RembaSS 1SG

Holy crap, I couldn't stop clicking...and then my eyes started to burn.

As many of you all may recall I purchased CHASE04s Vortech supercharger system in July with its spare T-trim head. I waited until it got here to see what else I would need. Most everything was there. He was very accommodating with his experience. I opted to install this beast myself and that was probably my first and worst mistake. I thought I was mechanically inclined enough for the task. I have fixed HMMWVs in Iraq with almost nothing at hand. I digress. Sit back, grab a beer, and try not to laugh too hard. One good thing is I have gotten very intimate with my SS. I have been doing this over weekends for about 4 weeks. My first obstacle was dropping the gas tank and replacing the stock fuel pump with the Walbro 255 lph. My 2-ton jacks allowed just enough room to get the tank out…if any one does this ensure your tank is almost empty…mine had about 13 gallons in it. Once I dropped the tank getting the guts out of the tank was a bitch. Once finished getting it back in was even worse, I just did not have the room. -changed the stock fuel injectors for 60lbers and they went in quite easy. Once I put the fuel rails back on figured out they were the longer version. I fixed this by using spacers and longer 10mm bolts. -relocated the battery to the back because it would not fit in the upper left tray area. -installed the icebox (Chase’s) to the area where the Volant was this was the easiest thing I did. -installed the Lightning intercooler heat exchanger behind the bumper (and only figured this out after finding pictures of Chase’s truck when he first installed it). -changing the pulleys were okay but exhausting in 100 degree weather, not easy. -getting the air ducts to match the rear of the compressor and under it to the air intake where the battery used to be was a bitch. In the 2005 SS, the CPU/PCM is installed under the battery and I cannot figure out where or how to move it. Some flex cable help fix this. -vacuum pump did not need to be moved, but followed the direction any way and the pump would not fit where the direction said it would go, so I put it back. -finally the worst part of the build was getting the hole drilled in the oil pan. I saved it for last. First, I figured a 90’ drill head might work. The 9/16 arbor rotabroach was not included. Research on other sites said a 9/16 wood bore bit could do the trick just make sure I fish the plug out. This barely reached. Once done, the tap would not grab correctly. I tried everything. -The point that I had everything else done, I rigged the air intake above the icebox where the MAF was at the time, and had the oildrain hose draining into a cup, I started the engine and it ran but rough, I saw liquid giesering and realized I had a horrible fuel leak at the crossover tube. When I was replacing the fuel injectors I had to remove the crossover tube because the quick disconnect tool would not disconnect the fuel line. Called the local dealer and an old man (after giving me a hard time about messing up such a nice truck) ordered “O” rings for me for a whopping $45. Once that was fixed it ran but rough, the oildrain line was flowing very fast so I shut off the truck and recycled the cheap oil. -The realization that I would have to drop the pan made me cringe; thankfully for this website I found some shortcuts to drop the pan. By removing only the four bolts attaching the diff to the truck I was able to lower the front diff a few inches I had enough room to get it out (oh, I have now purchased 3 ton jacks and stands now I have plenty of room to work). Once I got the pan out (and good thing I did, it had a dime size plug from the 9/16 wood bore in the bottom of the pan), oh a magnet will not pick up the shavings, there aluminum. But I found out that our drain plug has a magnet on the end of it. After trying to retap this by hand, I tried to use sealant and as I was reinstalling the pan, I not only got the oil level sensor plug caught in the oilpan crushing it good, I broke the sealant seal on the oildrain point. I wasn’t even drinking! I had to remove the pan once again and finally took it to a performance shop and he wouldn’t fix the touch it. Aluminum is a bitch to weld, as he says and if memory serves from high school. He referred me to a feed store and that man was the bomb. He not only refilled my screw-up job, he moved the hole closer to the front, built up the area so there was about ½ inch of aluminum and opposed to the ¼ inch which means more threads and tapped the hole perfectly for me. Cost? $20 bucks I was so happy I gave him $30. Bottomline, drop the pan and get a professional to do it. It is now on and getting the front diff to realign is a pain in the butt [The time spent on this project was nearly twice what it took me to do everything else combined]. It also did not help that my drive way is about 5-6 degree grade so not only was I trying to work above me I was trying to keep myself from rolling down hill, head first. Very exhausting. -I started it up this evening and it is running but rough. I think I still have vacuum and/or air issues…but it is running. -Hindsight being 20/20 make sure if you do this you do your research. Vortech said the 2003-04 Vortech was really set up for the 2005 but I made it fit. Before I purchased the supercharger I also bought the McGaughey 2/3.5” deluxe drop for the truck and think I will have it professionally installed. My wife has been dogging me for the last two weeks and even offered to let my buy the 2010 Camaro SS I had at first wanted. She has offered to pay for the drop herself…However, I persevere. I will post picks when I can.

I am amazed at all the well intentioned replies that you have received. I agree with them all. I have a 9 year old girl that was cared for by an Army wife friend of my wife, while she and I were working Soldiers in Ft Hood, TX. When that family left we decided on daycare (and as has been already mentioned) word of mouth was the best advertising tool for the best daycare in this area. She communicated with kids her age by going through a yelling-biting phase (that freaked me the 'f' out, especially when she did it to me!). As she grew into the daycare so did we. Long story short in the last 8 years she has been to four different daycares in three different military cities in two states. When she started kindergarten she scored in the top 98%ile meaning daycare did good for her. Only potty training was a set back because we (her parents traded a few Iraq deployments that emotionally was too much for her). Her mom made it through military PA school and I was an active duty Army First Sergeant (with my own 50-110 kids aged 17-40!). Life was hectic and one thing we did not worry about was childcare. It did freak me out though. Flash forward to today: she is an accomplished gymnast, blackbelt in TKD, a brand new well adjusted 4th grader. Did I mention she still snuggles up with mom and dad, more often than she should? Having said this, the advice I could give you has been given before: sleep pattern changes, playing with parts he hasn't played with before (after 12-18 month mark) may be indicators. I am a criminal analyst for Army CID now and have seen issues that would make a grown man cringe...fortunately none from daycare facilities. I have since been retired from active Army for 2.5 years and my wife (a CPT (PA-C) in 7-10 CAV, 4th ID) just ETS'd (exited the Army) today...time to start another phase of our family. Good luck, brother.

That's no BS, three weeks ago I was pulled over by a Texas State Trooper for tint AND front license plate missing. In Texas these are probable cause infractions which means that sucks. I was 6% under on tint (and damned if I see tint that is darker everywhere I look). He was probably pi$$ed that I wasn't speeding! Freaking nice plate bracket.

Keep your spirits high, those last months are a boomer. Stay busy. I retired two years ago as a First Sgt/ OPS SGM out of the 101st, after two tours of Iraq in three years (2003-04; 2005-06). Welcome you home. 96R SS was also out of the 101st and actually one of my old troops.

Not sure if you all fixed this problem. I had the same problem in early July 09 and found that one of the bigger fuses in the fuse box under the hood had gone bad. We had 105 degree temps on a drive in Austin, Tx and the air coming into the truck was hotter from the AC was hotter. Do not know what those big fuses (maybe a resistor) are called but replaced it and all is good.

You all notice the car driving the wrong direction at 00:12 and was no where near the intersection at 00:10-00:11? Looks like a tape splice.

Is this low life ballsy or what? And what is up with the email address: Christianracing?? not very christian like. Maybe he steals from the offering plate as well. PS...he probably is not a true TEXAN!!!

As an avid fan of this site and a PhD abd (all but dissertation) meaning I am still writing, I cannot help but notice this poll and the poll for t-shirts (started in OCT 08) are very nearly the same . Hmmm! This would lead me to believe that there are more black, than blue, then red, then silver birch (my color of choice btw) SS. I would also have to agree with 1skss I do like that arrival blue, shame they did not offer it in 2005 .

Oh man, sorry to hear that. WODY's dog SCOOBY says it all.

Beagles are so needy aren't they. Ours is all Beagle and part Leech!!!

Beautiful dogs. Here is mine, now much older but she was a 4 week old beagle that I gave my 8 y/o daughter for Christmas. Since then she has become OUR dog. Oh, almost forgot she is ROXY ROCKER.

I hit it last month as well...the same month I paid it off. Next stop supercharger and 2/4 drop.

Thanks, Chase. Everything arrived in good order. Everything looks great. Will post pics when done. The night it arrived I opened up most boxes and started inventory, wiping down the tubing and supercharger. My little girl wanted to help and before you knew it...we smelled like mechanics...LOL.

I also have four stock rims (original chrome rims) on Hankook Ventrus tire (OEM size 20's) with 25000 miles on them (see sig). No scratches, curb rash, etc.

PM sent.

Are you still firm at $3600? I may be interested. I have not been on the boards in a while and trying to catch up.

Welcome to the boards. My little girl does competition gymnastic up near there around Bedford-Euless area. It is a little far from Ft Hood, TX but not to bad.

Hello Marine SSGT, I see you have been promoted since last we talked. 9 years, 4 tours of combat, and 6 deployments equates to 21 years, 2.5 years in Iraq, 3.5 years on the DMZ in Korea, and other colorful assignments....Just kidding you. Retired March 2007 as a First Sergeant and have not even put away my boots, uniform, or Class As. Drives my wife an Army CPT Physician Assistant (freshly back from her second tour to Iraq), CRAZY! Good Luck in your future.

Have a good time back stateside, Marine. I remember getting my SS in 2005 and storing it in the garage for one year...bringing it out a year later with 4500 miles on it was like Christmas all over again. I served 21 years in Army tactical intelligence retiring as a 1SG with two tours of Iraq, last as a MiTT trainer of Iraqi soldiers and Sergeants. Been out two year, still working for the Army and still loving my truck. Couple of SSers on here are old soldiers of mine. Take care and Semper Fi. Air Assault, Air Borne, Lightfighter!!!

Carmona, they will promote anyone to SSG. Just kidding. Sucks being an analyst, yes? Be patient and you will probably be a MSG/1SG in 4 years!! Things are good here in Central Texas. Big Sky takes on a new meaning here. Currently working as a Intel Analyst for CID. Pretty Cool job. I get to find out where speed traps are. LOL. Just kidding again....me, speed?? Rosanna lost in the finals to a lady that founded a great military care package program and her 100,000 volunteers voted hundreds of times (from what I gather). The votes were not in it for an active duty wife in Iraq. However, we were honored and humbled to share my wife's story with everyone. Elisa sure has grown up, huh? Good hearing from you, where you at....or cant you divulge your location? Take care and keep safe if you are where I think you are. Mark