The Pig Rig!

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

That sucks. Do you have a machine shop near you that you know and trust? If so, might be worth it to give them a call and get their thoughts about ground crank vs new and the balance issue. Good luck with it.

I have had a hard time finding anyone local who grinds cranks... but it's back together with a new crank, by plastigage, the mains seemed a little on the tight side, and the rods were spot on. whoever was in the engine last, stamped letters into the oil pan rail where the gasket seals... I'll have to RTV it to make sure it doesn't leak... erg. otherwise, all the seating surfaces are cleaned up, the new rear main is in, the new crank is in. and I'm beat...

[SBTork]

Looking good! Bad news about the engine, but at least you were able to fix it while you were in there and it's going back together now.

I think a good rebuild on the transmission wouldn't be a bad idea, as long as you're not super tight on time incase anything else comes up.

[ericjon262]

it is what it is... I'd rather find out the bearing are messed up in the garage, than on the side of the road somewhere in Canada...

things are slowly coming together, it's going to look nice when I put it back in, and at this point, the only thing holding it back is the flywheel bolts, one of them didn't want to play nice coming out, so it has to be replaced... the air tube cleaned up nice, I'm surprised to see GM used stainless for it...

I picked up a set of "flat-top" knuckles from a D44 axle. they fit the 10 bolt and allow me to bolt a steering arm to the passenger side knuckle for the drag link to attach, so I can run crossover steering and improve steering under articulation.

[SBTork]

Good thinking for sure, better to fix now then be on a tow truck far from home.

The engine is looking good and nice score on the flat top knuckles!

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by SBTork

Good thinking for sure, better to fix now then be on a tow truck far from home.

The engine is looking good and nice score on the flat top knuckles!

yeah, the idea is that I don't get stuck! lol. Thanks!


not really much to report. I'm hoping to have the engine back in by the end of the weekend. I removed the brackets for the quadshocks, and threw a little paint on the firewall, it looks way better in person, the rough top edge is GM's black seam sealer...

I also did an inspection of the wiring harness, and found a few things that I didn't like...

The PO seemed to think of this as a "Fix",I cut the damage out, crimped a splice, and heat shrunk the affected wires. then I found some abrasion damage on the TPS 5v ref,again, I cut out the damage, and spliced in new wire.

I also found out the motor mounts I bought shortly after buying this truck, are not the right mounts, at all, and of coarse I don't have the boxes or receipts either... DOH. I also have heard plenty of stories of parts store mounts lasting a few weeks before failing, so maybe it's for the better, because I just ordered a set of poly engine and trans mounts.

The EGR solenoid that was on the truck had failed, and been plugged by the previous owner, so I also ordered a new on as well, hopefully it will clear the CEL that was in.

[ericjon262]

I replaced the engine mount inserts. the old mounts fell apart bad. I wanted to use rubber to reduce NVH, but I couldn't find a rubber mount I liked, they all looked like cheap garbage.







The engine is ready to go back in the truck, with the exception of installing the flexplate, it won't fit between the stand and block.










I pulled the steering gearbox, shaft, and pump, in preparation for a frame reinforcement, a box brace, and an XJ steering shaft with U-joints. this part is actually what's holding me back from getting the engine back into the truck. of the four bolts holding the box on, only one was more than finger tight... ! on a more comforting note, I didn't see any cracks in the frame.
















with the exception of the Y pipe, the exhaust is trash, I'll have to throw something together to get it roadworthy.