What have you done to your square lately??

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,883
Reaction score
9,624
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
^That spray paint stuff works good on the bottom door panel carpet material too.
I spray bombed all the door inserts on this truck.
 

AyWoSch Motors

The Parts Guy
Joined
Nov 6, 2020
Posts
4,647
Reaction score
13,474
Location
New Mexico
First Name
Ayden
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K1500 Sierra
Engine Size
350ci V8
getting it together,slowly!! painted the door panels a charcoal gray,then a light gray suede on the inserts!! The floor mat turned out pretty good too!!
Looks like you need my gray lower door carpet
You must be registered for see images attach
 

justhorns

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2022
Posts
225
Reaction score
592
Location
Denver
First Name
Lee
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
250
More dumb little things- The white metal cover and black trim under the steering column . Better huh...
 

Attachments

  • Favorites - 1 of 1.jpeg
    Favorites - 1 of 1.jpeg
    156.9 KB · Views: 42
  • All Photos - 1 of 1 (6).jpeg
    All Photos - 1 of 1 (6).jpeg
    160.9 KB · Views: 51

Ontheboulder

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2022
Posts
310
Reaction score
365
Location
colville,wa
First Name
greg
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
gmc sierra classic v2500
Engine Size
350
well the door panels are back on!! Anyone ever use leather strap instead of the plastic junk for the door pull strap??
 

justhorns

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2022
Posts
225
Reaction score
592
Location
Denver
First Name
Lee
Truck Year
81
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
250
Found the rattle! After quieting the cab with dynamat, sealing the vent window with a new latch kit, I still had this big rattle in the parking brake mechanism. Looked and looked, and finally found the parking brake ratchet mechanism was loose. Three bolts total, 2 that go to the firewall, and one more, that goes to the dash structure. The third to the dash was way loose. Tightened it up and my 42 year old truck now goes down the road like a new truck, quiet speaking. It was the bolt shown in the below picture, about in the center, that goes into the white metal. That arm in front of it is the brake release arm.
 

Attachments

  • All Photos - 1 of 1 (7).jpeg
    All Photos - 1 of 1 (7).jpeg
    121.8 KB · Views: 34

DoubleDingo

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Posts
10,019
Reaction score
14,166
Location
Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981, 1965
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s; 65-C20 with 4:57 gears and Borg Warner Overdrive
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350; 1972 L48 350
Found the rattle! After quieting the cab with dynamat, sealing the vent window with a new latch kit, I still had this big rattle in the parking brake mechanism. Looked and looked, and finally found the parking brake ratchet mechanism was loose. Three bolts total, 2 that go to the firewall, and one more, that goes to the dash structure. The third to the dash was way loose. Tightened it up and my 42 year old truck now goes down the road like a new truck, quiet speaking. It was the bolt shown in the below picture, about in the center, that goes into the white metal. That arm in front of it is the brake release arm.
Glad you found the rattle. Rattles are annoying. Some we live with because they can't be fixed, but stuff like that, when fixed, makes a world of difference.
 

ChuckN

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2022
Posts
899
Reaction score
2,551
Location
Bellinham, WA
First Name
Chad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Today, things are coming together. Last few days have been challenging, sorting out air cleaner spacers to clear the electric choke and the HEI distributor. Ditched carb spacers that were junk and not working, and got a gasket to mount the Edelbrock carb. Tightened up the temp sensor as it was leaking. Got vacuum lines routed (at least for the short term, have some other ideas to clean that up) and the power steering pump sorted. Valves are now checked for tension and re-lashed, and it's cool to see a little bling that I didn't know was under the valve covers. Well, bling for me, roller tip rockers. I knew the engine was rebuilt, but it's nice to have a little sumpin-sumpin that I didn't know was there. I'm huddling inside out of the unseasonably cold weather and scraping the valve covers and preparing for rubber/steel core gaskets so that will be done. After that, new plug wires with boot protectors and cap/rotor.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
3,925
Reaction score
6,376
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
Getting the hang of unhanging the brake valve.

Shut off engine, pump pedal until it releases, then restart and drive off.

I also backed off some of the parking brake cable adjustment I made as despite adjusting the passenger side starwheel out a bit Sunday the drivers side drum still feels hotter to the finger.

Since that side cable gets pulled first, maybe there was a bit of drag - we shall see.
 

AyWoSch Motors

The Parts Guy
Joined
Nov 6, 2020
Posts
4,647
Reaction score
13,474
Location
New Mexico
First Name
Ayden
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K1500 Sierra
Engine Size
350ci V8
Got some new tires for my K20 flatbed.

Rims were free, and I got all 5 of those tires for $75. Like new, good tread, still have the little hairs, 10 ply. Perfect size and it had a matching spare.
You must be registered for see images attach

And I got a set for my burb too.
Wheel and tire both free.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
3,945
Reaction score
5,702
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
A couple of days ago --- I added some 2 1/2" spacers to the rear differential and they went in OK.

That was done to get the truck more level since I ---- well, read on ....

The way it was ---

You must be registered for see images attach


Current pixs to come ---- maybe in a day or so, it's cold out and we expect snow.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The front steering or whatever got to a point where I couldn't hold the truck between the lines very good and the steering box was leaking, so with the steering pinballing and leaking, I replaced it.

Funny that the reman box didn't make a difference to the steering problem, and I next thought that the front springs had settled down (I put snowplow assist-springs on them about 22 years ago) ..... and my guess was wrong as they were not the problem at all.

Those helper springs brought the front end up about 2 inches and although it drove nicely, it always looked overloaded with a trailer on it - even though it starts low that way and really didn't get lower with the trailer on it or not. That was over 18 years ago.

Found it!
What's the chance that two boxes had a loose high center adjustment? --- DOH! I couldda laughed if it didn't cost as much and take as many weeks to fix - finally!
I messed up my own diagnosis!

Now with the rear spacers I feel the u-joints buzzing at roadspeed and a certain "flip-flop" at start up. They are tapered to help point the pinion toward the transfer case --- but maybe not enough huh?

Is there a CV conversion ever done on the rear driveshaft?
Should I just add some tapers to point the pinion even higher?
Can "normal" u-joints survive this sortta changed running angle?\


How come a retired mechanic with 56+ years in the trenches can miss a diagnosis like that? I wouldn't have missed it that badly with a customer --- but for ME? Nope!
Just in case you didn't know or someone else needs to know u joints need to run in the same plane not at different angles. Which means if the transmission output shaft is dead level the pinion needs to be level. If the transmission is pointed down 10degrees the pinion needs to be pointed up 10 degrees. Otherwise you're going to at the least have a vibration because the ujoints will try to bind.
 
Last edited:

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,883
Reaction score
9,624
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
Finally got the accessory fuse panel rigged up and fuel pump power run to it. Now properly fused like it should be.
Nevermind the rats nest. Haven’t cleaned up the wiring yet.
Also Put a big ole dual purpose marine battery in it. Battery is only a year old. Been sitting around with nothing needing a battery, for a year. Lol
Had some chinesium super duper battery lugs for top post battery. And the threads on GM battery terminals are the same as the set screw threads for connecting large gauge wire. So plug n play to keep using the side lug battery cables with a traditional battery.

Also installed special super secret security system.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
3,945
Reaction score
5,702
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Chuck n #16419 Grit dog #16423 I've seen more than 1 car burn from fuel lines like that. Just trying to help. At the very least run as much hard line as possible with very short rubber lines as connectors. Like the plastic tube rubber connector vacuum hose arrangements.And I'd run a metal fuel filter,down low, so A leak would be under the truck instead of spilling fuel on the motor.
 

Camar068

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2014
Posts
4,124
Reaction score
2,963
Location
Kentucky
First Name
David
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K10/LM7 5.3/4L60e/np208/3.73/32"
Engine Size
10 yrs Air Force
Got a quote today from a reputable shop here in town to replace the windshield. $250 installed w/antenna and no chrome trim.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
41,859
Posts
903,678
Members
33,372
Latest member
83elcowes
Top