Irony, annoyance, and a stupid question...

[Caminofeld]

So today was the first day I've had to myself in awhile...no girlfriend, no baby, etc. Time is a precious commodity these days, so I figured I'd have a productive day and start chipping away at the rather large list of "to-do's" that's been piling up for awhile. I looked at the forecast yesterday and it just said cold and cloudy, so I figured I'd get the headers and exhaust put on my old rustbucket '87 K5 Blazer. We picked it up for $1k last winter to get us to work in the snow and it was worth it's weight in gold. It had all the factory emissions (and a cracked manifold that leaked exhaust into the cab), but the seller threw in a pair of headers and a brand new exhaust system. Well today I found out why he didn't put it on before I bought the truck. Almost every single bolt was stripped and frozen. I'm always up for a challenge, so I went to work with breaking bars, PB blaster, and a bolt extractor set. I've had all year to do this, and it figures that within an hour of starting today it began sleeting unexpectedly. So 4 hours later in the heavy sleet I got one side completely removed, got all the emissions equipment off, capped the vaccuum nipples, and called it a day. Luckily I did the hard side first, and the opposite is much easier to access.

Anyways, I was underneath with a sawzall and noticed that the one fuel line (EFI) had a big JB weld booger around it. I'm going to assume that there was a pinhole leak and they did that instead of replacing it. I drove it last winter with no problems, but now I'm worried that if it fails it could shoot gas onto the exhaust (about 4 inches away) or something. I seem to have the worst luck ever, so a Car-BQ would fit right in with my life right now. I still need to finish the exhaust and replace the clutch this weekend, so my question is where I should put replacing this on my line of priorities? Is it an emergency, or should I not worry about it and just keep an eye on it for leaks?

[atc007]

Fix it right. Or your co workers will be working on YOU lol. Fix it bud.

[ironchop]

so my question is where I should put replacing this on my line of priorities? Is it an emergency, or should I not worry about it and just keep an eye on it for leaks?

it would be Priority One on my list.

If it leaks while you are driving and your fuel pump is mechanical @ the block, it will suck air and leave you stranded without good pressure.

If it leaks and you have an electric pump in the front, it will suck air. See above.

If it leaks and your pump is at the tank (pushing gas is more efficient than pulling gas) it will most assuredly dump $3.15 a gallon all over the roadway as you travel and/or, at the very worst, start a fire.

I hate being stranded or having to work on my truck in the grocery store parking lot or the side of I-65 so I`m a "pre-emptive" kind of repair guy.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

I agree... fix her right man...

Being that your K-5 is EFI, I hope that de-smogging your engine doesn't create new problems and/or poor performance for you..

I have a '78 K-10, no emissions controls came on it from factory... Lucky me. :)

My brother has an '85 K-10. It is still carbureted but it has the smog pump and all of the associated equipment for the required emissions control requirements of the day. He plans to de-smog that one and had a chat with our local "old school" guru whose specialty is old Bowties... We were informed by this gentleman that even with a carbed 350 with emissions control it is not as simple as just removing the smog pump and capping the lines. Being that the distributor is linked into even that emission control system it needs to be replaced by an older style, non-emissions unit. Mark told us that you actually stand to lose overall performance and reliability by just removing the pump and capping lines and such. His final advice was that if the truck is running good and the emissions system still functions, it is best to leave it as-is unless you plan to di the full and proper conversion including the non emissions control type distributor. There may be other components that I cannot recall off the top of my head right now.. But if you wish to know more, I will ask and find out.

I would have to assume that with your EFI 350 you may be in for some trouble due to the way you de-smogged it.

I hope it works for you, but I just wanted to pass along that info just in case you find you have some issues. Maybe this may help?

[Caminofeld]

Well I seem to have opened pandora's box by trying to do a seemingly simple repair. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all turns out well and I'm definitely replacing the fuel line or splicing in a repair kit this weekend. I'm probably wrong (usually am), but I also have a chip with an EGR delete and an EGR block-off plate that is supposed to fix the no emissions thing. My primary motive for switching it over is that the RS manifold was cracked in half and leaking exhaust into the cab. It was so bad that I had to drive with the window halfway down. The good news is that, minus the bolts, I managed to get everything off intact...so if it all goes to trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro I can weld the manifold and put it all back in. Either way, looks like I've got my work cut out for me this weekend:(

Thanks for all the helpful advice guys!

[fabiodriven]

Many on here (myself included) have done exhaust manifolds and headers and from what you're describing that's pretty much just how it goes, haha. Exhaust manifolds just plain suck to do. As far as the fuel line you already know what to do. If you're going to own an old truck like that you have to expect to throw money and parts at it fairly frequently. Don't be surprised when you're doing ignition modules during blizzards and chasing bad grounds when it rains. My apologies if I seem as though I'm projecting, as that is not my intent. Owning a truck like that is cool and the older the better in my book, but it's a labor of love. It's going to eat money and get grumpy if it doesn't get the right attention. Now go buy an ignition module (and a fuel pump where it's a GM) and put it in your glove box!

Aside from these three things-


I seem to have the worst luck ever, so a Car-BQ would fit right in with my life right now.


I'm probably wrong (usually am),


:(

it sounded to me as if you should be proud of what you've accomplished rather than putting yourself down. I wouldn't suggest bad luck and unfortunate events in the future, as the future is still yours to mold and the mere suggestion of such events can make them much more likely to happen. Getting a set of manifolds off and a set of headers on is a great feeling, I've done it many times. Reflect a bit.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Well I seem to have opened pandora's box by trying to do a seemingly simple repair. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all turns out well and I'm definitely replacing the fuel line or splicing in a repair kit this weekend. I'm probably wrong (usually am), but I also have a chip with an EGR delete and an EGR block-off plate that is supposed to fix the no emissions thing. My primary motive for switching it over is that the RS manifold was cracked in half and leaking exhaust into the cab. It was so bad that I had to drive with the window halfway down. The good news is that, minus the bolts, I managed to get everything off intact...so if it all goes to trailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro I can weld the manifold and put it all back in. Either way, looks like I've got my work cut out for me this weekend:(

Thanks for all the helpful advice guys!

Sounds like you nailed it bud!! I'll bet it runs A-OK...


And John, true words about old trucks getting a little "grumpy" now and again... Great choice of words!!

Last time my old K-10, (I named her The P.B., initials for P***Y B***H) got "grumpy" she sheared a bunch if ring gear bolts and destroyed my entire rear end including the axle housing itself. One thing I can say, owning an old truck will teach you alot, or drain your wallet, sometimes both. I have never rebuilt a rear end before in my life and was scared to death to take on the job... But a used axle, a gearset, posi diff, complete rear end bearing set, and wheel end axle bearings later and I'm about 1200 miles into my freshly rebuilt rear end and she still goes strong. :)

[6speedthumper]

Hey, be glad that engine uses some beefy exhaust bolts, and not the m8 exhaust studs of today that break with the slightest contact from outside influences.

[Caminofeld]

Well to be honest Fabio, my only reason for the :( was that I was supposed to go riding this Sunday...but you're right bro, I just need to git 'r done and be proud (if nothing else) that I even attempted to take on a task like this. My biggest worry is screwing something up beyond repair and not being able to get out of my driveway when it snows this winter, so because 4wd is a necessity my stress level is way up. Worst case scenario I can always trike it to work on the rail trail (not the first time):)

Once again thanks everyone for all the helpful advice and encouragement!

[Dave Little]

Breathe deep Camino, in through the nose out through the mouth. Again...in through the nose out through the mouth. Know that every molecule that comprises the exhaust system on that rig is doing exacly what it is supposed to be doing right at this moment in the universe. It's not you- these jobs just happen to have what I call a 'high coefficent of sh1tbum hardscrabble' Close your eyes and visualize the individual parts, rusted and forlorn slowly exploding apart like in a CAD animation, you're there in the movie walking among the pieces, manipulating them, bending them to your will, reforming how they manifest...the truck has disappeared, it's just the pieces floating in darkness...you are now standing...there is a dumpster nearby. Focus on the sound of my voice, I shall commence a count. I shall count backward from ten to one. When I reach one, you will be fully awake and alert, still under the truck, you will notice the hot water heater cardboard box you have laid out is starting to soak through. Again when I reach one, you will stand and go borrow an oxygen acetylene torch from your neighbor- he claims he does not have one but he does- he's just scared of it. ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and onneeeeee

[Mosh]

I have done a ton of those old pigs...best thing to do is torch the heads off the manifold bolts as clean as possible..slide the mainfold off and the remaining studs usually spin right out of the head.
Since you have a 13 pound TBI system you can cut the line out and give the ends a slight flare and use regular 3/8 fuel line and hose clamps. Those old systems were low pressure.

[Caminofeld]

Update: It turns out the headers the previous owner threw in aren't for that vehicle...I could ring his fawking neck!!! So much for a no cost/low cost fix. The mating surfaces are right, but the RS header wedges tight between the starter solenoid and the shock tower and stops it about an inch short or where it needs to be...and I already tried denting the tube to clear...only way it would work is if I cut the shock tower. Instead I'm just gonna order some cheap shorty headers so I can bend my own tubing to clear everything and call it a day.

And icing on the cake...after the K5 debacle today I was loading the washer in the basement, my GF flushed the toilet upstairs, and poo water sprayed everywhere! The 3" iron sewage pipe failed...but I literally just finished swapping it out with PVC , so I don't have to poop in the stream again:)

[plastikosmd]

Be glad u were there to see it fail, couple more flushes and that would have been a real mess