Engine Startup Procedure rebuilt 2009 6.2l Denali (Rookie Question)

[Rokjhn]

Picked up a 2009 Yukon Denali AWD with a seized engine recently from a friend that wanted to scrap it. I happened to have a freshly built 6.2l from a 2013 Yukon XL that I was going to put in my 2011 Avalanche, but decided to use it for the Yukon instead. The rebuilt 6.2 has new bearings, pistons, rings, LS7 lifters (AFM\DOD Delete) and Texas Speed L92 VVT Stage 1 Truck Camshaft in it. This is my first time swapping an LS engine as my previous engine swap experiences were over 40 years ago. Can I just start the new engine with the existing computer or do I need to have any tuning done initially? Planning on a custom tune at some point (Black Bear maybe?). Any other advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Marky Dissod]

You mentioned an aftermarket camshaft. That camshaft requires a tune.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I cannot personally assist you with your issue, but other members of this Forum much more knowledgeable than me in this area will chime in.

 

[Marky Dissod]

To be clear:
that camshaft requires a tune
disabling or deleting cylinder confusion (that's what I'm calling it) requires a tune
One tune for both.

 

[Rokjhn]

You mentioned an aftermarket camshaft. That camshaft requires a tune.

I figured it would, but would it need tuning before initial startup?

 

[Rokjhn]

To be clear:
that camshaft requires a tune
disabling or deleting cylinder confusion (that's what I'm calling it) requires a tune
One tune for both.

The 2009 Truck didn't come with AFM\DOD so the computer the existing computer doesn't have it. I did the kit on the rebuilt engine, i.e. lifters, cam, valley cover.

 

[Geotrash]

I figured it would, but would it need tuning before initial startup?

The original engine in the '09 should be the L9H (flex fuel + VVT but no DoD) with essentially the same larger injectors as those in the '13 6.2. Since the '13 6.2 has a non-DoD cam in it already that retains VVT, it shouldn't *need* a tune to run. But it will need a tune to run smoothly and get the most from that cam.

 

[Marky Dissod]

I figured it would, but would it need tuning before initial startup?

Would the aftermarket cam NEED tuning before initial startup?
No way to be sure. Geotrash may be right - it may run well enough to drive to the tuner.
That said there's a significant chance that it will run suboptimally by enough for you to be very glad that you are driving to the tuner.

I'd get it tuned by pcmperformance. He's really good at mail-order tuning for aftermarket cams. But that's me.

 

[Marky Dissod]

You mentioned an aftermarket camshaft. That camshaft requires a tune.

I figured it would, but would it need tuning before initial startup?

So I did a little research on this subject.
Long story, short:
The ignition and volumetric efficiency tables are expecting the OE cam.
The closer the camshaft is to the OE camshaft, the easier it will be to drive it to the tuner.
The further the camshaft is from the OE, the more urgently that cam will need to be tuned for PRIOR to driving.

 

[Foggy]

You will need to load a tune for the camshaft in it before you start it
It may or may not start up and then run like crap if it does run
AT very minimum you will need to change the required base airflow minimum
for it to run... Then lots of other little things...
you'll need to find a tuner or remote tuner and purchase HPTuners software and credits
to tune it yourself

 

[Rokjhn]

So I did a little research on this subject.
Long story, short:
The ignition and volumetric efficiency tables are expecting the OE cam.
The closer the camshaft is to the OE camshaft, the easier it will be to drive it to the tuner.
The further the camshaft is from the OE, the more urgently that cam will need to be tuned for PRIOR to driving.

I put this cam in:

TSP L92 Stage 1 VVT Truck Cam​

So I did a little research on this subject.
Long story, short:
The ignition and volumetric efficiency tables are expecting the OE cam.
The closer the camshaft is to the OE camshaft, the easier it will be to drive it to the tuner.
The further the camshaft is from the OE, the more urgently that cam will need to be tuned for PRIOR to driving.

I put this Cam Kit into the new Engine: https://a.co/d/ci9SQyf
First picture is from the cam kit and second is factory cam specs. Think this is not much of a change from OEM, but I’m new at this..

 

[Foggy]

216*/229* with 114 Lobe Sep and .600 lift
is a Huge difference
That thing won't even run without tuning the airflow model
Been there, done that

 

[j91z28d1]

you're going to end up with a black bear tune anyways, it's not worth the risk to wash the rings out trying to start it on the base tune.

best to bite the bullet now, prime the engine oil and fire her up cleanly.

 

[Rokjhn]

This forum is great! Thank you all for your input, advice, and recommendations. I have a referral to a local tuner that I’m going to work with before cranking this thing up. It’s my first time working with an LS engine and I don’t want to screw it up. My last engine build\swap was in a ’73 Olds and boy have things changed

 

[Rokjhn]

Update: Bought the AutoCal v3 package from Black Bear Performance and sent them the stock tune files (ECM & TCM), they created a custom tune from my cam specs and the truck fired right up! Just finished the first 100 miles of break-in and it’s running great. Changing oil to start the next phase and once I’m done will record logging files to send to Black Bear for an updated tune. Very happy with their service and support.

 

[B-train]

I'm glad it worked out. That's a nice looking truck. I'd do a motor replacement any day with a body and frame setup in that good of condition.

 

[R467X]

Great stuff!