Lan.Jet

I just had an 525 LS3 crate engine install in my 2000 C5 to replace the LS1. I am using a Lingenfelter Reluctor converter box and a LS2 throttle body. The problem is it won't idle very good. you have to constantly work the throttle. I have another friend that had the same engine install about a month before me with the same issue. I was just wondering if any of the tuners out there had run into this before and if they were able to solve it.
Thanks

RX-Ben

Does it idle at all? If it starts and dies quickly, check the wiring for the cam sensor. You may need to swap some wires to make the LS1 PCM happy (LS3 has same connector but wires are hooked up differently).
Also, do you have the proper cam trigger on the cam (1x) for the LS1 PCM?
What tune are you using and what other parts are on there (MAP, MAF etc)?

Lan.Jet

Thanks for the reply. Yes it will idle. The MAF is from a 2004 LS6 and the throttle body is from a 2006 LS2. I had a local corvette shop do the installation and tune. The only part I worked on was to install a dry sump. They want the car back to experiment but I am looking for a shop that has done this swap before and know exactly the tune it needs and what parts.
The whole project has gone way over budget. I know GM makes a stand alone controller kit for this engine. But I don't know how hard it would be to integrate with the rest of the car. What I am really looking for is if any one else has done this same swap and what their results were.

ErnieN85

Kyle@KMC

My father and I installed a GM Performance ls3 525hp crate motor in his 70' Camaro and had a similar problem upon initial start-up. This car previously had an LS1 transplant so the swap was very similar to what you are doing. We had to work the pedal to keep it alive and even then it didn't sound like a nasty high performance engine. The verdict ended up being the MAF sensor location. We put the new (Credit Card style) MAF in the wrong location (The location is very finicky) and that caused the whole problem. We then moved the location to the proper 10" ish away from the throttle body with no bend for at least 4" in front of that and now the thing flat out runs. I am not sure where you mounted yours and it may be just fine but it might help to read into where GM wants that located (They have instructions on line just for the positioning of it and I don't recall them exactly). Just wanted to share what helped with our transplant Hope this helps. Also the 525 LS3 lopes like crazy on idle so there will be some fluctuation but you will know because it sounds beautiful.

crimlwC6

jlutherva

Mine didn't idle worth a crap either after installation. Justin Abbott at ZIP did some reprograming that got it corrected. Maybe he'll chime in.

BTW, I like the engine.

Jim

Lan.Jet

Thanks for the reply. It sound like you used the GM performance controller kit. I am currently using a LS6 MAF in the stock location.
But this may give me a direction to look in.
When I started it today if the gas was not touched and it was started it would idle fine. If you rev it and let off it will die.

Lan.Jet

Thanks for the reply. What year car was this? and do you know what throttle body and MAF was used?
Thanks

RX-Ben

I assumed you had a canned tune or something flashed to the C5's PCM. Is that not the case?
FWIW, MAF instructions are on p2 -
http://www.crateenginedepot.com/pdfs...rol_system.pdf

Lan.Jet

Yes the shop that installed it did the tune.
Thanks for the link. It will help me trace out what they did.

NICK YOSKIN

reason why is LSA 110
tune it in SD and it will purr like a kitten

vertigyn

96CollectorSport

Which MAP sensor did you end up going with? Did you use the LS3 MAP or the LS6 MAP? If you are using the LS3 MAP I believe you need a different MAP table - I don't know exactly what my tuner changed but I know he had to alter them MAP settings for the LS3 MAP, because that's what we used. I've installed 4 crate LS3's in the last year and a half including 2 525's and they all idle well. The 525's surge under 2500 on the road but other than that they are pretty well behaved. Same tuner on all 4 cars.

Zip Corvettes

Part of the issue is the LS1B controller. It does not have the amount of idle tables nor the control that the E38 and E67 controller has. I am actually in the middle of one now and I am struggling with it. I have a 03 auto car with the 525 motor in it. It starts easily and idles, but you can just rev it up and let the throttle off, it will die. The fueling tables seem really good now and the transient fuel tables are much better. However it is still a problem, timing is stable. I am using the stock MAF with the curve modified for this engine. I have installed a ton of these motors and that cam but in this case they have all been on the E38 and E67 plateform. I have never had a cam difficult to idle on the LS1B so I figured it would be no problem. I am eating plenty of crow right now even possibly thinking about changing the cam which my customer nor me really want to do.