I just noticed on my new engine that the knock sensor on the passenger side is not there and it is replaced with some kind of metal plug.

Well my first quesiton is, is the knock sensor a must have for an LT1? Should I just unscrew this thing and replace it with a knock sensor?

Input and advise please!!

 

Yes, remove the plug and screw in the knock sensor. The hole also doubles as the block coolant drain, so use some sort of removable sealant on the threads.

 

Be careful about using sealant on the knock sensor, use it sparingly. Also pay close attention to the torque applied to it.

 

If your car's pcm has had the knock sensor deleted, then putting a sensor in the hole won't do anything. You should also check to make sure they didn't just cut the connector off as well.

If they didn't delete it and the connector is still there, you need to put one in asap. The computer is pulling a lot of timing out.

 

The car is just a roller right now. No engine installed. Is it bad to tune out a knock sensor? I was wondering if I could just leave it out and have the pcm tuned or is it good to have a knock sensor?

 

I have mine tuned out, but it's a fresh motor. Some people wouldn't drive their car without one, but I've found it to be unreliable with a modded car.

 

I have mine turned off as well. If the car is fairly stock, I recommend you re-install it.

 

If you don't have it tuned out, with no sensor, you're going to get constant knock retard, which will hurt performance.