Well, fairly good day I suppose, even if my shop is scary slow still. I mean, like bank account low and thinking of taking a job at WalMart as a night stocker slow.
Anyways, helper sold his LS1 for $1500, got a grille emblem for Joe (my dealer had one in stock, no mounting tabs, is all glue on I guess) and I got the truck down to the dealer.
My service writer buddy called fairly early and told me the first and foremost issue was the throttle position sensor, it was bad. I guess the new one on the Holley setup was just fried somehow. They got a new GM sensor and replaced it for me. The tech got the idle set correctly and the timing set correctly. Said we were just about a degree off on the timing, I'm glad to hear that! Biggest issue the truck has now is it will throw a CEL randomly, and it's due to the MAP sensor not getting enough vacuum. With the cam that crate engine has, he said it will never create enough vacuum to let the MAP sensor work right. He has heard of a work around plug in device to help the issue, but did not know where to point me on it. I'll try google tomorrow and see if I get lucky or not.
So $85 for the sensor and $30 in labor I was on the road so to speak. I drove the truck a good 10 miles tonight around town and down a few miles of section line, ran very well. It will get a very low lope when at a stop for more than 15 seconds, and feels like it is going to die. A few times it loped slow enough I gave it just a little push on the gas pedal, not enough to really make the truck surge, just a light foot step on the pedal and it would idle very smooth and as long as I wanted. Seems this might be about as good as it gets with what seems to be a very poor choice of engines. I'm thrilled it runs and drives though, maybe it'll smooth out a little the more I drive it. I stopped and filled one saddle up with 91 octane, just to let it burn it for a little bit and see if it makes a hill of beans difference. It really does seem to be sluggish out of the hole, but winds up nice after about 20mph or so, could be the vacuum issue or something going from a warm dead stop.
I hate the thought of replacing the cam in this thing, but it is a choice I suppose. Is kind of like putting leather seats in your brand new car because you don't like the cloth, I'd rather wear the cloth seats out a little first I guess.
A few things I miss already between the 87 and my 05. Remote entry and auto headlamps. Call me spoiled, but I'm so used to having them it seems like roughing it putting the key in the door to unlock it or pulling the headlamp switch and more importantly, pushing it back in! I walked out of Atwoods with a big
on my face tonight after leaving my lamps on while getting dog food.