DeCaff2007
I'm Awesome
For those that don't already know: 89 RCSB K1500, 5-speed, 5.7L V8 swap, aluminum heads, and Hedman headers.
I got the front end and suspension all back together yesterday. I actually renewed the registration and added this Heap to my insurance .
Cranked it this morning and it fired RIGHT up. I let it sit and idle and warm up for a bit, then took it out around the block a few times for a test drive. I'll be bringing it to the inspection station later today, maybe.
Here's the good and the bad:
Good: Starts right up. Goes in gear fine and seems to drive normal. It seems that the lights/horn/turn signals/wipers/yada yada... all work fine. I don't see any major leaks and it doesn't overheat.
The Bad: The wheel alignment is WAY off! The steering wheel is upside down and I can feel the front tires fighting each other, so much that it's difficult to keep it in a straight line down the road. I was going to get a 4 wheel alignment anyway, so the inspection station can fix that.
This thing is WAY under powered! I didn't expect NASCAR performance, but downshifting and flooring it produces almost no power. Almost like the timing is still retarded??? I would expect lack of power like this from a miss or a vacuum leak. None of which I appear to have.
Potentially very Bad: Upon startup, the oil pressure is near pegged. I expected this. As the engine comes up to operating temperature, the oil pressure gradually drops, and tickles the under 10 psi range. It then intermittently flashes the "Check Gauges" light. If I rev the engine up a little bit, the oil pressure jumps right back up to the 40 - 50 psi range. Wouldn't a bad sender be either ZERO or PEGGED? So that's the only real problem. Oil level is normal, according to the dipstick.
Oh, and even though the fuel pump/sending unit is BRAND NEW, the fuel gauge STILL does not provide an accurate reading. The gauge easily fluctuates between 1/4 and E, depending on how spirited my driving is.
I'm most concerned, however, about that oil pressure. Any suggestions?
I got the front end and suspension all back together yesterday. I actually renewed the registration and added this Heap to my insurance .
Cranked it this morning and it fired RIGHT up. I let it sit and idle and warm up for a bit, then took it out around the block a few times for a test drive. I'll be bringing it to the inspection station later today, maybe.
Here's the good and the bad:
Good: Starts right up. Goes in gear fine and seems to drive normal. It seems that the lights/horn/turn signals/wipers/yada yada... all work fine. I don't see any major leaks and it doesn't overheat.
The Bad: The wheel alignment is WAY off! The steering wheel is upside down and I can feel the front tires fighting each other, so much that it's difficult to keep it in a straight line down the road. I was going to get a 4 wheel alignment anyway, so the inspection station can fix that.
This thing is WAY under powered! I didn't expect NASCAR performance, but downshifting and flooring it produces almost no power. Almost like the timing is still retarded??? I would expect lack of power like this from a miss or a vacuum leak. None of which I appear to have.
Potentially very Bad: Upon startup, the oil pressure is near pegged. I expected this. As the engine comes up to operating temperature, the oil pressure gradually drops, and tickles the under 10 psi range. It then intermittently flashes the "Check Gauges" light. If I rev the engine up a little bit, the oil pressure jumps right back up to the 40 - 50 psi range. Wouldn't a bad sender be either ZERO or PEGGED? So that's the only real problem. Oil level is normal, according to the dipstick.
Oh, and even though the fuel pump/sending unit is BRAND NEW, the fuel gauge STILL does not provide an accurate reading. The gauge easily fluctuates between 1/4 and E, depending on how spirited my driving is.
I'm most concerned, however, about that oil pressure. Any suggestions?