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Here's some more pictures. First I've gotten of interior, since I've started sound-proofing. You can see it, but I've gone through the doors and put mats all over the inside of them too and gone over window cranks, etc. Worked really good and door close with a deep thud sound now, haha. Also, let us appreciate that since this pickup had a camper on it all it's life, there's only surface rust on the bed. I can't find a sizeable dent or scratch anywhere.
I've also put a lot of work into the handline/steering parts of this pickup, including a really cool AGR steering box.
Looking really good. I'm sure you'll be glad you put the body/paint work into it once it's all said and done. It will make the truck just that much more of a joy to have.
Got it started last night finally! Relieved to hear the engine run finally. I shut it back off to do some final throttle/clutch linkage adjustments, only to discover after I went to start it again that the fuel pump was dead.
My MSD 2225 in-line pump worked for a total of half an hour before it died. I checked all grounds, connections, tried everything, cooled it with a bag of ice, tapped on it, it just refuses to turn on. That being said, I'll call MSD Monday and see if they'll replace it or refund my purchase. Or Summit. Any suggestions on a good in-line pump that will support big power future mods and not totally break my wallet?
i see your sig says NE enthusiast, and based on the scenery in the background you're somewhere in the sandhills, thanks for the view! i'm from the western part of the state originally.
nice project, should be a fun driver when you're done.
Sorry for a late reply, but I've been pretty busy lately with school and other stuff, so my time to work on the pickup has been limited. I actually need some help--
The PSI harness is installed correctly, o2 sensors are fine, wiring SEEMS to be all ok, but it really doesn't like starting, I have to run the throttle and even then it bogs and dies. Acts like it's loading up on fuel. Higher RPM it runs great, but at an idle or low RPM it just seems like it isn't running right at all. It has all new plugs, wires, coil packs, temp sensor, MAF, etc. Only thing I haven't replaced yet is the knock sensors. There are no vacuum leaks that I can find that have been/would cause it to die. That's another big problem, I can get it to idle if I play with the throttle gently for a while, but even once it's warm if I crack the throttle, the motor will die when it idles back down if I don't help it out. I'm kind of at a loss. Beyond that, the throttle response seems to be absolutely terrible. Any tips?
Also yes, this pickup is currently at my father's in the Sandhills!
It also sounds like it has a bad miss at idle, not so much like the temp sensors thinks it's cold and is loading it with fuel, but that it just isn't happy with running. Motor runs smooth and strong once you're actually ON the throttle though.
UPDATE: The issue had turned out to be a voltage issue, and I have since had the truck running and driving a little bit. It was peppy, ran ok and spun the 35's, but it just felt a lot like a stock 5.3 with bolt ons. So I've sold my harness, intake and a lot of my other fuel injection parts to go to a carb setup. I've also got a slightly worked set of 799 heads, comp springs, pushrods, lifters etc, Comp 227/345 .614 .621 113ls, a victor jr. topped with a Holley 750 Street UP. Any guesses on power? I'm not sure what to expect exactly. Hoping for quite a bit! I've also done ARP rod bolts, head bolts (or at least am, I wasn't aware the bolts changed in post-04 motors so I have to get the right ones), and LS9 head gaskets. Some nitrous would be fun too.
Cool truck. Why did you swap to carb? You could have it tuned for the new cam and such and had similar power and 100x better cold starts and just general drivability with EFI. It's your truck, so do what you want I'm just curious why you did it.
Plenty of carb setups are setup just fine for daily driving. Lots of guys like the simplicity of a carb setup and are custom to tuning carbs. Also, some of the fastest LSx setups are running a carb. Don't believe me, go over to Yellow Bullet and see for yourself.
I'm not saying it won't work. I know they make more power, I'm just saying for the majority of situations EFI is better. I was just curious what his reasons are.
Mostly because I already had some of the parts, and while I wouldn't mind going back to EFI someday, taking it to a tuner would have been a big hassle for me right now and the Victor Jr. will work great with the cam too. I won't be driving it that much in the winter either, as little as I can actually, they salt the roads where I'd have to drive it haha. Oh, I also changed to 5th Gen Camaro headers because they fit just a little better.
Truck has been back together a few weeks now, gears and everything are in, and I've just been sorting out little "here and there" bugs, but after an alignment, front end rebuild, brake system freshen up etc it's really nice. I'm waiting on a good deal for an NP208 to go and throw the NV4500 into it, being that the hydraulic clutch is all already there. But with the cam and everything that's in it runs great, drop the clutch and the rearend squats pretty hard and it just blazes the 35's.
So next up is the NV4500 swap, and a home-made set of ladder bars because it has some pretty serious axle wrap, but I might hold off on ladder bars until I can get a good deal on some 1-ton axles.
Right now I just drive it around and use it for ranch work until I get headed back to school, where I'll probably drive it as much as I can.
11-18-2014, 11:03 PM
