Author Topic: Hello all from southwest Virginia. I have a problem! in more ways than 1.  (Read 4416 times)

Offline rebelburb

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Hello all, rebelburb here, Glad to be part of the online community. My ride is a 87 suburban 5.7 TBI 4x4 automatic. Has ran great until a symptom of "filling the reservoir up and bubbling out of the overflow tube" appeared. So i bought a head gasket set and installed it and a motor mount on the drivers side. The motor mount was installed before putting the heads and intake on, by jacking up the motor a bit. After installing everything I  CANNOT get the fuel pump to turn on for the 2 second prime with the key.  My oil pressure "warm while going" "was" around 40 psi and at idling around "4 or 5" psi and this is via a manual gauge. It will crank and run while pouring gas into it. I have done some tracing of wires and to the best of my knowledge the fuel pump relay harness is doing what its supposed to be doing. Have installed a new relay, to no avail. It is in time and is firing the plugs while cranking. I have jumped the fuel pump via the red wire and it runs and is barely heard, i might add, and also is producing 15 psi in front of the filter. I have power to the injectors as well. Again i cannot get the fuel pump to run, with the key, for the initial 2 second prime.  PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!I feel lost without my burb and am now DRIVING A KIA and I HATE IT, for the love of God, i cant get out of the way of other vehicles and don't seem to go much over 50 mph.  I've searched the forum but haven't came across much info on my symptoms. Any help will save me from this KIA!!!!!!! Pictures will be posted soon.

Offline VileZambonie

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Why do you have a manual gauge? Reconnect the factory oil pressure sender and switch to the harness. Recheck your grounds on the cylinder heads in the back and the one on the intake.
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74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline Captain Swampy

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This fusible link sends power to the fuse box for the fuel pump (and other circuits). Your truck should still start if you crank it long enough to build oil pressure unless this link is bad. Applying power to the red wire at the relay, shows the circuit from the relay to the pump and the pump are good if you here the pump run. Your problem then is between the fusible link and the relay. IIRC the power wire from the fuse panel to the relay is orange and feeds a couple sensors also.
1987  350TBI 700R4  4X4  4.56 gears  33" BFG All Terrain


http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=32209.0

Offline rebelburb

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VileZambonie= the manual gauge was installed because of the low oil pressure. It is installed at the port near the oil filter. NOT on the top oil sensor. This gauge has been installed for a year or more with no trouble. My rig does have a oil cooler system as well.  I will recheck grounds.

Captain Swampy= I will check that fusible link and replace if necessary. The injectors will not fire no matter how long the truck cranks. Your info sounds promising.

Offline Irish_Alley

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check your ecm 1 and 2 fuses
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline rebelburb

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UPDATE..... i researched the ground locations and sure enough i missed the ground to the passenger head. Its located in a bad spot and GM should have put it in a better location of sight. if i can find a good picture of it i will upload. It is 2 black wires with one ground connector. The injectors fire and the burb starts right up. My preliminary valve lash adjustment needs some tweaking as i hear some lifters pecking.

Offline Captain Swampy

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Glad you found the problem. They make clips that go on the rockers so you can adjust them while it's hot and running. Still a messy job though.
1987  350TBI 700R4  4X4  4.56 gears  33" BFG All Terrain


http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=32209.0

Offline rebelburb

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Captain.... i think that's the best plan of action. I'll research on that.

Offline rebelburb

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I researched different ways of adjusting the valves and settled for the messy way. With some cardboard i was able to contain most of the shooting oil. I gave one turn after ticking went away. Replaced ICM along with some new wires and plugs and the burb is back to new again. Have been driving it for awhile now. What a wonderful forum.  :) :)