92 #1377 - Doin' Stuff to Muh Truck

[TNPhoon]

First off, thanks to the board members, the board and especially everyone in the chatroom for all of the guidance, help, suggestions, etc. :tup:

So the tear down has started.

Pulling and refreshing up the motor. It's never been completely out and never had any fatal breakage happen to it. But she has some issues. =-)

101k on her. Going to be doing random refreshes while it's apart including the block, heads, gaskets, pumps, blah blah blah. Want to keep the truck as close to stock (and reliable) as possible.

Not trying to build a track truck at all. Just a nice cruising truck that will kick a little ass at a stoplight every once in a while.

Going to be lots of cleaning. The engine is filthy. So damn greasy. And sand. You can tell the truck was in California. Sandy grease. Meh.

Many parts will be repainted. Still deciding on whether I want to clean, polish or paint the intercooler, tb, etc. I have a "Typhoon 4.3 Turbo" to replace the Syclone and it's polished. So who knows. I'll decide that once everything is cleaned up.

I'll post up some random pics as the journey progresses. Like I said though...a LOT of cleaning first...which is what I am off to start doing in a bit.

Wish me luck. Hopefully my shit's not sitting like this for 3 years like some trucks on here. The goal is to have her tune ready by March.

Greasy...

Example of the "sandy grease"

Wooooo.....

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

This is just my opinion but, if you are going to pull the motor and tear it down to freshen it up at 101k, why not just do a rebuild. New bearing, machine, rings, seals, blah blah. Any before pics to post up?

 

[KBowman]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Good luck. Wow it looks like that cap and rotor have seen better days.

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Can you believe the truck still started and ran?

Bearings, rings, machine shop...all part of the plan.

Guess I worded it wrong...refresh...rebuild...tomato...tomato...

I have a good amount of pics spread between a BlackBerry, an evo and 2 digital cameras. Will just need to combine and go through all of them at some point.

 

[Fighting5thSVT]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

If you decide to powder coat the upper intercooler--just as a heads up-- mine started to crack a little from the turbo heat. It's only on the bottom closest to the turbo, however I've just purchased a turbo blanket to keep the temps down. I love the way the powder coating looks, but only I know that its not perfect anymore:rant:

Good luck and keep with the pics!!!

 

[KBowman]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Yes it is amazing it ran. If it would have been one of the older fullsize hei distributers it would have burned right down thru the center and not run. Let me know if you want some help. I am ready for a road trip. I have had the whole drivetrain out and in of my other syclone. I put the motor trans and tranfer case in all at once but would not recomend it and would not do it that way again. I would take off the transfercase and put the motor and tranny in together. I had my front clip off when I did mine. I know the trick to getting the front diff in and out too.

 

[SEL777]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Nice, where are you located?

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

I'm in Nashville.

Sorry for the lack of updates. Due to the weather, the holidays, the truck being on the other side of the city, and, well, laziness, things didn't go really quick in Dec/Jan, but now that it's getting nice out again, getting the motivation to get this bitch back on the road!

There are a few pics below. I'll post more later once the EVO finally charges up.

Little info. The motor wasn't too bad when we got it apart. A few small issues, but nothing that made me go "FML" completely.

BTW, here is a picture of the motor all together prior to break down. I doubt I will post of pics of all the individual pieces and breakdown, because, well...it's a stock motor and everyone knows what a stock motor looks like. Seen one, ya seen 'em all.

The turbo had some pretty bad play in it. Took it on Tuesday to get diagnosed for a rebuild/refresh on it. Used a place in Nashville called Turbo Auto International. He called me yesterday with a quote of $269. WOO HOO! Was planning on a figure north of $500 if not just ditching it and getting a new turbo all together. Going to pick it up here in a few so will post pics of it later this afternoon after I get it back. Here's a picture of it before dropping it off. Prepare to feel dirty. And this will give you an idea of how much grease and gunk there was coating the rest of the motor.

Picked up some pieces from getting media blasted yesterday. Gotta take another trip up there sometime this week to pick up the rest of the pieces.

The valve covers were chipping in just a few places and coated in grease. Was going to just repaint these black, but figure since they were stripped down anyways, going with grey to give it a little more color under the hood. Primed and painted them last night. Drying now.

A/C Bracket. Nothing special here other than this thing was damn near black due to all the shit all over it. Looks purty now. Debating on whether to just throw a layer of clear on it, paint it or powder coat it:

Water pump didn't have anything wrong with it, just typical years of ugliness built up. Going to paint it grey as well for some under the hood color. It's primed and painted too and drying as we speak:

Lower intake was caked in gunk in those funky holes and caverns that it has. The media blasting shop wouldn't clean it because they were afraid they would damage it and didn't want to have to try and replace it. LOL. So did some cleaning on it last night. The grease and all is gone, but have the remnants of the black paint on it. This picture is pre-cleaning. Not sure what I am going to do here. I was thinking of just cleaning it up a bit and not doing anything else to it, but, even though it's not very visible, the parts that are will look like ass so I may just tape it off and throw a quick layer of paint on it.

Here's a quick pic of the "soon to be finished" upper part of the motor. The IC cover is going to wind up being mainly grey with white "rectangle indentation ridge thingie" or whatever it's proper name is. The "Typhoon 4.3 Turbo" plate needs to be filled in with grey. I had it done at one point and wasn't too thrilled with it so I stripped it and I am going to give her another try. EGR removed and replaced with a plate from Mike. It's painted white as well, although you can't see it in the picture. Trying to decide what to do with the boot between the TB and IC. Kinda looks like ass in black in between all those parts, so we shall see. Went ahead and got a new sensor for the upper intake since the old one was, well, almost 20 years old. And brake line boost gauge fitting.

The block and heads *should be* going to the shop next Tuesday. The was a head-gasket leak on the #4 cyl which fortunately wasn't too terribly bad. All the internals of the motor for the most part are in good shape and just need a little refresh. Nothing broken so far (knock on wood).

Have more pics coming soon. Just wanted to throw up and update and whatever pics I had already uploaded to Facebook on here.

BTW... :bigfinger the entire power steering system in these trucks. The bracket, the pulley, the pump...the whole 9 yards. :rant:
A couple people mentioned they have drilled holes in their pulley to be able to access the pain-in-the-ass bolts behind them in the bracket. If anyone has done so and has pics or info, please let me know.

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

I think I posted pics in my motor rebuild thread in the project section. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Don W.]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Regarding the power steering. Just go to Kragen or whatever and get the puller/installer and pull the pulley and do it right. I say that because is sounds like you're trying to do things correctly every where else. I've done mine more that a few times and it ain't that big a deal. Just as much work to drill holes and fight that back bolt in the bracket. Once you've done it you'll see what I mean.

Good luck with the rebuild.

 

[TYTILIDIE]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

After reading Don's post it made me think, I really hope you aren't planning to drill the holes with the pulley on the truck. It wont work. Can't find any pics so I will take one soon here. But FWIW, I just marked where the bolts were in comparison to the pulley.

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Just got back from picking up the turrrrrrrbo....

Total cost + tax: $325.57

Cleaned and straightened shaft.
Bal shaft: 0.05-0.05
" " assy: 0.03 - 0.03
new service kit - bearings, seals, collar, blah blah blah
Polished shaft
Replaced heat shield
Blah blah blah

Like I said, I was recommended to them by several people in the Nashville area. Not sure how these prices are compared to other places you guys may use, but I was pretty happy with the price and the end result. Just for reference if ever needed, I used:
Turbo Auto
4403 Charlotte Avenue
Nashville TN 37209
615-383-6242

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Nah, wasn't going to drill while on the truck. Everything is out of the truck right now. The power steering bracket was just a bitch and was looking for ways to make it easier in the future if for some reason I ever have to take it off. Will look into that puller in the instance that I ever need to pull it again. Thanks for all the suggestions and help guys! :tup:

 

[Fighting5thSVT]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Looks like the progress is going well. Congrats!

My :2cents:, I would just replace that water pump with the Edelbrock one, especially since you are north of 100k miles. It would be a shame if you had to tear off a 2 hours worth of work because the damn thing started weeping 2 months after you put it all back together. I'm sure the money you saved on the turbo rebuild budget is burning a hole in your pocket anyway...

Nice work!

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Unless anyone happens to know where I can get the following parts for a better price, I am about to purchase the last parts for this damn thing (minus the machine shop $).

This is what's sitting in my cart @ RockAuto, waiting for me to hit "Checkout":

Camshaft Lifter Kit: $388.99 (Hyd. rlr.; (1) 55-403B; (1) CS-783; (12) HT-2148)
Crankshaft Main Bearing: $31.79 (Size: Standard Tri-Metal (TM-77))
Re-Ring Kit: $191.79 (premium rings, gaskets & rod bearings High Output Engine;.190" Deep Groove Pistons).

Total: $612.57
Discount: -$30.63
Shipping from 2 locations:
Shipping Location B Ground: $20.63
Shipping Location A Ground: $20.04
Total: $622.61

Also have done some more painting/clean up, so will post some pics of those soon as well.

Went ahead and painted the lower intake black since it was going to look like ass if I left it 1/2 painted and 1/2 not.
Thew a very light layer of aluminum paint on the PS and A/C brackets. They came back from the shop clean, so threw a light layer on to make 'em look cleaner.
Valve covers went ahead and did in grey since they needed to be repainted anyways and I had some extra grey paint layin around.
I had some other misc stuff blasted and painted too. Mainly the brackets. The power steering pulley got a layer of black paint on it as well. Blah blah blah blah.

Shoulda just bought a Ferrari.

Will post up some more pics sometime soon. If anyone has a recommendation for a less expensive purchase for the parts above, please post 'em up before I hit checkout.

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

BTW, got the manifolds back the other day from clean up.
Did some searching on here. Was thinking that while I had them out, I would just heat wrap them, but apparently others are stating that's not a good idea to do.
Any thoughts/suggestions on what to do? Just have 'em coated? POR-15 em? Since the rest of the motor is going to be clean looking, I'd like to do something to them.
I am not going to be ragging/racing the shit out of the truck, but it will be used for road trips and dd'ing.

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Some more post clean/paint/blah, blah, blah pics.

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

 

[REVEREND HARMON]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Nice and clean!....dude, those valve covers need to be bright pink! :rotf:

 

[TNPhoon]

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Re: 92 #1377 - Engine Refresh

Here's some randoms that I found on another camera but they are blurry