I feel you should have been doing this a long time ago. It may have saved you some time worrying about temp and guided you in the right direction. Always good to compare the computer reading to the gauge.

 

Now that the car is home, and I have the program on a laptop that will stay on for more than five minutes, I can more easily log.

Logging shows that the tach is 500-750 higher than PCM. During this session, about 90 seconds in, the temp gauge went from below 160 to over 280 instantly and stayed there. Wisps of light grey smoke towards the end, but an oil-based smell. No white smoke from either end of the car.

 

As I was hoping/suspecting, a new ACDelco sensor has started giving more appropriate readings on the gauge. I am not overheating.

While I was checking for vacuum leaks, I noticed my FPR dripping. I'll be investigating that, and then the last steps before regular operation will be determining why the idle is high, and fixing the HVAC vents. I have a check valve ready to install if need be. Brake pedal required a lot of force, I bought a new check valve to try that but it was unfortunately the wrong size. Since all of these can be vacuum related, that's where I am starting.

 

I am losing about two cups of water out of the radiator fairly consistently, but I did notice my overflow tank is now overfilled. This is a new tank, new hose, new grommet, and I have water sitting on top of the grommet. I'm not recovering that coolant from the tank back into the radiator.

I pulled the oil today for the first time since I got it running, I did have some light brown mixture, particularly from the filter. Just a little from the plug, but overall it looks like oil. No milkshake. I'm hoping that it is residual from the old oil in the system. This was about fifty miles of use plus idle time. Mixed conditions, some traffic, some near WOT up to around 5k. I have had the occasional rough running for a few seconds after it has warmed up, but then it goes away. The last couple of days it takes two tries to start, so I wonder if I need to swap the injectors out at some point after all. It has legitimately come close to overheating only once, but it resolved itself - air pocket I think. Even sitting in heavy traffic last night the thermostat was doing its job and keeping things cool. Maybe too cool, the 180 might go back in.

I fixed the high idle issue. I discovered the cruise control linkage was holding the blades open slightly. I also realized that my pass side exhaust manifold was only attached with one nut, so I put another one on (third stud is broken). It's still pretty out like there is an exhaust leak there, which isn't too surprising. I'm hoping I can pick up LT headers early next month and resolve that for good.

Still troubleshooting, still finding small things that need to be fixed or replaced.

 

Wanted to get an opinion if you think this is an exhaust leak. It’s very specifically coming from passenger side of the motor. Thinking either y-pipe collector (broken bolt) or EGR block off plate.


Otherwise it is doing fairly well. Will occasionally get a misfire that usually resolves itself, I think I have an injector that sticks open. Engine temps are doing great, I rarely have to run the fan unless I’m in traffic. I did accidentally mess up the lash process on #3 intake, and the rocker loosened. Pushrod was pinging off the valve cover. No harm done, I very quickly identified the sound. Pulled oil yesterday, very slight amount of water in it. Seems to be leftover from before, when I pulled the valve covers there was no evidence of further contamination. I figured out the coolant was evacuating to the reservoir and not to the engine.

 

Took a road trip yesterday and picked up some goodies.




Borla cat-back, LT headers, and ORY. The plan for today was to install the muffler and do the headers sometime soon. Unfortunately, I found that I'm missing the stock hangers and they are almost impossible to find for purchase. In particular, the driver's side that looks likes a J. I bought some straps to try and make something work. I might have to fab a couple of brackets.

After this weekend, I'll try and tackle the headers, as I can see it taking some time without an easy way to lift the front of the car enough.

 

Got the headers installed last weekend, and man that was a chore. Was able to get both of them in through the top, with the only casualty being I cracked the dipstick tube at the mounting brace. The headers are a Pacesetter design, whether they are those or a knock-off. Quality stuff, though. The Y-pipe, however, looks like it was built out of someone's old chimney leftovers. After not getting good fitment under the car, I'm picking up a Summit (Pacesetter) Y-pipe today or tomorrow.

Exhaust leak was confirmed to be at the collector flange, you could see a streak of soot going toward the broken stud. Unfortunately stock muffler hangers were stupid expensive, and with the additional Y-pipe being needed, the total cost has gone up about $250. But, the rebuild process should be done very shortly, and I can move into the next phase of continuing to refine and improve.