Introducing.... Sleep-a-Rado

Sorry for the long post, but this has been a project years in the making and finally at a point that I can get it done.

I have been posting, searching, and reading so much my eyes are bleeding, so I am ready to finally start a project thread on my baby.

It is a 2000 Silverado 2WD RCSB that originally came with the 4.8. I did the standard 6.0L swap with an older side-mount Whipple and it was nice, but I just yearned for more (much like most people in the forums).

So, this V2 is going to the be the real deal. As soon as I got the 4L60 rebuilt for the 3rd time I thought I was good to go until I developed a knock in the lower end. The rebuild had less than 1000 miles on it.

Now, time for the good stuff. I decided to save a little money and even though most people were going turbo, I engaged PSE superchargers to rebuild my current Whipple as it had a wobbly main pulley, so $1700 later, I have basically a brand new Whipple on the inside. Just kept my same case and vacuum modulator.

I guess before I ramble on too much, I should explain my goals. This is not a DD, but going to be a toy/tow'er which is going to look completely stock (yes, even rims). I plan on pulling a 3000lb boat with it and so I needed something that would be fun, but also functional and that's another reason I decided to stay with the Whipple for the low end torque.

To accomplish this, I am going to 408 with the Whipple and a few other goodies.

Hopefully even though it is 2.3L, I can get 10-15psi out of it.

Here are the mods:

Purchased and ready:

• Used my current LQ4 block and tore it completely down.
• Bored over .030"
• 317 Stock Heads with Comp Lifters and Comp Springs
• Wiseco dished 4.030" 9.5:1 CR pistons
• SCAT Q-Lite 6.125" Rods with ARP 2000 bolts
• Callies CompStar 4.00" 24x reluctor crankshaft
• Comp 230/238 .600 .603 @ 114 (Spec'd by Comp to maintain towing ability)
• Melling High Volume, High Flow Pump
• Cloyes single timing set
• ARP Head studs and cam bolts
• Clevite Tri-armor coated Main and Rod Bearings
• All new sensors in the block.
  
• Whipple 2300AX completely rebuilt by PSE Superchargers in OK. Only thing reused was the case and vaccum modulator.
  
• Fully built 4L80E by Kustom Transmission in Denison, TX. (Very knowledgeable guy and very, very nice)
• Circle D 278mm 4L80E Torque Converter 2800 stall
• Tru-Cool 40K with all black stainless braided lines (Mounted to the radiator support, not sure why most guys don't do this!!)
• 1000cc at 43psi FIC Injectors (with the EFI data!!)
• Pacesetter 1-7/8" LTs Tri-Armor
• Volant CAI with Scoop
• Intercooler Kit - CX Racing 31x12x4, putting it in like Atomic, which means cutting the hood support. This is going to be the most challenging part, routing the tubes.
• Tuning with EFI Live V1 going to COS3 and SD tune.
• 34" Radiator w/ '05 Efans
• Painting the block using Duplicolor Cast Aluminum and Cast Iron enamel
• Custom Intake Plate to make tubes connect at right angle instead of left.
• Stock harmonic balancer notched by fab guy to accept the new Callies crank
  

Things that still need to be purchased and/or decided on:

• Exhaust system past headers - Wanting to go full custom dual exhaust. Have a quote from a local muffler shop and they are going to do the piping for $625 from headers back with me providing the cats and mufflers.
  On the exhaust, I am wanting to sound aggressive, but not really abnoxious, so just need to find a good muffler for this. Thinking about going with Corsa (if they offer mufflers by themselves and not part of a kit) or Borla.
• Driveshaft - Custom 5" built driveshaft by local shop capable of being spun up a lot more than the flimsy stock shaft.
  
  

I have been taking a lot of pics, so instead of trying to post them here, I will link to my album.
Still need to add some comments, but I think you guys can figure most of this out.


Sleep-a-rado


So, that is it for now. I could use a little help on the deciding stuff if anyone would like to chime in or if you just want to leave a comment, that would be awesome too!

 

Got the garage cleaned up and going to install the transmission tomorrow.

Could use some suggestions on what everyone thinks I should do for spark plugs.

 

Very nice build and overall great choice in parts! That thing is going to be a torque monster!

I am doing a similar build (just waiting on all the parts to come in). I have a 2000 Silverado 2WD RCLB with 4.8 and going with a 76mm turbo and other goodies.

 

Thanks man, I was hoping for some good torque, mainly for towing.

I debated on whether to go turbo or not, but for the low end, I decided to stick with the Whipple.

 

I'm definitely no expert. But I have been running tr6's for a few years with no problems at around 12-13 psi gapped at .032. Idles well and doesn't stumble at my boost levels.

 

We need pics!! I'd run a bit smaller cam if I were going to be towing but should work fine with that many cubes. Again, we need pics!!

 

Pics are in the album that is linked man. I didn't put any on here cause I have a ton!

Let me know if you can't see them for some reason.

 

Those are the plugs I ran before and had pretty good luck. I only ran them because I was trying to run nitrous though.

Any one ran iridium or platinum plugs with 10-15psi? How do they run?

 

Ok, after some more reading, I think I have decided to go with the BR7EF's because multiple people are saying the non-projected tip is better.

We will see! Next thing is the exhaust.

Anyone have any suggestions on whether I should remove CATs? I am going to be tuning SD, so I won't need O2's or the CATs, but I am concerned about not having enough back pressure with 3" pipe.

Any comments?

 

You need the O2s for closed loop. Closed loop and SD are apples and oranges. SD just means no MAF sensor.

This still the side mount whipple or the top mount? With a blower you do not want any backpressure. I would do dual 3" pipes to a single 4"