New Member from CO

[arby87]

Greetings-

Just bought a roughed up 87 V10 Custom Deluxe (least the VIN identifies as a V10) with 170k that will be my weekend warrior project.

Hoping she is not too far gone for slow rebuild, the previous owner did have a few components rebuilt, but will be having a shop check her over.

My main uses for this truck is 85% street use with the potential to hit the mountain trails down the road once she is more road worthy and my little ones a bit older (5 girls- 12, 3, 8 mo, and last one due Thanksgiving). In the mean time I need it for dump runs, supply pickups from Home Depot, etc. Currently working on building the kids a backyard play/climber structure, followed by a garage make over. 

Scary items-

- Wiring. Headlights especially, will only come on if switch is on high beams, no other lights from any other position (except cab light- that works). Radio comes on with the first switch position though. Some wiring hanging from under the dash. Some previous owner installed a tow brake booster that may or may not be functional. Blower motor for HVAC systems non-op- says it has A/C, but have not confirmed. 

- Steering. This thing is all over the place. Currently running a 4" lift with 33"x12" tires- have an appointment with the local 4x4 shop to look her over for cracked frame and getting a quote for that fix plus the re-enforcement kit. Will also look to see if the box needs rebuilt. I know the 12" tires are not helping, especially on top of the lift- considering next tires to be 10".

- Rust. Most of it appears to be surface except for the passenger lower door and cab corner- those two areas it is definitely cancerous. Driver side seems on it's way to being cancerous, but mostly still on the surface for now. Bed has a little bit on the lower wheel well area, but the top wheel well looks good.

- Leaks. Previous owner states the front diff, motor, transmission and transfer case have all been rebuilt in the last 50k. If so, they all leak, except maybe the motor. The rear diff has a potential broken/cracked gear, but I have yet to feel evidence of that- having the shop check it out. Driver gas tank will not take fuel (spit it out over the top of the tank), looking at replacing filler and vent hoses. Passenger tank inop due to leaking filler tube, so will probably do both (universal O'Reilly work?) tubes.

- Exhaust. Still running stock manifolds, but mid-pipe after collector is completely gone. Loud as all get out. Single muffler with modified driver side out tip just forward of the wheel well. Whole system very rusty. Contemplating how to fix- whether I do a minimal mid pipe, or collector back, or headers and whole system with a cross or H pipe setup. Wife likes the noise, I fear police attention and/or neighbor complaints.

Not so scary-
- 4" lift. Love the look, not so sure I will keep. Rear is blocked, but front looks like it was done proper with extra leaf springs. Not sure if steering was done properly, hence taking it to the experts to look over.

- 33" tires. Currently 12" wide, previous owner recommends going back down to 10" for street drivability, not to mention cost.

- Interior mostly there. Previous owner put in a new seat cover. Missing the glove box. Up in the air about the grant steering wheel.

- Front grill missing some pieces around the lights- already trying to figure out replacement parts. Not sure if the added mesh setup should stay.

Hopefully I haven't bitten off more than I can chew, but it will take time. Oh- she also needs a new driver vent window- that looks like fun......

I love the looks of these older Chevy trucks though!

- Dustin

 

[DanMcG]

Welcome to the forum Arby. That looks a lot nicer then my 85, It should be a fun project....What side of the mountains are ya on? I'm in Grand Junction a few times a year.. Dan

[arby87]

Welcome to the forum Arby. That looks a lot nicer then my 85, It should be a fun project....What side of the mountains are ya on? I'm in Grand Junction a few times a year.. Dan

I be on the Eastern side- Colorado Springs. Former military, and while never stationed out here, I came out for the job opportunities and the cheaper cost of living.

Don't hold it against me, but I am originally from northern CA (Chico), but spent most of my career in Idaho (where my eldest lives with her mother). Tried going back to CA for a little bit, but it just too hot, political, and above all- too expensive to live there any more. Love the colder weather, even though right now it is too hot for me to really enjoy much outside- especially since Iraq- here in CO.

[Jason S]

Welcome from Kansas!

[zieg85]

Welcome from the St. Louis , MO area

[Tazman]

Welcome from AZ.

[srozell]

Welcome from British Columbia!

[Monkey Uncle]

Welcome from WV.  Sounds like you have your work cut out for you.

[willi2ds]

Welcome from a fellow Colorado member. Looks Ike you've got a great base to start with.


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[Irish_Alley]

welcome maryland

[chiefmiller84]

Welcome, I'm also in the springs!


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[arby87]

So, I knew going into the purchase of this truck I was going to need tires, but when they pulled my old ones off it looks like I dodged a bullet.

Three of the tires had been leaking air, and each of the three were very close to catastrophic failure from the inner beads being dry rotted and starting to tear.

Tire choices were limited for the 15" wheels at the local Les Schwab because it seems the most common tire in that size is mudders, which everyone I talked to said should go on a 4" inch lifted truck....so here are the new ones.

Guess I will wait until these wear out (last ones on it we manufactured in 2005) before reconsidering going down to a 2" lift with 10.5" wide tires, whether at 33" or 31" at that point.

Oh- and also invested in getting the frame repair (just barely cracked) with some reinforcement work and new motor/tranny mounts (were completely shot), ball joints and center (I think?) drag link replaced. Steering feels so much better now- not perfect, but better. Frame shop said there is some slack in the steering box, but not enough to warrant replacement yet. I might have a raised steering arm, did not confirm, but the drag link looks close to level, but still some angle to it.

Next up is the rear differential- looks like it has a serious leak at the pinion shaft and possibly a hole through the rear cover. Previous owner stated he "might" have shorn off a tooth in it. He also stated the front differential was rebuilt, but looking at it shows junkyard-type writing over it and a very aged looking cover seal that is leaking as well. Also, the truck has upper mounts for a quad front shock setup, but nothing below to support 4- just the single per side.

I have not dared to engage the 4WD yet. I am pretty sure the previous would not have mismatched front to rear differentials, but I think I will have the guy rebuilding the rear double check the front and replace the seal.

Any bets on which gear set I have? If I have to replace the rear, would it be worth it to upgrade to a lower ratio in both diffs to make up for the 33's?