I still can't believe it.
I was braced for the worst. Clean livin' keeps payin off.
What's next? I went over everything, inspecting rubber and what-not. The small hose on the turbo possibly the waste gate valve, has a crack, but really that's just about it. Most of the push-on connectors are weak; they don't make good contact and fall off easy. I had no oil pressure showing on the gauges and the engine was missing when I first started it up. It idled rough, so I went on my first exploration while the engine was running since I owned this Trooper. What I found right away was fuel on the firewall. I grabbed a drop light and took a looky see. Fuel was spraying out of the top two injector pipes, which could account for the rough running. I shut off the ignition switch, how nice, this works again. Both connectors were loose, hmmm, I remember tightening them when I reassembled the fuel system. Oh well, no big thing. While I was down there I noticed a push-on connector off, to what appeared to be a block sensor. Maybe I'll get lucky and this will be the cause of the lack of oil pressure reading. I've had success with other connectors like this, but I could get to them to remove the plastic cover to clean and reshape the contact. I faked it, leaving the cover on and got it to fit tighter by using a dentist tool to spread the metal.

When I started the engine the next time it purred to life. I mean smooth, smooth and I had a ¥ reading on the oil pressure gauge.

Clutch pedal feels a little weird. I guess it is the hydraulics. I'm not used to it is all. So, I put her in gear and backed out of the garage. It was in 4X/low to begin with, the transfer case shifter is smooth. First and second gear is all I tried, as I drove down the dirt road to my brother's house. When I got there, about 1/3 mile, I left the engine running, and stepped out with a ***** eating grin on my face. We listened to the motor idle, and talked about some of the things I did this morning. I was pointing to the hoses I switched around. Out in the sunshine with the hood off is where we noticed one more hose by the injection pump. I took a look under the Trooper and saw liquid pouring out by the air cleaner. It was fuel and it was coming from the hose I used to pipe the fuel return. Quickly shutting down the engine, I pulled the hose off and this is when I finally snapped that this was supposed to be returning to the fuel tank. Regroup, and rethink. That's when I saw the proper hose hanging there by the IP. Cool, one more switcheroo and I think we have it this time. Yes!
I drove the Trooper back up the hill and parked it in front of the shop where it has lived for the last month. We love it when they make it back home. Sprayed engine cleaner on the spilled fuel, let it soak for a few minutes, and pulled the garden hose off the biodiesel processor wash tank and hosed my new toy all shinny clean. I reinstalled the hood. My dog is sleeping in the back seat through this thundershower. He looks as happy as a dog can look, almost as happy as I feel.

I need to replace the plastic fan as it has two broken blades. I am sure it needs other things too. For now I will watch and listen to the harmonic balancer. I hope it doesn't come loose again. I have to face the fact that the crank shaft may be damaged. I couldn't get the nut tightened to the 151ft/lbs Jerry said it should be. I was afraid the bolt was going to strip, so I tightened it as much as my ¢ impact wrench would go. So I still have something to worry about. Not a bad place to be. Cautious is good. I will pull the radiator before Winter and re-tighten the bolt.

So there it is. the saga of the little Trooper that could.
Brian Rodgers