Been real busy last couple of weeks

[zieg85]

Here is a couple of pictures of the beast

Had some decent weather and had some father-son time on the truck.  Pleasantly surprised that after we took out several sets of floor mats the original floor covering is in perfect shape.  Took the seat out and vacuumed out the interior, only about 50 cents in change was found.  We installed the factory 4 speaker system and the red cloth Suburban front seat from my 1991 parts truck, sits real nice.  My 3 small gauges didn't work and luckily it turned out to be a bad circuit board.  Took one off the shelf and everything came to life so I put the speedometer and fuel gauge back into it, had the kid clean the rest and made sure all the dash lights worked.  Tomorrow, weather permitting we'll put the tilt column in it and put the dash all back together.  This is really turning out to be a nice truck.  More as we progress...

[zieg85]

Rallies on, tilt wheel column in.  Small progress but it is shaping up...

[PromiseKeeper]

I'm wonderin if zieg is missing the rims off of his yellow truck yet? 

[87454westernhauler]

looking good.

[zieg85]

Took it for a 260 mile round trip and was pleasantly surprised with 16.2 mpg, not bad considering 2nd gear is out in the transmission...

[zieg85]

I gave it some love last night by putting it in the garage for a fun day of heater core replacement today.  I have to say I was dreading the deed with the dealer installed AC but after I got into it the unit did not interfere at all and I had it all done in a couple of hours including new heater hoses, thermostat and gasket.  Good to -34 F, it is sure nice having heat again and not smelling of antifreeze....

[87454westernhauler]

make sure u clean the floor pan up where the heater core was leaking!

[bake74]

     Zieg that truck is looking pretty good, how often do you get to drive it ?

[zieg85]

     Zieg that truck is looking pretty good, how often do you get to drive it ?

Maybe once every 3-4 weeks, maybe.  Now it has heat maybe more.  I bought it for my youngest as a first vehicle once he gets his license which none of us is in a big hurry to do it as he has no job to help support driving it.  He is a pretty good driver however more practice will always be helpful.  Looking for a smaller car for him which would get better MPG as he seems a bit indifference with a truck to drive... 

I have a company car with free gas so it is hard to justify driving it unless I need to haul something that won't fit in the Escape.

[PromiseKeeper]

Zieg,
I'm interested in the steering column swap. What did you put in it and how involved was it? I'm sure it wouldnt be that bad to do if it was a similar year, but hard to find one that is in better shape. Did you use a newer one? How many mods were needed if so...?

[zieg85]

Zieg,
I'm interested in the steering column swap. What did you put in it and how involved was it? I'm sure it wouldnt be that bad to do if it was a similar year, but hard to find one that is in better shape. Did you use a newer one? How many mods were needed if so...?

No mods at all, it is a direct bolt in if you stay within your year range.  84-87 because of the integrated wiper/dimmer switch on the turn signal stalk.  I put a tilt out of a 1987 into the 1985.  You should be able to go even newer but I haven't actually tried it.  I did put a 1984 column into a 1982 and converted the switches but back then it was before I had internet so it was trial and error.  The dimmer was no problem but it took a few tries to get the wiper switch right.  The early columns 73-77 or so used a different clamp on style coupler under the hood so it you have that style you will need the matching intermediate shaft.

[87454westernhauler]

has anyone ever tryed to use a tilt coulm out of an 88 and up chevy befor on an 84-87?

[zieg85]

has anyone ever tryed to use a tilt coulm out of an 88 and up chevy befor on an 84-87?

The gear shifter part under the hood is on the opposite side.

[87454westernhauler]

ogh darn.. ok!

[87454westernhauler]

actually, is the shifter all that is different, would the column work in a floor shift truck?