Thanks to Mudpuppy, my new Eagle is named Rockhopper, after the Rockhopper penguin.
I purchased this Eagle in Provo, UT. I drove it from UT to TN averaging 17.5 mpg. It has a Chevy 5.3l V8, 4L60E transmission, NP231 transfer case, Explorer 8.8 rear, Dana 44 Front with Fox coilovers. It will need some attention to a few things otherwise it runs great.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-43609-1331492847708.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-42310-1331519504052.jpg)
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The first thing I did was rip out the HID headlight conversion. I had one go out after only owning it 2 days. I never liked the glare from other cars with HID conversions, so I was happy to see it go. I used the housing that were set up for H4 bulbs and just put stock H4 bulbs in for now. I will eventually upgrade the wiring and install relays to the headlights.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-40922-1332979882375.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-17601-1332979827317.jpg)
I also installed a new antenna and messed around with the aftermarket temperature gauge but haven't figured out why it's not working properly.
Quote from: eaglefreek on March 28, 2012, 09:18:47 PM
It has a Chevy 5.3l V8,
Did the previous owner say what inspired him to put in the Chevy LS1 engine?
Would the HID setup still be usable? I've been considering upgrading my lights.
The Eagle looks awesome man. Can't wait to see what else you do to it...or if you do nothing I can't wait to see you having some good ol' fun with it!
Quote from: eaglefreek on March 28, 2012, 09:18:47 PM
Thanks to Mudpuppy, my new Eagle is named Rockhopper, after the Rockhopper penguin.
:hyper: Glad you like the name.
Now if I can only stop drooling over it, that is one hot rig.
I hope you get it all straightened up soon so you can enjoy it more and of course share lots and lots of pictures of Rockhopper.
Quote from: Prafeston on March 28, 2012, 10:15:59 PM
Would the HID setup still be usable? I've been considering upgrading my lights.
The Eagle looks awesome man. Can't wait to see what else you do to it...or if you do nothing I can't wait to see you having some good ol' fun with it!
One of the bulbs went out. I didn't make a note of which one. There is a chance a ground wire had come off but can't say for sure. It is only a set for one pair, low/high. He had H4 bulbs in the high lamps. You would have to buy H4 housings. If you want them you can have them for the price of shipping. I don't live near you, so you won't :censored: me of while your driving down the road with your glaring headlights. ;D
Do you happen to know the temperature of the bulbs? I can't stand the really bright ones. Anything over like 6000k is just too much. I think stock cars with HID lights are like 4300k. My old Speed3 had 6000k bulbs and they were a bit too bright/blue for my liking.
Nice deal EagleFreak. I am anxious to see what all foes on with this Eagle. Very nice write-up on your trip BTW. I really enjoyed the pictures.
Thats so cool... I'd really like to see more pictures of it!
Quote from: vangremlin on March 28, 2012, 09:59:39 PM
Quote from: eaglefreek on March 28, 2012, 09:18:47 PM
It has a Chevy 5.3l V8,
Did the previous owner say what inspired him to put in the Chevy LS1 engine?
It's not actually an LS1 if it's a 5.3
It's an LS based motor, but an LS1 is a 5.7L
Depending on the year, it's a Vortec based LM7, L59, LM4, L33.
I thought in the original listing said it was an LS1 from a Corvette though.. which would make it a 5.7L. It LOOKS like an LS1 though, from the picture..
He explained this in one of the other threads.
Quote from: eaglefreek on March 26, 2012, 01:59:05 PM
Unfortunately, I found out it's not an LS1 from a Vette but a truck 5.3l with Ls1 intake and accesories. I'm not upset about it because it runs great anyways.
:occasion14: 17.5 mpg is decent with those 35's.
Quote from: shaggimo on March 29, 2012, 09:12:53 AM
:occasion14: 17.5 mpg is decent with those 35's.
I'd take that. It's like a million times fast than the Eagle, taller, bigger tires, bigger engine. It's improved in pretty much every way and still getting what my average is if you look at the fuelly app in my signature. Of course most of that 17.5 was all highway. I did get 21MPG my last mostly full highway mileage.
I was wondering what a mostly stock Eagle would get with one of those engines. My sister had a 2000 Silverado 1500 with the 5.3l and she would get 20-21 on the highway.
Depends if you could keep your foot out of it ;D , lol. I believe the impala ss (5.3) can get about 24-25 hwy, so I would have to think the eagle would do about the same.
That thing is sweet!
Quote from: jeepjerry on March 29, 2012, 12:08:57 PM
That thing is sweet!
Thanks.
When I took it by a buddy of mine in Greeley, CO, he noticed there was no IAT (intake air temperature) sensor connected. He gave me one that had a different connector. I spliced it in today and wow, it's quicker. I can smoke the tires off the line with hardly any effort. I measured the tires which are 317/75/16's and they are actually 34" tall.
Quote from: Prafeston on March 29, 2012, 01:17:26 AM
He explained this in one of the other threads.
Quote from: eaglefreek on March 26, 2012, 01:59:05 PM
Unfortunately, I found out it's not an LS1 from a Vette but a truck 5.3l with Ls1 intake and accesories. I'm not upset about it because it runs great anyways.
Oh I didn't see that. Thanks.
Today, I figured out the sending unit for the aftermarket temp gauge was faulty. I replaced that and now have a working temp gauge. I need to wire up a parking brake light. I've driven about 5 times with the parking brake on. I bought a red indicator light from Radio Shack just need to figure out where I want it. Also going to install a blue one for the brights, since that was removed also from the cluster.
I finally got in touch with the builder a couple days ago. The engine and transmission are from an 03 Silverado, he's said he has no idea where the previous owner got the 03 LS1 Vette engine idea from. Front axle is a Dana 44 from a Jeep Wagoneer with a LSD and all the outer stuff, including the brakes, is from late 70's F150/Bronco. Along with the Explorer rear axle with disc brakes, this car stops WAAAAY better than my other Eagle.
A few days ago, I rewired the radio. Most of the splices were done with duct tape.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-32671-1333544535090.jpg)
I didn't want this to turn into a money pit, but I dropped it off at the exhaust shop last night. I was under it the day before, trying to come up with a plan for skid plates and noticed the transmission cooling lines were touching the exhaust. One cat was on the side of the bellhousing and the other was under the bellhousing. Not a good idea for transmission life. Not to mention the exhaust was put together with about 20+ short pieces of pipe frakensteined together. The exhaust guy said, "Man, someone spent an awful lot of time screwing this up."
Quote from: eaglefreek on April 04, 2012, 09:03:23 AM
The exhaust guy said, "Man, someone spent an awful lot of time screwing this up."
:rotfl: That's funny! And also not funny! Hope the fixes don't cost you a fortune and hope your exhaust guy knows how to spend the time to do it right!
First thing I look for in an exhaust shop is a pipe bender. The second is a welder. If those two things exist, the shop knows what they are doing.
Unless both items are 10 years old and look brand new. That means they are never used so I know to go someplace else!
Quote from: rohnk on April 04, 2012, 09:31:32 AM
First thing I look for in an exhaust shop is a pipe bender. The second is a welder. If those two things exist, the shop knows what they are doing.
Unless both items are 10 years old and look brand new. That means they are never used so I know to go someplace else!
This guy did my other Eagle and seems to know what he is doing. I won't be able to show pics of the new exhaust on the grounds that it may incriminate me. ;)
Well, I just picked it up from the exhaust shop. It looks a 100% better but cost more than I wanted to spend and sounds like Jed's 79 GMC K1500. :( (No offense if your name is Jed). It definitely sounded much better with the other configuration but was going to cause some trans overheating on the trail. I'll probably change out the generic mufflers some day in the future.
Let's get a little video. I wanna hear this Eagle Screech! :)
Quote from: Prafeston on April 04, 2012, 05:27:43 PM
Let's get a little video. I wanna hear this Eagle Screech! :)
Some day soon hopefully.
I also picked up a tire for a full size spare today. I put a wanted ad on Craigslist and got a guy who sold me a brand new Cooper STT Mud tire for about half price. Now I just need to get a wheel.
;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-43378-1333852717072.jpg)
Oh Clark, it's beautiful!
:rotfl:
Congratulations on finding a great looking and running on/offroad Eagle. Glad to see the HID lights replaced. Pictures of the suspension setup would be interesting.
I have eagle envy!
Quote from: casper on April 08, 2012, 03:19:24 AM
im with prafston. i want to see and HEAR a video of this bird. even tho its a chevy motor.
I'll try to do that in the next couple days. I'm going camping with a friend and I'll have him take some video.
Quote from: casper on April 08, 2012, 03:19:24 AM
maybe someday it will have an injected 401 inplace of the chevy?? i mean as long as your one of the big lottory winners... lol :rotfl:
Probably not. I'm not a brand loyalist. Whether it's clothes, tools, food or whatever, I can care less what the label says as long as it gets the job done to my liking. I've been following the Chevy LSx engines for a while and glad I finally got to own one. It's quite an impressive engine. I took it to an off road park yesterday and was quite amazed at the low idle torque it had. It would just drive over obstacles like they weren't even there.
Sorry, no action shots. I went by myself and only got a few pictures. I didn't go too crazy since I was by myself and don't have any rocker protection and skid plates yet.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-25256-1333898039529.jpg)
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Time for a bath:
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I had a helper:
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An Eagle in it's natural habitat. Beautiful!
Haha, is that a little corgi mix?
that dogs funny!
That looks like a Terrier. Love my Terriers.
Looks like your killing 2 birds with 1 stone there ... Car washed -done, bathe the dog -done lol
Nice pics.
Quote from: eaglefreek on April 08, 2012, 10:12:25 AM\
Probably not. I'm not a brand loyalist. Whether it's clothes, tools, food or whatever, I can care less what the label says as long as it gets the job done to my liking. I've been following the Chevy LSx engines for a while and glad I finally got to own one. It's quite an impressive engine.
Don't worry about the LSx hate.
They are great motor's. Incredibly reliable and can handle a pretty insane amount of power on a stock bottom end.
Depending on gearing and the vehicle, they can also get decent gas mileage. One of my best friend's has a LS1 Trans-Am with headers, full exhaust, cam, tune and intake and he's pushing out about 400HP at the wheels and gets about 28MPG on the highway. He's got a 6 speed though, so double overdrive.
It's so much better than the original motor, it's not even a comparison.
The only complaints I have about them...even with a decent exhaust system, their sound leaves a lot more to be desired.. and certain parts are expensive.. but they respond really well to modifications.
I took it to Wooly's Off Road Park with a group from TNJeeps.com. I only lasted about a half hour. It was cutting out and running like junk. I suspect it was overheating. The aftermarket gauge was only reading 200 degrees but I could tell by the heat coming out of the engine compartment it was MUCH hotter. Yesterday, I installed a better gauge and a larger fan. It was only 12" flexalite fan (1250 cfm) and I installed a 16" Spal (2000 cfm). I won't know if it is fixed until I get back on the trail, on a hot day, and crawl around.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-44472-1336674248263.jpg)
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Looks like a much beefier fan. Hope that fixes your problem!
Shrouding is the key to a fan working well. Pulling 2000 cfm through the WHOLE radiator will cool it worlds better than just where the fan is sort of sitting against it. I'd bet on a larger difference made by shrouding the 1600CFM fan than by going from unshrouded 1600 to unshrouded 2000.
Went to Wooly's again last weekend with the Jeep club and the Eagle performed flawlessly. It didn't even come close to overheating. The new fan actually cycles on and off, telling me it is cooling. The old fan would come on and stay on. On the "Got a new bike" thread I posted in Eagle Road Trips, I mentioned that I had some stalling issues in stop and go traffic when driving to Indiana. It would start right back up, but was really frustrating me. It had been doing it on and off for a few weeks. When I got to the motorcycle shop I popped the hood and was looking for anything obvious, when it hit me that this problem started when I hooked up an IAT (intake air temperature) sensor. There was a connector that wasn't going to anything and a buddy who has done a couple LS1 swaps told me I need to put the IAT sensor in. Well, come to find out I have a later mass air sensor, that he wasn't aware of, that has the IAT built in. So I had two IAT sensors connected and I think it may have been confusing the computer. The car didn't stall once on the drive back from Indiana nor on my all day off road ride. :hello2:
Here are some pics from Wooly's:
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You can see pics of some of the Jeeps that I went with here: https://plus.google.com/photos/114356528941801732670/albums/5745003113994315073
I've been asked to get some pictures of the engine install and the solid axle swap. They aren't the best, but hope it answers some questions.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-43357-1337710592071.jpg)
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As always awesome pics eaglefreek. :occasion14: Looks like a well thought out set up there, no obscene geometry, looks very well done! How is the 3 link road manner wise?
Quote from: shaggimo on May 22, 2012, 03:16:37 PM
As always awesome pics eaglefreek. :occasion14: Looks like a well thought out set up there, no obscene geometry, looks very well done! How is the 3 link road manner wise?
Actually pretty good considering it doesn't have a front sway bar. That is in the plans some day, though.
Nice, was contemplating a three linker some day, gave me some ideas.....
If your ever in my neck of the woods, you're welcome to take it for a spin.
Thanks, I fear that would cause me to have to build one, lol, :occasion14:.
I had a Kawasaki KLX650R for sale for a couple months with no bites. I offered it up for barter and made a deal with a guy who hooked up the A/C. He used the 5.3L's compressor, built some custom lines and figured out the wiring. It's not ice cold, but it is cool. I think it needs a condesor made for 134a to be cold. Thinking about trying Duracool (http://www.duracool.com/).
Quote from: Zoro on August 03, 2012, 09:28:11 PM
Slight hijack, I've been contemplating that drivetrain swap. What kind of mileage do you think would be possible with that drivetrain in a stocker?
If geared properly, I wouldn't doubt that it would get in the low 20's if not better. My sister had a 2000 Silverado with the 5.3 and she would get right around 20.
That is a sweet wagon!
awsome ride
Well, I decided to have the dent in the rear right door taken care of that you may have seen in my for sale ad. Also, the black trim job the previous owner did, always drove me nuts. My buddy Jay who lives in Eagleville, TN, coolest name for a town in the world, offered to do the work for me. He makes concrete counter tops, but used to do paint and body when he lived in CT. Luckily, he has a room where is sprays his counter tops and purposely made it big enough to paint a car. Based on some internet searching, I chose John Deere Blitz Black. It's a matte black paint. It's far from a show car job, but great for a off road vehicle. I'm going to add a red pinstripe to separate the black and white.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/photobucket-124517-1396125613227_zps6de2049f.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/svoman2300/media/photobucket-124517-1396125613227_zps6de2049f.jpg.html)
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Looks so much better man!
Looks great!
:drool:
Love it!
Hope Rick doesn't mind me showing off some more of his new paint job.
What do you guys think?
(http://i776.photobucket.com/albums/yy46/Prafeston/ResizedImage_1396392336718_zpsisekwm7u.jpg) (http://s776.photobucket.com/user/Prafeston/media/ResizedImage_1396392336718_zpsisekwm7u.jpg.html)