Project "Popeye"

[LEEVON]

Thanks ya'll!

e015475 the white wolf headliner is leaps and bounds better than the reproduction cardboard. Final fit is very good, I did trim a tiny hair off one end of the "front" piece for ease of installation. By the nature of the abs material it takes a little persuading, especially in the front corners. I had a helper, that's going to be necessary. I didn't use his door panels, my interior guy made some off the cardboard pieces as templates. I will get some pics when I can, tried 3x but the light was never good enough. If you happen to need a 47 to late 49 headliner set I have an extra, there was a mix-up.

[mcbassin]

Your interior turned out great! Very nice!!!

[e015475]

mine is a '49 GMC. I'd be interested in your extra headliner. PM me

[Duck1]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

700R4 is done! So much better driveability. It's quicker, smoother and highway cruising is no problem. Fries tires with ease. 70-75 is a sweeet spot. 80+ is no problem, but wind noise starts to take the fun away. I can't remember all the specs on the trans, but it's got standard upgrades like beast sunshell, boost valve, servo, pump mod, shift kit and I think upgraded steels and clutches. I managed to calculate the speedo gears dead-on also, that's a first. 4th gear lockup is accomplished by a single solenoid with switched 12v power running through the brake/cruise switch. Pretty seamless operation. I used the standard S10 4.3 torque converter. I think that alone makes the driving more enjoyable. They stall around 1800-2200. What I had behind the TH350 was approx 3200. The hardest part of the whole swap was adapting the FiTech linkage for a 700R4 kickdown cable. They are not made to accept them, I had to modify the linkage and create a custom bracket with the correct angle and pull length.

Can't wait to move on to some other small things for the cruising season. I keep a detailed list with "problems", "needs finished" and "wish list".

For future reference, you can use the setup for a Holley carburetor

[LEEVON]

Popeye is still around. Got some tattoos on his doors this spring.

[99 to Life]

that is killer.

[oldman3]

Leevon, looks great, driving it much?...Jim

[reaper71]

Looks really good!
Who did the letter work


Mark

[LEEVON]

Many thanks! Jim I don't drive it enough, but she gets some road time. Reaper71 Spencer Turner here in Springfield check out his FB page "Turner of Trades". I gave him the name and the "piston man" that I made and he took it from there. He also did the striping. Took awhile and cost a pretty penny in trade but soooo worth it!

[reaper71]

Spencer did my vintage cooler a few years back.

Really nice work


Mark

[mongocanfly]

Turned out great..!

[lgh1157]

Just read this whole thread, . . . . awesome stuff

L

[wolffcub]

As the creator / owner of White Wolf I am happy to hear you like the product! Truck looks sharp!

[Coach529]

So tell me more about this Fittech problem.

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by wolffcub

As the creator / owner of White Wolf I am happy to hear you like the product! Truck looks sharp!

Thanks a bunch! I am the guy who ordered two and later discovered that I was trying to install an early style in my late cab (long story). But my buddy Mike Burchett and I love the headliners! Thanks

Originally Posted by Coach529

So tell me more about this Fittech problem.

Hi Mike, it currently won't fire the injectors after it suddenly died on a drive. I have proper cranking voltage, fuel pressure, etc. I think I have a fried ECU. Without being able to test the proprietary ECU it's really just a guess. I am going to follow-along with Fitech on a troubleshooting mission mainly because I want the unit properly working for re-sale.

Initiallly I wanted the Fitech for fuel economy, drive-ability and the looks of my carb style engine. But its just not trouble free by any stretch. I only get 9-10 mpg in a truck that has computer controlled ignition, is perfectly geared and cruises at 2100rpm at 70mph. I can never start the engine easily. I have been through three expensive fuel pumps following ALL recommendations. High pressure external fuel pumps are trouble, period IMO. I spent many hours trying to tune for cold and hot start conditions, both in cold and hot weather...end result is I can have one but not the others. I spent many hours tuning for "tip-in", "decel" and "accel" function to find a fairly happy medium but still not nearly as smooth as factory fuel injection or carburetors. If you leave the handheld unit plugged in it has enough draw to drain a new battery in about two weeks. The plugs on the handheld are flimsy and straight and awkward. My truck wiring is top notch and I still have concerns with the unit about cranking voltage, grounding etc. It's just too much worry for something that is supposed to remove worry. It has taken the fun out of this truck. Some folks have zero issues, others don't mind the endless tweaking and tuning. I just don't want to mess with it anymore. I could install a stock 5.3 intake, PCM and wiring and be light years ahead.

Right now I am in the middle of swapping back to a carb with a simplified fuel system and electric choke, will post my progress soon!

[99 to Life]

honestly glad you mentioned the carb. Its so easy and reliable. I carbed this 4.8 and love it. Only issue is purchasing a trans controller. I did that and built my own TPS bracket (aftermarket ones are a rip) I got the TPS sensor online for like 10 bucks. I prolly get around 20mpg with this I'd assume.

I'v heard to many things about fitech to not want to use them. sure when it works its prolly ok, but look at the nightmare you are facing. I wouldn't ditched it after one fuel pump change. the MPG you were getting are not EFI worthy.

[LEEVON]

That's awesome, looks great. At 20mph I'd drive my truck a LOT more. It's not so much the gas $ but the small original tank combined with 9mph always leaves me worried about gas. I hadn't thought of the fact that a stand-alone trans controller would require TPS. Which reminds me of a couple more Fitech points!

- The tps would never register over 84% throttle even with it wide open at the unit
- I had to modify the linkage for 700R4...I mean come on if you're selling a carb replacement how is this not in the design?

[Coach529]

Thanks for the info. I had pondered one a couple times, but had heard very mixed reviews.

I will stay with my Carb.

[LEEVON]

If you do chose to experiment, they're all over marketplace and craigslist

[mongocanfly]

Yeah coach...just search fittech....almost ever opion is the same..

[reg3]

I know i'm a little late to the party, but great build! The door decal looks awesome!

[99 to Life]

I used the EZ TCU I like how on the handheld you can control everything. It also will tell you your speed, rpm and trans temp. Nice for referencing. I def rec them. Again for the TPS build a bracket and get one online. I can try and dig up the one I got, pretty universal I do believe.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 99 to Life

I used the EZ TCU I like how on the handheld you can control everything. It also will tell you your speed, rpm and trans temp. Nice for referencing. I def rec them. Again for the TPS build a bracket and get one online. I can try and dig up the one I got, pretty universal I do believe.

Post up the info if you do find it. It will be helpful to those w/questions reading through this thread.

[99 to Life]

did a very very quick search This is the style I used but found one for less and it was an OEM ac delco I think I got. they are 5-10V and I must have ran a voltage reducer or the system had one. Sorry I can't recall. But here is a link and some pics. Obviously carbing the LS you need the intake and MSD box. Now that setup will run over $600 if you buy them sep I think. The intake price went up. Id do this setup again, but it would also consider using the stock setup and harness also.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Throttle-Po....c100005.m1851

[LEEVON]

Well, she's back to carb again. I removed the Fitech unit, wiring, O2 sensor, etc. I installed a Summit 600cfm vacuum secondary unit because I have had great luck with them. A little float tweak, idle speed and a tiny bit leaner and she's purring. Easy starts, smooth acceleration and more power. I didn't realize what I was leaving on the table with this engine, this little truck really moves. For fuel I have the bottom feed from the factory tank to a filter, pre filter and E8012S low pressure pump, then -6AN up to the carb with a pressure gauge. My only issue at this point is dieseling on shut-off, not sure if there is a way to resolve that with my MSD unit/timing.