A little update.
I was just making sure that all the airbox screws were tight. All were with the exception of one, which was on the right side of the screw sets. It spins but doesn't tighten.
I found this thread from impact bumpers:
https://www.impactbumpers.com/forum/index.php?/topic/31486-coming-back-with-a-bang/
One guy had said that the screw doesn't tighten.
I'm leaning towards the fact that maybe I do, indeed, have a blown airbox. Time to find a smoke test machine, because I doubt it will start with a blown box? I am still going to flush fuel through it to see.
After the fiance graduates with her RN this weekend I am hoping to get more time doing diag. But that screw thing was interesting, and with no pop off valve, it could have backfired and then the guy just parked it.
Here's a few shots of where I stand with a cleaned up engine. It's nice to be able see now where things may leak from.
I did make it a little snazzy for personal preference (I know many of you hate this, but fortunately it isn't your vehicle). Plugs are new, wires are new, cap/rotor are new. I also made an L bracket for the thermo valve and located it on the back stud of the auto blower that I remove. I am going to backdate the heat at some point.
Very slow work, but with one or two nights a week, Hopefully I can make some progress.
