Inliners International Forums General Discussion Vortec 4200

There is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm sending my Dyno-Cal ECU out to Westers Garage. Hopefully it won't be long before we have a stand alone flash for your ECU's.

Thanks for your patience.

Hemiman,are you telling us that we will be able to use just the engine PCM stand alone,without the need of the BCM ,factory ignition (key & switch)? In my application, I would like to eliminate the use of the automatic transmission, (going to a Colorado 5speed) and the use of the EV fan system, I plan to use a rad mounted electric fan because of space limitations.Between the Speartech harness strip & the Westers Garage flash is this basicly all we need for this engine transplant, besides all the hours & mechanical fabricating?

Thanks, Lumpy

That's the plan. I'm using an NV-4500 in my truck. And a standard fan clutch.

Pray that all of this comes together as planned.

If the vvt is a simple switch (like honda vtec) then it would be cake to control, but I have read that the 4200 has a 25 degree range of adjustment. Is this true? I am trying to dig up as much technical information on the vvt is I can get.

The VVT is not a simple switch. It's continuiosly variable. The ECM controls it through PWM. The actuation is done with oil pressure. It has its own map just like ignition timing and injection timing. The total timing is 28deg, although I've seen 25deg documented also.

Just for grins, I emailed GM Performance Parts and asked if there was any chance of a 4.2 crate motor with a standalone computer, much like the RamJet motors have.

Their reply was: " We have no plans to produce a 4.2l crate motor nor a L5".

That may not be totally true. I've been working with GM Goodwrench on this project for about 18 months now, and they've been VERY supportive. Can't give you any details on their actual support,but it has been VERY significant. All of this will be detailed in my article when it gets to the engine portion. Next issue of the magazine is going to feature brakes. However, I'm moving the engine article ahead of other mods now that the ECU log jam has been cleared. Should be in print by February. At this time you can by the 4.2 short block direct from GM & the head as a separte item.

Hemiman,

Unfortunately, I'll be in Ft. Sill OK when your article hits the shelves. Any chance you could e-mail a copy so the wife can print it out and send to me? (won't have internet access while in training).

What magazine are you talking about so that I may buy and issue?

I replied again with email notification this time.

What magazine will your article be printed in?

Wester's Garage is capable of all GM computor mods and the 4.2 is a fairly common install. Factory harness and a security re-learn.

Military Vehicles magazine

Zeke,

Sorry for the slow responce. As FTF noted, it's "Military Vehicles Magazine"

http://www.militaryvehiclesmagazine.com/

Hemiman

You can defeat the Passlock I and Passlock II anti-theft systems by using a DEI GM 555L Passlock Remote Start Interface (about $25 on ebay). You should be able to run the engine.


Here's their description:


THE 555L GENERAL MOTORS PASSLOCK INTERFACE MODULE IS USED WHEN INSTALLING REMOTE START PRODUCTS IN GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PASSLOCK I AND PASSLOCK II ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMS. THE 555L PROVIDES EASY INTERFACING WHILE MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE'S ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE 555L INTERFACES WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEMS BY PROVIDING THE PROPER RESISTANCE CODE (R-CODE) AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. THE 555L WILL ALSO PROVIDE, WHEN NECESSARY, A NEGATIVE SIGNAL TO THE BULB CHECK WIRE. THE 555L HAS NO EFFECT ON THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM WHEN THE REMOTE START IS NOT IN USE THE FACTORY PASSLOCK ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WILL REMAIN FULLY FUNCTIONAL.

Bump!

What's the latest on this? Has anyone got the MS EFi working? Are there any free standing setups on the market?


_Tim

The MS boards that will allow coil on plug ignition are 6-8 months from being ready for general usage. Watch the www.msefi.com forums for progress on the "router" board. Its this board and the MS2 that will free us from the OEM electronics.

Hemiman-
Any updates? I couldn't download the article, or I just went right by it.

I had the oilpan finished by a local aluminum welder, - Just cut off the entire bottom and created the oil well on the back. finished in one day. Now waiting for the Computer.....

So has Westers made the "stand alone" PCM modifications available on exchange basis yet? I haven't called recently to check availability. -Chuck

Anymore info getting these engines to run with the stock fuel injection/ignition system? I'm looking into stuffing one of these into a pre-emissions regulated GM Midsize or Economy-size car.

Talked to Lyndon at Westers the other day. He has stand alone computers for the 4.2 but only if you are using a manual transmission. Still working on the automatic, maybe by the end of the month

Finally.... Hope Brian is offering group Buys.... Anybody else in?

some info on putting the 4.2 into a gm intermediate car. This engine was not really designed to fit in a vehicle with a front crossmember, well maybe into a early Nova. As you know pretty well a chevy engines have the oil pan sump at the rear. This engine requires a modified pan to put the sump in the rear. The oil pump is also at the front so you end up with a pickup line about 2' long. When making a new pickup line use the largest size tube you can. Do not use smaller tubing for any reason. This is all doable. The engine is within 1/2" of a 230, 250, 292 six but is quite a bit taller with the plastic box on top. Could be a hood clearance problem. Other than these minor things, it's just another engine swap. Ha!!!!!!!!!!

Andy, Do you know if Wester's Garage can do the harness strip or should I send it to Speartech? When you say "stand alone" you do mean NO Passkey or BCM?

westers has a stand alone ecm. No bcm, no passlock. In theory five wire hookup like others offer for the v8's. Currently he does not have the automatic operational but hopes to have it by the end of the month. I hasve been waiting for someone to do this for two years. There are more than a few people that will sell a computer to run the engine. Theirs don't run the automatic or the fly by wire throttle and if you have a problem with it, you had better have your laptop with you. Westers uses the facrory ecm andc you should be able to plug it into a gm diagnostic machine to see what is wrong with the engine. Speartech can do a harness for you. At this point I am not sure Westers will do it for you.

Anybody know wht the 5 wire hookup looks like? I have a complete schematics. I have the complete engine harness up to and Including the FuseBox - but the wires leading into the Dash are all Cut. I traced out the RUN, Start. But, it still is a bit confusing. Any help.

BTW I ordered My Westers Tune today - Standalone with 4L60E.......

I would assume Westers will tell you where to attach the wires to the computer. If he dosn't then when my buddy gets back from his holiday we can tell you. We have managed to get the engine to crank with the stock ecm and bcm. The wiring diagrams in the trailblazer shop manual have to be the worst I have ever seen

Thats what I thought about those diagrams. I could send it to speartech, but, if it is only a few wires - heck.

Will be mounting it into my 50 pickup in the next few weeks..... I'll send pics

what does it cost to get a setup from westers? is it a reprogram of an ecm you send in or do you buy it outright?

Long time no post,

Send your stock engine harness to SpearTech. They will trim it out and send instuctions on how to hook it up. Costs about $350, and well worth it. If I could post photo's here I'd show before and after. Just amazing, the difference.

My article on the engine should be published in the June issue of "Military Vehicle Magazine". Sorry it's taken so long, but we had to upgrade the entire truck to safely handle the 275hp offered by the 4200.

I tried Speartech - they replied that they had no time to do the 4200 harness. It would be great if you posted the Instructions they sent you - maybe we could retrace.

Westers is looking for about $500 exchange for the computer. My understanding is they can program it most any way you want.

I'll get my SpearTech instructions out this weekend and post them for you.

Got the Westers Rod tune in for my 4.2..... Still waiting for any help on the wiring..... Anybody???

Thanks

Got mine back too. Will be working on it this week hopefully. Let you know how it goes

hey everybody.
Does anybody have any place to get custom motor mounts?
I am putting this engine in my 87 Supra.
Yeah, I know.

It's alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Today we got it to run. Let me tell you it is not easy. Westers dosen't give you any info on how to connect it. They do write out the passlock and it will run standalone.

motormounts, you make. I used the mounts that come with the engine and made adaptors to the frame

Driftwood- I replied to your other posts; here is what my 68 Firebird frame looks like after some surgery. The biggest pain is going to be the oil pan- we're trimming off all but the bottom 1.5" next to the flange & where the A/C bolts to the pan. I'm working with ARE to do a cast rear-sump pan that can be used wet or dry sump (so we can sell to some of the Comp Eliminator guys). The good thing- you don't need a deep pan as the block & caps are side-skirted & the crank is well above the block's pan flange.


Here's the engine installed with our side mounts. The mounts were real easy (I have templates), but it is tall. The oil fill cap adds 3/4" to the front. I'm going to use an aluminum cover from an 06 & swap the cap to the middle / back.