Ultimate E-Rod Build - LS Engine Dress Up - Eddie Motorsports

Ultimate E Rod Build Ls Engine Dress Up Engine

Last month, we showed you how easy it was to install a 430hp, smog-legal GM Performance Parts E-Rod engine in a pre-’96 truck. This month, we’re building upon that solid foundation and adding the necessary components to make it ready to run, all while dressing it up in the process. Eddie Motorsports (EMS) recently launched its new S-Drive billet pulley and serpentine belt setup for LS engines, and we felt this was a perfect time to get our E-Rod engine up and going. Out of the crate, the GM Performance Part’s E-Rod comes with a water pump installed and a crank pulley, but it’s still missing an alternator, power steering pump, A/C compressor, and tensioner. Thankfully, opening the Eddie Motorsport’s box filled all of our needs with top-shelf components like an Edelbrock water pump, Sanden A/C compressor, Maval power steering pump, Powermaster alternator, and Gates tensioner with belt. Another perk to the Eddie Motorsports kit is its compact design, which is perfect for trucks with cramped engine compartments, or for show trucks that want a clean, simple look. Made in America out of 6061-T6 billet aluminum, this kit makes us proud to buy and install. Our square-body Chevy truck was still at PPC Customs, in Clovis, California, and it made perfect sense for them to install the S-Drive kit while we took the pics. If you’re in the market for a serpentine belt setup, check out Eddie Motorsports for all of their applications.

1. When we left off with our E-Rod engine install last month, we still needed a power steering pump, alternator, A/C compressor, and tensioner with belt. We found the solution at Eddie Motorsports. This S-Drive kit is machined from high-grade billet aluminum and is a compact design.
1. When we left off with our E-Rod engine install last month, we still needed a power stee
2. To get the install going, we first needed to remove the original crate engine water pump. That helped us gain more access to the crank pulley, and we’ll be replacing it with a new pump anyways.
2. To get the install going, we first needed to remove the original crate engine water pum
3. After busting loose the 24mm bolt holding the crank pulley/harmonic balancer to the crank, PPC Customs used a three-jaw gear puller to remove it from the crank snout. It was replaced with a new ATI Super Damper that came in the EMS kit.
3. After busting loose the 24mm bolt holding the crank pulley/harmonic balancer to the cra

4. To keep the kit looking as nice as possible, EMS uses double-ended studs to secure the water pump and billet accessories bracket with M8 cap screws. We installed the five double-ended M8 water pump studs into the block with antiseize on the threads.
4. To keep the kit looking as nice as possible, EMS uses double-ended studs to secure the
5. The new Edelbrock high-flow water pump was ready to be installed along with the billet mounting bracket for the alternator. We also added the thermostat and water neck at this time.
5. The new Edelbrock high-flow water pump was ready to be installed along with the billet
6. Moving to the passenger-side of the water pump, the A/C bracket was secured with M8 cap screws and the Sanden A/C compressor was installed.
6. Moving to the passenger-side of the water pump, the A/C bracket was secured with M8 cap

7. Back over on the driver-side, the polished Powermaster 105-amp alternator was bolted on using the supplied Allen bots.
7. Back over on the driver-side, the polished Powermaster 105-amp alternator was bolted on
8. A quick tip we learned was finger tightening the brackets until the part for the bracket was installed and then going back and tightening down the bracket bolts. This ensured everything lined up perfectly.
8. A quick tip we learned was finger tightening the brackets until the part for the bracke
9. Check out our progress so far, the E-Rod sure is starting to look like a show-ready, hot rod engine.
9. Check out our progress so far, the E-Rod sure is starting to look like a show-ready, ho

10. Using holes already in place on the block, we finder-tightened the bolts for the power steering bracket.
10. Using holes already in place on the block, we finder-tightened the bolts for the power
11. We then inserted the power steering pump and tightened all of the bolts. EMS also sells complete hoses and power steering racks to make the reassembly process an easy one.
11. We then inserted the power steering pump and tightened all of the bolts. EMS also sell
12. With the new Gates tensioner in place, we could route the new Gates belt around the pulleys and slide it in place.
12. With the new Gates tensioner in place, we could route the new Gates belt around the pu

13. Keeping things looking their best, EMS also included a billet tensioner cover. This kind of attention to detail really sets EMS apart from other belt drive kits.
13. Keeping things looking their best, EMS also included a billet tensioner cover. This ki
14. Bolted on and looking great, the machined finish looks great, and we can now proudly show off our eco-friendly LS small-block.
14. Bolted on and looking great, the machined finish looks great, and we can now proudly s
15. As we promised, we took our completed E-Rod-equipped sqaure body to the chassis dyno where it laid down an impressive 362 rwhp and 348 lb-ft of torque. With the original 305ci small-bllock in place, the truck put down 112 rwhp, so all we did was more than triple the output. Now that's technology at its finest, especially for an engine that runs cleaner, gets better mpg, and can roast the tires at a moments notice. Who said going green wasn' fun?
15. As we promised, we took our completed E-Rod-equipped sqaure body to the chassis dyno w

SOURCE
GM Performance Parts P.O. Box 33170 Detroit MI 48232 800-577-6888 www.gmperformanceparts.com	Eddie Motorsports 11479 Sixth Street Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730 888-813-1293 www.eddiemotorsports.com
PPC Customs 1063 Brookhaven Drive Suite 103 Clovis CA 93612 559-281-8484 www.ppcbest.com