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84 K20 "Ethel" Not an Sbc/NV4500/241C

Semi restoration of a 1984 K20 pickup. 5.3 LS, nv4500, np241c.
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Well much to my suprise I ran out of fuel in the absolutely worst spot in history.

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It's pretty much impossible to show how steep this is but it was not fun.. What an afternoon.
Soo, after I filled that driver side tank I switched the side to that one. I guess it didn't actually switch. So I ran out of fuel idling down this, then once I grew a big big pair. I creeped it down on the brakes, man handling the steering.
Got it on somewhat flat ground, got it started and idled the rest of the way down the hill.
Once we got to the road some onlookers. Warned us were leakin something bad. Fuel was pouring everywhere.. Crap!!! And a bunch of other profanities. For a min a thought it was a damn injector return line cracked so I cut the one I suspected back some and slipped it back on but as I did that I saw the return plug was gone.. So my bud hiked back 1/2 mile and followed the trail of fuel and found the plug!! We got it back on there but it blew off and then the other side did. Perplexed I didn't know what the heck was going on. If I held the plug on foamy diesel was coming out.. So I pulled each return line because I had no tools at all, waiting for air to come out and as I plugged it back in it would die??? So after messing with that Eric hit the tank switch and it buzzed to the other side!! Wtf that must be bad then because after a few seconds the lines stopped leaking and it idles just normal! So it must have pumped the pass tank dry and was pumping air into the lines blowing them off.. Anyway I learned a lot, didn't roll my truck. Got over my fear of hills and Ethel got home in one piece unscathed. And I rust proofed the frame and surrounding areas for winter.
 
But the beginning of the day was good, I got to roost around in this bbc bad boy.
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We towed a big trailer just to get a bed for my buddies new project. This thing tows pretty good and that tbi is snappy!!
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Here's an underside pic of Ethel.. My buddie had to bounce on the bed to get it off this. Insult to injury basically kinda stuck out of fuel with a tire in the air.
 
View attachment 214024
Well much to my suprise I ran out of fuel in the absolutely worst spot in history.

View attachment 214025
View attachment 214026
It's pretty much impossible to show how steep this is but it was not fun.. What an afternoon.
Soo, after I filled that driver side tank I switched the side to that one. I guess it didn't actually switch. So I ran out of fuel idling down this, then once I grew a big big pair. I creeped it down on the brakes, man handling the steering.
Got it on somewhat flat ground, got it started and idled the rest of the way down the hill.
Once we got to the road some onlookers. Warned us were leakin something bad. Fuel was pouring everywhere.. Crap!!! And a bunch of other profanities. For a min a thought it was a damn injector return line cracked so I cut the one I suspected back some and slipped it back on but as I did that I saw the return plug was gone.. So my bud hiked back 1/2 mile and followed the trail of fuel and found the plug!! We got it back on there but it blew off and then the other side did. Perplexed I didn't know what the heck was going on. If I held the plug on foamy diesel was coming out.. So I pulled each return line because I had no tools at all, waiting for air to come out and as I plugged it back in it would die??? So after messing with that Eric hit the tank switch and it buzzed to the other side!! Wtf that must be bad then because after a few seconds the lines stopped leaking and it idles just normal! So it must have pumped the pass tank dry and was pumping air into the lines blowing them off.. Anyway I learned a lot, didn't roll my truck. Got over my fear of hills and Ethel got home in one piece unscathed. And I rust proofed the frame and surrounding areas for winter.

Quite a story. It sounds to me like when you switched the tank the other return line is plugged (causing it to build pressure and blow the cap off). Needless to say, it shouldn't be able to do that.

If it was running on the other tank, though, the fuel can't have been as bad as you were expecting.
 
I will say this. I still hold to my guns, as far as technical crawling. There is no beating this combo... I am gonna order some 2 inch blocks or make a flip for the back. Because once I have more clearance it'll be a little easier to get over stuff. And even with this tires at street pressure this truck will go stupid stupid places.. I mean crap I cannot walk up it just freaking idles up.. If you are not a believer come to KoH I'll change your mind in one hill climb..
 
It has everything.. To do with it.. Also the diesel running that governor so it doesn't stall is amazing.. Efi is good but the diesel low end torque when hooked up is silly.. Tractable, smooth and not jumpy. If I ever get another tow truck this is going straight to a crawler..
 
It has everything.. To do with it.. Also the diesel running that governor so it doesn't stall is amazing.. Efi is good but the diesel low end torque when hooked up is silly.. Tractable, smooth and not jumpy. If I ever get another tow truck this is going straight to a crawler..

This was my experience in Moab wherever we went. My CR was 58.5:1 with 39.5's and the 6.2 NA. Unbelievably easy in some incredibly technical terrain. First gear, low range, feet flat on the floor and let it eat...slowly. It's borderline religious...
 
This was my experience in Moab wherever we went. My CR was 58.5:1 with 39.5's and the 6.2 NA. Unbelievably easy in some incredibly technical terrain. First gear, low range, feet flat on the floor and let it eat...slowly. It's borderline religious...
It could be a cult.. I just have to wonder how it's gonna be boosted, cause then you get the whistles.. And v8 diesel plus the whistles just might make the wife worry.

The crew is so clean it makes me sick. But rides like absolute ass.. Rancho leafs Rancho shocks.. Older all terrains.. Super bouncy, Ethel is like a caddy compared to it. But damn is that pretty.
 
Well Ethel popped another cap off yesterday.. Weird thing is it waited until I got almost halfway home to do it. Not sure why this time because I filled the tank up and drove all the way to @bergerking s house.. I was messing around on and off the throttle but that never yielded this result before??
 
Switched back to other tank, siphoned a few gallons out of the driver tank, got it started and ran it for 20-30 mins, crawled the front yard, did a few wot launches.. The boy thought the crawling was fun, I even bumped the body a smidge!! Crap gotta be careful with that!
 
Switched back to other tank, siphoned a few gallons out of the driver tank, got it started and ran it for 20-30 mins, crawled the front yard, did a few wot launches.. The boy thought the crawling was fun, I even bumped the body a smidge!! Crap gotta be careful with that!

So...return line leading to second tank is plugged?
 
So...return line leading to second tank is plugged?
It's gotta be, I mean I am not 100% sure it's fixed but we'll see I guess.. I am tempted to change the valve, it seems that it doesn't switch very well from driver to passenger.

And I'd never thought of a blazer tank but @secutright has a spare now.. Maybe
 
And I'd never thought of a blazer tank but @secutright has a spare now.. Maybe

You have enough other projects going on that I wouldn't worry about Blazer tanks right now. At least wait until you need that space to put the time into tearing the fuel system apart.

This also applies to putting too many hours into diagnosing the second tank issue. Unless you've been wanting more range you may as well focus on the actual upgrades you have planned out.
 
I will say this. I still hold to my guns, as far as technical crawling. There is no beating this combo... I am gonna order some 2 inch blocks or make a flip for the back. Because once I have more clearance it'll be a little easier to get over stuff. And even with this tires at street pressure this truck will go stupid stupid places.. I mean crap I cannot walk up it just freaking idles up.. If you are not a believer come to KoH I'll change your mind in one hill climb..


I'm going to KOH. I need to figure out my plans for staying out there. After blazer bash I need to talk to wade and eric and iron out the details.
 

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