TurboCharging my 89 GMC Sierra with a 5.3

[ForcedInduction]

Nice job of fabrication and documenting your progress. What vehicle did the upper radiator hose come from?

Thanks!
The upper radiator hose came from an 01 silverado with a 5.3

[Justin_Inc]

again, that is one sick truck/build. Makes me want to run out and start doing mine but i have ALOT of work before i get to that stage!

[ForcedInduction]

Wanted to post some pics of updated pics on my truck. these are just copied and pasted from the address from my first post.

This is the gauge pod in place with the EGT, Wideband and boost



This is the Turbo 400 Im rebuilding. I got it for $150 and was sold to me as a TH475. when I took it apart it had helical cut planetary gear set. Which means its a 400. No biggie tho. Here are some shots of it apart. I have the Trans brake and overhaul kit ready to go.




Finally some pics of the Megasquirt and MSD 6LS mounted. I know they are not straight, but Ill fix that



WOW! 2 months since my last post?!? Really??? I suck. Anyways, I do have random pics of some work that I have done. Ill have to upload them when im not being lazy. Items I have completed...

TH400 is done and installed with reverse manual valvebody and Transbrake.


"Double pumper" (dual fuel pumps) setup is done and tank back installed

Fuel Rails and injectors installed
Timing cover was removed and fitting installed for turbo drain

Turbo drain installed
A pillar Gauges installed

75% of all wiring done




Here are some pictures and a very short video I took today. The truck runs and moves on its own. I tried to drive it out of the garage the first time, but the truck didnt move at all. No forward gears, no reverse. I was worried my pump or Torque converter was no good, because I reused them. But after dropping the pan, it was obvious I forgot to connected the detent lever to the manual valve. Whoops! I has replaced the detent shaft(lever shaft) in the truck after rebuilding it. I was trying to swap the outside lever so it would work with my stock shifter when the shaft broke.
Anyways, After I reconnected the manual valve and got the truck started I had all my forward gears,transbrake and reverse. It works great. The transbrake I bought from REDNECK PERFORMANCE on ebay. I paid $300 bucks for it and am very happy with it so far. I wired my Transbrake to be activated by pressing the horn. I used a relay and a switch. The switch powers the coil side of the relay, when energized the circuit is opened from the horns and supplies 12 volts to the tbrake.







[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwT311j5bn4[/youtube]

Pics I took a couple days ago of wiring all done....

[r6z4o6]

[Wtfan18]

nice man! will you be at NH dragway at all this year??? im planning to go down before the cold comes!

[ducky]

damn that is a clean setup!

[ForcedInduction]

nice man! will you be at NH dragway at all this year??? im planning to go down before the cold comes!

Hey,
Sorry it took me me so long to respond. I had trouble logging in. I enter the correct password. The screen comes up that says somethin like... "Now logging in ForcedInduction". When the page reloads, im not signed in. does this on diffrent computers. Anyone else have this problem?

Anyways, I plan on going to the dragway in a month or so. I have been driving it around town and tuning it and stuff.

I saw your thread! Pretty sick! Let me know when you goto the track. Ill get my buddy to go that also has a 5.3 swap in his 1990 Chevy C1500. With Z06 cam and nitrous. All 3 of us there would be pretty cool!

[rutroe]

Nice work!

[Wtfan18]

Hey,
Sorry it took me me so long to respond. I had trouble logging in. I enter the correct password. The screen comes up that says somethin like... "Now logging in ForcedInduction". When the page reloads, im not signed in. does this on diffrent computers. Anyone else have this problem?

Anyways, I plan on going to the dragway in a month or so. I have been driving it around town and tuning it and stuff.

I saw your thread! Pretty sick! Let me know when you goto the track. Ill get my buddy to go that also has a 5.3 swap in his 1990 Chevy C1500. With Z06 cam and nitrous. All 3 of us there would be pretty cool!

a month huh thats about what im hoping... im supposed to go to oxford for the 8th mile on the 15th so hopefully that turns out okay. ive never been before to race so im sure it will be pretty new to me haha. ill let you know if im planning to head down.

[ForcedInduction]

I have 24 hours of drive time (about 2 months) on my project with minimal problems. My buddy and I were tuning my truck on the highway a few days ago. He was doing 3rd gear pulls while I was tuning. On the last pull the trans felt like it was being held back during engine braking. Then during light accel. We pulled over and there was trans fluid all under the truck and on the backside of the engine. We limped it back to the shop and had 1st and 2nd but third would act like someone was applying the brakes. At first I thought maybe a broken sprag in the converter, but it only did it in third, so that ruled that thought. Also Third is the only gear with engine braking. 1st and 2nd don't because I removed the intermediate band as part of the Transbrake kit.
Once I got back to the shop I put it in the air and found fluid everywhere, but no source. Did it comeout of the vent? whos knows. Cleaned up the area and topped off the fluid. (2 qts low) now I have 1st and Third, but no reverse, no second and no transbrake.(but the solenoid moves) Not sure whats going on....kinda sounds like cross channel leaks or something.
I had time today to pull the trans and take it apart. I usally take home a bunch of tools from work because I have a limited selection in the garage at home. But I didnt remember any of that on friday and ended up pulling the trans with all hand tools, which I havent done since I was 16. Alot of people do work at home without lifts and air tools. More power to you, because I was bitching. Before I pulled it I dropped the pan to see if there was debris. Look for yourself!





I was pretty sure what to expect when I got it opened up. Looked like broken case "lugs" in the pan.

Pics of trans removed and on the stand.



So, I was right. Broken Case lugs, Destroyed reverse band. Whole trans is ****ed. Time to buy another and rebuild!
Here are the pics!