1988 C1500 Silverado

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jjester6000

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Location
Illinois
First Name
Jack
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
Though I need another vehicle like I need a hole in my head, I couldn't pass up this 1988 Chevrolet C1500 Silversdo trim truck.

It has about 238,500 miles on it and one big issue.

Trans has no 3rd/4th gear.
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Despite this, the previous 20 year owner (Local guy I know) has driven it around as his farm truck for about 5 years since it failed.
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It still drives pretty straight down the road, and runs like a champ. Hell, the A/C apparently still works.
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I plan to put a used trans into it and drive the hell out of it.

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Darth Plasma

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Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
Nathan
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350/SM465
Nice truck, should be pretty easy to find a tranny for it
 

jjester6000

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1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
Nice truck, should be pretty easy to find a tranny for it

I was actually thinking of trying to replace the 3rd/4th clutch packs myself (doesn't look too difficult)
Though automatic transmissions are a bit intimidating to me, I think I could probably do it.
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I'll probably end up getting a used one off craigslist though.
 

Darth Plasma

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Nathan
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
350/SM465
I was actually thinking of trying to replace the 3rd/4th clutch packs myself (doesn't look too difficult)
Though automatic transmissions are a bit intimidating to me, I think I could probably do it.
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I'll probably end up getting a used one off craigslist though.
I'd be intimidated too, I've already rebuilt an engine and redone frames and body panels. Never touched a transmission besides fluid flushes/changes. I've watched videos of people rebuilding 4L80E's and concluded that's a little bit out of my comfort zone for now, until I go through transmission courses in college
 

jjester6000

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Location
Illinois
First Name
Jack
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
I'd be intimidated too, I've already rebuilt an engine and redone frames and body panels. Never touched a transmission besides fluid flushes/changes. I've watched videos of people rebuilding 4L80E's and concluded that's a little bit out of my comfort zone for now, until I go through transmission courses in college

I was about to order all the patch panels and do the body right . . .

Then I found some old license plates . . .
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I just figured out the look I to go for with this truck.

Now it just needs a Trans.
 

jjester6000

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Jack
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
I got the trans out, and had a few issues.
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Since I rounded off a torque converter bolt, I just said screw it and pulled it out without the converter (I'll get it out later).
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Now just to rebuild/replace the trans.
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TubeTruck

I'm from Boston. Deal with it.
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East TN
First Name
Denis
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Suburban K10
Engine Size
LQ9
That'll be a nice parts hauler
 

jjester6000

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Jack
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
Over the weekend, drove about two hours (in the '74) to buy a good used th700r4 for my '88.

It came from an '88 Corvette C4 and fit into the truck almost perfectly.

After I had everything hooked up (TV cable, Cooler lines EXC).

I took it on a test drive and it shifted through all of the gears perfectly.

I was very happy with this $200 transmission.

Everything was going great until the fuel pump died.

3 miles after replacing the Transmission, the fuel pump dies, why can't I catch a break.

I had to yank the driveshaft and flat tow it behind my '74.

I think I am going to throw a mechanical pump onto the engine and pull through the dead pump using the existing lines.

I did remove the blanking plate last night, and it does seem to have the necessary cam lobe for a mechanical pump.

After that, I'll finally get it on the road.
 

jjester6000

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1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
I didn't have to replace the pump after all, it was just the god damn fuse.

It looked good, but you know how old fuses are, they can crack internally from all the heat cycles and be intermittent.

The truck starts right up now.

Now time to get it road worthy.

My biggest problem, currently, is the "Natural Line Lock" that has developed on one of the rear brake lines.

The rear sections of the lines looked newer, but there was one bad section towards the front of the truck.

I still got front brakes, and the truck does killer burnouts.

But I'll have to fix it before going on the road.
 

jjester6000

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1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
I am about to finally get the POS registered, I just did a tune up on it, and fixed it up a bit more.
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It shifts great, and is almost ready for a cross-country road trip (I might take it storm chasing).
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Instead of buying the rust patch panels, I decided that I'll wait until my local Junkyards $85 all you can carry special, and just cut all the panels I need out of other trucks (Among other things I'll be doing).

Me and my friend plan to pull the bed off a Ford Ranger, fill it up with junk, and the two of us will walk the bed out with thousands of dollars worth of stuff in it (We'll have to pay $85 each though).
 

jjester6000

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1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
Its back on the road!!!
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I got an Expanded-Use antique plate for it (literally 1/3 the price).
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jjester6000

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Location
Illinois
First Name
Jack
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
The paint looks just too ******, so I had to do something about it.
 

jjester6000

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Jack
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
C1500
Engine Size
250
One day and $50 later, it looks pretty good.
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Big Chip

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Michigan
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Kevin
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C35
Engine Size
454
You should have saved the $50 if you were just going to take pictures in the dark as proof that it looks good now.
 

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