TEGGSRB18C1's 2000 Silverado Z71 revival thread

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Originally Posted by TEGGSRB18C1

these are definitely 2 rails off 2 different trucks but it really doesn't matter. They match physically

Incorrect sir. The passenger side rail accepted my original cleaned injectors and slid into the intake manifold no problem. The driver side did not, the injectors hung above their respective ports on the manifold over 1/4"....WTF.

Upon closer inspection, the driver side came with much longer injectors and these ridges on the mounting ears. After some research, this rail is for a much later flex fuel model, so if anyone stumbles upon this thread looking to do the stainless steel fuel crossover upgrade, if it comes with these ridged ear rails, the will not work with the early model 99-01/02 intake manifolds. They have to be flat.

After that I had our parts department at work try and track down just the driver side rail. God bless them they tried but this part is gone the way of the dodo. Used is my only recourse here. We got a hold of a local yard that had quite a few GMT800's on hand and explained my issue. The first rail setup they sent was promising but after breakdown I discovered that rail was shaking as well, not as bad but I'm not going through all this for "not as bad"

We did some more research and found that the 02+ rails may have fixed that issue from the factory. They found an 02 Avalanche and bingo, driver side rail quiet as a mouse. I finally have everything I need to move forward fuel system wise. Please indulge me a little bit with my photos, I have so much time and energy into researching this stupid problem and GM's varying changes over the years.

Again for anyone stumbling across this for your own GMT800 research: the real fix here is the intake manifold and fuel rail setup off of a Trailblazer SS. This early return style fuel system with the rail mounted FPR is a joke. It's an overly complicated POS that GM eventually scrapped in favor of a 1 piece design like found on our LS3's. It's not worth how much time you'll spend trying to sort through overpriced used crap. Trust me.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

For anyone who's read through this and said "This guy is chasing a misfire issue and hasn't said a word about plugs and wires? What an idiot" Yes, I did. Dad and I actually changed both before I had it towed to my house in some sad attempt in hoping it would fix the problem.

Since I was waiting on parts I pulled the wires off and pulled the plugs. Checked the gap and they were a hair tight so I opened them up, wiped them down and put them back in. I've had the passenger side buttoned up for almost a week now. That side fuel rail was good from my original ebay set so I set that in place and worked around it in wait of a properly working driver side rail.

First I ran my inlet #2 catch can line from the passenger side valve cover. This port originally fed into the throttle body right above it. When the coil bracket is mounted, access is limited so now was the time. I covered it in the same sheathing that I use for my ground wires for a cleaner look. This line has long run to make it to the catch can, I used some of the old throttle body coolant hose mounting tabs to secure it along the fan shroud. I'm not done but when the intake tube is on and I have this lined up the way I want it should look good.

The intake port on the throttle body from that valve cover will be capped off permanently and not used. I will be using the port on the top on the intake manifold as that seems like it would more properly disperse the outlet air from the catch can. In theory. So both valve covers will feed into the can, can feeds into the top of the intake manifold. Makes sense right? If I'm wrong someone please let me know.

Other than that I'm just kind of messing around with running inlet #1 catch can lines and ground wires for the most aesthetic look, wiping things down, making some adjustments. I'm still waiting on my actual catch can fittings (2 weeks now?) I did splurge and bought the Mechman 240A alternator I was eyeing up, which should be here next week. I just can't, after all this work, put that old tired grimy rusty ass pulley 90A Delphi back on there. I just can't. This should support my mild audio system and whatever accessories I tack on to this truck with ease.

I'm getting there. It's starting to look like a sea of plastic and wires again which is a good thing!

[TEGGSRB18C1]

The Mechman has arrived and I'm in love with it. I love how they basically tell you to run 0 gauge wire to it by giving you the same copper lugs I've been using for all my ground wires. Say no more Mechman, I've got plenty. The smaller pulley requires a shorter belt. I got this Dayco based off their website's recommendation, we'll see if it works.

Put the two side by side, there are some physical differences as well as weight. The Mechman is a tank compared to the old Delphi. The old girl was making some noise within the case as well, she did her duty, 25 years and 140K miles was enough.

Also got my oil and filter as well as another roll of vacuum line, thought I had enough but alas. I'll get most of this put on over the next few days. Still waiting on a single catch can fitting then that whole assembly can go on. That's it then, no more waiting on this that and the third, its the moment of truth boys.

[TEGGSRB18C1]

My friends, we've got all 8. All 5.3 liters of fury have now been unleashed. I took a long weekend with the wife down to Nashville (I highly recommend if you have the time) While I was away, I saw that everything I needed to finish up the engine bay had arrived, I was excited to get home and get this thing done.

First was getting the Mechman installed. Surprise, surprise, the belt they recommended was wrong. It was a hair too short, procured the next size up and it slid right on. Next was the distribution block wire which I was not planning on changing but it just was not jiving with the larger, offset post. Made a new one from 0 gauge and modified the block case to accept the wire. The astute will notice I hotwired the battery, this is kind of a no no but I've done this before without issue.

Finally got the last catch can fitting, got it installed on the can, got the can installed onto the custom bracket sandwich I made up and ran the final vacuum lines to the valve cover and intake manifold. This headlight bucket area is now a mess of hoses and ground wires eliminating a lot of the room I thought I would have to service the can. Painted myself into a corner on that one, might be some fine tuning there.

After that I got the oil changed, put a couple fresh gallons of gas in the tank and nervously turned the key. There was definitely a few seconds of stumbling but after a moment of the ECU and fuel system sorting itself out, she purred. Initially the ABS light was on but after I shut it off to check my oil level, I fired it back up and that light was now gone.

On the second start zero stumble, she caught immediately and came down to low idle a moment later. She takes throttle well and is seemingly very happy. Hard to say what the misfire culprit was. Either a wicked vacuum leak from the completely flattened manifold gaskets or the injectors were really that clogged. Maybe both.

Next up is the getting the front end back together but I may divert from that for a moment and use the extra room to my advantage. I want to replace all the brake lines with the stainless steel Dorman kit as my Dad had endless problems with the OEM lines and the garage that "fixed it" did a complete hackjob, these brakes have been spongey for years. One of those lines runs behind the bumper underneath the radiator support. I think now is the time.

[90503]

Awesome...Congrats and keep up the good work!

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Originally Posted by 90503

Awesome...Congrats and keep up the good work!

Thank you sir! Super happy we got this this figured out. Unfortunately that was just step one to getting her back on the road. Going to order the brake line kit this week and start attacking that project.

[Realist]

Back to running, better than before and engine bay looks showroom new, excellent work!

[TEGGSRB18C1]

Originally Posted by Realist

Back to running, better than before and engine bay looks showroom new, excellent work!

Thank you! It's definitely the cleanest it's been since Bush was in office. Runs strong too!