Been trying to work out the kinks/little issues. Still have only put about 20 miles on the thing. I drive it around town, come back home and figure out whats leaking and/or needs attention. Let's see if i can remember all the issues it's had already...
After the first test drive it had a fuel pressure problem, was only about ten lbs at idle after it warmed up but would jump up to 30+ as soon as you were off idle. It was also leaking oil from the vacuum pump, initially, I thought the steering pump was leaking again. But upon further inspection it was the vacuum pump seal that's a fairly common problem on these engines I guess.
So I ordered an adjustable OFV, and a rebuild kit for the vacuum pump. Would like to have just ditched the vacuum pump, but that's an expensive ordeal. Rebuilding the pump is pretty simple, used a seal kit from Genos garage. Somehow managed to get the pump out without having to pull the steering lines off the steering pump, which is awesome because bleeding a hydroboost setup blows. Got the OHV swapped out. Supposedly its set for 30psi at idle, but when I fired it up, it was about 45psi. Backed it down, but couldn't get it low enough. Once it got to about 35psi it starts leaking fuel from the adjusting screw because its out so far. So i screwed it in until i could get it to stop leaking and rolled with it. I think it was around 37psi at idle.
Test drive number two! Got it out on the highway for a minute, managed to get the speedo pretty close. Using a gps on a cigarette lighter nav thingy, and adjusting the dakota box with the phone. Still has the fuel pressure dropping at idle, only after it warms up...wtf. Little seepage from the OFV adjusting screw. Also, the alternator still squeaks like a mofo (did while it was on the 454 as well, just kept forgetting to replace it). Also noticed the oil return on the bottom of the turbo is seeping. Ordered a new/not rebuilt alternator, finally. Promptly went and got the wrong turbo drain gasket from the local parts store (I thought it was odd they had it in stock!)
. Set out to figure out the fuel pressure issue. Put the orig OFV back in. Thought I'd try unplugging the fuel pump in the tank, see what it does. Well, it does exactly what it does once it gets warm, good pressure driving but low pressure at idle ( low enough it lopes a bit). Well that means the fuel pump is turning off once it gets warm. Turns out the oil pressure switch (which is brand new, cause I broke the original one pulling it out) is garbage. I could push/pull on the sensor and make the pump come on and off while it was running. So I ordered a GM replacement one this time.
Got the turbo drain gasket replaced, new alternator on, and the new oil pressure sensor in. Goddamn alternator still squeaks! Its a different squeak, but still a squeak...dammit! Take it off, put the old alt back on and send the new one back. Lets go for another drive..
Test drive number three! Low fuel pressure issue taken care of! However, its still all over the place, I need to put the adj one back in it. Seems every time I look at it its at a different pressure. I'll start it, it'll be at 45psi, next time I start it, its at 30psi. Next time its at 35psi. Wierd. Also noticing a fuel leak from the fuel heater area, and the snubber/fuel gauge line connection is a little damp. Got a reman alt from autozone while they had a 15, or 20% off thing going last week online. So it saved me 50 bucks or so over the new one I sent back. Get it on, and theres still a little squeak..Shit. Its a lot different then the last two alternators, and quieter. So I got something else squeaking as well. I can spin this one and its quiet, the old one, and the brand new one I sent back would both squeak spinning them by hand.
Test drive four! Did about a 10 mile loop this time. About half way through the alt quit charging and the tach went away. came and went for a few minutes, then went away all together. When I got back I unplugged the alt plug and plugged it back in and it was working as normal again. Might throw some lithium grease on that connector. Took the belt off and tried to find the squeaky wheel. Cant find the culprit spinning each one by hand, but the fan hub os the only non-new thing on the front of the engine, so I ordered a new one of those today. Re-installed the fuel pressure gauge hose to hopefully take care of that little seepage. Also found that it looks like the adapter fitting going into the fuel heater is what is leaking, not the heater/prefilter thing itself. Need to get that taken care of still.
I also managed to get some e-track installed in the bed for the camper, and a gooseneck plug as well. I figured I'd use a gooseneck plug instead of the little 3 prong thing they use, because I may put a gooseneck hitch in it someday. Took the canopy off for the first time in about 15 years! Never had anywhere safe to put it before, and I rigged up a crank/pulley setup to lift it off with one person.
Everything is new now, but one of them is squeaking.
