Been a while since an update. Have been working on my 2013 GMC 1500 (my daily) replacing the entire front suspension over a weekend. Finally got the money for the parts together and then the weather right over a weekend to get that done. Jack stands in a parking lot apartment - I had a lot of spectators giving me unsolicited advice but never offering to put their hands on a wrench with me. Figures, right? She's fixed and aligned now and still rides like crap, which is awesome.
I've tinkered a little with the CUCV while I wait out the wedding (early Oct) -- have not messed with the lock cylinder yet but I have gone and adjusted the IP timing a bit to get it to stop smoking at idle by about 95%, to the point where it isn't noticeable at all anymore. Crazy thing is, I've got it WAY farther to the driverside to get it happy than it should have ever needed, but the more I inched it back a line width at a time, the harder it was to start/jerkier it was idling/and more it smoked. Maybe it slipped timing or someone messed with the timing cover and didn't time it right putting it back together? Who knows.
I also went with an IR temp gun and checked all my exhaust ports on the exhaust manifold on a cold start to see if I had any cylinders really struggling to keep up with the rest, didn't really notice anything there. All cylinder exhaust ports seemed to be within 5F of each other, I'd say that's fine. Was looking for like a 15-25F difference from the rest to see if I really did have a compression issue.
Let's see... exterminated some fire ants that decided to move in when the field behind the truck flooded during the hurricane. Also diagnosed that I've got a bad dimmer switch and that looks like a really cheap fix that can improve my QOL with the truck - saw a new switch for $13. Not bad.
Looking at my new valve cover gaskets leaking oil, and all the oil leaks the motor seems to be struggling with, I thought about the fact that I know the intake is sucking oil vapor up through the CDR valve and burning it, likely that last 5% of smoke I see at idle. Might be an easy fix to replace the CDR with an oil catch can that drains back into the pan somehow. At least that way it's not BURNING oil anymore, it's just leaking it.
Also started thinking about tinkering with the steering gearbox that's got a leak, or the rotting out inner fenders I could replace for $40 each and put stock battery trays back in... but I have to keep telling myself...
"No Jack, don't take apart something else. Laney wants this truck at the wedding in a month and you always get yourself in over your head on these projects. Also you're broke from wedding expenses"
Soon, soon. Hope everyone's doing well.
