So got another thing checked off my ToDo list. Got the Pyrometer installed.

Pulled the interior and Dog-house out and decided on using the drivers side up-pipe. Options were to drill and tap the cast manifold or weld a bung on the thinner walled up-pipes. Since I was doing this at a friends house and he had a welder...up-pipe it was since it's easier to get to.



I thought of using Grease and or a Vacuum but decided on using magnets to keep as much of the shavings from dropping inside the pipe!!







One Bung welded on...


Modified heat shield



Hooked up the pyro sensor,


MacGuivered the wires into the Cab with a makeshift grommet and using exsisting bolt holes which I have no idea what they are used for...



And then Voila, EGT working properly.

 

Thats a really neat way to put a probe in. Your really lucky to have the removable doghouse to work on the back of the engine

 

Yeah your not kidding!! But for everything that's easy for me and difficult for the truck guys, it's the opposite with what's easy for them since I don't have very clear access to the front of the engine/accessories.

 

So another small update...
Did a shift kit with the help of a friend whose a "tranny"(the mechanical kind) expert!

Pulled the Pan off the Transmission to get to the Valve body:



Pulled the gasket off:



Drilled a few holes:



Also pulled the pump off, swapped out some springs and solenoids then threw on a new Gasket and replacing the ball bearings, well most of them:



Here's the bottom of the tranny with the valve body removed:



Then bolt it all back together, slap in a new deeper sump'ed pan...



And...Voila, all done.
Transmission oil looked good, I was worried that my transmission was starting to slip with the hot tune installed, but everything looked good and now with the shift kit I have a peace of mind that it will last. Reason for the deep pan was for added fluid/cooling for when I tow heavy.

 

Also...I picked up a Pop top!!!







I haven't installed it yet, just picked it up(they are hard to find). I have a few things to do before I can install it and I don't think I'll get around to it for a while either.
And if your wondering what all that writing is on the side of my van, someone keyed my van a couple weeks ago. So now I have extra motivation to Line-x my van.

Anyways, pretty excited to have finally found/gotten a pop top. There aren't a lot around that are as sleek or look good. Will be sweet when I can stand up in my Van!!

 

This thing has an 80e with the duramax? Interesting...

 

I just read this entire thread start to finish. Awesome project!! I've read about halfway through your truck build as well. I only hope my truck can turn out half as nice as yours did, but then again I want to keep from getting TOO crazy with it. We all know how the snowball effect works though...Sub'd

 

Well, the 4L85E but yeah same thing, all the Vans came like that. Not ideal but....

There's a couple guys who have done allison swaps thought.

Haha, thanks but yeah...it snowballs.

 

Damn man sucks about the van getting keyed!

 

I don't know where you get all your optimism from. lol