The very last item of my front-end steering system got replaced a few weeks ago... Power steering pump could no longer hold its own and kept shutting down at anything below about 1500rpm engine speed. It'd work, randomly. Ran it like that for about 2 months because my new job took all my time, but finally it got to a point where I couldn't take it anymore. Replaced the pump and the fluid high-line with one from a 96. Why? Because I'm also done with the variable power steering... It would randomly give free-wheel steering at speeds and on curves where I really didn't want it. Now I can fully rely on my power steering again. Oh and I ripped out the EVAP canister because it kept getting in my way lol. Cut the vac line back to the engine and capped both lines off. Then figured out that capping the tank line probably isn't the best idea because it made getting the gas cap off... somewhat more difficult
so that one got pulled back out to where it's just barely vented.
Also had to replace the gaskets on my oil pump bracket, you know that thing they put on 4x4s to get the oil filter out of the way of the front drive shaft lol... It started leaking pretty bad from the engine side. Was actually surprised my local parts store even had that gasket set in stock, obscure as I thought it was. Only now... It's leaking from the cooler line fittings at the bracket, because I can't get IN there with anything to get them tightened up! Sigh. Always something, right?
In the meantime, I've been SD tuning because I can't ever seem to get her running right with the MAF enabled, may need to replace that.. Screw it. She runs great with it turned off. My gas gauge and sender are now
hooked up to the PCM, with the PCM fully re-calibrated for my system. Why? Because I could
Aside from all that, I really haven't done much else but drive it. My headlights are still jerry-rigged 88-89 bare-wired to the 9005/9006 connectors
BUT! I literally JUST ordered the LMC composite housings and LED sets (from SBL, of course) right before posting this, sooo hopefully it won't be too much longer before I have them in, and pictures WILL be posted
I may get a good-sized light bar too, stick that in behind the grille or something. Maybe. I do a lot of night driving these days so it could be useful depending on how well the LMC composite housings do with the LEDs. Honestly I'm trying to save up for a second vehicle so I can REALLY tear down Sierra for much bigger changes. So many ideas, so little money
Ideas ...
-- Removal of the rear seat entirely, bolt sub box and components to the floor and/or rear cab wall
-- Blazer/Jimmy/Envoy/Bravada DIC for upper console
-- Jimmy/Envoy/Sonoma steering wheel w/ radio controls
-- Wideband o2 sensor system
-- EGR Delete (Tune has it disabled anyway, what's the point of it being there...)
-- Alarm system, possibly remote start, but definitely alarm
-- White LED strip lighting in engine bay (on order)
-- Lots of other lighting ideas
-- Complete replacement of entire A/C system (mine leaks, and I'm not taking chances with replacing the compressor and little else. And I think it's getting sick of me refilling it constantly lol)
-- Moderate window tinting
-- Class 2 Serial conversion for some parts of the instrument cluster with a Blazer BCM taking care of door locks, indicators, interior lighting, etc.. May go along with my complete truck rewire below.
-- Replacement of the ignition cylinder with one from an auto, with matching-keyed door handles... The release button on the standard ignition cylinder is an *******.
-- Removal of the side-mouldings
Contingent upon parts going bad....
-- Battery: Dual Optima Red-Top batteries in stock locations
-- Engine: Sooo many ideas lol. Twin turbo 383? Would love to build my own engine from the ground up, but don't really know much about that aside from just the basic "putting one together" from parts
had this fun idea that I might have an engine built up and ready to go in when the one in the truck kicks the bucket, but I don't REALLY believe that's gonna happen lol.
-- Transmission: NV4500? Or NV5600? Beefed up NV3500? Really wouldn't mind the 6-speed but I know the NV5600 doesn't bolt up as-is, or so I've heard. Made all that much more fun because I have a 4x4... Two ends that have to match unless I go with a divorced setup or have special adapters made.
Upon Acquisition of second vehicle? ...
-- Complete teardown and cleaning of entire body and frame, new undercoating, bedliner underbody, ??
-- Full rewire of rear-end lighting from engine bay to back of truck, blinkers separate from brakes entirely (like GMT800 Suburbans) ... yes I'm aware this is going to take more than just a rewire. May end up modifying the muti-function switch unit, along with possibly using a flasher module from a GMT800. I don't like the way the hazards mingle with the brakes, causing the front blinkers to stay steady-on with the brakes applied.
-- If I'm to be absolutely honest, I really want to completely clean up and redo the wiring throughout the entire truck. Integrate some of my early mods (e-fans, temp readout sensor, etc) wiring into the looms, and remove what's no longer in use (EGR, power steering valve wires, 4x4 diff actuator wires, etc etc...).... And the PCM wiring STILL needs serious help in the cosmetics department.
-- Rear differential swap to open 14bsf, OR early GMT800 14bsf for the disc brake conversion at the same time (aware of re-welding of spring/shock mounts requirement)... Manual rear locker?? Seems there are some out there, but prohibitively expensive... Just not a fan of the G80, I don't think mine ever unlocks. Turning one wheel while in the air makes the other side move in the same direction, and neither move with the transmission in gear.
-- GMT800 Brake Master Cylinder swap, complete fluid flush, new softlines
-- 24x LS Coil-Over-Plug conversion (already have the coils and wiring needed, just need the 24x reluctor and distributor cap delete... And a usable LS HPTuners tune file
I'm all out of thoughts for now. Will post back when my new lighting arrives
but I dunno.. It's not quite .. I'm not feeling it quite as much as I thought I would lol. Might just go back to black.
