73-87chevytrucks.com
General Site Info => Welcome => Topic started by: bravo1616 on September 21, 2010, 06:04:18 pm
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I just bought this GMC truck as a project for me & my son, we have 3 years until he can drive it...good thing.
(http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad105/bravo1616/82%20GMC/my-82-GMC_web.jpg)
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Welcome to the site from NW Indiana
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Welcome from Mass. Looks like a solid start to a father & son project.
Good luck with it.
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Welcome from Mass. Looks like a solid start to a father & son project.
Good luck with it.
Thanks but, I had to laugh, it's mother & son!
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Thanks but, I had to laugh, it's mother & son!
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I'm impressed, hopefully this site can help you along the way.
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Thanks but, I had to laugh, it's mother & son!
I'm impressed, hopefully this site can help you along the way.
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I hope so too. So far we just started with making the truck safe to drive with seat belts & brakes, next is front end stuff.
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oh, and we installed speakers - gotta have music. nothing great, just modified the 4x10 speaker plates and put in 5x7s that I had from my 82 S10 Blazer.
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Welcome from Illinois
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Hey, can anyone tell me the difference between a drop-down steering arm and a lowering pitman arm? would you use both or one or the other? thanks.
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Welcome to the site and good luck on the father/son project! I hope to do something similar as my boys get older:) My 77 was a father/son project that we started back in 2003 but i was 26 rather than 13! :) It still meant a lot, though, and I will never get rid of that truck:)
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http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=15817.msg123676#msg123676 (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=15817.msg123676#msg123676)
That post will identify the parts for you, but I'm not sure of the drop down or lowering part. Sounds like parts for lowering or body lifts. I've never had a 73-87 4x4 so I'm pretty weak on the front ends.
Old77--Mother/son.
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http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=15817.msg123676#msg123676 (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=15817.msg123676#msg123676)
That post will identify the parts for you, but I'm not sure of the drop down or lowering part. Sounds like parts for lowering or body lifts. I've never had a 73-87 4x4 so I'm pretty weak on the front ends.
Old77--Mother/son.
My bad!! :) My point remains the same. He's going to have a blast working on that truck with you and it'll bond the two of you for life and bring your relationship even closer! :)
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hey jaredts, thanks for the link.
the parts I'm asking about are for steering, there is a 4 inch lift and the steering bumps and doesn't turn all the way to the right, which I read is common when there is a lift, but I've been getting mixed info as to which to change out, the lowering pitman arm or the drop down steering arm or is it both.
and thanks to everyone for the welcome posts.
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Theoretically, you can use one piece, or a combination of pieces to correct the angle. They make a drop pitman arm, a raised steering arm, or adjustable S-drag links. They also make spacers which lift the factory steering arm. So, if you need say 4" of correction, you could get a pitman with a 4" drop, a steering arm with 4" rise, or split the difference 2" each but then you would be buying two parts. I would probably get the corrected steering arm from any reputable suspension lift company that specifies for the amount of lift that you have. Welcome to the site.
http://www.jackit.com/steering/chevy_steering_corrections.htm
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Thanks Grim 82!
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http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=5480.0
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Thanks again Grim 82! you are awesome.
I'm loving this forum already. Looks like I will go with the drop-down steering arm.
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Just remember that you will get different opinions on this, and the real suspension gurus haven't chimed in yet ;D
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hey Grim 82,
I spoke to Tyler over at Jackit and got what I needed. I ended up comparing my truck to a stock 4x4 GMC and a lifted GMC 4x4 I happen to see when I was out for lunch and we figured out I needed the raised steering arm. Both trucks I saw had the stock pitman arm.
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Cool, let us know how it turns out when you get the new arm installed.
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For sure Grim 82, should have the parts by tomorrow.
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Can anyone tell me how do you know how much lift is on the truck?
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What size tires are they? Looks like either a 4 in with 33 or a 6 in with 35 but it is a bad angle.
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What size tires are they? Looks like either a 4 in with 33 or a 6 in with 35 but it is a bad angle.
33 inch tires, I had thought 4 inch lift but was wondering how you can tell for sure, thanks.
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Doubtful you will find a part number on the leaf pack. It would see to be 4 in because of how it sits compared to the tires.
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Exactly like beastie said, the tire clearance looks at first glance to be consistent with a 4" lift/33" tire. If you would have said 35's I would guess 6" lift. I suppose you could take a measurement from the top of the axle tube to the plane between the leaf spring eyes and compare it to a stock spring setup to see the difference.
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Thanks guys!
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Steering arm update: I had the raised steering arm installed -- with a friends help (he had to beat the heck out of it to loosen it). He also lengthened the drag link to approx 16 3/4 inches and now I get the normal right turn radius.
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Excellent. Glad you got it squared away.
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yes, thanks Grim 82, and now on to the next...
Is it easy to replace the speedometer cable? Also do you know where I can get screws for the headers, it seems a few are missing and one long one (the first on the drivers side).
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Do you have cruise control? If yes there will be two cables. One goes into the side of the transfer case and to a transducer mounted usually on the driver side wheel well. The other cable comes out of the transducer and goes through the firewall to the back of the speedometer. All connections have a threaded collar similar to hooking up a garden hose except the one in the back of the gauge just pushes on and has a spring steel clip that holds it in. If no cruise then its the same only one cable and no transducer. The toughest part is ripping the instrument panel out to get to the back of the gauge.
Do you have headers or manifolds? Sounds like manifolds if there are different lengths of bolts. Parts stores or places like Summit or Jegs sell header bolt kits, or you can match up what you need from a hardware store.
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bravo1616, I can't reply to your PM because your inbox is full.
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I cleared my inbox, I didn't realize it's full with 5 messages.