Sentinelist
Active Member
'Tis true. After more than a few months, the ATT is finally off of my workbench collecting dust and "holy crap, what is that going into?" remarks all year, and mounted on the TerraShuttle! I'm pretty happy.
There's much to go over, so I will refrain from writing a long story here and will resort to a roughly chronological bulletpoint list... that will pretty much be a long story anyway. You'll recall I had previously: given up hope on installing the ATT myself earlier this summer once got halfway in and discovered the unforeseen challenges of drilling seized bolts/cutting the upper intake/probably having to take off and replace an exhaust manifold/finding an oil drain line solution. This had me throwing in the towel on my own after I was expecting a bolt-on day's job and don't have time for much else. But I was talked out of eBay and logically back into the task by you good folks, and made plans with Leroy to pay him a visit as our schedules allowed 'this fall' after he graciously made some time for me. We now pick up the action there from last Thursday!
- Ebola did not kill me or anyone within at least 3 degrees of separation or relatable proximity, so an almost scuttling/delay of the plans was alleviated.
- Due to family, work, other projects, life, death and a host of other reasons this year, I have still not 'camped' legitimately in my camper outside of my driveway away from home facilities.
- I realized Leroy's driveway would be my first 'camping' trip with it, depending on all self-contained systems aboard!
- I finally figured out how to use its onboard lavatory, wastewater, and freshwater systems late Friday night... only to discover after filling it up (with water!) that the pump was shot. DRAIN.
- (Leroy and Mrs. Leroy kindly lent me their guest lavatory instead. RELIEF.)
- I loaded up the ATT and its effects, a backup exhaust manifold I bought from Big T, backup/emergency tools, and a few nights worth of stuff in case I stranded myself.
- I departed the Dallas metroplex at Saturday morning at 9:00am and arrived at Leroy's place in the Houston area at 2:30pm. I dodged a bad interstate shutdown by off-roading to an access road.
- The 6.5 cools down remarkably well with the hood up! It was a concern I had barreling through traffic, but luckily we still got to assessing needs and wrenching soon after I arrived.
- I had assumed the Diamond Eye exhaust was installed by an exhaust shop only... and purposefully left it at home. Leroy said he was planning to install in an hour at the end. ARGH! Shot self in foot.
- While I helped here and there, I let the master figure out the best practices. I think he even devised a new ATT oil return line solution that could be patent pending by now which I have the prototype of...
- We discovered the ATT install instructions leave some steps to be desired, like how to deal with said oil return creating the need for a custom fab job, and he's going to talk to the guy about that.
- He found a fitting needed for the braided oil intake line to adapt to the block in 5 seconds at Lowe's. Fastest visit ever. It's a good idea to get a replacement genuine GM braided line for this install as I did.
- We discovered that metal studs will collapse or crumble in on themselves when heavily drilled out as the inner mass supporting the threads is removed. Luckily only one had to be drilled out.
- The GM-3 came out without the fears I had manifested myself, so we ended up not needing the manifold, Big T! But thanks for letting me buy it off you- I slept better after having received it.
- A co-worker of mine is working on a random Dodge Dakota 5.7 'turbo' project. He's buying my GM-3 (hey, no shaft play, still works) for $100. Nice.
- I realized this guy would also need that spare exhaust manifold on the turbo it's designed for, as an adaptor he could cut/weld onto his truck, and advised he buy it too. Another $50 recouped.
- The ATT went on well enough thanks to Leroy's craftsmanship that I decided against the intake manifold adaptor.
- However, if you are installing an ATT yourself, it will make your life a lot easier, and the job faster, as far as the alignment goes with the turbo outlet and less custom plumbing to make the route.
- Leroy's a proper mechanic who won't take chances of missing something after it gets dark. So we called it a night, watched Extreme Smugglers on TV, then finished early the next morning.
- The ATT is a notable performer even with the stock exhaust and airbox. The de-woosh when you lift off the throttle is really nice. I can't wait to feel this thing go once I get the exhaust and K47 airbox on.
- He also recommended I ask around, and here, on turning up the fuel screw on my DB2. I'll search for that soon, but suggestions are welcome.
- After a successful test drive, I sent him a worthwhile labor total via PayPal on my iPhone from his driveway- well worth it for his time, effort and advice. I know my truck even better now.
- You need to check out the LubeCheck (sp?) device he's about to start carrying. Drip a few drops of your oil onto this little device, turn it on, and it'll test it on a scale of 1-10 and tell you if an oil change is needed or not. I bought one.
- On the way home, things were working so well, I may have run the truck too hard. I kept the cruise on at the speed limit (70-75mph) and went 80mph at times, laughing as I passed nearly anything I pleased, though not burying the tach. But I developed a hard 'clacking' sound by the time I arrived home and got the engine down to idling speeds. Slightly white smoky out the tailpipe as well, but not terrible. Did I blow an injector or is this a rod? I've been advised to start by replacing the injectors, and I'll be going with a set of Bosch's if so. Take a look and listen please. Do you agree? The engine otherwise still has full power on the highway and did not overheat- it's actually running a touch cooler now with the ATT. Turbo is whooshing away just fine despite it being the last thing that changed- this is coming from the engine itself. The oil is also still topped up. Surely, if it was anything worse than an injector, it would be running a lot more poorly, if at all? :nonod:
Other good stuff:
- My truck is "a lot faster" than his (even with the camper on). He said so himself.
- Leroy has spent enough at his local AutoZone to probably buy out the store's inventory twice over. Everyone there knows him and likes him as a result.
- Beyond his 6.5 rigs, Leroy has several other intriguing projects in various stages of progress around his garage, shop and driveway. The Sonoma TDi is going to be very interesting. Ask him about the Fiero!
- I got an authorized behind-the-scenes tour of LeroyDiesel.com to see the business we love in action. It was cool to see the inventory on his site across some shelves carefully organized and boxes on the ready for shipping. I could have filled my hands with turbo boost bolts and cackled like a maniac but I didn't. Actually there's not quite that many- supplies are limited so get yours now.
- Leroy's dog is one of the best I've ever met and I now want one like him. The cat is cool too.
- Mrs. Leroy makes a wonderful beef tips on rice with brown sauce dish meal that I could eat all week. :agreed: I wasn't expecting dinner! They're both very hospitable.
- Leroy will pick up your breakfast tab at a great homestyle restaurant as a loan against your work invoice if you forget your wallet in your camper.
- With a palm tree next to the driveway and the noise of a highway at just the right distance away to sound like a calm river (soothing to sleep to in a camper with a vent open), and no kids screaming, you'll feel like you're on vacation there.
- Leroy's just a good guy, served our country, has a lot of 6.5 passion and general DIY mechanic experience, and you need to buy your stuff from him. I'll update my sig with his goods I have shortly!
Pics or it didn't happen? Alright alright. Thanks once again, Leroy. I'll be back for a P400 in a couple years I hope. :thumbsup:
There's much to go over, so I will refrain from writing a long story here and will resort to a roughly chronological bulletpoint list... that will pretty much be a long story anyway. You'll recall I had previously: given up hope on installing the ATT myself earlier this summer once got halfway in and discovered the unforeseen challenges of drilling seized bolts/cutting the upper intake/probably having to take off and replace an exhaust manifold/finding an oil drain line solution. This had me throwing in the towel on my own after I was expecting a bolt-on day's job and don't have time for much else. But I was talked out of eBay and logically back into the task by you good folks, and made plans with Leroy to pay him a visit as our schedules allowed 'this fall' after he graciously made some time for me. We now pick up the action there from last Thursday!
- Ebola did not kill me or anyone within at least 3 degrees of separation or relatable proximity, so an almost scuttling/delay of the plans was alleviated.
- Due to family, work, other projects, life, death and a host of other reasons this year, I have still not 'camped' legitimately in my camper outside of my driveway away from home facilities.
- I realized Leroy's driveway would be my first 'camping' trip with it, depending on all self-contained systems aboard!
- I finally figured out how to use its onboard lavatory, wastewater, and freshwater systems late Friday night... only to discover after filling it up (with water!) that the pump was shot. DRAIN.
- (Leroy and Mrs. Leroy kindly lent me their guest lavatory instead. RELIEF.)
- I loaded up the ATT and its effects, a backup exhaust manifold I bought from Big T, backup/emergency tools, and a few nights worth of stuff in case I stranded myself.
- I departed the Dallas metroplex at Saturday morning at 9:00am and arrived at Leroy's place in the Houston area at 2:30pm. I dodged a bad interstate shutdown by off-roading to an access road.
- The 6.5 cools down remarkably well with the hood up! It was a concern I had barreling through traffic, but luckily we still got to assessing needs and wrenching soon after I arrived.
- I had assumed the Diamond Eye exhaust was installed by an exhaust shop only... and purposefully left it at home. Leroy said he was planning to install in an hour at the end. ARGH! Shot self in foot.
- While I helped here and there, I let the master figure out the best practices. I think he even devised a new ATT oil return line solution that could be patent pending by now which I have the prototype of...
- We discovered the ATT install instructions leave some steps to be desired, like how to deal with said oil return creating the need for a custom fab job, and he's going to talk to the guy about that.
- He found a fitting needed for the braided oil intake line to adapt to the block in 5 seconds at Lowe's. Fastest visit ever. It's a good idea to get a replacement genuine GM braided line for this install as I did.
- We discovered that metal studs will collapse or crumble in on themselves when heavily drilled out as the inner mass supporting the threads is removed. Luckily only one had to be drilled out.
- The GM-3 came out without the fears I had manifested myself, so we ended up not needing the manifold, Big T! But thanks for letting me buy it off you- I slept better after having received it.
- A co-worker of mine is working on a random Dodge Dakota 5.7 'turbo' project. He's buying my GM-3 (hey, no shaft play, still works) for $100. Nice.
- I realized this guy would also need that spare exhaust manifold on the turbo it's designed for, as an adaptor he could cut/weld onto his truck, and advised he buy it too. Another $50 recouped.
- The ATT went on well enough thanks to Leroy's craftsmanship that I decided against the intake manifold adaptor.
- However, if you are installing an ATT yourself, it will make your life a lot easier, and the job faster, as far as the alignment goes with the turbo outlet and less custom plumbing to make the route.
- Leroy's a proper mechanic who won't take chances of missing something after it gets dark. So we called it a night, watched Extreme Smugglers on TV, then finished early the next morning.
- The ATT is a notable performer even with the stock exhaust and airbox. The de-woosh when you lift off the throttle is really nice. I can't wait to feel this thing go once I get the exhaust and K47 airbox on.
- He also recommended I ask around, and here, on turning up the fuel screw on my DB2. I'll search for that soon, but suggestions are welcome.
- After a successful test drive, I sent him a worthwhile labor total via PayPal on my iPhone from his driveway- well worth it for his time, effort and advice. I know my truck even better now.
- You need to check out the LubeCheck (sp?) device he's about to start carrying. Drip a few drops of your oil onto this little device, turn it on, and it'll test it on a scale of 1-10 and tell you if an oil change is needed or not. I bought one.
- On the way home, things were working so well, I may have run the truck too hard. I kept the cruise on at the speed limit (70-75mph) and went 80mph at times, laughing as I passed nearly anything I pleased, though not burying the tach. But I developed a hard 'clacking' sound by the time I arrived home and got the engine down to idling speeds. Slightly white smoky out the tailpipe as well, but not terrible. Did I blow an injector or is this a rod? I've been advised to start by replacing the injectors, and I'll be going with a set of Bosch's if so. Take a look and listen please. Do you agree? The engine otherwise still has full power on the highway and did not overheat- it's actually running a touch cooler now with the ATT. Turbo is whooshing away just fine despite it being the last thing that changed- this is coming from the engine itself. The oil is also still topped up. Surely, if it was anything worse than an injector, it would be running a lot more poorly, if at all? :nonod:
Other good stuff:
- My truck is "a lot faster" than his (even with the camper on). He said so himself.
- Leroy has spent enough at his local AutoZone to probably buy out the store's inventory twice over. Everyone there knows him and likes him as a result.
- Beyond his 6.5 rigs, Leroy has several other intriguing projects in various stages of progress around his garage, shop and driveway. The Sonoma TDi is going to be very interesting. Ask him about the Fiero!
- I got an authorized behind-the-scenes tour of LeroyDiesel.com to see the business we love in action. It was cool to see the inventory on his site across some shelves carefully organized and boxes on the ready for shipping. I could have filled my hands with turbo boost bolts and cackled like a maniac but I didn't. Actually there's not quite that many- supplies are limited so get yours now.
- Leroy's dog is one of the best I've ever met and I now want one like him. The cat is cool too.
- Mrs. Leroy makes a wonderful beef tips on rice with brown sauce dish meal that I could eat all week. :agreed: I wasn't expecting dinner! They're both very hospitable.
- Leroy will pick up your breakfast tab at a great homestyle restaurant as a loan against your work invoice if you forget your wallet in your camper.
- With a palm tree next to the driveway and the noise of a highway at just the right distance away to sound like a calm river (soothing to sleep to in a camper with a vent open), and no kids screaming, you'll feel like you're on vacation there.
- Leroy's just a good guy, served our country, has a lot of 6.5 passion and general DIY mechanic experience, and you need to buy your stuff from him. I'll update my sig with his goods I have shortly!
Pics or it didn't happen? Alright alright. Thanks once again, Leroy. I'll be back for a P400 in a couple years I hope. :thumbsup:
