Let the build begin in 5...4...3...2...

[Burbdood 74]

You know, this place can give you the idea, the parts stores can sell you the parts, but nobody can instill the motivation to actually work on your rig when it's 95* out. I need to get this truck built because I want to drive it so bad when all is said and done, but I just can't seem to get my arse out into the heat and do it.

Not to mention that my cash pile is a wee bit smaller than my "parts needed" pile. I don't want to cut back on anything since I don't want to have to fix something once it's back on the road again, but it's hard to figure out what you need to fix over what you want to fix.

I guess I just need to nut up or shut up and get it all done. Sorry for the rant/whining.



Oh, and my camera is being a butthead but I will get pics up and running Friday or Saturday at the latest.

 

[MT86K5]

Yea, I hear you on the 95* thing. I planned on getting my exhaust, spacer and fuel pressure regulator on this weekend.....Didn't happen.

 

[muddysub]

so? progress?

 

[Burbdood 74]

Progress has been really slow. Between the heat and work and lack of funds, I've just got the engine torn down for now. Good news is I'm buying my TBI rebuild kit, timing chain and intake manifold gasket tomorrow. I should have the engine going back together sometime this week.

I still have yet to buy the oil cooler lines, tranny cooler, steering box, frame brace and extended brake lines. My wife told me to do it right the first time and don't rush it since she plans on burying me in this thing.

I absolutely promise to get some pics up tomorrow of the destruction.

 

[Confedneck]

it's tomorrow

 

[Burbdood 74]

it's tomorrow

I just came inside to get the camera and had to check in with y'all.....


Quick question though. How often does an intake manifold gasket go bad anyway? I had a smooth idle and it ran great right until the mechanic did the work on the TBI and after that, it hunted for an idle and missed and cut out on me when I drove it. Everyone said it sounded like a vacuum leak but I'm still thinking fuel pressure regulator.

I'm really on the fence about replacing the intake gasket on this thing. I'm so close, but the back of the engine looks like a cluster f%$#. I bought a gasket kit and a TBI rebuild kit, so first thing is to service the TBI.

Should I just go and put the intake gasket on too or leave well enough alone?


Oh, and here I go to take pics.....

 

[Burbdood 74]

Well, here are the pics I promised everyone.














I've found that taking the core support out and being able to stand upright is soo much easier than hovering over this beast with metal poking the shat out of me.

 

[Burbdood 74]

Here's a shot of my helper....she doesn't ask for pay and she's happy to clean the tools after helping.

 

[Burbdood 74]

Update:

Opted to not do a serpentine swap on this. I called all of the yards in town and for everything I need, (brackets, pulley's, new water pump, etc.), it'd be over $150. Not a financial disaster, but the price coupled with the extra work involved switching from V-belt to serpentine belt, I decided to let it go.

I did however buy a new power steering bracket since the old one snapped in two one day. Found a bracket in the junkyard and paid $25 for it. I'm gonna be working on this for the majority of the weekend so I should get the TBI rebuilt at least and then I have to decide, (or flip a coin), as to whether I'm going to replace my intake gaskets.
I know my luck though, if I don't, it'll be the source of the poor running so I might just do it for piece of mind.

 

[muddysub]

might as well while you're this far into it.

 

[Burbdood 74]

Ok here's an update:

I got the manifold off the truck 30 min. ago. I had to come inside until later because of the heat. It looks as if this job has been done before. The gaskets didn't look too bad but you can't tell by just looking at them all the time. I should've taken a clue that it wasn't virgin territory when the cruise control bracket bolt on the back of the block between the head and the firewall was loose. It's a real mutha to get to and I lucked out with it. There just isn't enough room to get a wrench in there without having arms the size of a 2 year old with 2 wrists and 3 elbows on that arm.

I was expecting the intake to weigh a ton and a half but I was pleasantly surprised when I found out it was aluminum. So I just have to clean it all up, do some thread chasing, buy some anti-seize and get it all back together this week. Next weekend I'm swapping out my tranny cooler lines, buying a tranny cooler, changing my oil cooler lines and buying a steering box. Then it's on to the lift!

 

[Confedneck]

id bet it's the TBI gasket, between the throttle body and the intake.. that was trash on mine when i bought it, was 12 bucks at vatozone..

 

[Burbdood 74]

id bet it's the TBI gasket, between the throttle body and the intake.. that was trash on mine when i bought it, was 12 bucks at vatozone..

I actually had that replaced and it didn't help at all. I found some bad vacuum lines here and there and I've replaced them but I'm still betting it's my fuel pressure regulator. My thought is I'm not getting sufficient fuel to the injectors.

 

[Confedneck]

while you're at it, do yourself a favor, and try and find the torque specs on the tbi bolts. i replaced mine and tightened it up, and it still had a small leak. i had to retorque it to stop the vacuum leak.

if you think it's the regulator, make it adjustable and see what happens

 

[Burbdood 74]

Just a small update:

I'm really glad I decided to take off the intake. While I was poking around and cleaning the intake all up, I noticed that the passages in the intake manifold for the EGR valve was plugged solid with carbon build up, gasket too! I had to take a small screwdriver and chisel it all out and clean it all up. It should run like a whole new rig once I get it all together again.

On to some pics:












Notice the smaller ports on the 1st pic of the gaskets.....their plugged solid! I effectively had no EGR at all. It was just for decoration. Should work good after it goes back together

 

[muddysub]

damn thats nasty **** man. thanks for the pics, now i can't wait to get my engine torn down!

 

[Burbdood 74]

This is all new territory for me but it's been a great learning experience that's for sure. I actually got tomorrow off from work so I should be able to get the intake back on and start putting everything back together in the afternoon after I get back from the wrecking yard. I need to find a few parts like a lower fan shroud and maybe, just maybe my A/C compressor and bracket.

Then I can get going on my oil cooler lines, trans lines and steering box......then it's on to my 4" lift. I can see the horizon now!!

 

[Burbdood 74]

damn thats nasty **** man. thanks for the pics, now i can't wait to get my engine torn down!

It's pretty cool that you're getting excited to tear into your Sub. I can't wait until I'm able to drive mine and it's only been down 2 months so I can just imagine how bad you want to drive yours.

 

[MT86K5]

Good deal Snuffy, that should make her run like a new beast when you get it all back together.

 

[muddysub]

So what's going on?