Jhm89
Member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2013
- Posts
- 43
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Cental Illinois
- First Name
- Joel
- Truck Year
- 1987
- Truck Model
- V2500
- Engine Size
- 5.7L
Hail brothers.
Creeper on the site for a few years, Finally trying to join the fray.
I live in Central IL, in the C/U area. I currently work at the local U-haul. Where I clean, park, inspect, and repair the trucks.
My first truck was an 86 2wd, 305 sbc all original swiss cheese grey on black with the orange pin stripes. 5 lug rally wheels and a 10 bolt rear end.
My current truck is my dream vehicle in the making - 1987 GMC V2500 Sierra Classic, Baby blue with dark blue mid section, fleetside 8ft. TBI 5.7L 350 SBC THM400 8 Lug wheels with a Dana front axle and 14 bolt rear with 4:10 gears.
I bought the truck for $600 in Salt lake city, Utah. It had 108k original miles, with original equipment.
SLC has strict emissions so It took me about a month or so to get it legal, This consisted of different exhaust manifolds, full tune up, and a head gasket and valve job. All done by me.
Sadly, my SLC job ran out, and I followed an ill thought out plan to join the National guard, back to my home state of Illinois. Where I have been for the past year, staying with my baby mothers, sister. Sleeping on the sofa.
As a single father, I have struggled to get back on my feet since walking out of my last apartment a few years ago, due to the breakup between my daughters mother and I.
Needless to say, My GMC is the one thing I have that makes me really happy. I drove it home from Utah, and broke in two states. First was a water pump, which I fixed on the side of the road with my girl in her stroller on the side while I did it. Fun stuff.
Next break down was a front passanger wheel bearing (I took the steel wheel off and put the spare on before the trip, because the one that was on it was warped) So with $0 left and no options, a member of the family borrowed a brand new trailer from a buddy, and drove us the last few hundred miles home in his 2012 5.3L. I am very blessed to still have my truck.
Unfortunately it took me months to fix the wheel bearing, because I started a night shift job the day after I got home, And had a terrible time adjusting.
Once I got that done, winter hit, and the starting problems began. After a more in depth tune up, I got it running again, Just to have major power problems. I had several burned wires, a blown head gasket, and a crack in the cylinder wall between 3 and 5. So I bought a motor fro $150 out of a buddies family junk yard, from a 91 4x4, that had tranny problems. So once in my truck with my trans, It ran great. EXCEPT! of course... more problems...
The trans wouldnt shift and the motor smoked like oil burn very bad.....
I installed a new regulator, and a new accumulator piston in the valve body, Got my shifting back. When I pulled a valve cover, I was shocked to see the worst oil deposits ever. So I did another full head and valve job myself. (outside of the trailer we live in)
Finally now in October 2013, My truck was alive! I was so happy with it, drove it everyday and finally felt normal again.
After about a month of driving, and problems getting the valve lash right. The motor locked up on my just a few days ago. Needless to say I am very upset! But for $150 motor, and a $40 gasket set. Oh well. The hurt is knowing that my 4x4 is broke, and it's about to start snowing!
I'll try to add some pics, If you read all of that and stayed with it, I thank you. Love the forum. Hope I can get my poor beast back to life, somehow.
Creeper on the site for a few years, Finally trying to join the fray.
I live in Central IL, in the C/U area. I currently work at the local U-haul. Where I clean, park, inspect, and repair the trucks.
My first truck was an 86 2wd, 305 sbc all original swiss cheese grey on black with the orange pin stripes. 5 lug rally wheels and a 10 bolt rear end.
My current truck is my dream vehicle in the making - 1987 GMC V2500 Sierra Classic, Baby blue with dark blue mid section, fleetside 8ft. TBI 5.7L 350 SBC THM400 8 Lug wheels with a Dana front axle and 14 bolt rear with 4:10 gears.
I bought the truck for $600 in Salt lake city, Utah. It had 108k original miles, with original equipment.
SLC has strict emissions so It took me about a month or so to get it legal, This consisted of different exhaust manifolds, full tune up, and a head gasket and valve job. All done by me.
Sadly, my SLC job ran out, and I followed an ill thought out plan to join the National guard, back to my home state of Illinois. Where I have been for the past year, staying with my baby mothers, sister. Sleeping on the sofa.
As a single father, I have struggled to get back on my feet since walking out of my last apartment a few years ago, due to the breakup between my daughters mother and I.
Needless to say, My GMC is the one thing I have that makes me really happy. I drove it home from Utah, and broke in two states. First was a water pump, which I fixed on the side of the road with my girl in her stroller on the side while I did it. Fun stuff.
Next break down was a front passanger wheel bearing (I took the steel wheel off and put the spare on before the trip, because the one that was on it was warped) So with $0 left and no options, a member of the family borrowed a brand new trailer from a buddy, and drove us the last few hundred miles home in his 2012 5.3L. I am very blessed to still have my truck.
Unfortunately it took me months to fix the wheel bearing, because I started a night shift job the day after I got home, And had a terrible time adjusting.
Once I got that done, winter hit, and the starting problems began. After a more in depth tune up, I got it running again, Just to have major power problems. I had several burned wires, a blown head gasket, and a crack in the cylinder wall between 3 and 5. So I bought a motor fro $150 out of a buddies family junk yard, from a 91 4x4, that had tranny problems. So once in my truck with my trans, It ran great. EXCEPT! of course... more problems...
The trans wouldnt shift and the motor smoked like oil burn very bad.....
I installed a new regulator, and a new accumulator piston in the valve body, Got my shifting back. When I pulled a valve cover, I was shocked to see the worst oil deposits ever. So I did another full head and valve job myself. (outside of the trailer we live in)
Finally now in October 2013, My truck was alive! I was so happy with it, drove it everyday and finally felt normal again.
After about a month of driving, and problems getting the valve lash right. The motor locked up on my just a few days ago. Needless to say I am very upset! But for $150 motor, and a $40 gasket set. Oh well. The hurt is knowing that my 4x4 is broke, and it's about to start snowing!
I'll try to add some pics, If you read all of that and stayed with it, I thank you. Love the forum. Hope I can get my poor beast back to life, somehow.
