Hello from California!
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 2:03 pm
It's been about 1-year and a week since I purchased my 2005 H2 SUV. It's in Stealth Gray Metallic and features the Luxury and Adventure options. I purchased it with about 78K-miles on it, and have LOVED driving it from then to about the middle of October when I believe I torched a piston (more on that later)... The original owner didn't add too much to the truck, except what looks like a Stage-1 type package, consisting of a Volant Cold Air box and Corsa (Touring) catback. I've added a few things myself to make it my own.
Before burning the engine down, I added a 20K-lb tranny cooler, and bypassed the radiator cooler. I changed torsion keys and lifted the nose about 2-inches or so (the air springs seemed to compensate a bit, too). Because the lift brought the front wheels in closer to the body, I added 2-inch wheels spacers on the front and half-inch spacers on the rear. I thought I'd give electric fans a shot to get a little better fuel efficiency, so I installed a later model dual electric fan assembly controlled by a Derale fan controller (I'll be switching to a Nelson Performance harness so the PCM can then control the fans). I added some LED indicator lights to show me when the fans come on. I added a 160*-thermostat. I've by-passed the TB since it doesn't get too terribly cold down here. I added HID headlight bulbs, changed the DRL-bulbs to LEDs, added a set of PIAA LED 530 driving lights. I enjoy tunes via a Pioneer HU driving Kicker speaker in all the OEM locations (except the A-pillars and the OEM-subwoofer) integrated into the OEM BOSE system and added a couple 12s in the back running off a Polk amp'. I spiced the interior up with a full set of LED bulbs, including the shifter. I think I'm going to look into LED-ambient lighting in the future...
As far as the powertrain, I am wrapping up replacing the OEM-LQ4 with a hybrid of sorts. I purchased an ATK-short block through Summit, and have added a TR Cheater Cam (v3), LS3-cylinder heads (replaced the OEM-springs with 26918s), a dual-roller timing set, all new lifters and trays, and Comp Cams pushrods. I added a set of used L92-fuel injectors. I'm running a 6-liter truck intake manifold to match the heads, and modified the PCV and evap' systems to work with the OEM systems. I ported the 87-mm TB, and replaced the manifolds with a set of mid-length headers from a 5.3L GMFS. I had to modify the OEM head pipes to get the headers to work. Finally, I'm running some Taylor wires and Diamond Fire plugs. I'm currently working with a tuner to get this baby tuned correctly.
That's really about it. I'm worried about tearing up the OEM 4L65E, but have just added a Corvette Servo' and will be optimizing the tranny tune to eliminate all the slip to keep heat to a minimum. Otherwise, I'm working on breaking the new engine in and hope to get it on the road this weekend and drive it for the first time since October.
Thanks!
Chuck
Before burning the engine down, I added a 20K-lb tranny cooler, and bypassed the radiator cooler. I changed torsion keys and lifted the nose about 2-inches or so (the air springs seemed to compensate a bit, too). Because the lift brought the front wheels in closer to the body, I added 2-inch wheels spacers on the front and half-inch spacers on the rear. I thought I'd give electric fans a shot to get a little better fuel efficiency, so I installed a later model dual electric fan assembly controlled by a Derale fan controller (I'll be switching to a Nelson Performance harness so the PCM can then control the fans). I added some LED indicator lights to show me when the fans come on. I added a 160*-thermostat. I've by-passed the TB since it doesn't get too terribly cold down here. I added HID headlight bulbs, changed the DRL-bulbs to LEDs, added a set of PIAA LED 530 driving lights. I enjoy tunes via a Pioneer HU driving Kicker speaker in all the OEM locations (except the A-pillars and the OEM-subwoofer) integrated into the OEM BOSE system and added a couple 12s in the back running off a Polk amp'. I spiced the interior up with a full set of LED bulbs, including the shifter. I think I'm going to look into LED-ambient lighting in the future...
As far as the powertrain, I am wrapping up replacing the OEM-LQ4 with a hybrid of sorts. I purchased an ATK-short block through Summit, and have added a TR Cheater Cam (v3), LS3-cylinder heads (replaced the OEM-springs with 26918s), a dual-roller timing set, all new lifters and trays, and Comp Cams pushrods. I added a set of used L92-fuel injectors. I'm running a 6-liter truck intake manifold to match the heads, and modified the PCV and evap' systems to work with the OEM systems. I ported the 87-mm TB, and replaced the manifolds with a set of mid-length headers from a 5.3L GMFS. I had to modify the OEM head pipes to get the headers to work. Finally, I'm running some Taylor wires and Diamond Fire plugs. I'm currently working with a tuner to get this baby tuned correctly.
That's really about it. I'm worried about tearing up the OEM 4L65E, but have just added a Corvette Servo' and will be optimizing the tranny tune to eliminate all the slip to keep heat to a minimum. Otherwise, I'm working on breaking the new engine in and hope to get it on the road this weekend and drive it for the first time since October.
Thanks!
Chuck
