Need advice on 97 Sonoma ZR2 4.3L (Page 6/6)
Jncomutt FEB 25, 09:46 AM
Finally got a nice day and gave this thing a bath. For such a beater, it cleans up pretty well. Need to hunt down another hubcap for the rear...



I think I have a vacuum leak at the TBI unit. It seems that the 'hat' clips in on the radiator side, but there should be a bolt or something on the firewall side. That bolt is missing and it has caused the 'gasket' inside the hat to wear and sort of oval out. Since this is downstream of the MAF, i think it could be the cause of my random idle hang. I'm going to try to find that bolt at the junk yard, and I need to see if I can change that seal inside the hat too.

[This message has been edited by Jncomutt (edited 02-25-2013).]

Lilchief FEB 25, 11:50 AM
My GFs 02 sonoma crew cab 4x4 4.3, don't remember if it's called a zr2 or something else. It has 240k+ miles still runs pretty good, mpg in the low 20s. Its had 2 fuel pumps, front wheel bears and ball joints, intake gasket 3 sets of brakes, a rear end (ring pinion bears). She's the original owner.

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85 GT 3.4
14.9 @ 90 1.9 60' Old TH125/3.06
Unknown New 4T60/3.42

Jncomutt FEB 28, 09:37 AM
Well I looked more into the loose hat issue, and found the previous owner decided NOT to bolt the TBI down completely. "Eh, 2 bolts will work good enough." I went to the local junkyard and got the appropriate bolt/nut thing to hold it in place. I also have a new gasket on order from rock auto. If you look close, you can see they even missed with the RTV. Good work!

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I pulled off the front 'skid plate' and found that all 4 oil lines are leaking from the crimps, which seems to be common. These lines, along with new gaskets, idler arm, and sway bar endlinks were also ordered.

[This message has been edited by Jncomutt (edited 02-28-2013).]

Monkeyman FEB 28, 11:32 AM

quote
Originally posted by Jncomutt:

I pulled off the front 'skid plate' and found that all 4 oil lines are leaking from the crimps, which seems to be common. These lines, along with new gaskets, idler arm, and sway bar endlinks were also ordered.




Yup. That's an early 2nd gen 4x4 (only, as the 2wd doesn't have an remotely mounted oil filter) given. Not if it's gonna leak but when. I had a couple made up for my Jimmy.
Jncomutt APR 20, 12:11 PM
Been a while since I've updated this thread. I got around to fixing that 'missing' throttle body bolt, which turned out to be a 'broken' tbi bolt...



Also notice the clamp for the radiator hose. I have no idea how this didn't leak.



much better...



It also got its first 'real' use, although I will say that the rear looks like it could use some help. It pulled it just fine, though the brakes felt a little less confident that I would have liked.



I would have been better if I could have moved the car further back over the trailer axle, but the wheel tie downs are are right at the front edge. This added more weight to the truck, as you can clearly tell.

[This message has been edited by Jncomutt (edited 04-20-2013).]

Monkeyman APR 20, 07:14 PM
They make add a leaf kits pretty cheap. Not what I'd call easy to install but at least they don't make the ride hard when you're not using them.
Fierofreak00 APR 27, 11:53 AM
Another idea would be to install airbags (load helpers) then you could tailor the ride height to the load your hauling. Also, the rear springs in the 2nd gen body styles seem to sag a lot, even when your not hauling a load. In my 94 Sonoma, I install 4wd rear springs to bring the height up, as well as stiffening the ride slightly (which I could have done without). -Jason
weaselbeak APR 27, 06:16 PM
We are restoring a standard 1990 S-10 4x4 and the frame is fully boxed untill about halfway back, where it opens up.