My new project truck: '99 K2500 Suburban

Ha... I had a #7 wire not fully seat at the plug the last time I did a tune-up on the dually. I was lucky enough that it was idling OK but as soon as I went up the hill and gave it some gas, it bucked like a bronco. It didn't take long to find/fix, but I wasn't trying to head out of town with it. Your emotional roller coaster must feel much much better now.

Keeper said:

Ha... I had a #7 wire not fully seat at the plug the last time I did a tune-up on the dually. I was lucky enough that it was idling OK but as soon as I went up the hill and gave it some gas, it bucked like a bronco. It didn't take long to find/fix, but I wasn't trying to head out of town with it. Your emotional roller coaster must feel much much better now.

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Yup! I've had a hard time not grinning this morning since she runs now. She hasn't been registered since January '21. Just a few more systems to square away, and she'll be on the road again.

So, she fires up and idles really good now, but the temp gauge reads well over 215, maybe over 220 when fully warmed, despite the computer logging between 195 & 204. I had to replace the sending unit on the cylinder head, as when trying to install the driver's side exhaust manifold, I dropped it and sheared off the wire of the original one. Is it likely the aftermarket sending unit is causing the high gauge reading?

Did it read lower before? Obviously not a cause for concern as the PCM sees the correct temperature.

Well, it has been almost three years since I last actually drove her, but I feel like I remember the gauge reading lower, more at the 210 mark, or a tick below. Basically where I'm used to everything reading on these trucks. She doesn't act like she has an air bubble or anything.

She officially runs, drives, turns and stops! Now I just gotta get her bumper, grille, headlights, alignment, inspection & registration. Then she's officially back on the road!

Welp, she definitely works! Had to use her to move the parts truck, as it's too wet for anything not 4x4 to do it, and she dropped into 4wd hi, and just did as asked. No hesitation, no fighting. She's back to her old self!

Great to hear!

This thread is kinda all over the place. Was there a specific problem you fixed or just getting it back together in general?

Supercharged111 said:

This thread is kinda all over the place. Was there a specific problem you fixed or just getting it back together in general?

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This whole clust-f started because of the fuel injectors leaking so bad that she was puffing black smoke like teenager's diesel. And I had money from an inheritance, so I went a might bit stupid with buying all kinds of stuff to fix and rehab her a good bit. It was the worst case of scope creep I've ever had.

"Since I'm doing injectors, I might as well do the pressure regulator, oil sending unit, and exhaust manifold gaskets. Well, if I'm removing the exhaust manifold, I should do manifold hardware. I should also clean up and polish the inside of the exhaust manifolds. I should also do motor mounts. And a timing set, since I'm replacing the timing cover because the front main is leaking really bad. And the harmonic balancer looks awful, so let's do a new one of those. We might as well do new oxygen sensors. Oh, and a new fuel pump! The control arm bushings are trashed, so that requires a diff drop. Let's replace the oil cooler lines since we're gonna have the differential out. She definitely needs ball joints. And tie rod ends. Let's replace the power steering box with a $900 one from PSC since they're only a few miles from me. And new hoses. And a new hydroboost, master cylinder, brake hoses. Let's upgrade to 1 ton dually brakes while we're at it. And new Timken hubs."
Etc, etc, etc.... it got out of hand REALLY fast. I've never had the money to do something like that before, and I couldn't resist the temptation.