Above 1200 Sq/FT The Warthog Hidey Hole

[Finallygotit]

Welcome back JB!

 

[JohnnieMo]

I think it was around $400 installed and in the top level will give the truck around 400 hp and 800 ft-lbs of torque.
JB

Where on earth did you find it for $400? Just the Flashscan V2 for GM is $899 alone. Or are you buying a pre-canned tune of some kind?

I really don't know how this stuff works.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Welcome back among the living, JB!

 

[don long]

I've been wondering what happened to you. Hadn't heard from you since I got your care package (which I still have sitting in my living room) Good to hear all is well in your game.

Don

 

[jbmatth]

Welcome back JB!

Thank you, it is great to get a little free time for a change, not to just catch up on everything I've been missing out on.

Where on earth did you find it for $400? Just the Flashscan V2 for GM is $899 alone. Or are you buying a pre-canned tune of some kind?

I really don't know how this stuff works.

I went to a shop that already has the equipment, he plugged into my OBD2 and 20 minutes later I had the 5 tunes, the license was $150 I believe, and the remaining was for the DSP5 (The 5 position switch that lets you select the tune you want to use.) and his tunes. He didn't have the switch in stock, but shipped it to me to install. Hopefully this helps, I know in the future if I want to tweak the tune I'd have to go back to him or buy the flashscan V2 myself.

Welcome back among the living, JB!

Thanks Andy, it was an adventure and a long one at that, I'll have to fill you in the next time we meet up.

I've been wondering what happened to you. Hadn't heard from you since I got your care package (which I still have sitting in my living room) Good to hear all is well in your game.

Don

Don,
Thank you, and I'm glad you didn't send out a search party. Now about this care package, I know I don't have the best memory but can't remember sending you one. If I did then you are welcome, but suspect it was from another member who deserves your appreciation.


All,
I took this weekend off to go back to Missouri to run in the Bass Pro Shop Marathon Relay with one brother and two other friends. I didn't do as well as I wanted to but haven't been doing much training either so I can't be too disappointed. We were second overall and won our division, this is only the second time since 2010 we didn't win so that is a bit of a kick in the pants to get back to training more regularly. While there I got to meet my newest nephew who I've nicknamed Firebird and have some good plans for gifts for him for the next few decades. I hope everyone had a good weekend as well.
JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

Congratulations on winning your division in the race. Winning the Old Man Division is better than nothing!!

 

[dchance]

JB glad to see you back and looking forward to more progress on the projects

Dwight

 

[jbmatth]

Congratulations on winning your division in the race. Winning the Old Man Division is better than nothing!!

Thanks I think I felt that way though, 3 of the others on my team were not born when I was in middle school. On the bright side they let me have their "finishing beer" at the end of the race because they weren't old enough.

JB glad to see you back and looking forward to more progress on the projects

Dwight

Thank you Dwight, I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things, just be patient and I'll soon have actual shop updates to share.
JB

 

[JohnnieMo]

I went to a shop that already has the equipment, he plugged into my OBD2 and 20 minutes later I had the 5 tunes, the license was $150 I believe, and the remaining was for the DSP5 (The 5 position switch that lets you select the tune you want to use.) and his tunes. He didn't have the switch in stock, but shipped it to me to install. Hopefully this helps, I know in the future if I want to tweak the tune I'd have to go back to him or buy the flashscan V2 myself.

Well that sounds like a better idea. There appear to be a lot of online guys providing this service, but I think it helps if the guy doing the tuning actually sees the truck. There is a shop in town that was recommended to me. I had assumed that would be more expensive than the online route. It may well be. However that price is pretty sweet.

Can you adjust the tunes while driving? Did you notice a significant difference in fuel economy or power?

 

[jbmatth]

I would suggest the local company, and most likely they will be using very similar tunes to the online stores if the truck is mostly stock. That way you can always go back and have them do different tunes or adjust the tunes if needed.

I didn't get good numbers on my truck before the tunes, it had a tune on it when I bought it and the EGR was stuck open so it was not really stock. I can shift from tune to tune as I drive and is fun to just loaf along in the economy tune then crank it to the power tune to pass cars with ease. I rarely drive the truck unless I'm towing and have averaged 14.776 mpg over the last 11,368 miles I've owned it.
JB

 

[jbmatth]

All,
I have a bit of time to update ya'll on some of the happenings. I think where we left off I was about the head to Georgia to drop off a car for my brother and pick up his S10. Well all in all the trip was good, I picked up another brother in Arkansas and made it to Georgia on Saturday Sept. 2nd. We unloaded the car and tried to load the S10, it would start but ran really rough, made noises, and smoked, it would rev in park or neutral but wouldn't in drive and had to have some assistance to make it on the trailer. Made the trip back to Arkansas just fine on Sunday when my brother asked me to pull out a tree for him with my "Big Diesel Truck". You know where this is going...

Well that wasn't so bad, but it isn't pulled out all of the way either, that is because of this:

Which was caused by these being banana shaped:

Let me recap, 4wd low on concrete pulling a very heavy load with stock tie rods means the weakest link is found, and that would be the tie rods. Luckily there was a parts store close by that hadn't quite closed yet and I had the tools to get it replaced. We did a swag alignment and tried to get an appointment the next day early to get it done by a professional. Well that would make it Sept. 4th...Labor Day. Also I must have had karma on my side as there was an opening at 8 am. Score one for the home team at least.

Made the rest of the trip home with no issues and I have have another resident in The Warthog Hidey Hole:

When I get some time, money, and room I'll do an engine swap and either charge him for it or sell it to try to break even. I have put some though into doing a V8 swap though...

JB

 

[JohnnieMo]

So let me understand this correctly. The front wheels pulled so hard that they folded inwards and bent the tie rods?

Wow.... I thought the tires would give way first. Or the chain.... or the hook.... or literally a hundred other things. I was actually expecting to see a chain flung through your rear window.

Side Note - I contacted A-Team Diesel here in Calgary (their wait music on the phone is the A-Team theme song). $750 CAD for a DSP-5 with 5 boxed tunes. Economy up to +150HP. So that is on my Christmas list.

 

[jbmatth]

So let me understand this correctly. The front wheels pulled so hard that they folded inwards and bent the tie rods?

Wow.... I thought the tires would give way first. Or the chain.... or the hook.... or literally a hundred other things. I was actually expecting to see a chain flung through your rear window.

Side Note - I contacted A-Team Diesel here in Calgary (their wait music on the phone is the A-Team theme song). $750 CAD for a DSP-5 with 5 boxed tunes. Economy up to +150HP. So that is on my Christmas list.

Johnnie,
The tires did spin slightly, I reveresed to make sure I was making a straight on pull and crept into it again, but didn't flog it. The stump was coming out when my brothers started laughing and yelling. The chain I'm using is I think 3/8" grade 70 so I didn't think it would be the weak link and it surely wasn't as I've proven. Sadly the tie rods are a known weak link in these trucks, and you can find a lot of videos of them bending at drag strips when they launch. I plan to eventually get a set of aftermarket ones, I've heard nothing but good about the Kryptonite series but they are $370. It is expensive but if I bend one more set of stock ones I would have paid for them between parts and alignments.

That is a little more expensive than I would have guessed for the tune, but I don't know the current exchange rate and don't want to look it up. Okay I lied, I got curious enough to look it up, it appears it is $1.27 Canadian to $1 American, or is that a Loon and 27 cents.

JB

 

[shortykorte]

Chevy power. Awesome.
Nice S-10. Is it 4 or v6?


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[1/2 Cup]

JB, that's unreal, I have never seen that happen before..

 

[oldironfarmer]

I enjoyed the show! If you get the high priced tie rods it will be fun to learn the next weak link.

Trucks and tractors are just not designed to pull stumps. Bulldozers or fire, yes. Glad you're back and teaching us lessons.

 

[jbmatth]

Chevy power. Awesome.
Nice S-10. Is it 4 or v6?


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It was fun to do and I've learned to never try to pull a stump when on concrete again, I wan't traction to always be the limiting factor. It is a 2.2L 4 cylinder with and automatic. It was slow and boring to drive before, maybe someday it'll be more fun.

JB, that's unreal, I have never seen that happen before..

1/2, Great to see you out and about more and thanks for commenting. Hopefully I never have to show you photos similar to that again.

I enjoyed the show! If you get the high priced tie rods it will be fun to learn the next weak link.

Trucks and tractors are just not designed to pull stumps. Bulldozers or fire, yes. Glad you're back and teaching us lessons.

Andy,
What is your money on, axle, driveshaft, trans? I don't like pulling stumps with my truck and have a better reason not to now, and know I won't try that again on concrete, not worth it.

More updates to come,
JB

 

[jbmatth]

Last I'd left off on the frame table I was working on the legs, I finely got everything cut and drilled and ready to weld together:
View media item 76704
I welded the nut to the plate that goes into the bottom of the legs, then welded a support washer to that to come up with this:
View media item 76705
Welded that into the legs:
View media item 76706
Then capped it off with another bigger plate, I ground all of the welds smooth and it looks better now, no photos so you are just going to have to take my word for it. I did all of the intricate welding by the nut with flux core wire welder then did the outer welds with the stick and 6011 rod. Next I welded the mounting plates to the tops of the legs:
View media item 76707
Weld isn't tooooo bad, but I need to widen it out a little more, it'll work though. Next I welded the caster supports to the legs:
View media item 76708
Not pictured here but I ended up welding some to the center legs as well, my floor is so uneven the center legs would drag in some places going over the floor. When the adjusting feet are threaded all the way in the caster stick down about 1/2" (12.7mm) so I can still roll it easily enough with the HF casters on it. Next was bolting them on and trying to flip it over:
View media item 76709
That turned out to be a chore and was probably pretty funny to watch but it eventually worked out:
View media item 76710
Then it was time to mark out and drill 7/16" holes every 4 inches for mounting fixtures to the table. The mag drill made this way easier, but it was still a mess and took quite a few early mornings but were eventually done:
View media item 76712
Not too shabby if I do say so...not the welds, not the surface finish, but how in line the holes are.

I then started working on some of the fixtures for getting the Corvette mounted onto the frame table and that is really where I'm at now on this project. I did make a few extra dollars selling one of the engines from The Twins and both hoods. I started clearing out all of the extra wiring and stuff that was going to get in the way on the Corvette but got to the point where I'm at a standstill until I can get The Twins moved out. I think I have a buyer for the complete truck but the other is going to the scrap yard. I'm pulling out all of the wiring now and going to keep the axle, leaf springs, wheels and tires, and some of the frame sections to make stands for who knows what yet. It sure seemed like I did more than this but that is where I'm at.

Side note, I have a 22 gallon Rubbermaid tote full of wiring that I've pulled out so far and more to come, hopefully I'll get more money for it this way than if it were all together.

JB

 

[rmalkow2]

Nice work on all projects and always interesting to follow along your progress. The S10 definitely needs a v8 so I hope you have time for that. With your skills and engineering I was thinking you could make a set of very strong tie rod ends yourself cheaper than buying new ones.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Good work on the table JB! S10 has some serious potential. Looking forward to seeing your progress on the "Bel-vette"...can't really use "Corv-air", that's been done before.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Good work on the table JB! S10 has some serious potential. Looking forward to seeing your progress on the "Bel-vette"...can't really use "Corv-air", that's been done before.

Looking good, JB! I think your table is hell for stout. Stick welding is looking good, too!

P.S. I want my sand blaster back...

 

[JohnnieMo]

That is a little more expensive than I would have guessed for the tune, but I don't know the current exchange rate and don't want to look it up. Okay I lied, I got curious enough to look it up, it appears it is $1.27 Canadian to $1 American, or is that a Loon and 27 cents.

JB

You can pretty much count on two loons to a dollar. Exchange rate is only part of the price. We are a smaller market that is very spread out. We spend a lot more on logistics for moving stuff around. That is then also compounded by increased labour costs, way higher taxes, and that free health care we know and love (yuck). So count on about double for any items which include a local service cost. If you are just buying a "thing" then it can be better. Amazon is doing a lot to aid this.

I am envious of your welding skills. I bought a MigPak180 a couple years back and still haven't learned to use it. I keep trying to find a class to take, but my travel schedule just doesn't jive. I think I need to find some form of online course where you can work in your own garage. That would be the ticket. I welded with Oxy-Acetelene back in high school, and that turned me off welding for 20 years.....

 

[jbmatth]

Nice work on all projects and always interesting to follow along your progress. The S10 definitely needs a v8 so I hope you have time for that. With your skills and engineering I was thinking you could make a set of very strong tie rod ends yourself cheaper than buying new ones.

I would have to agree with you on the S10 repower, the 2.2L only had 120 hp and 140 lb.-ft. of torque whereas even the lowest powered 4.8L LSX engine had 255 hp 285 lb.-ft. in a 3,300 pound (1,500 kg) truck would be plenty of fun and still get pretty good fuel mileage.

Good work on the table JB! S10 has some serious potential. Looking forward to seeing your progress on the "Bel-vette"...can't really use "Corv-air", that's been done before.

Outlaw,
Thank you, I'm looking forward to getting some shop space back and getting the 'vette on the table to begin fabrication work. I don't know if I've told yet but I've settled on a name for the '57...Pinky Pi, partly for my girls who like My Little Pony, and it is pink, and I like PI and pie so it works for me. I don't even want to think about a Corvair, Ralph Nader would have to make a quest appearance.

Looking good, JB! I think your table is hell for stout. Stick welding is looking good, too!

P.S. I want my sand blaster back...

Hell for stout, hmmmm, I've never heard that unit of measure before. Is it similar to a Slug, rad, Rankine, or brick $h1t house?

You can pretty much count on two loons to a dollar. Exchange rate is only part of the price. We are a smaller market that is very spread out. We spend a lot more on logistics for moving stuff around. That is then also compounded by increased labour costs, way higher taxes, and that free health care we know and love (yuck). So count on about double for any items which include a local service cost. If you are just buying a "thing" then it can be better. Amazon is doing a lot to aid this.

I am envious of your welding skills. I bought a MigPak180 a couple years back and still haven't learned to use it. I keep trying to find a class to take, but my travel schedule just doesn't jive. I think I need to find some form of online course where you can work in your own garage. That would be the ticket. I welded with Oxy-Acetelene back in high school, and that turned me off welding for 20 years.....

I would have suspected some of the reasons for higher prices, but didn't realize you were a Twoony to a dollar, wow. When you are ready just drive down here and we can install all you need and you won't have to pay the import costs, and labor could be swapped out for

I will say though that you are the first person that has ever complimented my welding skills, I'm better than I used to be but still feel like I'm terrible. There are lots of resources online that will help you out. I considered taking a welding class at the local tech. school but just never signed up then started having kids...oh well I'll just keep practicing.

JB

 

[1/2 Cup]

JB, great work on your table..

 

[dchance]

Jb I think that all practice has to be associated with pictures so all can critique it for you. That should lead to a real education.

Looking forward to putting the vette on the operating table.

Dwight

 

[oldironfarmer]

Hell for stout is a pretty common term. Typically not a great compliment, as a little less is plenty.

Built like a brick outhouse, on the other hand, I've only heard refer to well endowed women.

Aren't we both in Oklahoma?

 

[jbmatth]

JB, great work on your table..

Thank you 1/2 and as always I'm glad you come come for a visit, come back anytime, the fridge is always full but no coke machine is in sight.

Jb I think that all practice has to be associated with pictures so all can critique it for you. That should lead to a real education.

Looking forward to putting the vette on the operating table.

Dwight

Okay dchance, I'll do some more welding in a few days and will photo them to get critiqued, but please be nice.

Hell for stout is a pretty common term. Typically not a great compliment, as a little less is plenty.

Built like a brick outhouse, on the other hand, I've only heard refer to well endowed women.

Aren't we both in Oklahoma?

Andy,
I've heard the term before and hell for stout is typically how I design things when I don't fully understand the eventual requirements, it is better than the alternative of dropping the 'vette on the ground.

Try not to sing this when you read it, I dare you.

Ow, she's a brick house
She's mighty-mighty, just lettin' it all hang out
She's a brick house
That lady's stacked and that's a fact
Ain't holding nothing back

Nothing really new to report, the body on one of the twins is completely stripped on the body but I didn't take photos. I plan to make a video of the demo of the body soon though so that should be fun and I'll share it here.

JB

 

[mybigwarwagon]

I will send my 5 year old son over to test the structural integrity of that table.

 

[DynoDave]

View media item 76712

Did you coat this with something?

 

[jbmatth]

I will send my 5 year old son over to test the structural integrity of that table.

War Wagon,
If he is anything like my brothers and I were at that age he could bend a crowbar in a sand pile, or tear up a tin man. Both sayings my grandfather would say about us many times.

Did you coat this with something?

It is just the cutting oil I used with the mag drill, it has the side benefit of rust protection. I'd hate for the table to get rusty you know.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

This weekend I did a little cleaning up and loading my truck down to make a run to the scrap yard but nothing too picture worthy there. I did manage to find a donor truck:
View media item 76860
2002 Chevy Silverado 2500 in pretty good shape all in all, a little rust starting to show on the rockers, and a few dents and dings. It has pretty high miles but is exceptionally clean and purrs like a kitten. The reason I bought a 2500 and spent a little more than if it were a 1500 was this:
View media item 76861
This is the 6.0L (364 in^3) LQ4 engine, iron block aluminum heads that came from GM with 300 HP and 360 lb.-ft. or torque. It is backed by a 4L80E trans. They are both supposed to be great if I ever do more than a cam swap... you know like a turbo or two.

So now I have all of the major components and a bit of room in the shop to work around. I'll move the 'vette over to the lift in the morning and start getting it mounted to the frame table. Hopefully things will start happening pretty soon.

JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

JB, how many miles on the engine/trans? I've been successful in the past with slapping in a new oil pump and a new timing chain and rolling with it. If you do plan on a turbo, a seasoned block is better, the ring gaps will be opened up a little more and be more boost friendly.

I've got the same combo in my 49 GMC, at 3500lbs it moves pretty well for a stock engine setup. Just finished up the tune on it last night.

I've got the LQ9 flavor in my Z28 with the flattop pistons, just a mid sized cam and I puts 425hp to the wheels. The LS world is awesome, they seal up great, and make crazy power with simple mods. They don't sound as good as an old school sbc, and lack in the off idle torque, but they make up for it everywhere else!

 

[jbmatth]

JB, how many miles on the engine/trans? I've been successful in the past with slapping in a new oil pump and a new timing chain and rolling with it. If you do plan on a turbo, a seasoned block is better, the ring gaps will be opened up a little more and be more boost friendly.

I've got the same combo in my 49 GMC, at 3500lbs it moves pretty well for a stock engine setup. Just finished up the tune on it last night.

I've got the LQ9 flavor in my Z28 with the flattop pistons, just a mid sized cam and I puts 425hp to the wheels. The LS world is awesome, they seal up great, and make crazy power with simple mods. They don't sound as good as an old school sbc, and lack in the off idle torque, but they make up for it everywhere else!

Oulaw,
That was the one downside of this truck, it has 268k miles, so a well seasoned block. No pressure into the crankcase, smooth idle, engine oil and trans fluid need changed but smell and taste normal. It is very clean other than some leaks that will get fixed during the swap (valve cover gaskets, main seals, power steering pump, and trans output seal all need changed. But it is way cleaner than any of the other trucks I bought lately.

The oil pump will get changed when I install the muscle car oil pan (part number 19212593 if anyone is wondering). I don't plan to turbo it if it goes in the '57, at least not yet. I don't think the IRS Dana 36 from the Corvette will like anything more than a cam swap if that as long as I don't try to launch it on the drag strip.

It runs pretty good in the truck and when in the '57 it should weigh about 1,000 lbs less so it'll be all I need. I've been a huge fan of LS swaps for years but just never had the right chance to do one on my own. I'll keep the truck together until I get the frame all put together on the '57. I will try to use the radiator, condenser, trans cooler, and hydroboost brake booster from the truck in the '57 so that will really help with off setting some of the extra cost and hopefully eliminate any need for cooling concerns. I'm looking forward to the wiring side of things as well as the '57 needs an entire new harness front to back.

JB

 

[jbmatth]

Between yesterday and this morning I probably have close to 1,000 lbs (450 kg) of scrap loaded in BP 2.0 ready to haul off but want to grab a few more odds and ends that I'm sure I'm missing that need to get scrapped. I also cleared out a bit and moved the Little Red Corvette over to the lift and put it in the air and pulled the tires off:

I started soaking a few of the suspension bolts with PB Blaster and will pull the springs before loading it onto the frame table. Woo hoo things are finely starting to move forward on this project.
JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Do you have purple crushed velvet coveralls and a blouse to wear for disassembly?

 

[jbmatth]

I have blue, green, or tan coveralls, is that close enough? Maybe I need to stream a little Prince to get in the Little Red Corvette mood...on second thought maybe not.

As a side question, what tuning software do you use for your swaps?
JB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I have blue, green, or tan coveralls, is that close enough? Maybe I need to stream a little Prince to get in the Little Red Corvette mood...on second thought maybe not.

As a side question, what tuning software do you use for your swaps?
JB

I'll allow it, but just this once.

HP Tuners. For the record, I don't dabble in that yet, I have a good tuner that is a wizard. He lives in the Topeka area.

 

[jon72vega]

jb,
You've been busy as usual.
It makes me tired just keeping up with all you get done.

Great work on the frame table!
It will be stout.

The S-10 needs a V8.

The LQ4 will make a good hot rod engine!

 

[taumac]

JB, man I just caught up and man I wish I had your motivation. I don’t know how you get as much as you do done. Great work on everything you been do.

 

[shortykorte]

Power Nation did a build using the LQ4 as the base. Made nice HP. If recall correctly it was the Truck Tech show.

Oops it was Horse Power https://www.powernationtv.com/episode/HP2009-01/budget-ls-bangs-out-power

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