Some of you know that I parked my truck back in 2016 after I got screwed with a remanned engine I put in, and that I've now got my Chevy Performance stock TBI motor installed and running. Figured I'd give a little update for anyone who might care... 
I'm working through all the normal kinks of a new install. Here's a few pieces of info for your entertainment (boredom):
1. I bought all new sensors for the engine. I had problems with engine knocking and throwing code 43. Turned out that the knock sensor I got was the wrong resistance. Took a bit of research, but I found the correct 3.9K ohm knock sensor on Amazon. Swapped that in, and it solved my problem.
2. I had weird issues with intermittent near-overheating. I figured it was due to a cheap thermostat and an air bubble, because it had nothing to do with external air temp or driving conditions -- it could get really hot on a cold morning going down hill, but be fine going uphill on a hot afternoon. So I bought a 195* high-flow thermostat, and tested its opening temp. It opens a bit late (between 200*-205*. I swapped it in and spent a bunch of time burping the engine. Ran better, but could still get a little hot. So I burped it some more, and that has fixed it. It runs very consistent temps now at about 200* regardless of ambient temperature. I found the key to getting it burped right was to have my wife rev up the throttle slightly while I filled and capped the radiator. That seems to have really gotten all the air out (finally!).
I've been enjoying driving it around, and I've actually been enjoying tinkering with it too (which I haven't enjoyed in years). It still needs some love in a variety of ways (re-seal the t-case, possibly replace a bunch of rod ends, etc.). But it drives nice. I'm getting the bug to keep doing stuff to it, so need to make sure I pace myself instead of just jumping on every wild project I think up (e.g. I want to replace the suspension with something that rides better.)
Got a soft top for it. Very excited about that. I'm going to just get rid of the hardtop altogether. We're going camping this weekend to see the meteor shower, and I aim to take the truck out to the woods for the first time. Should be fun.
I was happy to see that both my tandem and my daughter's kayak fit in the Blazer -- or at least enough to take them places. Should be a lot easier than pulling them in my trailer off my pick up. Plus the backcountry kayak options just got bigger....
Anyway, that's all for now. Thanks for all the help on getting this thing going again -- especially those of you who advised me on Facebook while I was working out the issues.
I'm working through all the normal kinks of a new install. Here's a few pieces of info for your entertainment (boredom):
1. I bought all new sensors for the engine. I had problems with engine knocking and throwing code 43. Turned out that the knock sensor I got was the wrong resistance. Took a bit of research, but I found the correct 3.9K ohm knock sensor on Amazon. Swapped that in, and it solved my problem.
2. I had weird issues with intermittent near-overheating. I figured it was due to a cheap thermostat and an air bubble, because it had nothing to do with external air temp or driving conditions -- it could get really hot on a cold morning going down hill, but be fine going uphill on a hot afternoon. So I bought a 195* high-flow thermostat, and tested its opening temp. It opens a bit late (between 200*-205*. I swapped it in and spent a bunch of time burping the engine. Ran better, but could still get a little hot. So I burped it some more, and that has fixed it. It runs very consistent temps now at about 200* regardless of ambient temperature. I found the key to getting it burped right was to have my wife rev up the throttle slightly while I filled and capped the radiator. That seems to have really gotten all the air out (finally!).
I've been enjoying driving it around, and I've actually been enjoying tinkering with it too (which I haven't enjoyed in years). It still needs some love in a variety of ways (re-seal the t-case, possibly replace a bunch of rod ends, etc.). But it drives nice. I'm getting the bug to keep doing stuff to it, so need to make sure I pace myself instead of just jumping on every wild project I think up (e.g. I want to replace the suspension with something that rides better.)
Got a soft top for it. Very excited about that. I'm going to just get rid of the hardtop altogether. We're going camping this weekend to see the meteor shower, and I aim to take the truck out to the woods for the first time. Should be fun.
I was happy to see that both my tandem and my daughter's kayak fit in the Blazer -- or at least enough to take them places. Should be a lot easier than pulling them in my trailer off my pick up. Plus the backcountry kayak options just got bigger....
Anyway, that's all for now. Thanks for all the help on getting this thing going again -- especially those of you who advised me on Facebook while I was working out the issues.
