CUTLASS Ready or not here I come...

Houston78

Apprentice
May 13, 2008
94
256
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Houston, TX
What is your plan as far as transmission, sensors, coils,injectors,gaskets, covers, and accessories? New or junkyard? I'd probably start there tbh. Fuel system and headers are decisions between cobbling a setup together(speed engineering headers, ict plates or spohn mounts, stock 4.3 monte tank, sending unit and walbro 250) or buy holley everything... headers,mounts, drop in fuel module. Ecm and harness. If you got the scratch, just buy the terminator you need for whatever transmission you wanna use. If not go to the junkyard and grab a stock setup(and all the sensors,coils,injectors, intake,covers, and accessories you need).
I have a used stock 4L60e trans.
I also have a 4.8 with all the sensors, intake, injectors, coils, and fuel rail. I won't be able to use the throttle body on the intake, it's drive by wire. I will have to upgrade the injectors according to Summit's recommendation.
Engine came with a gasket kit and oil pump.
The covers I was thinking of going with the ones on the 4.8 except the valve covers unless I can remove the extension tube and use a filler cap only. I would like to powder coat them a flat black.

I'm going to try to mount the block to the stand this week and install the oil pump and front cover, oil pan and pick up tube, as many sensors as possible, the valley cover and valve covers and the intake just to have th block covered up.
20220801_091246.jpg
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Houston78

Apprentice
May 13, 2008
94
256
53
Houston, TX
This is the valley cover on the 4.3 it is from an 07 Chevy Silverado Classic.

Can I use a valley cover without the knock sensors?

This cover doesn't have a vacuum port.

20220801_140648.jpg

I was recommended this valley cover. My question is do I need to have the knock sensors?

I plan on going with a MSD Air Force intake manifold.

I have taken engines apart but I haven't built one until now. I'm sure I will have plenty of questions as I go.

Screenshot_20220802-080720_Amazon Shopping.jpg
 

Tony1968

Royal Smart Person
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Jul 1, 2018
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You can get a flat aluminum ICT billit one without knock sensors. Or something like the LS6 valley which is supposedly best for oil control.
 
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RabbitHoleSS

G-Body Guru
Dec 8, 2019
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Indianapolis
This is the valley cover on the 4.3 it is from an 07 Chevy Silverado Classic.

Can I use a valley cover without the knock sensors?

This cover doesn't have a vacuum port.

View attachment 203839
I was recommended this valley cover. My question is do I need to have the knock sensors?

I plan on going with a MSD Air Force intake manifold.

I have taken engines apart but I haven't built one until now. I'm sure I will have plenty of questions as I go.

View attachment 203840
I'd talk to my tuner about the knock sensors. That's the reason to keep them, especially if your gonna tune it yourself. After a fair bit of research and talking with a few tuners locally. I decided to keep mine. Unless your building an all out racecar, you prob should too imo.
 
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Tony1968

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Jul 1, 2018
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NW Indiana
You can also go with side mounted knock sensors later on. They have extention wiring. That's my plan IF I decide to add them later. I don't like the valley sensor setup. Jmho
 
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86LK

Royal Smart Person
Jul 23, 2018
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You can also go with side mounted knock sensors later on. They have extention wiring. That's my plan IF I decide to add them later. I don't like the valley sensor setup. Jmho
yeah, I had a '99 Suburban with a 350. those things had a known issue where moisture would get in the lower intake manifold area and cause the knock sensor mounted there to short circuit and throw a Check Engine Light
 
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Houston78

Apprentice
May 13, 2008
94
256
53
Houston, TX
*THIS IS NOT MY ENGINE

I've been searching online for information and found an article from Motor Trend with that picture that caught my attention.
I really liked the paint color for the block, I was going to go flat black, but I decided on going with this color.
They even have the intake manifold I want to use, they have exhaust manifolds and I would like to use the headers.
I bought some paint and painted the valve covers and coil brackets red and I painted the valley covers gray even though it won't be seen.
I would like to use the same valve covers they used but not sure about the clearance with the hvac box.
At the moment I'm going to install the oil pump and covers to clean up the block and paint it.
Screenshot_20220810-154429_Chrome.jpg
 
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