Update...
Got a new brake master cylinder to assure I have the right part. There is a much better "feel" in the pedal, but not the only problem if it was a problem.
I believe the hydro-booster is not functioning properly. It still takes way too much pedal force to stop. I have also determined all four wheels are braking. I can let off the throttle and coast, then dive on the brakes really hard and still turn the steering wheel. So it doesn't really look like a power steering pump issue. Brake have priority over the steering. The parts books indicate the hydro-booster should be same between the '96 and '99 for 1/2 and 3/4 ton. So, I'll throw a new hydro-booster at it anyway. The donor booster sat on the donor truck for years. Who knows, it could have failed before I bought it. But since the rig wasn't really road worthy, I didn't or couldn't really test it before taking the diesel donor apart.
The '96 vintage anti-lock brake control module is the wrong p/n for this rig, so I set that aside. The '99 vintage anti-lock brake control module should have been correct for either gas or diesel, but it wigged out everything including the tech2. It must have been either grounding the diagnostic connection, or shorting it to 12 volt? Also blew the fuse. Funny thing is, it worked fine before chopping up the project gaser? I sent it to myairbags.com and they said it was not repairable, thus scheit-canned. So, I got one from used auto parts and we are good to go. Of course, a new fuse too.
We still read this code on the tech2, no service engine soon light thouh; U1000 loss of communitcation with class 2 serial date. Could this be due to using an pcm for an auto-4wd vehicle and we've converted it to a push-button-4wd? That auto-4wd module isn't there? This comes back immediately after resetting codes.
Another peculiar thing... We reset codes and all seems good. Cruise control works. Then after awhile I turn on the Gear Vendor and activate the auto-shift mode. This mode goes to OD at about 45 mph, then when you get down to 25 mph it shifts back into direct. After an auto shift or two it locks me out of cruise control. I suspect a manual shift of the OD would do the same? If I recall correctly, it sees some issue with the vehicle speed input? Ever hear that complaint with a Gear Vendor OD? That fault has to see 1/2 the calculated vehicle speed or greater than a 20 mph difference. Hmm? GV is only a .78 OD. But maybe there is something in the switch from the vssb to the GV-vssb?
Over and out for now!