Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

The sensor isn't the fragile tall plastic one. I've broken my share of those. It's a tiny metal one from the Ls2 valley pan. I replaced the oil pump with a melling 295 unit. I used the correct o-ring (i read the instructions because it came with 2 different o-ring options). The pick up tube has a groove for the o-ring. To the best of my knowledge i didn't pinch the o-ring. The problem is I'll have to pull the engine back out to check.

When i primed it the first time, i filled the port to the oil galley, left the injectors and coil packs disconnected and cranked it several times, looking at the gauge on the dash, waiting for it to move. Nothing. I watched a YouTube video by melling saying exactly what i already did. So i took a quart of oil, put the tip from a gear oil bottle on it, stuck it in the hose in the galley and poked a vent hole in it and let the whole thing drain into the oil galley. I fired it up two or three times with the injectors and coil packs connected. It fired right up, but sounded like silverware in a dryer. Never got oil pressure.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

shiiiit

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Well i tried. I dropped the oil pan and raised the engine about an inch. It seems like the mount tab for the pick up tube is bent. I tried to straighten it. I double checked the o-ring and there was no damage. I put everything back together, primed it and it had 40 psi right away. But the valve train didn't quiet down any and a few seconds later the oil pressure was back to zero. Looks like the engine has to cone back out.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

That sucks..........

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

in that one picture with the mirror is certainly doesn't look seated all the way. With how your tube mount is bent, I'd say it's not getting fully seated and staying seated, that's why you had pressure for a second, then it worked loose and sucked air again. Pick up one of these pick up tube supports, https://www.google.com/search?q=ls+o...client=gws-wiz c

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Oh noes :(

Such a heartbreaking feeling. I've pushed projects off to the side for months from similar setbacks. So hopeful, then... pfffft.

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Don’t y’all worry fellas. It’ll be back up and running soon enough. I can assure you he isn’t going to let this old turd of a jeep stay parked for that long

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Biketopia, i literally ordered one of those along with another pickup tube and a front diff with a 3.42 ratio. It'll all be here next week. My dad said he'll swap the ring and pinion in the rear while I'm in Indianapolis for work this weekend.

MadKidd did tune my wagon for my trip to Indy. I had an intake gasket leak that burned off one of the electrodes, causing a low rpm stutter under load. I swapped plugs and intake gaskets and she purrs like a kitten when cruising and pulls like a freight train when you launch it.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Dang the bad luck...
I had to change the oil pan on mine to a vett style...I havnt cranked it yet, but I was worried after I had issues getting the new pickup tube in..I'll sure keep a eye on it

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Yay oil pressure!!!!

I came home from work and was going to pull the engine back out. I did a quick search to see if anyone had successfully pulled the oil pan without pulling the engine. The search results were for a 2wd, but it gave me the hope to try. I separated the front diff from the pan and secured it with a strap. The instructions online told me what sizes the bolts were and to let the steering rack dangle from the drivers side bolt.

With the pan off, I compared the new pickup to the old one. The new one was a few inches too short, so I decided to repair the old one.

I used a short 1/2 inch drive extension to hammer into the tube to pull the bend out of it. I replaced the o ring and installed the oil pickup clamp I got from eBay.

I swapped the 4.10 front differential for a 3.42 unit I bought online (verifying the ratio before I installed it). I primed the oil galley again and filled the engine oil. Another friend of mine said it took him 3 minutes to get oil pressure on an ls swap he did, so I was mentally preparing myself to do that. I hit the key and it had 45 psi almost immediately!!! Eureka!! I let it run until the engine reached operating temp and checked for leaks while it was running. Now I just have to put everything back together and get it tuned.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

good deal!! Was the pick up just bent and not allowing it to seat/seal correctly?

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Because I was working with the pan dangling and not able to really see, I'm guessing when it tightened up that it was actually binding and bending the pick up tube. Using the inspection mirror, I could see the o ring which tells me it wasn't seated properly.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

glad you got it figured out without having to remove the engine again!

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Looks like the gto pickup tube, you should recognize that from the Lincoln. And I guess that means soon enough we will play with the jeep

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

I got the front suspension put back together with new cv axles and hubs.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

With the front end put together, I had to figure out the ring and pinion to get the lash where it needs to be. Having never done this before, there's been a lot of googling going on. I practiced with the original bearings and races. Now that I think I know what I'm doing, I'll replace the bearings and hopefully put it all back together for the last time.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

So after watching a really informative YouTube video with step by step instructions, I realized my dad is guessing at best and I didn't know anything about what I'm doing.

So I replaced the races for the pinion bearings and the carrier bearings. I started with the factory shims, but there was no lash. I played with the shims on the carrier until I got the lash within spec (0.003-0.010 with 0.005-0.007 being ideal). Correct me if I'm wrong, but the pinion shim needs to come out because it's too close to centerline.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

believe id take out a pinion shim and readjust the backlash

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

I'm really no help. But, that pattern doesn't look good to me. You're braver than me....

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

I've never done one before, so I'm trying to do as much research as I can. The whole Jeep body on the trailblazer floor pan was just math to me. This is no different. X shim equals Y back lash. The hardest part was getting started and digging in. Now that I'm inside it, it's not so scary. I've got to get everything dialed in before I replace the pinion bearings. My dad ground down the inner race of the pinion bearings so it slips on and off while I figure out the adjustment. Once I figure out where everything belongs, I'll press the new pinion bearings on and assemble it (hopefully) for the final adjustment.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

That right there is one of the best tips I've gotten over the years for setting up a rear, it's sooo much better than thinking you have it and realizing you need to remove a bearing again.

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

And I can breathe a sigh of relief now. I took the pinion shim out and it centered the contact pattern. I got the back lash within 0.008 with the old bearings. I pressed on the new bearings and got it within 0.005 and the pattern looks perfect. Having never set up a ring and pinion before, I can say with all honesty it's not scary at all. You need an inch/lb torque wrench, a dial indicator and a micrometer. There's a lot of taking it apart, adjust the shims, repeat the process of getting the pinion preload within spec, install the center chunk, set the back lash, paint the gear teeth and check the pattern.

I used royal purple max 75w90. I was all ready to take a road trip, but I was informed that I have to break in the new gear set before any hard acceleration or towing can be done. I looked it up and, sure enough, there's a 100 mile break in period. Drive 15 miles not exceeding 60 mph, let it cool down for 30-60 minutes. Then it suggests changing the gear oil after 500 miles.

I did take it down the road to put gas in it. Using my gps on my phone, the speedometer is off by 20%. 50 mph on the dash is 60 mph on the gps. I'm excited to break in the gear set and get it tuned and find out where kind of mileage I'm getting.

-Josh

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

Looking good!

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

If you wanted good fuel mileage, you should have bought a Honda CRV

Re: Jeep Trailblazer SS
 

I just wanted better that 11-14. I'm hoping for the 16-20 range.

-Josh