Sonoma GT 519 - the rebuild saga (picture intense)

kentuc

Member
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Remote starters should have a switch on the hood to prevent that from happening.{starting while your working under the hood]
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

kentuc said:
Remote starters should have a switch on the hood to prevent that from happening.{starting while your working under the hood]
It has a hack alarm, but there is not a remote start. The alarm circuit is also seperate and not connected
 

Syborg Twin Turbo

Syborg Twin Turbo
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

looks like a cool project keep me posted
 

SEL777

One of 101
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Turboz said:
The starting when connecting the battery is most likely a remote starter in te vehicle. The old starter would do that if the battery was disconected and reconected. Not saying that is it but worth a look.jay

Thats what i was thinking.
 

tyfighter

New member
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Hey I've been looking at this mod myself .Good job breaking ground on the R and D lol. Please keep posting can't wait to read more.

gene
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Well, more work done tonight. Didn't finish welding as my MiG decided it wasn't going to lay a bead worth a darn. But, got the intake assembled and fitted to the truck.

In order to make this work, I used a late model (I think 2003) 4.3 alternator bracket to replace the A/C bracket that was on the truck. I still have to cut it a little, but it's going to work out quite nicely.

As you can see, the throttle body is squashing the upper radiator hose on the CPI manifold. The vortec manifold's water neck is on the the other side so this will be no problem. I also had to remove the EGR to make the TB fit, it is in a different location on the other manifold so if it fits it stays and if it is in the way it's getting tossed.I will have to swap the sensors from the old TB to make the computer work correctly, but it all plugged in an worked.

Also, the truck is in even worse health than expected. We fired it up after changing the manifold, but with only three bolts holding it down so there wasn't much in the way of vacuum. It then revved a bit and started spraying very black oil (a lot of said oil :rotf: ) out of the EGR passage... oops :lol:

Pictures:
100_0727.jpg

100_0728.jpg

100_0729.jpg

100_0731.jpg

100_0740.jpg
 

mattw

Active member
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

jjorgensen52 said:
Well, more work done tonight. Didn't finish welding as my MiG decided it wasn't going to lay a bead worth a darn.

Looking good.. I'm betting the issue isn't the welder though.. ;-)


-Matt
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

mattw said:
Looking good.. I'm betting the issue isn't the welder though.. ;-)


-Matt

Nope, it was. Changed the drive rollers and did a lot of fiddling until I got it to work. Have some more pictures, ended up using the original bracket with the new style tensioner and the idler pulley in place of the old tensioner pulley. Truck is fully driveable with the swap. took it all the way to 2k rpm :lol: ... going to redline it when I have the new motor ready to go in :tup:
 

Black Knight

I Glow Therefore I am
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

I've never MIG welded alum. Does it turn out as well as TIG welding it?
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Black Knight said:
I've never MIG welded alum. Does it turn out as well as TIG welding it?
Nope, especially when you're pushing the limits of your welder (I think i'm rated to 1/8" plate :lol: )

I got the belt system all finished and also have the throttle cable installed. Next orders of buisness are to get the lower intake finished, adapt my LS1 coil harness and install a new motor.
Only one pic, I hate imageshack but it's all I can use at school
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Alright, this truck has officialy got a new motor :tup: ... just bought a long block on Ebay. Brand new, marine balance shaft motor (better cam and crank :D ). Has a crank sensor already so the LS1 coil harness I have setup for the Typhoon which didn't work out will go on this truck. Paid $1775 ... (thought about rebuilding myself, but after machining and parts I was spending 2K anyhow ...)
So, look forward to 4.3L death footage around Christmas :rotf:
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Alright, little bit of a status update on this truck.
I have now (as stated above) purchased a long block 4.3 marine motor for the truck. The build will be:
- Marine motor
- LS1 / eDist ignition setup
- All stock accesories (a/c included)
- Polished late model vortec manifold, modified to accept a CMPI style upper manifold, running early style central injector
- LT1 throttle body (probably a 52mm eventually, 48mm for now) on modded CMPI upper
- Gibson exhaust / high flow stainless cat and potentially edelbrock 1.5" headers
- T-5Z (world class) from an 88-92 F-body running an internal slave cylinder (2.95 1st and 0.63 5th)

With the T-5, I am using the f-body for the better gear ratios,stoughter internals, and the shifter location. It comes up within 1" of where the pivot of the stock shifter is. I'm going to be using a shift boot and knob from a C4 to replicate a stock appearing option. Hopefully this will all be together and running right around new years.
 
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SY2455

70's Veteran
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

jjorgensen52 said:
Alright, little bit of a status update on this truck.
I have now (as stated above) purchased a long block 4.3 marine motor for the truck. The build will be:
- Marine motor
- LS1 / eDist ignition setup
- All stock accesories (a/c included)
- Polished late model vortec manifold, modified to accept a CMPI style upper manifold, running late model central injector
- LT1 throttle body (probably a 52mm eventually, 48mm for now) on modded CMPI upper
- Gibson exhaust / high flow stainless cat and potentially edelbrock 1.5" headers
- T-5Z (world class) from an 88-92 F-body running an internal slave cylinder (2.95 1st and 0.63 5th)

With the T-5, I am using the f-body for the better gear ratios,stoughter internals, and the shifter location. It comes up within 1" of where the pivot of the stock shifter is. I'm going to be using a shift boot and knob from a C4 to replicate a stock appearing option. Hopefully this will all be together and running right around new years.

:hijack: Dumb ? follows. Why not just use a Syclone Intake?
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

1. They cost a lot more than a CMPI manifold
2. I'm going for reliability... no modded computers, as many pieces are stock GM as possible, etc. The only modded parts on it are going to be the manifold and the A/C bracket (the coils are GM as is their harness, the eDist is just a rebadged northstar coil controller)
3. Keeping it looking at least semi stock under the hood

And, why do something that's already been done :lol: ?

edit: also, had forgotten to mention, retaining the dual chambered style intake with the "flapper" .... this engine, all said and done ought to make a reliable (and decently fuel efficient) 250hp.
 
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SY2455

70's Veteran
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

jjorgensen52 said:
T-5Z (world class) from an 88-92 F-body running an internal slave cylinder (2.95 1st and 0.63 5th)

With the T-5, I am using the f-body for the better gear ratios,stoughter internals, and the shifter location. It comes up within 1" of where the pivot of the stock shifter is. I'm going to be using a shift boot and knob from a C4 to replicate a stock appearing option. Hopefully this will all be together and running right around new years.

Which bellhousing are you using for the swap? I have a 1988 2.8 S-10 that the motor was bad in. So to keep the T-5 trans with a 4.3 engine, I found a 1990 T-5 trans and bellhousing from a GTA with 65,000 miles for a good price only to find that the F-body shifter is located 5" back from the stock T-5 location and the bellhousing is in the way of the exhaust on the driver side. I swap the gears out to fix the shifter location. Now I just need to take care of the bellhousing issue and clutch. Do you have the part numbers that you are using? TIA
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the saga begins (picture intense)

SY2455 said:
Which bellhousing are you using for the swap? I have a 1988 2.8 S-10 that the motor was bad in. So to keep the T-5 trans with a 4.3 engine, I found a 1990 T-5 trans and bellhousing from a GTA with 65,000 miles for a good price only to find that the F-body shifter is located 5" back from the stock T-5 location and the bellhousing is in the way of the exhaust on the driver side. I swap the gears out to fix the shifter location. Now I just need to take care of the bellhousing issue and clutch. Do you have the part numbers that you are using? TIA
Not yet. The bell housing from the f-bodies is offset .... the tranny is on a slight angle, which I do not think will work in this app anyway. I'm just going to pull one out of a early 90's S10 to use. I did want the shifter back though (the difference is just a shade under 8" according to Borg Warner's dimensions )
 

SY2455

70's Veteran
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the rebuild saga (picture intense)

You have to be careful which bellhousing you get because most of the early S-10 had the Munice 5 speed with the 4.3 engine. If you can locate a 1987 to 1989 Astro or Safari van with a 4.3 that would be great because they used the T-5 trans. I still trying to locate one as well. If you find two let me know and I will do the same for you.

If you are using that F-body trans as is, you will find that the F-body bellhouse will work as is. Do to the fact the mount on the trans is machine at a angle to work with the F-body bellhousing. If you not sure what I am talking about look at the tailshaft housing when you have the trans mounting hole at the front parallel to the ground.

You may want to get a T-56 from a 1993 to 1997 F-body instead.
 

jjorgensen52

NHSTE - I'm the only one!
Re: Sonoma GT 519 - the rebuild saga (picture intense)

SY2455 said:
You have to be careful which bellhousing you get because most of the early S-10 had the Munice 5 speed with the 4.3 engine. If you can locate a 1987 to 1989 Astro or Safari van with a 4.3 that would be great because they used the T-5 trans. I still trying to locate one as well. If you find two let me know and I will do the same for you.

If you are using that F-body trans as is, you will find that the F-body bellhouse will work as is. Do to the fact the mount on the trans is machine at a angle to work with the F-body bellhousing. If you not sure what I am talking about look at the tailshaft housing when you have the trans mounting hole at the front parallel to the ground.

You may want to get a T-56 from a 1993 to 1997 F-body instead.

I hadn't noticed that, but I know that the trans is actucally rotated counterclockwise in the F-bodies. Oh well, I will see how it goes. Bellhousings do turn up on ebay from time to time, but I figured since I was going junkyard scrounging for a flywheel and clutch parts anyway I'd just grab it then.
Also, I could've sworn the muncie (M500 / MV500) was in the later trucks and had a single piece case....
 
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