WhippleRado gen 5 project ......

[rjw]

With the start date (7/28/28) rapidly approaching, I guess that it's time to consolidate into a single thread.

Target vehicle is a '15 Silverado LTZ, 4 wheel drive 5.3L, 6 speed auto w/ k&n diy air filter.

Goal is to get as much power to the wheels (550-600 rwhp) with a safe tune, using hpt and with the following items being gathered.

1) Whipple 2.9L tuner kit, with extra 6.2L parts and their latest higher volume IC pump, 4.375" and 4.0" pullies.
2) Dedicated motorsports harness w/ 3 bar map sensor
3) 91mm throttle body from a 6.2L
4) Autometer cobalt boost/vacuum and wideband gauges, Glowshift dual IAT gauge and Autometer 3 gauge pillar mounted pod.
6) hpt pro interface on windows 10 laptop, installed and working
7) 2 young wrenches and 1 old guy

In trying to learn about this gen 5 stuff, let me start by comparing the oem tune to a mail order tune that is currently in the vehicle and see what gives.

Here are the oem and mail order tune currently in the vehicle.

If interested, please comment on the changes made

thanks in advance

[SultanHassanMasTuning]

I personally would not run that mail order,

no fuel compensation
no torque table adjustment
no spark adjustment
fuel pressure settings stock

[LastPlace]

I personally would not run that mail order,

no fuel compensation
no torque table adjustment
no spark adjustment
fuel pressure settings stock

SultanHasssanMasTuning knows what he is talking about..... and also can set you up with a email tune to get you started safely.

[rjw]

I personally would not run that mail order,

no fuel compensation
no torque table adjustment
no spark adjustment
fuel pressure settings stock

let's remember that the mail order tune is for a stock NA vehicle, NOT at all for after the SC install

[LastPlace]

cool, looks like you got your answer.

[rjw]

cool, looks like you got your answer.

hopefully more thoughts on this??

[rjw]

Add to the list....

Injectors from 6.2L and non-restricted fuel line
LT4 camshaft

[rjw]

Anyhow, things are starting to heat up....we are currently in the middle of phase 1 and should be running tomorrow.

Still missing stuff for phase 2, but hopefully all will arrive next week...so far so good!!

[rjw]

Latest update:

WOW...what a steep learning curve on the hpt software and on this vehicle !!

anyhow, injectors are swapped out and without the $1000 worth of special tools. Valve springs are in as well

working on the cam swap, which has turned out to be interesting to say the least. For anyone with a similar motor and/or vehicle, the oil pump needs to come off of the front of the crank and that requires lowering the oil pan, which on a 4 wheel drive can be a bit lengthy....at the moment, I still have 1 almost unreachable bolt to loosen up (or grind a groove into the pan...(ouch)

here is an interesting link to the tty control valve solenoid problem that could crop up and throw tuning out the door

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=3663

outside of that I think that the unrestricted fuel line that was recommended, was a waste of money, in that the fuel rail entries have very small entry holes as well

more to come...

thanks to everyone here for all the help.....exhausted, but still on it and learning a lot....!!

[rjw]

correction: the oil pan does NOT need to be lowered and the oil pump can stay in place, as long as it's a wet sump system and you compress the chain tensioner AND leave the engine at tdc and mark the upper sprocket. Then after replacing the cam, line the upper sprocket to the witness mark. saves a ton of time.

fwiw: no details on cam swap online, so ended up using Chilton online for missing details, and while it has a lot of good info, cam swap steps start with 'remove the engine from the vehicle'.......lol

[SultanHassanMasTuning]

its nice to get your hands dirty once in a while

[rjw]

its nice to get your hands dirty once in a while

someone needs to do a detailed write up on these. The 2 sites I found on the Internet were somewhat vague. Only bought 1 special tool.....saved over $1500 just in tools, supposedly needed, but it was/is a bit tricky.

[Higgs Boson]

someone needs to do a detailed write up on these. The 2 sites I found on the Internet were somewhat vague. Only bought 1 special tool.....saved over $1500 just in tools, supposedly needed, but it was/is a bit tricky.

maybe YOU should do the write up! ;-)

[rjw]

maybe YOU should do the write up! ;-)

It might be beyond the average wrench....I'll let you know when I'm done

at the moment, the cam, springs, injectors are in, as well as the manifold and supercharger.

Rad and fans are still out (Yes, in this truck, the choice was rad out or chop an inch or 2 off cam)

also, sanded a couple of 5/16" wooden dowels to hold up the lifters, but the plastic lifter gizmos held up (wooden insurance)

should be running later....need some sleep first !!

[rjw]

Well, the truck is back up and running....and very well , right from the getgo, so we must have done something right !!

Let the tuning begin

[rjw]

creativity at work

[rjw]

exhaust system is done. Headers, true dual exhaust w/ balancing tube....3" front to rear, no cats, Borla xr's with side exits between rear wheels and running board. sounds like a Big block...lol.

[Higgs Boson]

nice!

[rjw]

thanks....you have to hear this thing....will put up some sound clips, somewhere, eventually.....totally different sound, low deep tone....lol

[rjw]

the muffler place charged next to nothing to fab the complete exhaust system

some pics of painted headers and driver's side exhaust

msd spark plug wires coming, I hear that you can bend the plug boots to 45 degrees, which is needed!!

header collector has fitting for chevy retard valve