Replaced head gaskets, now…
 

Now I’m getting white smoke from ebrake near center console.

It doesn’t start either. Just a very slow crank.

its an 04, so it doesn’t have the green ground wires.

I made sure all connections are solid and there are no wires left unfastened.

it definitely seems like a grounding issue though.

[edit] is there a way I could fabricate my own ground to the firewall or some other grounding point? Maybe where the head strap is?

Any help is appreciated.

I think your issue is that the engine to vehicle ground strap did not get connected. It is trying to find a ground through your ebrake cable. You may need to replace it.

From memory, the ground cable attaches to the rear of the left (viewed from the driver seat) head.

yeah it’s attached and in really good shape. Maybe it’s sitting oddly? Or detached from head? I think I’m going to add another ground from the upper manifold to the same stud the strap is attached to.

This has happened to me twice now, once ground strap below the alternator side of the engine was loose, second time it was dirty. I haven't gotten around to replacing E-brake cable.

If you're adding one a!way, I'd run it from? Where the battery !negative connects between the ;artery a!d the fuse box, and connect it to the nearest bolt you can access on the motor.

Problem solved! Actually had the ground point on the alternator mixed up.

Good news. Thanks for letting us know.