LS3 drive by cable conversion
LS3 drive by cable conversion
Author
Discussion

Daytonaman675

Original Poster:

12 posts

212 months

Tuesday 27th January 2009
quotequote all
Does anyone know of any problems with going from the drive by wire system on the LS3 to a drive by cable system while retaining the stock ECU/EFI? I would like to keep this setup for ease of tuning (Corvette tuners are a dime a dozen down here)

Looking at LS3 power for the GTR build I plan on starting in 2-3mo. Also if anyone has an LS powered GTR please shoot me a PM.

Thanks,
Scott

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

289 months

Tuesday 27th January 2009
quotequote all
I can't answer your question but what's wrong with fbw, its been done before?

Daytonaman675

Original Poster:

12 posts

212 months

Tuesday 27th January 2009
quotequote all
Was not sure about FBW with the pedal group that comes from ultima.

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

289 months

Tuesday 27th January 2009
quotequote all
Buy the stock fby pedal from the US and it's a doddle to fit into the ultima, has been done by folks on here so somebody will show you. Also, make sure the pcm programme has been modded to suit a non GM car and you'll have fun for a long time.

Daytonaman675

Original Poster:

12 posts

212 months

Tuesday 27th January 2009
quotequote all
Cool, the ECU would be the GMPP universal unit. I would think that this would not be an issue.

Thanks for the info and i'll search some more for FBW installs on the forum.

Scott

Omerta

2,013 posts

280 months

Wednesday 28th January 2009
quotequote all
I've come up against this issue for my LS cerbera conversion. You will need to remap the ECU with a base tune from a model that used cable as standard - from memory this means something like 2003 Camaro or if you want later then Holden (not sure if current LS3 models are still cable, but the aussies used cable for longer than GM did in the US).

If you take the other option suggested here of replacing the pedal, I've been told that the Subaru WRX has a compatible throttle pedal. Don't know what model year or anything else about it, but that would probably be your easiest/cheapest start point. I was already committed to using a Tuscan pedal box (cable) so didn't look into it myself.

Edited to add - do a search on LS1tech conversions forum, or the HPtuners support forum as its been written about several times before.

Edited by Omerta on Wednesday 28th January 01:02

Daytonaman675

Original Poster:

12 posts

212 months

Wednesday 28th January 2009
quotequote all
Done. I've been a bit of a madman today (we recived 4.3in of sleet/ice accumulation in 8hrs)getting the generator prepped and some nonperishables stocked. Now im just waiting on the power to get K.O.'d

Thanks again,
Scott

ezakimak

1,871 posts

265 months

Wednesday 28th January 2009
quotequote all
crafty has a schwartz preped Magnacharged LS with cable throtle.

others doing the LS conversion have the factory supplied conversion. It looks like it uses a small rod end connected to the standard accelerator pedal. this then links via an adjustable rod to a standard FBW pedal. so when you push on the ultima pedal it pulls the standard GM accelerator which is mounted behind it and up higher on the bulkhead.

benifits
- no cables to wory about or maintain.
- standard late model factory tune acheived
- FBW pedal is not mounted down low as it would be with the typical botom pivot job, so all the dirt off you shoes does not get into the mechanism.
- if you change the leverage ratio between then ultima pedal and the GM one the travel on the accelerator can be taylored to your liking just like with a cable setup.


Oh and the later model OZ cars out of holden now have FBW. have done for a couple of years at least.

Ryan in Melbourne.


RussF

139 posts

251 months

Wednesday 28th January 2009
quotequote all
Pics of the mock-up I did.








spatz

1,783 posts

215 months

Wednesday 28th January 2009
quotequote all
yes would be my suggestion too, there is only a potentiometer
in this pedal assembly, if you take this out and place it somewhere suitable you can convert the drive by wire to a
mechanical one. the other option is to use a mechanical throttle body and place this potentiometer there.

Edited by spatz on Wednesday 28th January 14:56

Daytonaman675

Original Poster:

12 posts

212 months

Wednesday 28th January 2009
quotequote all
All right! Those pictures helped a ton.(I couldn't get it pictured in my mind) So I have decided to go with the LS3 from GMPP its only 480-500ish bhp (after the ultima collectors, free flow air filter and cam) but I think it will do nicely. Relocating the FBW pedal looks like the direction i'm going to go unless there is a way to swap the sensor to the ultima pedal.

Thanks again,
Scott

Steve_D

13,802 posts

287 months

Thursday 29th January 2009
quotequote all
The way pictured, or similar, is the way to go.
If you try and fit the pot to the pedal you have no way of changing the ratio of pedal movement to full throw of the pot. With the pictured method you only have to change the length of the arm on the FBW to alter the ratio.

Steve

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

289 months

Thursday 29th January 2009
quotequote all
You can use a stock pedal assembly and a rod from the ultima pedal to connect the two.