New to me 99 Suburban: 5.7 vortec repairs

rayra

Expedition Leader
probably just soap scum, not oxidation. Be careful not to abrade the throttle body intake surfaces, trying to clean it.

For the manifold etc Just get you some non-metal tools together and scrape off as much of the crud as you can, first. Then some gunk engine degreaser and a toothbrush and small dishwashing brushes - nylon not metal - and just soak it in degreaser and put it in a plastic trashbag and let things soak overnight. Next day it's spray, scrub, spray, scrub. It will come clean readily enough. It's just a messy chore.
 

unabashedpraise

Adventurer
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Just spent 10-15 minutes at the car wash with a really hot pressure washer. These are the results. Do you think a bead or soda blast would help?


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rayra

Expedition Leader
I think I'd try scrubbing a small area with some solvents and a toothbrush, first. Still looks like some sort of efflorescence. But I'd probably quit hitting it with hot water.
 

unabashedpraise

Adventurer
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Got the parts back from the soda blaster guy. Looks pretty good for $50!
Engine is clean (ish) and ready to be be assembled.
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unabashedpraise

Adventurer
Hmmm...

Lower intake is installed, new bolts tightened to specs. But I'm having some issues getting this new distributor installed. Any suggestions on how to turn the oil pump? I could get it seated all the way, but I'm not sure it was aligned properly. Best way to to tell if the housing is aligned correctly?


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ClovisMan

Observer
If the oil pump is driven the same as my old AMC 360, a long flathead screwdriver will turn the oil pump rod to help line up with your distributor.
 

rayra

Expedition Leader
long flat blade can work, or an old school 'engine oil priming tool' that lets you pre-lube the engine by driving the oil pump with a drill.

But frankly if you haven't yet closed up the bottom end, it would be better to properly set your distributor, get it aligned properly and then fiddle with setting the oil pump in place to the distributor.

But you can get it done from the top only if you have to. Might take re-stabbing it several times. And don't force anything. You can break the tabs off the oil pump shaft if you try to force things.
 

unabashedpraise

Adventurer
Got the distributor in. "had" to buy some new tools.

Uh oh. What the heck did this come from??! Too much time has elapsed since I took this thing apart.
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NevadaLover

Forking Icehole
Got the distributor in. "had" to buy some new tools.

Uh oh. What the heck did this come from??! Too much time has elapsed since I took this thing apart.
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Looks like the bracket on the bottom of the power steering pump!
 
Last edited:

unabashedpraise

Adventurer
I knew the bracket was attached to the steering pump somewhere. I just stuck it on the bottom. Thankfully it was in that exact place! Score! Thank you!!



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So close!

Changed the plugs and wires while I was in there. Some were not tight at all.
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I need a few additional parts. Anyone know this intake seal part number?
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unabashedpraise

Adventurer
It's alive!

Except it's kicking a throttle position sensor code. It also hesitates when you throttle it up from idle. Also spits out a bit of smoke too.


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unabashedpraise

Adventurer
Throttle code fixed!


However.......


Before I parked this thing to work on it, it didn't smoke at all. Now however, there is an excessive amount of steam coming out of the tailpipe. This is after running for 30 min and driving for a couple more.
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https://youtu.be/I_9vTz_6f4A
https://youtu.be/ALXYfpmb3h8

🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

Sorry for the bad camera work...

So what do you think? Head gasket? Intake leak?

Anyone have some c4??


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