Black Betty - Formerly Blaze the Monster Machine

[centexk5]

Bought some hoses to finish things like map and PCV. I’m off all next week. Gonna try and get this thing lit off and if possible, driving under it’s own power.

 

[centexk5]

Spent two hours fighting the steering box. Went to put the ORD brace on and noticed this:
Looks like a rivet snapped on the left side frame next to the box and the frame and crossmember have shifted and that’s causing the brace to be so far from the cross member. Great.

But I persevered and got the box mounted, lines connected, and pitman arm attached. Was going to try and do some vac and map lines but my temper is raging and that’s generally a sign I shouldn’t be wrenching so I’ll try again later.

 

[folkenheath]

Spent two hours fighting the steering box. Went to put the ORD brace on and noticed this:View attachment 491814View attachment 491815View attachment 491816
Looks like a rivet snapped on the left side frame next to the box and the frame and crossmember have shifted and that’s causing the brace to be so far from the cross member. Great.

But I persevered and got the box mounted, lines connected, and pitman arm attached. Was going to try and do some vac and map lines but my temper is raging and that’s generally a sign I shouldn’t be wrenching so I’ll try again later. View attachment 491817View attachment 491818

That rod end threaded in far enough to that draglink? It doesn't look like a lot of thread engagement would be there...

 

[centexk5]

Think so. Ran it like that on the last blazer for a couple of years. Been so long since I touched it I honestly don’t remember.

 

[centexk5]

PCV, map, and coolant bypass hoses 99% done. Ran out of hose clamps dang it. List to get it started is as follows:

Gas tank hose vent hose
Brake booster hose
Weld O2 sensor bung and install
Throw on quick temp exhaust pipes
Fill power steering
Fill transfer case
Secure oil dipstick
Install battery
Set timing with distributor and Holley efi
Tighten fuel lines
Check for leaks
Top off coolant
Load base file
Add gas
Say prayers
Turn key

Left to drive it out of the driveway:

Check and fill fluids
Install front shocks
Connect front brakes and bleed
Connect steering shaft to box
Install shift linkage
Install driveshafts
Wire trans cooler fan
Air up tires that have been at 0psi for 4yrs
Bolt in seats
Say prayer
Drive

 

[folkenheath]

Make sure to let the fuel pressure stabilize after key on, before you crank it over. If its new or been sitting for a while, the 5 second prime is not enough, it may need primed 2 or 3 times, or just manually turn the pump on until the fuel pressure is there. Without that, it won't fire.

 

[centexk5]

Fingers crossed. Installing o2 and then adding gas and seeing what happens

 

[centexk5]

Well damn. No fire. Not even a cough. Pulled a plug and there’s no gas or gas smell at all. It’s never even fired. We’ve got 60psi of pressure. Noticed while cranking that the monitor isn’t showing RPM or “syncing” like the manual says it should. Tells me that the ecm isn’t seeing a tach signal like it should to know when to fire everything. Gonna have to do some research tonight and see what’s going on.

 

[centexk5]

Went to redo the timing to make sure I had it right and when I pulled the distro cap, neither the crank or cam lights were on. I had them on when I installed it as I did the initial phasing. Doing some quick digging on holley’s forums and it looks like a dual sync distro dying isn’t uncommon. I’m gonna be pissed if that’s what happened.

 

[centexk5]

Spoke to Holley’s clearly still recovering from the holiday tech support this morning. Distributor is bad. Sending it back for repairs. Date on the box says 12/15/21 and it’s sat in a box on a shelf from then until yesterday. Fantastic.

 

[folkenheath]

That's a bummer. From my experience if you are honest with them and kindly tell them your concern they will warranty that stuff, they realize projects take time. My ECU turned out to be fine, but they assured me they would take care of it if it wasn't, and it had been two years since I bought it.

Make sure if you do any welding you have the ECU disconnected just in case.

 

[centexk5]

Just heard back from MSD and the module failed. $140 to replace it.

And walked out to the shop yesterday to a puddle of power steering fluid. Looks to be leaking from one of the brand new lines but hard to tell. Probably gonna have to pull it and check it out.

 

[folkenheath]

Just heard back from MSD and the module failed. $140 to replace it.

And walked out to the shop yesterday to a puddle of power steering fluid. Looks to be leaking from one of the brand new lines but hard to tell. Probably gonna have to pull it and check it out.

They wouldn't warranty it? I would kindly tell them that is disappointing after spending all that money and not even being able to drive it yet. That's not what they told me, but it was several years ago already.

 

[centexk5]

I haven't called them yet. Been dealing with work fires. I'm going to press for warranty but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[centexk5]

Distributor arrives Friday right as I leave for the first Christmas. Maybe Sunday I can get out there and try to fire it.

 

[centexk5]

IT RUNS!!!!!!!!

 

[Wes Harden]

Awesome

Nice job. Great Christmas giftvto yourself

 

[centexk5]

 

[centexk5]

There’s still plenty to do but it runs and idles. I can even whack the throttle and it’ll settle back to a nice 700rpm idle. Oil pressure was a solid 50psi at idle on my mechanical gauge. Need to finish fixing some wiring, burp the coolant, bleed the brakes, driveshafts, seats, shifter, air cleaner, trans fan wiring, finish filling the trans, install an actual exhaust, air the tires up, fix a leak at the power steering pump, bleed the steering, bolt on the shocks, tie up some wires and hoses.

But none of that matters because it runs.

 

[folkenheath]

Awesome, sounds good!

Don't let it idle for too long without some load on the cylinders to seat the piston rings.