The Scout Gets An LS!

(NARRATOR)>> TODAY WE'RE GETTING OUR NEW LS POWER PLANT STUFFED INTO OUR SCOUT, AND WE'RE TOPPING IT OFF WITH AN EASY TO INSTALL EFI SYSTEM. IT'S ALL TODAY ON XOR.

(ELIZA)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO XOR. TODAY WE ARE BACK ON OUR SCOUT PROJECT, AND GETTING A DRIVETRAIN IN. NOW WE'VE ALREADY CLEANED OUT OUR ENGINE BAY, AND I'LL SHOW YOU HOW IN JUST A BIT, BUT FIRST I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S GOING IN HERE.

(JEREMY)>> THIS IS OUR FIVE POINT THREE LITER LS THAT THE GUYS OVER AT ENGINE POWER SETUP FOR US. MIKE WHAT'D YOU DO?

(MIKE)>> IT WAS AN EASY ONE FOR US. BONE STOCK FIVE POINT THREE BOTTOM END. WE PUT THE GENX 225 LS TWO TOP END KIT ON IT FROM TRICK FLOW. THESE HEADS HAVE A 225cc CATHEDRAL PORT INTAKE RUNNER AND 80cc EXHAUST RUNNER. IT COMES WITH A NEW CAM SHAFT. THE THING HAS 238 DEGREES OF DURATION ON THE INTAKE SIDE, 242 ON THE EXHAUST, AND THAT'S AT 50 THOUSANDTHS. OTHER THAN THAT THIS LITTLE THING RUNS LIKE A SEWING MACHINE. IT'S GOT GOOD ROCKER ARMS ON IT, GOOD PUSH RODS, AND TRICK FLOW REALLY DID THEIR WORK ON GETTING THIS PACKAGE TOGETHER. WE DOCKED IT UP TO THE DYNO, MOUNTED A CARBURETED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND A 750 CFM QUICK FUEL CARBURETOR. THE ENGINE MADE OVER 460 HORSEPOWER AND HAD A REALLY NICE, BROAD POWER RANGE.

(JEREMY)>> WELL MIKE IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A PERFECT FIT FOR OUR SCOUT.

(MIKE)>> AS I ALWAYS SAY, AN LS IS A PERFECT FIT IN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GET IT FIRED UP.

(JEREMY)>> NOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THAT HORSEPOWER THAT PAT AND MIKE GAVE US IN OUR LS WE'RE GONNA RUN A TURBO 400 TRANSMISSION. NOW TCI MAKES A GREAT TRANSMISSION, AND ALL THE INTERNALS IN THIS SHOULD HOLD UP QUITE NICELY TO OUR POWER. WE ALSO PICKED UP A HUGHES FLEX PLATE THAT MEETS SFI SPECIFICATIONS. WE HAVE OUR ENGINE MOUNTS, TRANSMISSION MOUNT, AND OUR TRANSFER CASE MOUNT, AND FINALLY WE NEEDED A BUSHING TO ALIGN THE TORQUE CONVERTER.

(ELIZA)>> NOW TO GO ALONG WITH OUR TOW PACKAGE READY TRANSMISSION WE DECIDED TO PAIR IT WITH TCI'S MAXIS PERFORMANCE 2,000 STALL CONVERTER. THIS IS PERFECT FOR OUR APPLICATION. IT'S A REMANNED SHELL WITH NEW INTERNALS. NOW THIS SPECIFIC STALL CONVERTER IS REINFORCED WITH THICKER MOUNTING WALLS SO THAT IT CAN WITHSTAND ADDITIONAL LOAD AND VIBRATION. BY USING THIS STALL CONVERTER WE GAIN BETTER INITIAL TAKEOFF AS WELL AS CORRECT ANY ENGINE LAG CAUSED BY OVERSIZED TIRES AND MORE TOW WEIGHT. NOW BEFORE WE INSTALL OUR TORQUE CONVERTER WE'RE GONNA FILL IT WITH ABOUT A QUART OF ROYAL PURPLE'S ATF FOR INITIAL START UP.

(JEREMY)>> TO SECURE OUR FLEX PLATE WE'RE USING PRO SERIES BOLTS FROM ARP. NOW WE'RE GONNA TORQUE OUR FLYWHEEL BOLTS DOWN TO 15 FOOT POUNDS ON THE FIRST PASS. NOW TO 37 ON THE SECOND PASS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ALL THE WAY UP TO 74.

(ELIZA)>> BE SURE NOT TO FORGET YOUR TORQUE CONVERTER BUSHING.

THERE IT GOES!

(JEREMY)>> EASY, RIGHT THERE.

(ELIZA)>> FOR OUR BELL HOUSING BOLTS WE'RE GONNA TORQUE THOSE TO 37 FOOT POUNDS.

FOR FLEX PLATE BOLTS IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO USE THREAD LOCKER.

THIS TIME WE'LL BE TORQUEING THESE TO 60 FOOT POUNDS.

OKAY, NOW ON TO HEADERS.

(JEREMY)>> OUR HEADERS ARE PART OF A KIT THAT CAME FROM ANYTHING SCOUT, AND WILL WORK PERFECTLY IN OUR ENGINE BAY.

(ELIZA)>> YAY!

(JEREMY)>> ENGINE MOUNTS ARE ALSO PART OF THE KIT, AND WILL MAKE IT EASY TO PUT THIS LS IN OUR SCOUT.

(JEREMY)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO XOR AND THE DRIVETRAIN INSTALL ON THIS '79 SCOUT. NOW WE ALREADY BOLTED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TOGETHER, AND WE MENTIONED THAT WE PREPPED THE ENGINE BAY BY GETTING RID OF THE STOCK MOTOR MOUNTS AND WELDING IN THIS LS STYLE MOTOR MOUNT. WELL LET'S SHOW YOU HOW WE DID IT, CHECK THIS OUT.

(ELIZA)>> NOW WHETHER YOU USE OR SAWZALL, HACK SAW, PLASMA TORCH, CUTOFF WHEEL, WHATEVER IT IS, THESE STOCK MOUNTS HAVE TO COME OFF. AS FOR ME, IT WAS THE CUTOFF WHEEL CAUSE THAT WOULD LEAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MATERIAL TO GRIND OFF. SO WE MOCKED UP OUR MOTOR MOUNTS AND TEST FIT OUR ENGINE TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THAT IS WHERE WE WANTED TO BURN THEM IN.

(JEREMY)>> NOW AFTER THE TEST FIT OF THE ENGINE, WE KNEW THE STOCK MOTOR MOUNTS WEREN'T THE ONLY THING THAT HAD TO GO. WE HAD TO GET RID OF THIS STOCK STYLE CROSS MEMBER. NOW THIS OLD INTERNATIONAL RAN A 727 TORQUE FLITE. WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNING A TURBO 400. SO LAST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS SHOVE THIS THING IN AND BUILD ONE UP.

NOW WE WENT AHEAD AND REINSTALLED THE STOCK TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER TO GIVE US A REFERENCE POINT ON WHERE THE TRANSMISSION'S GONNA SIT. SO THE NEXT STEP IS TO BUILD A NEW ONE BUT WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT A LITTLE LOWER CAUSE IT'S A LOT EASIER TO SHIM UP THAN IT IS TO SHIM DOWN.

(ELIZA)>> THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING OUR TRANSMISSION MOUNT WAS CUTTING AND BENDING A SET OF BRACKETS.

ALL RIGHT! SINCE OUR TRANSMISSION MOUNT NEEDS TO BE REMOVABLE, WE'RE INCORPORATING GRADE EIGHT HARDWARE INTO OUR DESIGN. THE MOUNT IS MADE WITH QUARTER INCH STEEL WITH OUR BRACKET BOLTED TO IT. [ grinding metal ]

(ELIZA)>> WITH OUR FRAME CLEAN WE'LL MOUNT CENTER BRACKET ON THE TRANSMISSION AND USE MULTI ANGLE MAGNETS TO HOLD OUR FRAME BRACKETS IN PLACE FOR A CROSS MEMBER MEASUREMENT. FOR OUR CROSS MEMBER WE ARE USING A PIECE OF HEAVY WALL TUBE THAT WE WILL CUT TO LENGTH ON OUR LAY DOWN BAND SAW.

[ welder crackling ]

(ELIZA)>> WITH OUR FRAME MOUNTS WELDED IN PLACE AND THE CROSS MEMBER TACKED TO THE BRACKETS, IT GOES TO THE WELDING TABLE TO GET COMPLETELY BURNED IN, AND WITH A SHOT OF BLACK SPRAY PAINT OUR NEW TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER GETS INSTALLED.

(JEREMY)>> NOW WHEN THE GUYS FROM ENGINE POWER DYNO'ED OUR LS FOR OUR SCOUT, THEY HAD A CARBURETED STYLE SETUP ON IT. WELL WE'RE GONNA CHOOSE TO RUN EFI FOR ITS PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE TIPSY TURVY TRAILS. WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNING AN MSD ATOMIC AIR FORCE INTAKE. THIS THING'S PRETTY COOL, BUT WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT'S INSIDE OF IT IN JUST A SECOND. IN FRONT OF OUR INTAKE WE'RE RUNNING A HOLLEY 90 MILLIMETER THROTTLE BODY. NOW THE COOL THING ABOUT THE INTAKE IS YOU CAN SAVE MONEY BY RUNNING YOUR STOCK THROTTLE BODY, OR YOU CAN RUN SOMETHING LIKE A HOLLEY. WE'RE CHOOSING TO RUN THIS BECAUSE IT'S GONNA LET AIR FLOW INTO THIS BABY A LOT BETTER. NOW WITH THAT CONNECTED TO THIS, THAT TAKES CARE OF THE AIR SIDE OF OUR ENGINE, AND NOW TO MIX ALL THAT AIR WITH SOME FUEL WE'RE GONNA BE USING MSD'S ATOMIC LS EFI. WELL MSD IS DOING SOMETHING PRETTY COOL, AND THEY'RE INTEGRATING THEIR ECU RIGHT ON TOP OF THE FUEL RAILS. THEY DO THIS TO ELIMINATE WIRES AND THAT BIG BULKY COMPUTER, AND TO PROTECT ALL THAT THEY'VE GOT THIS COOL LITTLE POWDER COATED COVER. WITH THE OXYGEN SENSOR CONSTANTLY LEARNING OFF YOUR EXHAUST, THE HAND HELD PROGRAMMER WILL ASK A FEW BASIC CAR GUY QUESTIONS TO GET YOUR SETUP COMPLETE. WITH THAT COMPLETE THAT TAKES CARE OF THE FUEL SIDE OF OUR EQUATION. NOW ONTO SPARK. NOW TO GET ALL THAT FIRE INTO OUR ENGINE WE WENT TO THE TOP SOURCE FOR IGNITION. SO WE'RE USING MSD PRO POWER COILS AND A SET OF THEIR LS CUT TO LENGTH WIRES. NOW I PROMISED I'D SHOW YOU GUYS WHAT'S INSIDE OF HERE. SO CHECK THIS OUT. NOW THESE ARE WHAT HOLLEY CALLS BELL MOUTH RUNNERS, AND THEY'RE GONNA ALLOW A TON OF AIR TO FLOW INTO YOUR ENGINE, AND IF YOU'RE INTO PORT MATCHING THEY'VE GOT YOU COVERED THERE TOO. AND THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS IS IT'S 50 STATE LEGAL.

(ELIZA)>> ON YOUR INTAKE BOLTS IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO USE THREAD LOCKER. WE ARE USING PERMATEX MEDIUM STRENGTH. TO TORQUE THESE IN WE ARE USING AN INCH POUND TORQUE WRENCH. THESE ARE GONNA GET SPEC'ED AT 89 INCH POUNDS, AND JUST LIKE ANY INTAKE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED TORQUE PATTERN.

(JEREMY)>> NOW SINCE OUR SCOUT WAS ORIGINALLY CARBURETED, IT HAD A THROTTLE CABLE. THE BEST THING ABOUT OUR THROTTLE BODY IS ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS INSTALL IT AND HOOK UP THE CABLE. NOW TO FIGURE OUT THE CORRECT INJECTORS FOR YOUR ENGINE YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO KNOW A COUPLE OF THINGS, LIKE HORSEPOWER AND INJECTOR DUTY CYCLE. THEN YOU CAN TAKE THAT, JUMP ONLINE, PLUG IT INTO A CALCULATOR, AND IT'S GONNA TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THIS KIT IS IT COMES WITH ALL THE BRACKETS AND THE HARDWARE.

THE COVER THAT PROTECTS THE ECU IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN MANY DIFFERENT COLORS.

(ELIZA)>> GOOD GROUNDING IS ESSENTIAL TO ALL ELECTRONICS. WITH A SELF TAPPING SCREW AND A GRINDER, WE ARE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WELL GROUNDED. [ grinder spinning ]

(ELIZA)>> THE LAST BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE ARE COILS. THOSE GET BOLTED DIRECTLY ONTO THE VALVE COVER.

AFTER THAT IT IS AS SIMPLE AS SNAPPING OUR WIRING HARNESS CONNECTIONS TOGETHER, AND INSTALLING OUR CUT TO LENGTH WIRES. NOW ONE PLACE WHERE WE THOUGHT WE COULD SAVE SOME TIME AND MONEY ON OUR FUEL SYSTEM IS OUR OE FUEL TANK. SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK.

(JEREMY)>> AND NOW THAT WE GOT THE STOCK FUEL TANK OUT, WE'LL TAKE A PEEK INSIDE TO SEE IF IT'S EVEN WORTH REUSING. ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF USING YOUR STOCK FUEL TANK IS OBVIOUSLY THE FUEL FILLER NECK'S THE SAME, AND IT BOLTS RIGHT BACK INTO POSITION. SO ALL WE'VE GOT TO DO NEXT IS POP THE COVER OFF, SEE WHAT'S INSIDE.

WELL THAT'S BRAND NEW. TAKE A LITTLE PEEK INSIDE. GOD THAT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. THAT'S TOTALLY REUSABLE.

(JEREMY)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO XOR. LIKE WE TOLD YOU BEFORE, WE'RE CONVERTING OUR FUEL SYSTEM ON OUR OVERLAND SCOUT TO FUEL INJECTION. WELL SINCE WE'RE KEEPING OUR STOCK FUEL TANK WE NEED TO DO A COUPLE MODS TO THIS TO GET OUR FUEL PUMP TO FIT INSIDE IT. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL IN TANK FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. IT COMES WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO INSTALL IT ON YOUR TANK. WE GOT OURS FROM SUMMIT RACING. IT COMES WITH YOUR FOAM BAFFLE, YOUR SCREEN AND YOUR HARDWARE, YOUR RETAINER RINGS, YOUR FUEL SENDING UNIT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY YOUR FUEL PUMP.

KEEP IN MIND THE LOCATION OF YOUR FUEL FLOAT SO YOU CAN AVOID IT. IT'S ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO CLEAN YOUR TANK OFF WITH A LITTLE BRAKE CLEANER BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, AND THEN USE YOUR RETAINER RING TO MARK YOUR HOLE. YOU CAN ALSO USE YOUR HOLE SAW, FLIP IT OVER, AND MARK THE CENTER. [ saw cutting metal ]

(JEREMY)>> DON'T FORGET TO TAKE THE PIECE YOU JUST CUT OUT OUT OF THE TANK, AND THE RETAINER RING HAS A RECESS ON THE BOTTOM SO YOU CAN POSITION IT CORRECTLY, AND INSTALL THE TWO ALIGNMENT SCREWS TO KEEP THE RING IN PLACE WHILE YOU'RE DRILLING. [ drill spinning ]

(JEREMY)>> NOW THAT IT CAN'T MOVE, GO AHEAD AND FINISH DRILLING ALL OF THE HOLES.

AND AGAIN, YOU'RE DEALING WITH YOUR FUEL TANK. SO YOU WANT TO KEEP IT AS CLEAN AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

WITH THE RETAINER RING IN PLACE, MEASURE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO GET THE MEASUREMENT TO CUT YOUR BAFFLE. IT'S ABOUT EIGHT AND A HALF. WE'VE GOT EIGHT AND A HALF BUT WE'VE GOT TO GO NINE AND A HALF TO MAKE OUR CUT. THE EXTRA ONE INCH ADDED TO THE MEASUREMENT HELPS KEEP THE RETAINER RING IN PLACE DURING INSTALLATION.

AND GIVE THE BAFFLE A LITTLE TWIST. THAT'LL HELP IT FIT DOWN INTO THE TANK.

NOW THAT WE KNOW THE DEPTH OF THE TANK, WE ARE GOING TO MEASURE TO WHERE OUR FUEL PUMP'S GONNA SIT, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S EIGHT INCHES. SO WE NEED TO CUT A LITTLE BIT OFF, AND WE'RE GONNA COME UP HERE...

...CUT THAT OFF. [ saw cutting metal ]

(JEREMY)>> AND THEN POSITION THE FUEL PUMP TO DETERMINE WHERE YOU NEED TO CUT THE FEED LINE.

AND MAKE SURE TO SLIDE YOUR HOSE CLAMPS ON BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR PUMP INTO PLACE.

NOW HERE'S THE SECRET ON WHY THIS SYSTEM WORKS SO WELL ON A RIBBED TANK. THIS THICK GASKET COMPRESSES ENOUGH TO SEAL AGAINST ALL THOSE RIBS. WITH YOUR WIRES BUNDLED OUT OF THE WAY, DON'T FORGET TO HOOK UP YOUR FUEL PUMP. THE 10 NYLOCK NUTS SEAL THE GASKET AND HELP KEEP EVERYTHING IN PLACE.

FIVE OF THE PORTS WON'T BE USED. SO VACUUM PLUGS WILL TAKE CARE OF THOSE.

WELL NOW THAT WE'VE GOT OUR FUEL PUMP INSTALLED AND OUR PORTS BLOCKED OFF, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND FINISH INSTALLING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. GET THIS PUT BACK IN THE TRUCK.

HEY GUYS, WE THOUGHT WE'D TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AWAY FROM THE SHOP BECAUSE THE GUYS FROM COATS WERE NICE ENOUGH TO COME DOWN AND GIVE US A LITTLE DEMO ON OUR NEW TIRE EQUIPMENT. WELL MIKEW IS GOING TO BE THE ONE SHOWING ME HOW TO USE THEIR NEW TILT BACK TIRE MACHINE, WHILE MIKEL IS GOING TO BE THE ONE SHOWING ELIZA HOW TO USE THE BALANCER. EVIDENTLY THEY ONLY HIRE MIKES AT COATS. SO MIKE WHAT DO WE GOT? (MIKE W.)>> THIS MACHINE WAS DESIGNED TO BASICALLY CLAMP RIMS BETWEEN EIGHT INCHES TO EVEN 30 INCHES. WE'RE GONNA CLAMP THE RIM WITH GRIP MAX CLAMPS THAT ARE NYLON PROTECTED. WE'RE GONNA GET OUR WHEEL, PUT IT ON THE LIFT HERE. NOBODY LIKES BACK PAIN. ALL RIGHT, SO GONNA HANG IT OFF JUST A LITTLE BIT SO YOU CAN ALLOW THAT TILT BACK TOWER TO TILT IN POSITION.

PERFECT! SO KEEP THE TIRE IN THE DROP CENTER. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA USE THIS HELPER ARM, WHICH ALSO KEEPS THE TIRE IN THE DROP CENTER.

VIOLA!

(ELIZA)>> AND NOW THAT WE KNOW HOW TO MOUNT OUR TIRE, MIKEL IS GOING TO SHOW US HOW TO BALANCE THEM ON OUR THREED BALANCER. SO MIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? (MIKE L.)>> OKAY, SO AFTER YOU'VE PROPERLY MOUNTED THE TIRE TO THE RIM, WE WANT TO NOW PROPERLY MOUNT OUR ASSEMBLY TO THE SHAFT OF THE BALANCER. DOING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE THE DOUBLE TAPERED COLLETS, AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SITTING ON THE HUB, AND IT'S ON THE HUB OF THE RIM OF THE TIRE, AND THEN THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS YOU'VE GOT AN ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE THAT CAN FIT INSIDE THE LUGS. OKAY, SO THE NEXT THING YOU WANT TO DO IS YOU WANT TO SELECT YOUR WEIGHT SELECTION. WE'VE GOT A STEEL RIM. SO WE'RE GONNA PICK CLIP ONE, CLIP TWO, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO OUT, AND THEN ON THE SCREEN WHERE IT TELLS US THE DIRECTIONS THAT WE NEED TO DO AT THE TOP, WHICH TELLS US TO MOVE THE ARM TO GET OUR FIRST AND SECOND DIMENSION. SO THAT'S THE DIAMETER, AND THE LOCATION OF THE RIM. OKAY, AND NOW YOU'RE GONNA LOWER YOUR HOOD TO GET YOUR THIRD DIMENSION, WHICH IS YOUR WIDTH, AND THIS USING SONAR TECHNOLOGY TO SET THERE AND READ THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY. NOW WE HAVE OUR INBOARD. IT'S ASKING FOR OUR CORRECTION WEIGHT RIGHT HERE ON THE INBOARD WEIGHT. WE HAVE OUR 12 O'CLOCK LASER THAT'S SITTING THERE SHOWING US WHERE TO PLACE THIS WEIGHT CORRECTLY ON THE RIM. IT'S A CLIP WEIGHT. [ hammer tapping metal ] (MIKE L.)>> ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA LOWER THE HOOD AND CHECK OUR CORRECTION WEIGHT.

(ELIZA)>> OKAY! (MIKE L.)>> OKAY, AND AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE ZEROS ON THE BOARD. SO THAT WOULD TELL US THAT WE HAVE A PROPER BALANCE.

(ELIZA)>> AWESOME, THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH FOR COMING BY AND TEACHING US HOW TO USE OUR NEW MACHINES. (MIKE L.)>> NO PROBLEM!

(ELIZA)>> AWESOME, LET'S GET THIS TIRE OFF AND GET THE OTHER ONE BALANCED. (MIKE L.)>> OKAY.