OLDS Diesel advice needed 5.7l delta 88

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Oscris

Not-quite-so-new-guy
May 9, 2021
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Hello everyone,

I am new to the forum, but at my wits end with my 1979 Olds Delta 88. I got the car recently with the ever common blown head gasket. It has been sitting parked in a garage since 1998. I replaced the head gaskets and reassembled the top end useing the ARP head studs. Installed a rebuilt injection pump, and a new fuel water separator. Replaced the filters, oil change etc. When I try to start it, the wait light cycles on and off as its supposed to, but it will not catch when I try to start it. I do not get a start light, but I can see there is a space for it. Brousing the forums I have seen people saying glow plugs could be shot. I guess I'll have to check them. Should I be getting a start light? Also what else should I check? This is my first diesel, so I'm in the dark on this one. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
 

lilbowtie

Comic Book Super Hero
Jan 7, 2006
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I hope you weren't trying on 20 year old fuel ! I assume everything was assembled properly, Have you purged the air out?
 
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oldsmobile joe

Royal Smart Person
Nov 12, 2015
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air, gotta get the air out of the fuel line, filter and injection pump. and it takes forever and a day. if you still have the factory style filter on the intake, loosen the fuel line that goes towards the inj pump. once you get that bled, move along to the next fuel fittings you can get at and bleed there. inj pump, then the injectors.
 
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MrSony

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Nov 15, 2014
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64nailhead

Goat Herder
Dec 1, 2014
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If you're not getting any smoke out of the exhaust, then you're not getting fuel. If you're getting a ton of smoke, then either timing or glow plugs would be the safest bet.

Are you getting any smoke from the tailpipe?
 
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Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
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air, gotta get the air out of the fuel line, filter and injection pump. and it takes forever and a day. if you still have the factory style filter on the intake, loosen the fuel line that goes towards the inj pump. once you get that bled, move along to the next fuel fittings you can get at and bleed there. inj pump, then the injectors.
When I was a teenager I changed the fuel filter on my dad's 88 Suburban with a 6.2 diesel. I did it just as preventative maintenance. The truck would not start. We had a hell of a time with it. Purging the air is no joke.
 

Oscris

Not-quite-so-new-guy
May 9, 2021
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2
3
If you're not getting any smoke out of the exhaust, then you're not getting fuel. If you're getting a ton of smoke, then either timing or glow plugs would be the safest bet.

Are you getting any smoke from the tailpipe?
As far as I can tell im getting nothing from the tailpipe. So that would lead me to beleive I still have air somewhere?
 

64nailhead

Goat Herder
Dec 1, 2014
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It would tell me that you don’t have fuel in the cylinders. Even if you have the cam to crank timing bad/incorrect you should see diesel fuel smellmor smoke in the exhaust. If you have e none, then you don’t have fuel getting to the cylinders.
 
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Oscris

Not-quite-so-new-guy
May 9, 2021
8
2
3
It would tell me that you don’t have fuel in the cylinders. Even if you have the cam to crank timing bad/incorrect you should see diesel fuel smellmor smoke in the exhaust. If you have e none, then you don’t have fuel getting to the cylinders.
Is it possible the injectors are varnished shut? The car did sit since 98, and the previous owner reported fuel was in it when he parked it.
 

Oscris

Not-quite-so-new-guy
May 9, 2021
8
2
3
Ok, so after extensive work, I got the car to run for a bit. When i backed out of the garage to do a three point turn it died, and hasn run since. I have gotten it to run for about 5 to 10 seconds at a time, then it dies and nothing. Any ideas? Installed new lifter pump and filters, blead everything out extensively.
 
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