got my ty back and its running like crap

1SLOSUV

New member
so i sold my ty two years ago and bought it back about a month ago. the guy who bought it from me popped the stock motor and put a carquest crate motor in it and now it sucks. the truck is building boost way slowly and doesnt come out nearly as hard. truck has a 160 thermostat, ultimate chip, build trans with 2500 stall, full 3 inch exhaust, custom cai, mccoy fpr, turbo xs dual stage boost controller, walboro 255pump, most free mods. i am getting lots of knock at about 15-17 psi when it actually boosts, on 110 octane. whats my problem and how do i hotwire the aftercooler pump?
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Dodge Caravan picture
 
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SY2932

Administrator
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

91blazins10 said:
The carquest crate motor is your problem

DITTO. Dollars to doughnuts that the compression ratio is for a N/A 4.3 which means it is almost a full point higher than what a syty motor should be. Drive it like a true syty and expect the life expectancy of that motor to be measured in days or weeks at best.
 

SeattleSy#1255

Category 5 Conservative
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

new motor time...don't even waste your time and money trying to figure it out. Get a motor build and put it back in there.
 
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

Ed Hess runs higher than stock compression. So does Eric at Turbo Time. Why not try to get it running right like it is? I'm sure it'd cost a hell of alot less than getting an engine from RPM, Campbell or anywhere else.
 

SeattleSy#1255

Category 5 Conservative
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

midnightbluS10 said:
Ed Hess runs higher than stock compression. So does Eric at Turbo Time. Why not try to get it running right like it is? I'm sure it'd cost a hell of alot less than getting an engine from RPM, Campbell or anywhere else.


because its not a syty motor, along with the fact that his chances are agaist him to make it work most likely.

nothing wrong with getting a short block build, see what heads are on that thing and go from there.
 

1SLOSUV

New member
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

thanks guys guess i will start tearing it down when i get my lightning out of the shop with its new motor. on this rate i will have brand new motors in everything i own
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BMW X6 specifications
 
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dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

As most have said its probably a regular 4.3 crate motor. I would disconnect the wastegate solenoid and run it at base boost first (8-9 psi) and then go from their. It seems like you have some other issue as well.
 

2kwik4u

Resident slow guy
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

Yack......Don't buy a new motor because you have higher compression. Thats the dumbest "throw some money at it" solution I've ever heard. Unless of course you just like spending money, and would rather open your wallet than the search tool!!

First things first.....Do a good tune up. You're a previous owner so you should be able to go through and do a good ignition check. Verify it's got good components in good shape. Then do like Dave says. Disconnect the wastegate actuator and run base boost until you get some data logging equipment, or have the time to get some good logs to see what's going on. Get yourself an Ostrich, and a copy of TunerPro. Start looking at removing a bit of timing, and raising the boost in small increments. You'll eventually end up with a good tune, and a good running truck without spending a ton of cash.

With that said, the chances of that crate motor lasting under high boost/timing conditions are very low. If you're chasing ET's with it, you'll be opening your wallet sooner or later anyway, might as well go ahead and replace it. If you are just going to be driving it around town with an occasional trip to the track here and there. By all means leave that motor in there, and get to tuning. You're wallet will appreciate it.
 

Skyhighsami

GMC Typhoon #1308
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

I ended up trading this truck for my motorcycle. What should I do about this. my goal is to make the truck run mid to low 11s. Vortec Heads, Comp cam, Intake, FMIC, Meth injection, and a larger than the 51mm turbo that is on it now. I was told the reason that it has so much lag is because it needed a stall converter. I can see 15 psi now on pump gas but with no way to log it I don't know what it is doing. Should I plan on going through the motor first, and if so what should I replace? Or try and get it tuned out. If I am replacing the heads with Vortecs could I just add a thicker head gasket? Thanks guys, I knew nothing about the truck having a new motor so I am a little angry right now.
 

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

First you need to be able to log the data, and read it with a scan tool you will end up ruining the motor if you do not. If it is a higher compression motor, you want to be running ~10-11 psi on pump gas as that is closer in cylinder pressure to a stock motor sees. I would start wih a scan tool and work you way up from their. You potentially could get you motor running low 12's-high 11's with Alky injection plus what you have, the key is tuning. You also will probably need a beeifed trnasmission if you have not done so. In all honestly to get your Ty into the low 11's with a Ty, it porbably need a built motor to get their.
 

Skyhighsami

GMC Typhoon #1308
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

I was planning on building the motor with new pistons, rods, and treated crank. Then Vortec heads and the Comp cam, with a ported intake. Build the tranny and add about a 3000 or 3200 stall TC. Is that enough to get me in the low 11s.
 

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

2kwik4u said:
Yack......Don't buy a new motor because you have higher compression. Thats the dumbest "throw some money at it" solution I've ever heard. Unless of course you just like spending money, and would rather open your wallet than the search tool!!

First things first.....Do a good tune up. You're a previous owner so you should be able to go through and do a good ignition check. Verify it's got good components in good shape. Then do like Dave says. Disconnect the wastegate actuator and run base boost until you get some data logging equipment, or have the time to get some good logs to see what's going on. Get yourself an Ostrich, and a copy of TunerPro. Start looking at removing a bit of timing, and raising the boost in small increments. You'll eventually end up with a good tune, and a good running truck without spending a ton of cash.

With that said, the chances of that crate motor lasting under high boost/timing conditions are very low. If you're chasing ET's with it, you'll be opening your wallet sooner or later anyway, might as well go ahead and replace it. If you are just going to be driving it around town with an occasional trip to the track here and there. By all means leave that motor in there, and get to tuning. You're wallet will appreciate it.


Im with Mike, sounds like the ebst thing for you.
 

Aeroking

e.i.
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

I was in the same boat last year.

bought a truck with a AC Delco crate 4.3L. Ran like crap, i spend all summer adjusting and tweaking, but it still ran like crap.

I decided to pull it out and run a built SyTy 4.3

no matter what i did to that thing, the best i could run was a 14, the engine had 3500 miles on it, the rest of the truck was in tip top condition, and it still ran like crap.

EDITED: i dont wanna ruffle any feathers.

my advice, pull the motor, cause it'll never run right.
 
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ashman

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Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

Skyhighsami said:
I ended up trading this truck for my motorcycle. What should I do about this. my goal is to make the truck run mid to low 11s. Vortec Heads, Comp cam, Intake, FMIC, Meth injection, and a larger than the 51mm turbo that is on it now. I was told the reason that it has so much lag is because it needed a stall converter. I can see 15 psi now on pump gas but with no way to log it I don't know what it is doing. Should I plan on going through the motor first, and if so what should I replace? Or try and get it tuned out. If I am replacing the heads with Vortecs could I just add a thicker head gasket? Thanks guys, I knew nothing about the truck having a new motor so I am a little angry right now.


spend a couple of hundred bucks on tuning/logging/WB/$59 equipment.

find out what your truck is doing.

it can't be said enough...buy an ALDL cable and Tunerpro to help diagnose your problems. Better yet, by a wideband and find out what your fueling/timing is.
 

Skyhighsami

GMC Typhoon #1308
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

Hey Ashman would you mind helping me with the tune on my truck? I am new to these and trying to learn as much as possible and no one around here knows anything about it. Thanks man PM me if you can help
 

ashman

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Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

i'm probably not the best person to ask as there are numerous people on this board with ENORMOUS amounts of experience..Nolan, Dig and Jeff to name three.

the best thing to do is to dive in...just what i and many others have done. it's tough at first, and the learning curve is high, but it's doable. without datalogs and wideband info i, personally, would be guessing.

i use Autotune and couldn't have tuned my truck without it, but that requires code59 (which is something you should use to make tuning much easier).

first thing first...
get a ALDL cable (~$100...$15 if you build your own) and Tunerpro (free to use) and get some logs. post them up and we'll help.
 

Skyhighsami

GMC Typhoon #1308
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

The truck has a Ultimate chip in it can I tune it with that or do I have to get a new chip?
 

ashman

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Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

at best it's "iffy" that your combo will work perfectly with the ultimate. it's a great start, but much more could be had with a custom tune.

if you really intend to keep the truck and want to learn the in/outs of tuning, you'll be money ahead by getting the wideband setup and running code59. it's tough to get someone to understand, but the intial layout of money and time to get the wideband/logging setup will really payoff when you realize a better understanding of what your truck wants and/or needs.
 

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: got my ty back and its running like crap

Yeah and if you do go the tuning route, make sure you listen to what everyone says about tuning in open loop til you have your VE table down perfect. I just screwed my whole last 3 months of tuning up and am almost starting all over...lesson learned.
 
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