2000 AWD Cargo. The van i always wanted

[jrsride2002]

What is that?!?! Its not my normal, special magazine subscription....



~Junior

[jrsride2002]

OK so I got to inpatient., to play a little game that I started. So here are some more pictures...







EVERYBODY has their own opinions about everything:
I have always thought the "Spider" to be the "Achilles' heel" of the 4.3 motors. And the V8's that share also have them. I don't fully trust it: When you have a faulty poppet, you then have a faulty spider, PERIOD. Might cost in the neighborhood of $300-$600 in just parts, and a solid 3 hours of labor(likely more). NOW, if you have an individual injector system(like every other vehicle on the road) and have a faulty injector, then just replace the one injector $80-$150 plus an hour of labor, maybe 2 if you're changing it for the first time. No spending 2 hours of parts removal, just to start pulling the "upper" plenum. I have had my spider fail on me once. It was a classic story: It happened in the middle of nowhere, when I was headed out to go camping for the weekend into a deeper void of nowhere. On the drive out, the spider fails. I make a u-turn to the near town 45 minutes behind me. Ended up be a 2 hour backtracking to Apple Valley, CA. All for 1 poppet... Never trusted the spider from then on. Sure, a blown injector could happen at any time also, but it wouldn't have to cost me $1500 in parts and labor at a shop for an ordinary injector.

The marine mod WILL, add reliability, easier parts access, and cheaper parts replacement. This is my happy moment,
~Junior

[kornphlake]

I'm not sure if you consider yourself past the fuel pump wiring problem or not, but the pump priming when the key is switched to off is perfectly normal. I'm not certain of the reasons, but I believe that the engine needs a higher pressure to start and GM decided it was better to pressurize the fuel line when the key is turned off so that it's ready to go as soon as the engine is turned over the next time, instead of having to crank for a couple seconds while the ECU commands the injectors closed to build pressure in the line before the engine will fire.

My condolences for ending up in Apple Valley, I grew up near there, that place is an armpit.

[Leeann_93]

You know you can install the 2002-up MFI spider, right? The one with individually-replaceable injectors, not poppets?

[jrsride2002]

Yes. In Apple Valley, the shop did that swap for me. My AWD, is still running on poppets. I decided to go full swap, as opposed to the MFI, for the same/close cost.

Korn:
I have NOT finished the fuel pump issue. This weekend, hopefully, I will put in that new Chinese pump. That should confirme or deny if that sending unit/wiring is in good shape or not.
So that issue is still in the air.

[WoodButcher]

What is that?!?! Its not my normal, special magazine subscription....



~Junior

Box to small to be the magazines ,eh?

[jrsride2002]

Box to small to be the magazines ,eh?

What can I say?? I like to do a lot of, "READING"

~Junior

[jrsride2002]

Well, I finally got the old pump and screen from the failed unit. I think i'll try the new Chinese unit tomorrow... Cross your finger for me, that the sending unit was/is not at fault, nor the wiring(that I hacked up with an angle grinder)!

~Junior

[Slime]

What is involved with the "Marine Mod" and who makes them?

[jrsride2002]

What is involved with the "Marine Mod" and who makes them?

Hey dude!
The marine intake is a bit of a undertaking. I believe it was Mercury that makes them. For the most part. If it can propel a aquatic object, they've made a motor for it.
As for what's involved. Off the top of my head, I have to modify the fuel injectors wiring harness. With the stock spider, there are several power wires and one big ground(or vice versa, I don't remember). Then then you'll also have to get the system and new custom fuel map. I believe the fuel lines will also have to be extended, to meet the new location on the new manifold. There is a whole write up, from the S-10 site. A great source of my research is frome there.

Because the van has been in storage, and I've been busy with work and school. I've back burner'd my build. No way can I afford parts, books, and maintain my other vehicles. Until I'm done with school. It stays in storage.

~Junior