1990 Redo Transformation

[mrecoolgar]

Another 6 hr day and almost done.
Here's a rare sight, all 8 exhaust studs in place.
There was one broken stud but an easy out removed it.
Napa gave me M10-1.50 x 58mm studs but they were too big.
The correct exhaust stud is M8-1.25, I'm unsure of length.
I was lucky to have 9 good studs I could reuse.
Make sure you use anti-seize on the studs.

[mrecoolgar]

All back together but she won't run.
And I broke an exhaust stud, one out of eight.
Timing is correct, getting fuel and there is spark.
I'll be checking the shop manual, but any ideas ?

[mrecoolgar]

An unexpected extra day to work on the 4x4.
I pulled the oil pump, distributor and its drive shaft.
It was not timed correctly so I corrected.
It did run then, although rough but the gas pedal had to be floored.
It may still be a timing issue as the distributor had to be all the way clockwise.
A slight move from that position and it would die.
I aligned everything according to the shop manual, but it I believe the drive shaft may be off a gear or two.
Blue is current timing, red is what I'm thinking it should be changed to.
But then the alignment marks won't align, per the shop manual.

[Rev_D21]

Does sound like the shaft is off a tooth or two if you have to advance the distributor all the way just to make it run. I find it takes two people to get that right. Set the engine to TDC and make sure the dizzy rotor is pointing at 4 o'clock. Have someone hold the rotor in position while you install the pump.

[mrecoolgar]

Another 6 hour day... will this thing ever run ?
Reset to TDC and re-aligned the distrubutor drive shaft.
It was at the punch mark, I re-installed at the notch, see photo.

With a little adjustment of the distributor it ran.
But I stopped it right away due to flying oil with the cam cover removed.
Put everything back together and... no start.
The starter went out.
Maybe next Monday.

[Rev_D21]

In your pile of parts do you happen to have a gray headliner for a king cab HB?

[mrecoolgar]

Sorry Rev, but no.
I had a Taurus headliner recovered, cost around $80.

[Marshall0723]

i was wondering where can you buy oem parts like the climate control face and like a glove box kinda scratched from years of carrying grinders and sharp stuff and its a little dusty inside the dash cluster and the vents how would you recommend cleaning the dust im really going crazy over the dusty vents. just wondering cause this summer im planning on getting the dents fixed and some nicer knobbier tires and a paint job!!! its like impossible though to find an aluminum bumper mine is all bent from trying to do 90 degree turns with a trailer......long post but i was also wondering the best way to add the carpeted back its just a single cab with the bench but where do you find the piece to hide the end of the carpet and window?

[mrecoolgar]

The dash vents are very fragile so cleaning will be long and tedious.
Try a damp rag used with a flat blade screwdriver and wet Qtips.
The carpeted back wall was only on the King Cabs.
The upper trim is metal and will be with the carpet.
You should find what you need at any larger junk yard.

[mrecoolgar]

It keeps getting better, now I have a fuel leak.
It's where the hose from the fuel pump meets the tubing at the frame.
Looks like the tubing fractured, not from rust.
Timing light confirms timing is good.
It did run with starting fluid.

[Rev_D21]

It's in caring hands and will be a good truck once you are done.

[Marshall0723]

thanks i really am going to get the carpeted back, and ive tried to clean the vents it is annoyingly tedious i was thinking someone might have a better way (i was using pipe cleaners with 1:1 white vinegar and water but it comes back. but i have a self powered sub has anyone else noticed how the spot where the seat belts are rattles, at least thats where i think its coming from.

[Didderson]

If you broke a fuel line and it runs with starting fluid and timing is good, your fuel lines are probably reversed! I've done the same thing when I swapped engines way back lol. wrong fuel line = pressure builds up and pops the line off (if there's no clamp on it) or in your case... yeah.
So I'm very confident in my guess

[mrecoolgar]

No, I didn't have any fuel lines off.
Thanks for the input thou.
I replaced both hoses coming off the fuel pump.
Now the hard lines are leaking, due to rust.
Napas prices are $190 USA or $260 Japan.
I may try a salvage yard.

[Rev_D21]

I bypassed all the metal lines on my 96 with good fuel hose from the tank all the way up to the fuel filter. No way I was going to deal with the flaking lines and rust. Just tie up the hoses with zip ties and down the road you go. Looking at your sending unit I would say that's on it's way out, those metal tubes like to form holes. TRW makes a decent replacement that won't break the bank too bad.

[Didderson]

Dang man sorry. I tried! haha. GL with the rusty fuel lines. My suggestion just buy some long brake lines and bend your own.

[mrecoolgar]

Found a good fuel pump, $50 removed.
I installed it, added gas and . . . still not running.
I'm led to believe it may be a clogged line or filter.

[Rev_D21]

Fuel pressure at the rail?

[mrecoolgar]

I believe so, but not certain.
I had it towed home today.
I did remove the fuel filter aft hose.
The one feeding the FI rail.
Turned the key and had good flow.
That's were I stopped.
It's just not meant to be.

[Der_Vier]

This is an amazing thread...I am looking to pick up a reg or extended cab d21 in the next few months..have to sell my caR50 first. Your first 2 pages are exactly what I want to do whenever I get ahold of the d21. Are you sitting on a body lift or anything? Looks like its sitting nice and high like a 4x4. Keep up the good work..
Cheers,
Billy

[mrecoolgar]

Thanks Billy.
It must be lifted somehow thou I'm not sure.
Most 2wd sit low, maybe a Nissan option ?
Now if I can only get the 4x4 running...

[Der_Vier]

if you want a 4x4 ill trade you my 98 pathfinder

What kind of mileage do you get in stop and go traffic? What tires are you running on it?
Trying to get as much input as I can. with the Z24 in my old 86.5 i was doing about 21-23 city and 25-26 highway.
oh and how much sound difference did you notice with the sound deadenning?

[mrecoolgar]

New battery connections.
The originals where cracked in half.
I searched and found original type replacements.

[Rev_D21]

Much nicer! I replaced the (-) on my HB last summer because some a-hole hacked the end off and used a Pepboys replacement end on it. I hate hack jobs.

Be sure to coat those new ends with terminal protector.

[mrecoolgar]

Just in case it ever does run.

I'm at wits end.
Timing is good, injectors are firing and we have spark.
I replaced the injectors, distributor and coil.
Still the same, it just don't wanna run.

[Rev_D21]

Are you sure it isn't off 180 degrees?

[mrecoolgar]

I'm not sure about anything.
But it did show correct with a timing light.
It's going to a mechanic this Wed.

[Rev_D21]

I want to hear that this thing runs!!

[mrecoolgar]

Thanks Rev.
I still have my nose in the shop manual.
I'm reading the section on red flashes with the computer.
I may try replacing the computer.

[Der_Vier]

Updates?