L29 454 MODS

Mark Gilbert · Jul 6, 2020

You still use the cam sensor in the distributor. In fact you still need to set the distributor position to correlate with the crank sensor. You just don't have any high voltage traveling through the distributor. They sell a blank distributor cap too.

https://www.eficonnection.com/home/product/cast-aluminum-distributor-dust-cap

The real advantage is that having more coils you can have a higher dwell and theoretically better spark. You also don't have to worry about failing distributor caps anymore, and your spark plug wires are really short, depending on where you mount the coils. Besides it just kinda looks cool.

Supercharged111 · Jul 7, 2020

Mark Gilbert said:
You still use the cam sensor in the distributor. In fact you still need to set the distributor position to correlate with the crank sensor. You just don't have any high voltage traveling through the distributor. They sell a blank distributor cap too.

https://www.eficonnection.com/home/product/cast-aluminum-distributor-dust-cap

The real advantage is that having more coils you can have a higher dwell and theoretically better spark. You also don't have to worry about failing distributor caps anymore, and your spark plug wires are really short, depending on where you mount the coils. Besides it just kinda looks cool.

Problem there is Vortecs have a 1x cam sensor and 24x ignition uses a 4x cam sensor.

Mark Gilbert · Jul 7, 2020

Supercharged111 said:
Problem there is Vortecs have a 1x cam sensor and 24x ignition uses a 4x cam sensor.

True, but it doesn't NEED a 4x cam sensor.

Here is the whole article I used.

http://www.gmtruckcentral.com/articles/24x.html

I already had an 0411 PCM and a licensed LS tune file. The only components I needed to buy were the:

Coil Packs
Wiring connectors
Pins for the PCM
I bought color coded wire from Amazon
24x crank reluctor wheel that was used on the L21 454
Crank position Sensor also from the L21
The wiring connector to that sensor
Distributor dust cap. (not really needed, you could just leave the factory distributor cap with no wires on it)
LS engine spark plug wires.

I mixed up two wires on the crank sensor and it didn't fire the first time, but once I got that right it fired right up and ran pretty good. I had to tune the PCM to the larger engine, but that was it.

Supercharged111 · Jul 7, 2020

If you didn't use a cam sensor then you are batch firing the injectors. I disconnected my cam sensor and saw no difference in performance.

L31MaxExpress · Jul 8, 2020

Supercharged111 said:
Problem there is Vortecs have a 1x cam sensor and 24x ignition uses a 4x cam sensor.

24x uses a 1x cam sensor

58x uses the 4x.

Either way you can get the appropriate cam sensor. The later 4.3s had a cam sensor that was 4x that bolts into a SBC or BBC.

dzynda · Jun 21, 2024

Hello guys, I know this is an older thread and I'm hoping some of you see this and can help. I've tried the link posted and it must no longer be available. If any of you have any more information on this conversion I would greatly appreciate it. I've been trying to do this for years now, I actually even spent like $1,800 on the msd direct ignition system kit just to be told that it will not work on my vortec 454.
Any other mods to attempt would be appreciated too. I've thought of cam, Jet mass air flow, 411 swap, even thought of maybe pro charger.
Currently I have.
Remand heads, nology plugs, wires, amplifier, hypertech coil 55,000v, msd cap & rotor, hypertech tuner, gibson headers, gibson exhaust two 3" in one 4" out, Belanger cats, Holley 85mm throttle body, MAC cold air intake.
Thank you

BeXtreme · Jun 21, 2024

dzynda said:
Hello guys, I know this is an older thread and I'm hoping some of you see this and can help. I've tried the link posted and it must no longer be available. If any of you have any more information on this conversion I would greatly appreciate it. I've been trying to do this for years now, I actually even spent like $1,800 on the msd direct ignition system kit just to be told that it will not work on my vortec 454.
Any other mods to attempt would be appreciated too. I've thought of cam, Jet mass air flow, 411 swap, even thought of maybe pro charger.
Currently I have.
Remand heads, nology plugs, wires, amplifier, hypertech coil 55,000v, msd cap & rotor, hypertech tuner, gibson headers, gibson exhaust two 3" in one 4" out, Belanger cats, Holley 85mm throttle body, MAC cold air intake.
Thank you

Thats an odd list of parts. I had my stock cam ground by delta camshaft, swapped the stock 4x reluctor for an EFI connection 24x reluctor($210) https://www.eficonnection.com/home/...-signal-kits/efi-24x-product-line/efi-24x-bbc, and then just put a blank cap on the old distributor to use it as a 1x cam sensor only. Then you can convert to an 0411 ECU and run a factory 2002 8.1L tune file and use EFIlive, HP Tuners, or various freeware software to tune it as you see fit. This gets you the LS CNP setup.

I would sell the hypertech stuff and just get yourself any set of stock LS coils from marketplace for ~$20/set

dzynda · Jun 21, 2024

Well I'm not that great at this stuff I'm finding. Just bolt on parts and apparently the wrong ones. I don't know much about tuning etc.etc but will pay to have it done. I've heard mention of a couple places on here black bear I think was one. I've also done the injectors.
I've done other stuff to it, 06 disk brake rear axle swap with a hybrid U joint. 4 link rear with 1.5" swaybar. Rebuilt and balanced the drive shaft. Front Spindle swap with kryptonite tire rods, ball joints. It's 4wd on bags but thinking of changing fonts to coilover hydraulic instead.
The msd kit was expensive

https://www.holley.com/products/ignition/ignition_boxes/street/parts/60151

The Holley throttle body wasn't terrible

https://www.holley.com/products/ls_power/ls_intakes/components_and_service_parts/parts/860023

I always heard more air in the out but I know there's more to it then that.
I appreciate the input though, I just want to make it the best that it can be. I've had the truck forever and love it.

dzynda · Jun 21, 2024

I guess I'm looking for what bolt ons I've done are good if not which ones could be better and what else to do to make it better. I may be working on another one and putting money in the right stuff helps. I've had this one since 2006, I got it from a Ford it was traded in for a powerstroke. I've put things on it over the years, it used to be a dually. I've just recently decide to repaint it and do more. My daily is a 2015 silverado 2500hd duramax, I bought the 6.0 back in 2016 and hated it compared to this big block so I traded it for a duramax. I'm getting tired of the emissions on it and the way I drive it I've been told it will keep happening. I'm thinking of putting one in an obs truck I have so I can delete it legally so to the age factor.
The long tube headers I didn't think would work with 4wd.
I bought roller rockers when I did the heads but was told it would make a difference.
I have a K&N on my other truck over the MAC, I don't even think that MAC makes them anymore.
Is there a cam to get or a machine shop can mod my stock one?

BeXtreme · Jun 25, 2024

dzynda said:
I guess I'm looking for what bolt ons I've done are good if not which ones could be better and what else to do to make it better. I may be working on another one and putting money in the right stuff helps. I've had this one since 2006, I got it from a Ford it was traded in for a powerstroke. I've put things on it over the years, it used to be a dually. I've just recently decide to repaint it and do more. My daily is a 2015 silverado 2500hd duramax, I bought the 6.0 back in 2016 and hated it compared to this big block so I traded it for a duramax. I'm getting tired of the emissions on it and the way I drive it I've been told it will keep happening. I'm thinking of putting one in an obs truck I have so I can delete it legally so to the age factor.
The long tube headers I didn't think would work with 4wd.
I bought roller rockers when I did the heads but was told it would make a difference.
I have a K&N on my other truck over the MAC, I don't even think that MAC makes them anymore.
Is there a cam to get or a machine shop can mod my stock one?

Most of the stuff you have there isn't necessarily bad, just not a lot of bang for buck and really not doing much without tuning. I wouldn't bother with black bear. If you have enough money to throw around to have those parts, I would start with an 0411 swap and then get yourself HP tuners or EFI live and start messing with it yourself. The biggest bang for buck you are going to get with an L29 is the tune.. by far. Next best thing is a cam upgrade. The stock cam is pretty retarded(I think something like 7 degrees) and small. Lots of guys seem to like the Comp Xtreme energy 01-411-8, I got a similar grind from Delta Camshaft by pulling my stock camshaft and sending it to them for a regrind. They do quality work and have been around forever, it was only $140 and 2 week turnaround. I would probably pull the front cover, replace the reluctor, change out the cam, and swap the computer to the 0411. Then you can hook up an MPVI3 tool and tune to your hearts content.

L29 454 MODS

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