetech's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Veteran: Air Force
5 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 239
From: Dade City, Fl.
Default

I am wondering why the engine speed is so high compared to the commanded idle speed. I thought there might be an intake, but the trims say no
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2022 | 08:02 PM
  #15  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by jetech
I am wondering why the engine speed is so high compared to the commanded idle speed. I thought there might be an intake, but the trims say no
Well I have less of an idea than you

The throttle body is 102mm which might be breathing a bit more air than the stock one and the other thing someone mentioned was that maybe the tune is trying to control excess air intake by adjusting timing to the extremes.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2022 | 08:46 PM
  #16  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by evilstuie
Well I have less of an idea than you

The throttle body is 102mm which might be breathing a bit more air than the stock one and the other thing someone mentioned was that maybe the tune is trying to control excess air intake by adjusting timing to the extremes.
The added timing for both sections where the rpms are 1500+ were 15degrees and then 37degrees at 0% throttle but not sure what is triggering that in the tune.
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2022 | 09:30 PM
  #17  
jetech's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Veteran: Air Force
5 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 239
From: Dade City, Fl.
Default

When you get it figured out make sure to let us know I'm just swinging in the dark now. Is there exhaust on the vehicle or just open headers?
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2022 | 04:50 PM
  #18  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Full 2.5" exhaust
Wideband on the left bank about 1-1.5foot down the pipe and narrowband on each just slightly down from that.

The not cranking I have a feeling may be damaged crank or cam sensor wiring from the glowing headers, because I checked all the other voltages to make sure nothing got bumped or moved for the PCM. Unfortunately same time I swapped the throttle body over I was putting the dash back together and moving some wiring, and changing out the 4L60E gear selector switch, so I've had a bit of back-tracing to cover in case the no-start is not related to the TB/tune.

When I turn ignition I hear the fuel pump prime, but when cranking there's no pump, so I assume PCM is powering up fine, starter is going, injectors/ignition has power, the only thing missing that is needed that I know of is a crank signal to tell it to do its thing.

Hopefully should have more info this afternoon (in Australia +10GMT) so in about 6 hours.

Reply
Old Aug 31, 2022 | 02:28 AM
  #19  
evilstuie's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Default

Sure enough, the 3 wires for the crank angle sensor had a campfire by the glowing red exhaust and too much booze later had a threesome and became stuck as one.
Chopped the wires and resoldered together along with some insulation and rerouting away from the exhaust and she fired up first time.

With the new throttle body with no hole drilled the idle is definitely in the right range, some minor adjustments to the throttle body screw got it reading some IAC counts but I need to read up a bit about when they should occur (open loop/closed loop/straight away etc) to get it dialled in properly.
When I blip the accelerator it still holds revs for longer than it should but only half a second to a second and then returns back.

New log is attached. The LTFT was just sitting on -20% but short terms were 0% so again will need to read up a bit. I might need to reset them to then see what it does. Left bank o2 sensor was a bit high (900-1000mv) and I did have a bit of valvetrain noise on the rear left bank which has me a bit worried, but I'll see if an oil change and topup gets that quieter.

The key indicator it was the crank angle sensor was no RPM logging on HPT scanner.
Attached Files
File Type: hpl
31-08-22 bout fuckin time.hpl (176.0 KB, 42 views)
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2022 | 07:11 PM
  #20  
jetech's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
Veteran: Air Force
5 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 239
From: Dade City, Fl.
Default

From the 900mv reading the left bank is max rich. Was the right bank about .500-600mv? Here is a video that might help with the hanging idle Watch this
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:11 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE