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LS2 Hatch build


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#226 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 03 September 2013 - 09:56 PM

Well it's been a week and a half since I posted an update, and it feels like so much has happened. I have
changed one of the rear calipers due to a broken bleeder, then re bleed brakes, still a bit spongy but I will sort that later
changed the tacho to 4 cylinder, works a treat now, thanks to all for the help
Had the radiator filler neck moved from the face to the side to allow for the air intake pipe to pass by unrestricted
Installed the door cards
Installed the number plate light
And most important of all, had a safe arrival of a baby boy! I couldn't be happier

#227 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 03 September 2013 - 10:36 PM

Had the car in for a wheel alignment today. Drove it down no problem. On the way home it started to run hot, well at least I thought it was. My thermo fans are set to come on at 99 degrees. This to me is too hot yet I'm told it's normal. Apparently a VN V6 is set the same, as wellas many other cars. Anyone else know what theirs are set to?

It drives quite well, and is exactly what I set out to build. It's quick, but that quick that it's rediculously over powered. It very drivable, and not shy hen the go go pedal is stood on. My only issue now is that my alternator is over charging. It's giving out 15.6 volts. Need to sort this then back to the dyno.

Pictures when I can

#228 _greenmachine215_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 12:43 AM

Congrats on the baby, and getting behind the wheel, I bet your on top of the world right now.

I guess that's the last we hear from you for a few months, while you get practice changing shitty nappy's hahaa

I had a VX Gen3 that used to fry charging systems, and even burnt out half the wiring under the dash,went through 3 alternators and at 400 a pop it got dear so,I'd get it sorted right away. Always wondered if you could get a larger alt drive pulley to slow down the rpm of the unit?

Good luck with it all

#229 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 01:06 AM

Congrats all around (baby and driving) :D

 

On the fans, I know on the F body the computer turns on the fans at  a pretty high temp, and I decided to run mine at a more normal level..I have the first fan come on low at around 185 - 190 and it ramps up to full speed from there. Second fan comes on when temp hits around 215ish from memory or A/C is on. I have never heard the second fan come on with the a/c off as the primary one keeps the engine right.  Engine temp will sit right around 195 (which is the thermostat pretty much) on a hot day even which seems to make it happy. :)



#230 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 06:25 AM

Thanks for the well wishes guys.

How will slowing the alternator down via pulley size help? It produces 15.4/15.5 at idle, and 15.6 at highers revs. Not a lot of difference.

I don't know if my fans can be st up in two stages, but I like the idea.and 215 ish is where mine are coming on. 100 C is 212 F
I have put in a coolant with a boiling point of 130 C (266 F) do realistically it should be fine. Just hard or me to get my head around . I know the auto elec had the regulator in the back changed, so he is thinking that my be faulty and is organizing another for me.

Marcwhat was your problem in the end?

#231 76lxhatch

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 06:44 AM

I wouldn't be too worried about the fan switch temp as long as the engine temp always holds steady around that point. As you say decent coolant (and more to the point, pressure) raises the boiling point well above 100. If you had the option of dropping the on temp a few degrees then perhaps, but make sure its at least a few degrees above the thermostat temp (which is probably something like 91?)

Unless you have something oddball the alternator regulator shouldn't allow output to go over roughly 14V (usually between 13.8 and 14.2). Those numbers seem way too high to me, the regulator isn't working right.

#232 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 06:49 AM

Yes, sounds like something is wrong with the alternator...

 

I don't know how your's is setup...but with mine, I use the factory Camaro wiring to the alternator and it is controlled by the PCM I believe along with the regulator in it....might be worth getting the alternator checked though and maybe time for a new regulator for it. (or replace the entire thing, depending on cost there..and get a warranty on it that way :) )



#233 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 06:53 AM

Oh, and on the fans... I use the Spal controller on mine, and it is variable speed for the primary fan with adjustable on temps for both it and the secondary fan.  I didn't bother having the PCM fan control output changed and tried to run off it...seemed easier to use the aftermarket controller and adjust them when ever needed (if needed that is)

If your's are turned on by the computer, when you get it to the tuner, just have them change the setting for on temp if you wanted.. I know the OE's run them pretty warm, but I just couldn't helped dialing it back a little from there, lol



#234 _LS1 Taxi_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 07:44 AM

wow, heaps of progress.  Awesome work and congrats on the baby!! I'm told it's a life changer  ;)

 

Interesting you say about your alternator charging at 15.6v because mine is doing the same thing.

My alt has 3 wires coming out of it.  The big one to the battery, a single which goes to the idiot/trigger light on the dash, and a single which goes to +ve ignition.

Before I added the ignition wire, it wouldn't charge at all.  I don't run mine through the PCM so I'm interested in hearing what you find out to fix yours. Be sure to let us know    :P

 

I have my fans set to come on around 94 degrees C from memory...



#235 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 09:12 AM

You  guys aren't making me feel all to at home with all this Celsius talk :P



#236 _Matvex_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 09:29 AM

Congrads on the new arrival! 

 

Now keep the boy away from all these Torana's and Harleys, He wont have a dollar to his name if he gets into them  :driving:

 

Cheers,



#237 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 10:12 AM

I've got a Harley for sale if you want to give him an extra early start, ha ha..



#238 _LS1 Taxi_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 10:23 AM

I just checked the fan temps I got my PCM tuned to and my memory is clearly rubbish...

 

Fan 1 ON 213F(100c), OFF 208F(97c)
Fan 2 ON 226F(107c), OFF 221F(105c)
 
I'm not using the Fan 2 value and I've wired both fans to come on at 100C and off at 97C.
I thought I had it cooler than that   :mellow:


#239 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 10:28 AM

I wouldn't be too worried about the fan switch temp as long as the engine temp always holds steady around that point. As you say decent coolant (and more to the point, pressure) raises the boiling point well above 100. If you had the option of dropping the on temp a few degrees then perhaps, but make sure its at least a few degrees above the thermostat temp (which is probably something like 91?)

Thanks, I will find out where my thermostat is at and go from there. As soon as I sort the alternator I'm back to the dyno, so I will get him to change the temp setting just for my piece of mind

My alternator is not ran by the PCM, the auto elec replaced the reg with one out of an early LS1, Mitsubishi type I think, he is going to get back to me today on my next move. I don't like changing what someone else has done, it's their job not mine. I will keep you posted on this one.

I have also changed the throttle body. It runs fine so far with no cutting out. I drove it up a hill at about 5000 in second for approximately 5 seconds and no cut out. Even the tapping/ticking sounds of the lifters has settled down. My brother is coming over later to listen and check it out.

All in all it's coming together.


Matt, thanks for the well wishes, however, keeping him out of my toy shed won't happen. Along with my bikes, I also have two ski boats out there. My aim is to get him involved in all of them. HOWEVER, I will try to teach him not to spend un earnt money on cars and bikes as I did as a youngster. ( I'm saving so he can spend mine:) )

As always pics when I can

#240 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 10:31 AM

I just checked the fan temps I got my PCM tuned to and my memory is clearly rubbish...
 
Fan 1 ON 213F(100c), OFF 208F(97c)
Fan 2 ON 226F(107c), OFF 221F(105c)
 
I'm not using the Fan 2 value and I've wired both fans to come on at 100C and off at 97C.
I thought I had it cooler than that   :mellow:


I'm glad to hear this, makes me feel better, maye I should change my gauge to a colour scale and not a numerical scale.


Thanks anyway Jeff, but I have a chopper build in mind for me (him), I feel a 300 wide rear pro street chopper in orange and black coming on :))

#241 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 10:36 AM

I know a guy who had a 280 rear tired one, and he got sick of it...said it was too hard turning or something ? Like the bike always wants to go it's own way sorta from the really wide back.  I don't know though....last thing I rode was my old dirt bike waaay back when. I just pick up a stocky sorta Harley now and then to send over, lol

 

 

Oh, and if the alternator was swapped around, checking with the guy who did it is a good idea, just might need a new regulator is all though so not a really complicated fix hopefully!

 

And that fan temp of 212 to come on, sounds about what factory was from memory...so probably not all too bad. Like I mentioned, just like the idea of mine coming on a little bit earlier..



#242 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 10:51 AM

I've built 5 wide arse choppers so far, the widest being 280, and I have an erge to build the next one up. My others rode reasonable considering the configuration. I have raced each of the down the quarter and they have all been high 11's low 12's. 113 cube engines really get mobile !

My alternator is brand new, so the reg should resolve the issue. Time will tell.

If 100 (212) is nothing to worry about, time for me to reax. But I think I will turn them on abut earlier, I was thinking about 85-90 (180-190)

#243 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 10:56 AM

I run mine at 195 (to 200 I suppose) and feel quite comfortable with that... my truck..all stock ('11 with a 5.3 in it) runs at about 210...so obviously that is no worries for them.



#244 _Matvex_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 11:05 AM





Matt, thanks for the well wishes, however, keeping him out of my toy shed won't happen. Along with my bikes, I also have two ski boats out there. My aim is to get him involved in all of them. HOWEVER, I will try to teach him not to spend un earnt money on cars and bikes as I did as a youngster. ( I'm saving so he can spend mine:) )

 

Ha ha. I have the same view with my kids. (check my avatar) 

 

Shouldn't take you long to iron out yr minor issues with your hatch.  



#245 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 11:05 AM

Good to know. Thanks for the input, it's greatly appreciated

#246 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 07:33 PM

After a chat with auto elec he gave me a few things to check for him. It turns out the power from the ignition switch wasn't giving power. When I bridged from the main power from the battery to the terminal, all came good. Apparently if they don't get the correct power in, it causes them to over charge. So as it turns out we have found the issue, he just has to find the problem. In the mean time I leave the bridge wire and all is fine. He still wants to see the car to find why it had power and now doesn't. It's cut ally good to have someone working on the car that gives a shit.

Now it's time to book in the dyno again.

Once again thanks to those for there thoughts and in put to my problem.


Now for my next question,
What radiator cap should I run so that it works as a commodore would. As in, what temp rating should it be so it let's out and sucks back.the one I have on it now is off a HQ which as previously discussed runs at a different temp to this engine.
Any help would be great!

#247 ls2lxhatch

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Posted 04 September 2013 - 09:59 PM

The Tridon parts finder lists a 18 psi cap for the HSV VZ Monaro. The thermostat listed is TT456-187 which has an opening temp of 86 °C (187 °F)

 

http://www.elecspess...tegory=YHNAOIDA

 

The following are the LS2 GTO 05 computer fan control settings displayed by HPTuners.

 

89 °C = 25%
105 °C= 49%
109 °C = 51%
113 °C = 91%

 

 

According the Street & Performance the LS2 will run around 5.5 °C (10 °F) hotter than the thermostat opening.


Edited by ls2lxhatch, 04 September 2013 - 10:06 PM.


#248 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 09:43 AM

Do you use a water overflow bottle Andy? If so will it work as a scavenge as well?
I will see if auo barn or bursons has the radiator cap.

Thanks very much for the info

#249 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 10:10 AM

I run a 16 lb radiator cap with a recovery type overflow bottle, and works perfect. (I drove down to the beach last week and it was in the mid 90's out and car just sat right on the right temp there and back. (was even in the mid - upper 80's next to the sand, warm for there, ha ha)



#250 _LS2 Hatch_

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Posted 05 September 2013 - 10:31 AM

The Tridon sie is brilliant thanks a lot for that one. I will keep it to refer back to.
With the info from the site and given here I will now get my fans set to come on at 95C (203f) then off at 90 C (194 F)
Now I just need to purchase the recovery bottle.

Jeff that makes it low 30 C, I like the idea of cruising in that temp and having no problems. At the moment around my place is around the 68 F mark. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather.

Thanks gain to all




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