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'78 K20 - RootBreaker from 1990 - nov 2025 8.1L not runnin

Nice build saga.

Good to see you still plugging away at it man.
 
Hey thanks. I'm not too worried about it though. The rest of my interior looks pretty rough. If I get the column looking too good, the dash will get jealous and some lights or gauges will quit working or something.
 
man I am glad I dont live in NJ. Those inspections sound like they suck worse than being pulled over by the DOT in a commercial truck.
 
last night.. set motor to TDC... and WOW... timing was about 2 teeth off.. no wonder it idled at 1800rpms!!!!!!!!!

so now it is purring down.... however... there is a miss.. maybe the carbon buildup on the plugs... time to clean them and set the truck avenger...

and i set the entire holley up even with the higher accelerator pump cam and 35 discharge nozzle while the timing was off... grrrrr
 
no real big update..
snowed again so dont feel like going outside.. getting too old for this stuff.. :whistle:

now that the timing is set... backfires through the carb like crazy and it is flames too... im told that means valve is open when fuel is igniting... so tuneup will be started with...

went to get ac delco plugs but realizing when i got there... ac delco are not listed for my truck????
1996 tahoe vortec heads.... and no ac delco plugs for it... grrrr well there were 1 pair... $4 each....
so had to go with my trusted bosch dual platinum plugs...


so parts list (more for me to list here in my build...)

MSD cap and rotor 8416 - http://www.msdignition.com/product.aspx?id=5463

MSD 8.5MM Plugs 31359 - http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...reset-Performance/MSD/_/N-imwpbZ9n96kZ1z141xv

Bosch Dual Platinum Plugs

Spectre 18483 Slider-Style Wire Dividers http://www.jegs.com/i/Spectre/865/18483/10002/-1

i should buy online.. $7 cheaper for dividers than autozone.. wires can be had cheaper too.....:dunno:


*******************edited

plugs are in... wires, cap and rotor are left.....

now...i didnt know the ac delco part number so bosch are in for now... but thanks ryoken...

notes from them...
sweetk30 said:
first do NOT run the bosch sh!t :doah:thay are only to be used in german junk. thay tend to make chevys skip and run crappy.

and he said vortec heads. not std chevy heads. that cr43ts wont work in 96-up votrec heads.
Click to expand...


ryoken said:
R44LTS than..
Click to expand...
 
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Plug Reading

So i know.. autolites suck... didt know i even had them in there..
i know bosch suck too... and they are in for now..

anywho...
what can you read from these 2 different plugs?

IMG_5767.JPG

IMG_5768.JPG
 
You are running rich and possibly burning some oil on one cylinder.

Make some carb adjustments then install the new plugs and run it. Then read them and see what they tell you.
 
i haven't read the threat yet, but it looks rich as hell....timing retarded? compression/leak down test? heat range don't look bad.
 
Oil blow by in the cylinder for the first plug for sure. What did the other six look like? The way it was backfiring made me think it was running lean, but from the looks of that second plug I would say it's running too rich.
 
well i will get the plugs, cap and rotor installed first...

now side note..

put the truck on the road in 2004... had a hard time getting it adjusted..
once adjusted it still ran horrible...
i passed inspection with using guaranteed to pass as i failed the first time...

2 yrs later did an oil change... and the oil was watery... did the change as my oil pump wasnt working... well the problem was primary float was up too high... pouring fuel down the intake.. and into the oil!!!!!!!!!!

so my motor is clean!!! HAH

so now finding only 4v at choke.. then wires shorted, cut, etc.. i ripped it all out and tryin got get back to stock...



now on the carb.. i took the 28mm discharge nozzle out and put a 35mm in as per someone in the truck avenger fine tuning thread....

maybe go back to .28mm :dunno:
 
few updates.. after reading alot online and watching many vidoes...

i purchased a vaccuum gauge....

i adjusted the air / fuel screws... put blue pump cam in on the holley... on hole #1 (one video stated for idle power use hole #1.. for 1000rpm and up use #2).... ... adjusted pump cam bolt....also put .28 discharge nozzle back in... had .35 in...on more reading it was said in a holley video... .25-.30 used for heavy vehicles and/or low geared vehicles.... 35-40 use for light vehicles and/or high geared..... so put stock .28 back in...

now all in all.. with the adjustments I did get her running ok.. think i have to adjust the pump cam bolt more... as i can fit a .020 feeler gauge in there and holley says .015.. so lil slack and lil hesitation...

also made a call to trenton... they are sending me a reconstructed title packet.. she said all phone numbers and what is required will be in the packet... I have both titles in my possession... but only one in my name.. she said i will have to go do that for ownership... more fees...

so more to come.. ill document my entire reconstructed title for NJ.. so others can follow...
 
You used to be on pavement sucks correct? pretty sure i seen some pics of your truck there. looks like a solid build!
 
Bowtie85 said:
You used to be on pavement sucks correct? pretty sure i seen some pics of your truck there. looks like a solid build!
Click to expand...

PS reuinion! I was Kevin108 there, with an 87 longbed. I'm actually Kevin108 here as well but I couldn't remember the login credentials. Glad to see I'm not the only one hanging on to an ancient POS. :waytogo:
 
Good to see you Kevin. There's a few of us roaming around here.
 
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