73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: velojym on August 07, 2010, 08:42:50 pm
-
I guess this might qualify as a project. I was considering turning my '86 into a light cargo truck, along with the occasional trailer haul.
Being a half ton, I can get decent trailer capacity while still remaining well below the DOT tickle zone (5 tons). This would GREATLY simplify
being able to do business with this truck. The sort of cargo I'd haul wouldn't really be beyond the legal limit of a half ton truck, but I'd install overload springs to help the handling when so loaded. A lightweight flatbed (or not... I may just keep the stock long bed on it) and a weight distribution hitch, and possibly a brake-equipped trailer... though that may or may not be overkill.
I drive an 18 wheeler for a living, but I get quite a few requests to haul cargo with my pickup when I'm home. Some of the hauls include airplanes and their related parts (which is why most of the loads wouldn't be all that heavy), and maybe some mulch, etc.
I'd consider just getting a bigger truck, which I may one day do, but this is what I have now, and I think I could make a pretty decent little hauler out of it as it is.
If anyone else has done something like this, sing out.
-
I was considering trying to build something like that, but I need a few more examples and ideas.
-
A brake equipped trailer is never overkill, just good common sense. Don't know why you would make such a comment, especially being a truck driver by trade.
-
I would just upgrade your axle to 3/4ton and op for a higher gearing that came with the 3/4 or 1ton at least 4.10. Then go with a brake equipped trailer 2 axles. granted I don’t and never have driven a 18 wheeler but I have hauled a couple trucks hauled a car on a trailer with out brakes and it seems it has to do more with the truck hauling it having good brakes my buddies 98 1 ton does wonders doing that but my 79 granted it has 38s I wouldn’t dare try to haul a truck if I didn’t have the brakes on the trailer
-
A brake equipped trailer is never overkill, just good common sense. Don't know why you would make such a comment, especially being a truck driver by trade.
I've hauled plenty of stuff where trailer brakes weren't needed at all, and could very easily be just added expense and
something else to go wrong. A 1000 lb light sport airplane isn't really a power *or* braking burden for this truck. This is why I would dare
say something so silly. Sorry if I offended.
Still, I'd go with a braked trailer anyway, as I'd rather have it and not necessarily need it than vice-versa, and I've never really been sorry
I had one hooked up anyway.
As for large trucks, forty tons has a way of needing as much braking capacity as you can possibly cram into the vehicle. The only time I've done without trailer brakes is when moving trailers around the yard, and that was just a matter of not connecting both glad-hands.
If I were needing to run at full cgvwr, I'd want as much brake as possible in my pickup rig, too.
-
I didn’t know they were that light since that’s the case I would just have brakes on the trailer and not worry about the axles at all
-
I didn’t know they were that light since that’s the case I would just have brakes on the trailer and not worry about the axles at all
We have to keep the weight down on 'em, with a max gross of 1320 lbs (including people, baggage, and fuel) for legal light sport planes.
That was my original primary job for the truck, but I still want a bit more capacity for building materials and bulk stuff. It'll be a while before I can
dedicate it to a personal aircraft as a mobile FBO of sorts, and my wife has plans for the ol' homestead. (read: Sweetie... there's some heavy lifting to do...)
-
Oy. I know it's been said time and time again, but I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I'm gonna have to get a
one ton truck. Heck, UHaul turned me away from a trailer rental because their database claims Earl can't haul a single
car trailer.
grumblegrumblegrumble...
Dunno, I'm getting kinda attached to this truck. Maybe I oughta just bite the bullet and get my own danged trailer anyway.
-
As far as Uhaul is concerned, they can piss off.. Do not go by what they say. I was told that I couldn't rent a tow dolly to tow my grand cherokee with my quad cab long bed 4x4 Diesel Dodge because their computer said it didn't weigh enough. So I told them fine, I am hauling a Honda civic. "ok, here you go," idiots.
If what you are towing is really that light, then I don't see a problem with it. Trailer brakes are always nice though. Older trucks have never been known for their braking ability. The thing that would concern me most would be fuel mileage. It's difficult to make money nowadays towing without a diesel. It's tough even with a diesel...
-
When we rented from U-Haul the trailer said Max speed 45i told them you know were going on the highway were the limit is 60 the girl said I didn't hear you. Lol
-
Yeah, fortunately she got the car home safe. It went into "demo mode" and everything worked fine when I drove it. Hmph.
I've been poking around, looking at possible salvage swaps that'll hopefully increase power *and* economy. I'm not in a real hurry right now,
but I'm wanting to eventually sell my Trailblazer, and want to get Earl's restomod mostly finished before I do that (and before TBs lose their value too badly, too).
The 5.3/overdrive swap looks like a good one, though I'm tempted by that 6.0.
The current 350 pulls pretty strong for now, though. I'll most likely, due to budgetary constraints, first find a good overdrive transmission, and I may just build myself a 383 to drop in when the time comes.
-
i have a 78 chevy flatbed, and when i rented a dolly to pick up a car, they just let me ahve it, gave my hitch the highest rating because its welded to the bed and the bed is welded to the frame... who knows.
-
Events, and advice from my better half and Dave Ramsey... I need to get rid of one of our vehicles.
Logic aside, I have to sell either my c10, which is paid for, or my '05 Trailblazer, which I still owe over $8000 on.
I'm kinda attached to my pickup, but it ain't starting right now. Worked fine yesterday, but won't even try to crank right now.
Headlights work fine, interior light comes on strong, battery is showing good on my multimeter, so I'm gonna check the fuse block.
I'm scared to check the wiring, because whoever put the current engine in left a mess under the hood. Wires running alongside the
exhaust manifold, exposed. I did find a chunk of melted loom, but that was while I could still start the truck.
Not knowing the history of the engine, I don't feel I can trust it on a long road trip (the sole reason the trailblazer would trump my pickup on what to keep), and there's quite a bit of lag when I shift into reverse. So, I'm thinking about a relatively low mile engine/transmission swap from a newer truck, either a 5.7, 5.3, or.... hehehe... a 4.2 (which I wouldn't have considered before, but I'm pretty impressed with the one in my TB).
I'm guessing I listed them in order of difficulty, given that I'm already running a 5.7.
The advantages with the latter two seem like they might be worth the trouble. Also, showing up at a car show with a modern inline 6 would
be pretty cool, too.
I could park next to the guy with the old F250 with the Cummins. :)
-
Check your battery connection and started wires
-
Check your battery connection and started wires
It's a real rat's nest in there. I may have to hang on to the Trailblazer for a while yet. When I get a chance, I'm gonna see if I can
patch it up enough to get it running in the meantime, but I won't be comfortable with it until I've torn into it and get everything straight.
Right now time is the major issue, until I get off this night shift second job. The money's good, though, which is why I'm able to consider
swapping out the engine and tranny.
I'll probably get some "before" pics in the next week or two and set up another thread when I get started... that is, when I can find a place to work on it. Turns out the city I live in frowns heavily upon "project" vehicles, even when they're in the garage... which mine won't be.
I may have a friend with some hangar space at the airport, though.
-
Do not know if you made up your mind or not yet, but here's my 2 cents. I used to drive semi's also, but for years have hauled and towed all kinds of differen't trailers with a 1/2 ton chevy with 3/4 ton axles. I have used a weight distrubution hitch and without, ( though heaveir loads I perfer the wieght distrubution hitch ). I have really never had any issue's. In fact in most cases my chevy tow's as good as my 02 f350 deisel work truck.
-
I don't feel any real desire to get rid of Earl... got kind of attached over the last couple years. It's just a matter of having time/space/money
to get 'er done.
I know the cheapest and easiest way would be to just put together a 350/350c in the garage, and sneak it in when the neighborhood busybodies aren't looking, but I'd really like to give a little TLC to the engine bay while everything's out. I suppose I can do that and make it look like it ain't a work in progress... maybe.
Really miss my country property with its barn right now.
-
Events, and advice from my better half and Dave Ramsey... I need to get rid of one of our vehicles.
Logic aside, I have to sell either my c10, which is paid for, or my '05 Trailblazer, which I still owe over $8000 on.
Wow. This was a sort of eventful week. I had to buy tires for the TB, have the tranny flushed, and got Earl running.
At this point, Earl's problems are helping the Trailblazer maintain a spot in the driveway, and will hopefully give me the ability to go a little deeper
with the pickup.
As for Earl, while I was poking around under the hood (the fuses were all good), I tried to check out all the wires near the junction block on the firewall. I didn't even know where to start, as nothing seemed to go anywhere. I know I'm gonna have to rewire this truck, which will be a lot of work, but at least I'll finally know where it all goes. Some of the connections I found were twisted and taped, no solder or other connectors, and as I mentioned before, routing doesn't really make sense.
After I shut the hood, I took a half-hearted twist of the ignition and... lo and behold, the fan came on. A few pumps of the pedal, and Earl was alive! ALIVE!!!
I have a lot of work ahead of me, and I've never really done any sort of major automotive work, just airplanes... which is a lot more different than I used to think.
I'll take a few pics and post 'em before I start digging in. I also have to either arrange my garage or find another place to do the work. I'm actually thinking about signing up for an automotive repair class at a local college, if it'd allow me to do the work I need to do.
-
Not real comprehensive yet, and I took a short "running" video which I haven't uploaded yet, but these are a little better than my old profile pic.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/5131486047_d183e268ae.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/5132089190_6ea51ecc79.jpg)
-
Ah, here's some vid. It's been a couple weeks since I started it, having been on the road a good part of that...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6vy0lA14OA
-
sweet truck.
-
I haven't been able to do much with Earl lately, as I'm only casually trucking and working at the airport for gas money while I finish my flight training. I do take it out every week, to keep the battery up and get the engine up to temp, stir up the oil and all that.
Today I heard a swish-scrape, swish-scrape... it changed with the truck's speed, so it's a drivetrain noise, and hopefully just brake pads or something simple like that. We're waiting for word on my better half's application for a position in Birmingham, with a nice pay raise and the potential for some nice houses (for her) with some nice workspace (for me). One has the equivalent of a six car garage. I could pull Earl inside and completely re-do him if'n I wanted.
Won't have to do that, I think. I was just laying under the truck poking around, and once again was amazed at how clean and rust free the bottom of the cab is.
-
My better half got the job, so we're sorting and packing for the next couple weeks. Earl is gonna have to make the trip under
his own power, but I don't think there'll be any major problem.
When we get there, I'll have to find something productive to do, and am in touch with a guy who wholesales Italian ice to
folks who are willing to use at least a trailer (no pushcarts), so Earl's mission won't really change all that much from what
I described above, though fuel economy won't be quite the bogeyman it would have been if I'd been using the truck for
hauling more. I'll still probably keep it in mind, though.
We're also looking for a house with a decent sized shop separate from the garage, so the wife can park her car inside, while allowing me
an enclosed area to work on Earl. I'll just use the Trailblazer to tow the trailer for a while until the truck is ready... provided I decide to
do the above.
-
That a nice truck looks solid
-
Thanks Cheyenne.
We're in Bama now, but still in temp housing until the bank pulls their collective heads outta their nether regions. We're ready to close right now, but they don't have all their stuff together so we're having to wait.
Earl is still in Little Rock, and we'll be going back for the truck and the rest of our stuff after we come back from
the wife's family reunion in Savannah.
We've talked about hauling Earl back on a Uhaul trailer, and I'm kinda going back and forth on the idea. It'd be far cheaper to just get a trailer and use Earl... but dang it's been hot out lately. If we do that, we're gonna have to leave muy early to get back here before the heat of the day.
Man, I've become such a wimp since I started driving later model cars...
The Italian Ice thing is still on the table, and while I actually considered putting a custom vending body on Earl, I don't think I want to destroy the pickup utility.... besides, I think it'd end up being more expensive than a trailer anyway. As the truck would be part of the system (holding the generator and a supply locker in addition to towing the trailer), I think maybe a build thread for the whole rig would be in order.
I'm in the Cap'n's general area, too... gotta see what he has to offer.
-
Jacquie's employer was footing the bill for the truck itself, and the trailer rental was cheaper than the gas to drive Earl... plus it was a lot easier to load everything into a 17' truck anyway. So... I towed Earl. He rode good, but as mentioned in another thread, tossed part of a fan blade on the way home from Tuscaloosa.
In other news...
There's a big black dually sitting about a mile up the road from this McDonalds (don't have internet access yet at the new house), and it has a For Sale sign on it. I'll take a pic on the way home and post it when I can. The though has tickled my mind, however, that it could be used to pull the aforementioned trailer. It also looks pretty awesome, from the road anyway. I'm gonna go check it out in a few minutes.
-
Just buy it! You can never have too many squarebodies..haha
-
I'd have to square it with the wife, as she generally holds the reins to the happiness level in our house.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5978404900_bd33434c19.jpg)
It isn't as purty up close, but like most of these trucks, it has a lot of potential. The sign in the window
tells me it has a 454/t400, and the interior is pretty nice, though it needs a good cleaning.
IIRC, the price was 3750.00
-
ooo nice !!!! excellent find man. id be all over it. good price, looks clean. keep us posted.
-
Nice!
-
Got the wiring issues patched up for now, though there are a few ancillary systems that need attention, like the 4-ways, etc. Earl has returned to short-haul/recreational use for now, and we took him to the lake today, hauling a raft and other lake toys. Zoe loved it, as she really likes my truck (hey, she's 5. Sitting up front with Daddy is one of the greatest things to her).
Jacquie found that she missed having a functional truck around, and likely will be more supportive when I get the money together to go deeper.
I'm in a computer network admin program now at a local university, and hope that I'll be able to better afford what I'd really like to do with Earl.
-
*sigh*
So, there's a drain somewhere. Battery is dead after Earl sits for a day or two.
Going on the back burner until I can pull the engine and redo everything.
-
Ya know, one of the best investments I've made is a Battery Tender. Before I was able to redo my wiring and exercise my rigs demons I'd plug it in between uses and let My electric bill keep it charged. Worked like a charm and probably didn't even use that much elec. You can get one that will regulate itself for $50 - $80 bucks I think and it'll last for years. I'll also admit, having a trickle charger as well as the block heater has changed the game on the coldest days in the winter too.
-
I have one of those, though it's a small one I picked up for my wife's Vino scooter. It's hooked up right now, but after a day and a half, I didn't get anything at all out of the battery. So, I figure the drain is more than the little trickle charger can keep up with, so I disconnected the battery tonight, leaving the charger hooked up.
If the battery (brand new) isn't any good, I'll be hauling it back to the parts store tomorrow.
Otherwise, I have a mess of hacked wiring to dig through to fix this thing right, as I'm getting a little miffed at chasing down every new little problem every time I get the last one fixed, and really just need to gut this puppy and start over.
Besides, the engine has a couple of oil leaks, an exhaust leak, and there's some surface rust on the inner fenderwells.
I also need to pick up a proper battery charger, since ours was inadvertently sold at a garage sale.
-
After leaving it trickling overnight, Earl started up as usual, but now... I have fuel squirting out the line leading into the carb, and it's also leaking out of the clamp holding a cheap inline filter, a few inches up from the pump.
I disconnected the battery (verrrrry carefully) and once again closed the hood. Cripes.
I'm picking up some IT certifications, and hopefully will find some decent paying work soon, so's I can afford to do a proper fixup on my ol' truck. (while learning how in the process).
-
So, by "proper fixup", looks like it'll be easier than some restorations, as Earl is pretty rust free... but if I'm pulling the engine and going in, might as well do it right.
While I have the engine out, resealing it and the like, I'm coming up with a list of things I should do while I'm in there.
-clean the engine bay, including some surface rust on the inner fenders and replace the battery tray
-replace brake hoses, other "soft" parts, such as engine mounts, bushings, etc.
-shocks... easy enough to do anyway, but might as well put 'em on the list
-wiring harness. I considered a bumper-to-bumper harness, but I don't think I'll need all that. Engine compartment is where all my real problems are.
-As for the engine, it runs strong, so I figure pulling the top end, giving it a good look-see, and replacing all the seals should do for now. Maybe a nice 383 or ls job later.
I'm sure there's lots more, and it'll still be pretty slow, between work and school, but I'm really hoping that it won't be forever before I can really get Earl to be the truck I want him to be. heck, it's already been too long.
-
Been a while since my last update. I've been studying from zero to an IT degree while working full time at a local ISP. I picked up some fuel line and rebuilt what the P.O. had in there. It was pretty rotten.
While pulling the bad hose out, I found the remains of the former metal line. Looks like it was broken off a few inches from the fuel pump. I went ahead and clamped the new one on in the same place, but I will have to remedy that at some point.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9Ntye29S-2o/Ugb_0y-Dg8I/AAAAAAAAKls/wohrKiQlbu4/w642-h856-no/20130810_193830.jpg)
I also had to buy a new battery charger, and it's hooked up right now.
While getting the charger, I found 5ft. of PEX for a little over a buck and picked it up. A few minutes with a hobby knife and my doors are closing securely as GM intended.
-
Well, it works, and it ain't leaking. Fired Earl up for the first time in a long while, checked the charge, kept a close eye on the fuel line, and seeing no leaks or other immediate dangers, I pulled forward a few feet to check the brakes.
A little weak, but they've been sittin'. I could still stop just fine, so I went back into the garage to grab Earl's insurance card, and hopped back in for a short ride.
The engine happily burbled along (love my exhaust) down and around the hill to the dead-end, by the boat ramp. I turned around in the gravel lot and found Earl to be a bit sluggish. Engine sounded fine, but then I noticed a little rear wheel spin and some extra drag since the complete stop. Erk. Front brake(s) locked up.
I shifted into reverse and backed up a few feet, hoping that would help a bit, and it did.
I was able to limp home up the steep hill, grateful that the engine still has good oomph, and back into the driveway. A quick sniff check told me that the left front brake was the stinky party, and will need some attention if I want to cruise down the highway anytime soon.
Between getting the door strikers fixed (anyone need some 1/2" PEX? I still have plenty left!) and getting Earl running under his own power again, I'm thinking it's been a pretty decent day.
However, I'm still running into signs of a corner-cutting shadetree monkey engine installation, and still wonder whether I oughta keep picking away at this, or whether it'd be easier to start from the bottom up with the engine out.
I also have a few other tasks that don't pertain directly to the mechanicals: the windows and power locks have quit working altogether, except for a weak effort by the right glass. The steering wheel still has the wobbles, and my parking brake cable is missing. So is the left fuel tank. Paint is starting to peel (cheap paintshop job) and I'm wondering whether I should bother with eventually getting a good quality job done... or shoot for patina. That's for the future, though, and as slow as Earl and I take things, it could be a while. Come to think of it, I oughta probably get something for those spots, just to protect the metal in the meantime.
Current dreams revolve around an LS 383, or at least a 5.3... reality probably has me sticking with the current mill, cleaned up, checked out, and left otherwise as-is.
-
with the brakes. i just replaced my brake hose on my 94. never understood how they "collapsed" but upon further investigation i found the problem was actually with the metal bracket in the middle of the brake like
(http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/bx3/77299/image/4/)
this bracket will rust and on the inside between the bracket and hose the rust has nowhere to go except into the hose. this will pinch the hose and will restrict the flow. at a stop sign i could press the brakes then release them only to not have the truck move for about 5 seconds, enough time for the fluid to past threw the pinched line.
-
Thanks. I'll definitely look into that, too. This weekend, I'm planning to get the truck up on jackstands so I can check out both sides. I'm considering picking up seal kits for my calipers, and just looking over the rest to see what needs to be done. I didn't think about the clip causing an issue, so I think I'll just go ahead and put those lines on my shopping list. Given the state of the carb fuel line, there probably isn't much rubber on Earl that doesn't need a little help.
-
i never had to rebuild a caliper, would just by a new one. but check things out before you buy parts. If you find one tire is locked up if you loosen the banjo bolt to release the pressure and it does start turning your problem should be the hose. if it doesn't release then its the caliper.
-
Good point. Thanks.
-
As the parts are pretty inexpensive anyway ($12.00 for reman caliper at Autozone, $16 for hoses), and I have a friend who's willing to show up to help, I'm gonna replace both sides at the same time. I know it'd be more economical to just take care of the "trouble" side, but so long as I have the front end up and a spare pair of hands, I'll just get it all outta the way. Also gonna repack the bearings while I have 'em out. That last may be a given, but I figured it was worth mentioning anyway.
I don't see anything that tells me I have heavy duty brakes, and the data plate in the glove box tells me I have IJ50 power brakes. This doesn't seem to translate to anything for available brake parts, but the above mentioned price is indicated for the non-heavy=duty brakes. I'll check the width of the disc in the morning, as I understand the only two systems available had either a 1" or 1.25" (give or take) disc width.
-
There are 2 sizes for the 1981-87 trucks 1" and 1.25". (pre 1980 only had 1.25")
It should be listed on you glovebox as JB_
-
if you can just take your old one in when you get the new one do a visual comparison. not to mention core charge