Rocket Man's 02 Denali Build Thread AKA "THE BEAST"

[OhioHoe]

If I had one, I'd definitely want people to know. So I say flaunt it

 

[Rocket Man]

Nice vid! Were you spinning when you launched?

I've got full time AWD so I just plain launch! If it was 2WD I'm sure I would have been. A lot of traction involved here.

 

[95escahoe]

I know I said I wasn't going to badge it but these go so well with my only other badges. What do you guys think?

View attachment 80930

Looks good to me


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[Rocket Man]

I know I said I wasn't going to badge it but these go so well with my only other badges. What do you guys think?

View attachment 80930

Dang good thing I posted that pic; I was able to correct the gap between the E and the R before the soapy water dried.

 

[Rocket Man]

Oh my!! Man that sounds sooo good. Nice work Red. Happy for you man. That was a test of patience.

Yes it was for sure. 5 days worth.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

oh my goodness red. this is nsfw.

I am so jealous

 

[Tonyrodz]

So it was those lower gaskets that was causing all your issues?

 

[Rocket Man]

So the last things I had done before running into trouble and having to tear it back apart was the intercooler and lengthening the wires for the second connection on my Electronic Throttle Control. The IC had incorrect instructions of course so I improvised. The trans cooler was in the way so I decided to remove it's brackets and move it back, between the IC and the radiator. It fits barely and so far so good as far as working.

 

[Rocket Man]

The IC pump mounted to the bumper bracket bolts on the passenger side. The view is looking up from the bottom. Here's a picture of one of the intake gaskets that caused me so much grief. LS engines have only used O-rings for intake manifold gaskets forever. Unless you're installing a Whipple. Then you need regular gaskets AND O-rings. I also had a 2-connector Electronic Throttle Control so I had to extend one of the harnesses. This kit was built for a 2003 since the 2002's had cable throttles for the most part. I also had to resort to my pop-up canopy since it started raining on the 3rd and 4th day. And finally... my tune being installed via my Autocal.

 

[Rocket Man]

So it was those lower gaskets that was causing all your issues?

Yes, the extra set that was included in the kit that they forgot to add the instruction sheet for. There was an "addendum" for LS engines that said to use this extra set of gaskets along with the O-rings that were in the regular instruction book. I used a gasket sealer between the heads and the regular gaskets to hold them in place while I installed the lower intake manifold which had the O-rings. idiot at the plant forgot the "addendum". I thought the gaskets were an error that got put in the kit by mistake.

 

[MadDogDelpho]

Congrats Red! Glad you got everything sorted out

 

[about20ninj45]

I've got full time AWD so I just plain launch! If it was 2WD I'm sure I would have been. A lot of traction involved here.

I was talking awd burnout lol not 2wd

 

[Rocket Man]

I was talking awd burnout lol not 2wd

Oh. I'm kinda afraid about breaking something in my drive train to tell the truth so I was doing the launches from a slight roll. I don't plan on full-on WOT from a dead stop. Sorry man but I don't want anything to break! These 26's would be hard to spin I think. I probably could though...

 

[VDV18]

Dude, this is stupid awesome! PITA for a bit, but I'm sure it's well worth it now. Good work Red

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Forgot to ask how the new gauges worked and how you liked them.

 

[Rocket Man]

Forgot to ask how the new gauges worked and how you liked them.

I just installed the AFR sensor in place of one of my downstream O2 sensors that was tuned out so the AFR gauge works great. I'm in the process of figuring out where to plumb the vacuum line in at for the boost portion. I'm trying to ask Whipple but you know how that goes.

 

[about20ninj45]

Question, you installed your wideband post cat? Drivers or Passengers? Im trying to get my narrowband simulation to work and use one of the o2's before the cat, but they are a B**** to get to and the wire harness is shoved all the way up against the body

 

[bottomline2000]

Oh. I'm kinda afraid about breaking something in my drive train to tell the truth so I was doing the launches from a slight roll. I don't plan on full-on WOT from a dead stop. Sorry man but I don't want anything to break! These 26's would be hard to spin I think. I probably could though...

How much boost is that thing making and did u get your wideband gauge installed?

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[67RS427]

Oh. I'm kinda afraid about breaking something in my drive train to tell the truth so I was doing the launches from a slight roll. I don't plan on full-on WOT from a dead stop. Sorry man but I don't want anything to break! These 26's would be hard to spin I think. I probably could though...

Fine Red, you talked me in to it. I will post a WOT from a dig when I get my blower installed. If I break something I guess just gotta make it stronger. Everything in these trucks is pretty strong though, shouldn't have to worry about much...

 

[Rocket Man]

Question, you installed your wideband post cat? Drivers or Passengers? Im trying to get my narrowband simulation to work and use one of the o2's before the cat, but they are a B**** to get to and the wire harness is shoved all the way up against the body

I used my drivers side post cat location and had BBP tune the downstream sensors out so it wont throw a code.

How much boost is that thing making and did u get your wideband gauge installed?
My AFR gauge is working but I just talked to Whipple about a location for the mechanical boost vacuum line to connect. The news is...stupid of course. Like everything else with the install, they didn't mention the fact that their location that has a fitting for that is above #4 cylinder on the lower intake manifold and it's a ***** to get to without removing the fuel rail. And that is definitely not going to happen right now because that's a ***** and the bolts that hold the fuel rail down are also some of the intake manifold bolts and I'm not going to risk another leak. It should have been tapped into before the blower was installed, if they would only have mentioned that. There must be another way; I'm looking into it.
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