I give up..either putting a carb on the ls1 or changing back to old SBC 700r4

[chevnut55]

I thought I was done with my 2 year 69 Camaro ls1 project. It was my dads since new and I took it to build us the best I could.
everything on my part came out great, it looks great and sounds great, but still too many problems I can not fix or even pay to have fixed as there are not too many trustworthy people in my area and almost none that can tune a car using technology..thats my weakness.
I am selling my house and need to call it quits on the 69. I had plans on taking my dad for rides and shows and driving it to fl. when I move..know I can not drive it across town. It went to the tuner last week now the check engine lights on again, it stumbles under load, will not idle up with a/c on so no a/c signal, tach signal not there to work tack, c5 brake booster bad, new tanks sending unit does not work,trans is making a clicking noise with speed stopping and taking off slow speeds and clunking bad shifting down to 1st, also the column vibrated bad between 25-35 mph, I just spend 5 months fixing other problems and every time I bring it to the tuner it does not change much, no answers a 2 week wait and $250+ gone...can keep doing it.



When I started it had a old small block and ran and drove fine . I put in a 10,000 mile c5 ls1 and a used 4l60e. I had problems with parts fitting, problems with anyone I needed to pay a service for from the harness guy to the ac hose guy and almost everyone in between.
Now I have some choices, I can build a shed over my dads and leave it until Im moved and settled for a few years and If I strill care try to find a good tuner/tech to help finish it. I could rip out everything I just did to do the swap and replace everything I sold or trashed to put a small block /700r4 in or just drop a carb on the ls1 and hop the thing runs.

This sucks I have built a lot of cars and This was suppose to be the best as its a keeper.. Do not know what to do but now Im screwed.

[Todd in Vancouver]

Ouch, it sounds like you are really frustrated with the whole thing. Sometimes a break is needed away from the car and just let your mind clear. I've been there, and I really get it so maybe putting the car in storage until you get settled and are ready to go back at it with fresh eyes. I could write a bunch of stuff about fixing the issues but if your pissed with the car there is no point. This is a hobby and therefore should be more fun than not. Take a breather and try and have a relax, it will all be OK and you will have an awesome ride to enjoy.

[David Pozzi]

With a carb, you will still need a timing computer to get spark. You will still be dependent on a tuner but will have spent more money. Maybe store it for a while and see if you still want to mess with it in a few years.

[alocker]

What are some specific problems?

With a stock motor, someone should be able to get a mail order tune spot on. As far as the harness, you need to work with a reputable vendor to make sure it's put together properly.

[chevnut55]

I went with a vendor from ls1 tech bp automotive, he took months instead of weeks, tuned it wrong the 1st time and re installed the vats the 2nd time.
The 2nd tuner is local and the only one around charged $250.00 to remove the vats and said to bring the car back to have it dynode and diled in witch I did a few days ago ,$250.00 more and he said he could not dyno it because he was scared of a brake booster leak that he blocked off and a trans clicking noise , so got it back shifting better and not stalling but a day later and its stalling stumbling and the check engine lights on.
I asked to have the ac and tach problem checked but he just said it must be wireing and did not check.
Problem with this stuff is its easy to pass blame than fix the problem or atleast check on it.
I really need to get it done before I move..I have been putting of the sale of my house and not taking in work for close to a year, Im now broke, pissed, the wifes pissed we lost a buyer, my dads pissed I took his car and now its wrecked to him so he does not want it back and I cant sell it or use it.
The motor is stock and there should not be any problems but it one after another.
1 no tach, even at the pcm, strange since the TBW works fine.
2 pcm does not recognize a/c request, I jumped the fan wire so the fan comes on so it could at least be charged.
3 breaks up pops and backfires under anything past 1/2 throttle.
4 brake booster leaks somehow, its off a 10,000 mile c5 and no vacuum.
5 no fuel gauge, everything is new ad good grounds, I traced it back to a bad sender from TANKs , now have to drop the tank to get at it.
6 trans clicking noise when slowing or speeding up and clunking bad when shifting down to 1st, but it shifts fine and is strong, no signs of problems but the dyno
guy will not put it on the dyno to fine tune it.
7 heavy steering column vibration between 25-35 mph , alignment is good, all parts are new tight and tires balanced.
I can do the booster and fuel gauge but the computer stuff is out of my reach and sick of waiting 2 weeks for the tuner and dishing out $$$$
If the trans is bad everything needs to come apart to change it and I can not do it now.....the rest I do not have a clue.
I wish I could pay someone to finish it for me while I do what I should be doing,cleaning out my shop to sell the house , but the only one that is in my area that would do a car like this is me.

[JEFFTATE]

Sounds like you've got a good car going there .
Just hang in there and it will work out .
Like David Pozzi said , put it aside for a while and come back to it.

[LUV2XLR8]

hang in there... where are you located at?

If the motor is completely stock... i understand the removal of vats... but there should be no reason for a tune.. unless the computer does not match the engine/car it came from.

have you checked your fuel pressure?..

LS's don't really like anything under 46lbs of pressure in turn possibly causing ur break up under load... if your running a fuel pressure regulator check that as well.. along with your vac. line going to it... give the regulator a few good taps with the back of a screw driver while rev'ing it.

[RobNoLimit]

I'm with David on this. A carb swap may end up being 'more $ for less car'. If this is a good stock eng, trans, it should be an easy fix. Once you get settled, try contacting the guys at "250tune.com" . they will probably ask you to send them the harness and the ECU. This will cost less than the price of the carb, and when done, run way better. Your close, don't loose hope just yet. Good luck.

[chevnut55]

Thanks guys.
The carb swap would cost more and there are still too many other problems anyway.
The fuel psi is good, it has a new in ls swap tank pump, the motor /pcm/old harness were all from a 10k mile 01 vette that ran perfect, I used all the best parts that others on this site used.
it did not break up after I left the tuner but after it sat with the battery disconnected over night.
I am swapping out the fuel sender and booster this week but what I need is a good tuner that has time to work with me on it. mabey I have a better chance in fl. than here in ma. to find help but I hate to ship it to my new home the way it is so it can sit in storage for years instead of driving it as planned and not taking my dad out in it after giving it to me is the worst part.
I really need to get it done at any cost.. well except moving or divorce, but I have a cool wife that helped me drop in the motors but she said enough because we were suppose to have sold the house or atleast had open houses and I sold a few other toys to be able to work on it all day full time for a year straight.
The new harness from bp automotive looked good but was a pain to make fit under the dash but it plugged in and ran, everything worked fine except for the tach and a/c wires... not shure if its a pcm problem or what but the trans noise scared me the most.

[Steve Chryssos]

All you can do is tackle one problem at a time. It's like that "One Day At A Time" saying, only different. If I were you I'd start with the vacuum leak. After that, I'd pull out that wiring harness and find myself a new harness builder. Some harness builders sniff a little too much solder and finding a great harness builder --and a great harness -- is important.

Sounds like you bought the engine harness from hell. Remove it and use it to make some Christmas lights or something else really happy. Then, every holiday season, while the lights are blinking at you from your old engine harness and the family has gathered round, you can remind yourself that one crappy buying decision can sometimes ruin a great project.
-- Don't worry about the AC today.
-- Don't worry about the transmission today.
-- Don't worry about the tach today.
-- Don't worry about the fuel gauge today.

Fix the vacuum leak, then the harness.

[andrewb70]

I agree with Steevo..

One problem at a time, otherwise you will drive yourself crazy.

I would make sure that the harness is good and that the you have it installed properly. Double check your grounds. Since it is a Vette engine make sure there is nothing wrong with the TAC module. Did BP specifically build a Corvette harness?

The only thing that needed to be done to the ECU is VATS delete.

Andrew

[rockytopper]

At least you have oil pressure after your swap, I had to completely pull my motor and trans 3 times and remove the oil pan and guess what it still had no pressure. I was at the point you are believe me but it worked out. Stay the course besides the pay off will get you trips with your dad that are priceless. Just like this little family outting we just had.
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...pin&highlight=

[chevnut55]

I had those problems already, not a big deal when theres still time and money.
The harnes was dieted by bp auto and the pcm was re programed 2 times by him the reprogramed 2 times by slowhawk here in ma.
I fixed the power brake problem and it stops great, I took my dad to a show with it last night and put a few miles on it.
It vibrates a bit the trans ticking stoped for no reason but came back when I put it back in the shop.
It ran like crap , anything past 1/2 throttle it farts and poops, idle sucks and did not have enough power to spin the tires.. but altest we got to drive it.
I tought I had the gas gauge fixed by using a different ohm gauge ,but it works backwards, TANKS sent me the wrong sender so I must drop the tank.
The vibration, I do not know where to start, the Tach and ac request and bad tune I belive its all in the programing that needs to be done by someone who gives a crap .
I can not install the stero until the tach works due to access . is there anywhere else to get a tach signal?

[rockytopper]

Your right after seeing it up close it's not worth it. I'd give up on it If I was you and sale it to me dirt cheap after all it doesn't even run

[Mr_Roboto]

Have you pulled plugs yet? Can probably learn a lot from plugs, such as if you're having any "single cylinder" issues. Breaking up under 1/2 throttle is interesting, did anyone hook a wide band or similar to it yet? Also does it act better if you're not hammering it but rather just going into throttle steadily? Have you pulled codes from this beast yet. Walk into Autozone and go "I have X Y and Z ECU" and try to see what codes you're getting. It's one of the advantages of having an OEM style PCM.

Datalogs would be way helpful as well as any wide band stuff you can muster. Something else I'd seriously look at is the MAF plumbing if you haven't gone full speed density on this. Supposedly turbulence around the MAF can cause issues as well, and leaking would definitely cause issues. If you're pulling in unmetered air after the MAF you're going to be adding too little fuel for the ECU. If you have data logs you can also see about checking for values that don't seem right (such as say a coolant sensor) and start trying to isolate issues with the harness that way. As bad as I hate to say it if you don't trust the harness get another one even if it's from a JY and you chop it yourself.

[67rally]

Who did your tune?

[LUV2XLR8]

send your ECM to Tim @ Schwanke Engines... He builds LS motors along with all of the tuning for short/dirt track cars... i'm positive he can point you in the right direction or tell you whats wrong (if anything) with your ECM... call him up.. he's a good guy. ... Phone: 800-423-6571

[Steve Chryssos]

That's a beautiful car. Keep after it! Dating a supermodel isn't all it's cracked up to be, either. Or so I've heard.

[chevnut55]

Thanks guys, that the before pict, but it only looks lower with bigger brakes from the outside now.
I had bp automotive program it 2 times then brought the pcm slowhawk racing in bridgewater ma. 1 time to remove the vats the bp put back on then brought the car back to him to get it tuned.
He did not put it on the dyno because the brake booster leaked and he blocked it off, it ran and shifted better but the next day it ran like crap again.
I also just found out the ac request and tach needs to be done in the programing wich he does not want to get into so I need to find someone in s.e. ma. that can work with me on straightening it out.

[Steve68]

Exactly what he said!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^

but crack and supermodels are all there said to be, and fun!!!!


and I'd get some money back from the yahoo who tunes it!!