Another update for today! We reconnected all the wires, installed the shifter, core support, starter, air filter, stuff like that.
But it does run, and here are the videos of it running
Yes I know the hood release cable shouldn't be running over the top, I'll change that the next time I pull off the grille. The first start was actually super easy, a hit of starting fluid and from there on out it cranks right up. It was so easy I was shocked and by far was the most effortless start I've seen for an engine that had been sitting. It hasn't ran for over a year and a half either! The exhaust wasn't bolted up to the manifolds so it's loud, and you'll also hear the generator in the background at first. It sounds super mean with no exhaust and you can hear the cam slightly. Oh I found out the Edelbrock Performer intake on this truck sells for $345, but I'm certainly glad I didn't pay for it! Another plus - no check engine light. When the old engine was on it's last legs it had a check engine light. We also chopped off the side post terminals and replaced them with top post terminals and used one of Kyle's year-old Interstate batteries for this thing.
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Here is a bonus video when I had my 98 and we unbolted the exhaust. Personally I think the Vortec 350 sounds meaner.
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The oil filter I brought was for a 350, but wouldn't work with my oil filter adapter (it wouldn't even thread on) and to my luck we found an oil filter for a 4.0L Toyota V6 which was the perfect size and thread! So that was nice because I didn't really want to run into Reno for just an oil filter.
So then we jump to the bad news. So the slave cylinder would push in the clutch fork, but the fork would not return, and the pedal was sticking almost to the floor. I swear no matter what it is I own, automatic or manual, it has transmission issues. For hours we tried dicking with it to no avail, and we decided we wanted to flush the fluid since it looked pretty terrible. When I was taking the line off the slave cylinder it bent since the fitting was seized to the hard line so that put us at a road block.
And... I called the Napa in Reno and they said they had a new slave cylinder for $23 I think it was, so it was 4pm by this point and they closed in an hour, so we boogied on down which took just over half an hour to arrive at the Bennie Ln Napa. Then I purchased the slave cylinder and found out that the other Napa in Sparks had the hardline I needed (which was a $70ish part by the way) and they closed at 5pm, and by this point it was 4:45, so somehow I was able to haul ass to the other Napa by the Grand Sierra Resort and made it there at 4:57 and picked up the hard line as well as a few other things I needed with moments to spare!
Then we get to bleeding and that went smoothly once we cleaned out the reservoir and installed the new line. The fun begins when the slave cylinder would push on the clutch fork but the fork would not return, so it's getting stuck on something. What really sucks is we did all of that work to pull the engine and transmission in one shot (replacing the clutch, flywheel, bearings, everything except the clutch pedal) to come across this issue. I guess this is the best time it could happen since there is no transfer case attached or a drive shaft.
This truck does have a hole in the rocker, I always give my friend in Maryland a hard time because all of his **** has rust holes and how he envies us on the west coast with no rust, so I sent him this photo and I received a ration of **** from him. The e-brake cable is also super loose so that's on the list of things to fix.
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Always make sure to have a computer and a hotspot ready, it made life much easier using my MacBook to look stuff up rather than my phone!
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In the end, we are waking up bright and early tomorrow and dropping the transmission to figure out what's going on. Maybe, just maybe if we finish that early enough we can finish everything else out and drive it. Another sidenote - we stopped for gas at Golden Valley out of Reno and stopped by Wendy's to pick up some food, and we were the only one in line and they had our food ready by the time I rolled up to the window. By far the quickest fast-food place I've ever been to!
Last minute update while I am reading online about the slave cylinder - maybe something is up with the pivoting point on the clutch fork so we shall find out tomorrow!!