Proz07's Black Pearl build

[ThatBostonGuy]

What a beast!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I don't know how I missed this build. Very nice.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I just finished going thru the whole thread. I really like your fab work and attention to detail, and that you take the time to describe what your doing. I really wish I was able to follow from the beginning as I would have had a bunch of questions. The one that sticks in my head is;
On the crossover pipe, why did you put in a flex coupling?

 

[proz07]

I just finished going thru the whole thread. I really like your fab work and attention to detail, and that you take the time to describe what your doing. I really wish I was able to follow from the beginning as I would have had a bunch of questions. The one that sticks in my head is;
On the crossover pipe, why did you put in a flex coupling?

in hopes to keep the pipe from cracking from the heat and flex. honestly i built it without gaskets so on assembly it got a bit tight so we will see if the heat cycles have 'adjusted' the flex pipe otherwise ill be cutting and adding a new pipe section to get it more neutral. Some get away with no flex but I er on caution as i would rather do it once. but data will rule all as im adding all kinds of exhaust back pressure sensors and stuff to know when a part is a limiting factor. Its my science experiment and with just starting to tune this thing ive learned tons!

-Z

 

[Jim Oaks]

I can't wait to see this finished so I can feature it!

 

[proz07]

OK update time....still runs and rips!
Been reeling the AF in as you can see in the first boosting video here that it was a bit rich. But been driving it everyday and trimming fuel here and there and it responds extremely well. Also after the 1st 10 gal of 93 i swapped to E85 as i up the boost. First boost vid, Dark as i ran out of gas twice when i tried to drive to the gas station on first actual drive...we now have fuel guage!

20180708_223802 by Z S, on Flickr

After a day or two and 5 gal of E added turned up slowly to 8psi and didnt want to tempt the stock plugs from the motor any more (original from when i pulled it out of the guys yard) So pulled plugs, did compression check for baseline health before i push more boost. Plugs are a bit hot so good call, put in some TR6 plugs which should be good through 14-15psi where i expect to run out of injector. which will be another upgrade time after the rest of the truck is sorted.

Stock plugs after some 8 psi pulls, toasty.
20180719_013641 by Z S, on Flickr

And compression so we continue as nothings hurt yet!

20180719_015812 by Z S, on Flickr

Also did some extra I/O wiring so i can without a doubt tell what failed when she goes. Added Deutsch cannon plug for the I/O. Added Coolant press sensor, oil temp sensor, crankcase pressure sensor, and pre intercooler temp sensor (waiting for plug on that one still). Later plans will be a roving exhaust back pressure sensor or two. Dont want to necessarily leave them hooked up as they have a tendency to not live due to heat. but need to know when the turbo manifold and exhaust become a restriction.

Cannon plug with semi cleaned up wiring.

20180726_133132 by Z S, on Flickr

Coolant press, with 16psi cap pressure reaches 20psi when hot and rapidly drops once moving closer to 6-7psi if i remember. good baseline, when we start seeing 35PSI + spikes its time to back down on the timing/boost as we're lifting heads and starting to push water. Datalogging is fun if youve never done it.

20180722_154755 by Z S, on Flickr

Oil temp sensor off the turbo oil feed block.

20180720_230207 by Z S, on Flickr

Pre intercooler temp, cant wait to get this one tied up as i wanna know how this Vibrant core is holding up so far. I suspect it will be small for end goal but should be good to 600.

20180722_154523 by Z S, on Flickr

And Crank Case pressure sensor. Ended up drilling a valve cover bolt boss for it. Was concerned the sensor would pick up the air movement off the valve spring under it but so far hasnt been a worry. Also it has shown be that at 10 psi i have a max of 2.5psi using the vibrant exhaust scavange tap that i have currently. Not what i wanted to see so more testing will come on that once i get the exhaust backpressure setup going. May need to move the scavange further down or larger one, not sure yet. But i do know with the scavange line off venting to atmosphere i get 0 psi at 10# boost so something will have to change on that setup later.

20180726_133138 by Z S, on Flickr

After all that filled up with 10 gal of E and was at 56% so good to go up them boosts!! ran a day or two at 10 psi then pulled the TR6 plug to check and heres the results. Much better and good timing for where we are at. safe and fun!

20180724_005209 by Z S, on Flickr

Now this is also the time i found out i have a problem that will need to be fixed eventually. my Driveshaft is too long... Im tickling critical speed at just about 100mph. if you look the C/S for my shaft is about 5500rpm so i did a 4th gear datalog and right at 100mph when i start getting a high freq vibe the driveshaft is at 5k rpm... Going to have to go 2 piece at some point i think. VSS1 is MPH FYI

20180724_230158 by Z S, on Flickr

And driveshaft speed calc... hard truth that you will use math in your adult life...

20180724_125832 by Z S, on Flickr


And one more I was able to get my truck weighed. Specs 5.3 GM gen 3 swap w/ t56, 7875 billet turbo, with 1/2 tank of E85 (10gal) No interior.

Screenshot_20180724-183909[1] by Z S, on Flickr

So as is fine tunning the AF tune and playing with the boost controller duty cycle so i can use the numbers to set up boost by gear/mph/throttle position and launch/traction control later on. but theres all kinds of algorithmic maps ill need to play with later on those. Just playing with basic duty cycle maps so far. Bumped it up tonight so should get a couple pulls on the way to work at 12 psi. Need to get more E though as i ran the tank down to try and get my % up a bit higher.

Z

 

[proz07]

I can't wait to see this finished so I can feature it!

That would be pretty cool, usually features want nice trucks. lol

Z

 

[proz07]

UPDATE: Well Im moving to TX in the next month so between the move and tools in storage etc may not have too many updates till i get settled again. so did some last of the changes till i move. I actually intend to drive it with possible trailer as well so may get some trailer burnouts if I do.

First up finally did the first oil change after the swap etc, probably too long as after i changed it i picked up 15psi oil press at idle lol guess the fueled down sludge from original reassembly needed to get flushed. But heres the filter full of sludge after 600ish miles from my JY engine. puring like a kitten now, but i may use this as arefference when my press starts dropping its time to r2 since im using E-85.

20180819_190118 by Z S, on Flickr

Doing some minor house work got this glorry shot using my truck as a truck.

20180821_170724 by Z S, on Flickr

20180821_174920 by Z S, on Flickr

Also put it up on jacks to do a leak and bolt check now that its got miles on it. Found the rear leafs had settled now and my caltracs were giving way too much preload loading the front suspension. So re adjusted and g2g now that the power is getting to the wheels it boils the tires off in 3rd as boost comes in so thats fun.

20180822_200326 by Z S, on Flickr

And since I kind of jacked up the rear window welding the tunnel in and needed to replace the left quarter window i r2 those as well so i can get tint done before i move.

20180822_215819 by Z S, on Flickr

ANd of course neeeded to make poor choices and leave my mark on this shop before i leave.

Video:
Cut1_1 by Z S, on Flickr
Results:

20180822_231823 by Z S, on Flickr

SInce i cant play with the crank case evac as moving is a lot of work I opted to just atmosphere dump my CC vent for now and will re attack in TX.

20180822_200254 by Z S, on Flickr

ANd in prep for future stuff Bluetooth brakes and another block that will be getting gen IV internals on the road to 800hp!

20180826_183042 by Z S, on Flickr

20180828_201459 by Z S, on Flickr

ANd then tint so ill end this with some glory shots. 5% rear and quarter glass and then 15% on side windows.

20180830_155326 by Z S, on Flickr

20180830_155342 by Z S, on Flickr

20180830_155350 by Z S, on Flickr

20180830_155311 by Z S, on Flickr

LEt me know what ya think. ALso with tunning ive ended up at about 13.5# for now as i dont want to push 20 in the middle of moving so its safe and i can run both e85 and 93 back to back with this tune for travel outside of Flex fuel stations. In my local town they only have E70 in the pump, although i have a buddy that says a few towns up has true E85 but its way out of my way and doesnt get me any benefit in octane so no point.

Z

 

[proz07]

Last of the year update: Moved to outside of San Antonio TX with the truck. still getting setup but making progress. Late Oct flew to LittleRock and had the truck loaded up with spare parts and tools since i was driving anyway might as well load stuff up.

20181021_110430 by Z S, on Flickr

Everything was going great till about 100 miles outside San Antonio where the truck threw a belt after the tensioner snapped... one of the few new parts couldn't make it 2k miles... had an uber run me around and back on the road 2hrs later.

20181021_183102 by Z S, on Flickr
20181021_222402 by Z S, on Flickr

And new $180 part and $100 uber... were back!
20181021_202951 by Z S, on Flickr

So also found a driveshaft shop here that knew what i was talking about with critical speed. They calculated my original shaft to have a 5250rpm CS, and i have datalogs to 5100rpm so it was only a matter of time. Had them split it and make a 2 piece so Ill actually be able to get some decent speeds. Modded by Driveshaft Specialist here in San Antonio.
20181222_104435 by Z S, on Flickr

ANd fabbed a quick crossmember out of scraps. May redo it later if i need to change to a solid carrier bearing vs the rubber mounted.

20181223_122142 by Z S, on Flickr

After a quick test no more vibe from the drivetrain up to 120 but may need to take care of a front end vibe with a wheel balance and rack alignment. But ill probable do that after I revalve the power steering pump as i beleive its slightly too high on pressure for the steering box vs the rack it originally powered.
20181223_131819 by Z S, on Flickr

Also soft scrubbed the truck to get all the loose paint and mold off so i can clear it this spring. But it was while i was doing the driveshaft so sat for 2 weeks and got some water in the ECU main power relay and drained my battery and killed the relay so that was a fun 30 min to find the issue as it was intermittent.
2 weeks of water and electrolysis killed this one.
20181224_143723 by Z S, on Flickr

So some things for next year that i got from a friend for a good price. Some 243 heads with double valve springs, ls6 intake, studs, ported TB, 2 different mild cams. One is an LSA which ill probably put in this motor then the other in my spare along with the heads and rest of the higher flowing gear. So engine configuration #2 will come spring I think with some gen 4 rods, LS3 lifters as mine are struggling currently and LSA cam. At that point the intent is to bump to 20# or max injector duty whichever comes first and at that time get it on a dyno. Then ill build the spare motor and track down some hi-imp 160lb+ injectors. And hopefully somewhere in there add a cage so i can finish the Heat/AC install and interior. Going to be a fun filled 2019 I think!

20181208_125742 by Z S, on Flickr

20181208_125413 by Z S, on Flickr

Merry Christmas and keep at it, projects only become more fun!!!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

$180 for a tensioner?

Good deal on the driveshaft, push come to shove for practicality it is hard to beat the two piece.

 

[proz07]

$180 for a tensioner?

Good deal on the driveshaft, push come to shove for practicality it is hard to beat the two piece.

I'd have to go back and check receipt but yeah it was mid $100 which I contribute to the vette tax as it's 06' vette accessories. Had no choice on the road that day. Original was from rock auto like $50 And we see how that worked out. New ones 4x as thick where it broke.

Ideally I didn't want a 2 piece but cost of a carbon shaft for this find of project mean it gets a 2 piece steel.

Z

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'd have to go back and check receipt but yeah it was mid $100 which I contribute to the vette tax as it's 06' vette accessories. Had no choice on the road that day. Original was from rock auto like $50 And we see how that worked out. New ones 4x as thick where it broke.

What brand was the one that broke? That does look a little dainty where it broke.

 

[proz07]

What brand was the one that broke? That does look a little dainty where it broke.

Looks like it was a dayco. It looks it bit also looks like it was either cracked or poor injection formed as well. Guess it was the rip through the gears getting on the highway that was finally too much. I was just glad it didn't damage anything at the time.

 

[proz07]

So the time has come to find out what this thing is really doing. Got a baseline and we shall see where it goes from here.

Video:
20190119_111112 by Z S, on Flickr

20190119_111401 by Z S, on Flickr

 

[Jim Oaks]

Holy fricken horsepower! Am I reading that right? 606hp at 5,250??