so, was it just low on oil and sucking air ? seems unlikely at 1 qt low, unless pickup tube is way out of alignment. or was it sludge boogers ?

 

i know my bearings where shot and when i came to idle it would drop to zero, no other time though. stupid question but have you checked your oil level? not that you havelike say a bad plenum gasket and its sucked all your oil out

 

I think low oil in combo with sludge boogers was causing the issue...
low enough that it couldn't move the sludge out of the sending unit channel.

I know there's a plenum leak- uphill and heavy accel (esp. under load) gives the spark knock...
I'd replace it myself- but I don't want to invest in a bunch of tools I don't really need-
and right now, I'm too cheap to pay a mechanic to do it.... $400+ to install a $20 gasket....
something like that SHOULD have been a recall javascript:void(AddText(''))

 

regarding the plenum, it is a big job where you have to strip everything off the top, and i did use a lot of tools, but other than basic sockets, wrenches, pliers, and screwdrivers, i think the only thing special was
3/8 fuel line disconnect $5-20.
torque wrench. the $20 autozone one is ok. yeah i know, here comes the flames...
hughes plenum kit $130 ish ? can't remember
torx $10 or less.
DONT reuse the steel belly pan or you'll be doing it again. get the aluminum plate.