Mustanng's GMC build

[RVDNuT374]

Why do the front tires stick out so far past the fenders while the rears are flush? I'm not bashing your truck in any way, but to me it doesn't look right. Are fender flares coming in the future to remedy the issue?

 

[mustangGT90210]

That's just a bad angle, the rear tires are not flush fitting either. They don't stick out as much as the front, but they're still a few inches out there.

The fronts stick out further because the spindle lift also widens the front track. Not sure why, its just a Chevy thing I guess.

I may remedy the issue by going to a 2" rear wheel spacer, as opposed to the 1.5" spacers that are currently on all 4 corners. Haven't decided yet!

 

[mustangGT90210]

So, I've decide to keep this GMC and not flip it. Mods coming soon

So far, the list of new parts is modest, but going to grow.

-Brake calipers
-Factory rear leaf spring shackles (replaced 2" drop shackles)
-Outer tie rods
-Pitman arm
-Idler arm. 4 of these actually, this truck eats them for reasons I'm finally figuring out. Thank god for warranty parts
-4" lift spindle
-Grille from a '98 Sierra
-New headlight housings
-New marker/bumper light housings
-HID kit
-New head unit and recycled amp/sub from my F150

And the want/needs are growing. Mechanically, here we go.

-New upper and lower control arms
-New coil springs (2" lift spring or new spring + 2" spacer)
-Shocks on all 4 corners
-New power steering gear box
-New AC controller

That's just to get her driving smoothly again, all those parts are wasted Then I can start having some fun with extra lights, power mods, new tires, paint, etc

 

[mustangGT90210]

The first round fixing everything has been gone through. Now she's riding smooth up to 75mph, which is probably as good as it will ever be with how wide it sits currently. I'm searching for some 15x10s right now with a 5x5 bolt pattern so I can eliminate the spacers and make it stop rubbing terribly. Harder to find than I expected...

Sunday at work I spend a bit of time on this old thing. It's night and day how much better it drives though. Installed a new power steering gear box, pitman arm, and my 5th idler arm (#2 and #5 have been bad out of the box, **** you driveworks parts), and then did an alignment to set it all perfect.

I save so much freakin' money being a tech, I paid $130 for parts, and no labor or nothing. Would have spent $460 in labor/alignment costs if I wasn't making my living like this

 

[buickgnx88]

Is there a reason you like making 2wd pickups look like they're 4wd?

 

[mustangGT90210]

My eyes like 4wd, my wallet likes 2wd

That being said, this may be up for sale soon depending what the diagnosis on the transmission is I was driving home from work last night and 3 times it stayed stuck in second gear during acceleration until I physically lifted my foot off the throttle and then it kicked into 3rd. Not even fast acceleration, and the second time it did it I was off the gas enough that the truck was slowing down, and still not upshifting... It has never done that before in the 13,000 miles I've had it so far. And then 3 times in one night. I'm on the fence right now. I don't like it enough to put a tranny in it, and it's worth about double what I paid for it right now based on my area's used truck market

Now if it was a Ford, I'd be all about it. So if this is just a shift solenoid going, I'm not worried. Anything deeper than that and she's going up for sale.

 

[Slash]

My eyes like 4wd, my wallet likes 2wd

That being said, this may be up for sale soon depending what the diagnosis on the transmission is I was driving home from work last night and 3 times it stayed stuck in second gear during acceleration until I physically lifted my foot off the throttle and then it kicked into 3rd. Not even fast acceleration, and the second time it did it I was off the gas enough that the truck was slowing down, and still not upshifting... It has never done that before in the 13,000 miles I've had it so far. And then 3 times in one night. I'm on the fence right now. I don't like it enough to put a tranny in it, and it's worth about double what I paid for it right now based on my area's used truck market

Now if it was a Ford, I'd be all about it. So if this is just a shift solenoid going, I'm not worried. Anything deeper than that and she's going up for sale.

What trans is in it? If it's a 4L60E, they suck IMO. My friend has a a GMC and the stock motor ate it.

 

[buickgnx88]

What trans is in it? If it's a 4L60E, they suck IMO. My friend has a a GMC and the stock motor ate it.

Yup, I'm on my third. Of course, the second one was just a bad rebuilt unit.

 

[mustangGT90210]

Listed for sale just now. Not sure if it's a 700r4 or a 4L60E, but doesn't matter. I talked with both master techs at my shop and both said the same thing - "Sounds like the trans is showing signs of wearing out. Since you don't want to drop that kind of coin on it, let it go before that tranny becomes an issue"

So that's my plan

Now to find a Bronco........

 

[Slash]

Listed for sale just now. Not sure if it's a 700r4 or a 4L60E, but doesn't matter. I talked with both master techs at my shop and both said the same thing - "Sounds like the trans is showing signs of wearing out. Since you don't want to drop that kind of coin on it, let it go before that tranny becomes an issue"

So that's my plan

Now to find a Bronco........

700R4 and 4L60E are the same thing, just the 4L60E was the electronic version and renamed after 1990.

 

[RVDNuT374]

Start with a trans fluid and filter change (+1 bottle of Lucas Transmission Fix) and see if the issue improves or clears up entirely.

 

[Slash]

Start with a trans fluid and filter change (+1 quart of Lucas Transmission Fix) and see if the issue improves or clears up entirely.

Speaking from experience with said transmissions that are known for going bad under 50k miles with a stock 305 in front of it (let alone a 350), I doubt it will do anything.

 

[RVDNuT374]

What kind of failure on GM's part would cause a transmission to fail that quickly under normal driving conditions?

 

[Slash]

What kind of failure on GM's part would cause a transmission to fail that quickly under normal driving conditions?

Now you see the issue

I know a guy that has 112,000 on one of these transmissions. That's with not one but TWO total rebuilds.

 

[mustangGT90210]

I can't seem to get rid of this thing

Lot of flaky people, lot of low ballers, etc. Looked at trading it for an 87 K10 4x4 yesterday but couldn't reach a deal on that due to the K10 owner not having any money to throw in on his side. So I'm giving some serious consideration to just keeping it at this point and continuing to drive it. That and it seems that the used truck market has more and more expensive. It's damn near impossible to find a lower miles truck (130k or less) from 97+ Fords and 99+ GM's. Doesn't help that I'm searching for a 5.4 4x4 F150 or a 5.3 Z71 Chevy/GMC either.

Grrrr. Haha

 

[Slash]

5.4 4x4 F150

Don't waste your money.

 

[mustangGT90210]

Not a 3v 5.4, I can't afford that body style. And if I could, I'd buy a 4.6. The 5.4 2v doesn't have any of those cam phaser/etc issues of the 5.4 3v.

On a totally unrelated note, started my new job last week. I can now officially say I'm a Lincoln tech. Starting the testing for my first Ford/Lincoln certification tomorrow

 

[mustangGT90210]

Oh! And the truck is back on stock wheels wrapped in the 33s. Rides way better, but I hate looking at it now When it went up for sale I put it back on stocks so the tires wouldn't rub. I miss my stance

 

[Slash]

Not a 3v 5.4, I can't afford that body style. And if I could, I'd buy a 4.6. The 5.4 2v doesn't have any of those cam phaser/etc issues of the 5.4 3v.

On a totally unrelated note, started my new job last week. I can now officially say I'm a Lincoln tech. Starting the testing for my first Ford/Lincoln certification tomorrow

No but they still have spark plug blow out issues and head thread stripping problems etc. IDK, just never been a fan of mod motors. They lack the low end torque needed for a truck IMO.

Oh! And the truck is back on stock wheels wrapped in the 33s. Rides way better, but I hate looking at it now When it went up for sale I put it back on stocks so the tires wouldn't rub. I miss my stance

Looks good, 33s are always perfect.

 

[mustangGT90210]

Thanks Slash

So if it doesn't sell by the time ad expires, I'll just keep it and keep saving money. My truck is in better mechanical shape than anything comparable to it in the 4k-5k range, so there's my main dilemma. So some 15x10 chrome Cragar Nomad II's may be in the picture coming shortly

 

[RVDNuT374]

Do you still have the transmission issue or did it mysteriously disappear in typical GM fashion?

 

[mustangGT90210]

It disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Been 2,000 miles since that night (yeah, I drive a bit..) and it's been flawless. Weird, but I'm alright with it!

 

[RVDNuT374]

I would still change the trans fluid/filter plus add a bottle of Lucas Transmission Fix just to ensure smooth operation.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

So I have to ask when you say making a 2x4 into a 4x4, is the idea of that just all terrains of a larger size then the stock tread?

 

[mustangGT90210]

So I have to ask when you say making a 2x4 into a 4x4, is the idea of that just all terrains of a larger size then the stock tread?

I'm not planning to convert it to 4x4, just kinda making it look like a 4x4. The idea to lift it a little, and fit larger tires for more off road grip and ground clearance.

That being said, this truck still hasn't been off roading so it's mainly for a look I like, so that's why I do it

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I'm not planning to convert it to 4x4, just kinda making it look like a 4x4. The idea to lift it a little, and fit larger tires for more off road grip and ground clearance.

That being said, this truck still hasn't been off roading so it's mainly for a look I like, so that's why I do it

So basically that answer to my question was a yes, I doubt you would waste the time and money to convert a truck to 4x4 especially hen it isn't needed and your idea is just a good. I just wanted to see if you were planning a making it a pre-runner type truck.

 

[mustangGT90210]

Might have this truck sold in a couple days. Got a guy that wants to come check it out, who already knows full well my pricing is FIRM, not best offer.

There is also a blue, 1995, extended cab, 302 powered F150 down the street from my job... As well as a few more on craigslist I'm drooling over. Getting a little too excited to try and get back into Ford life!

 

[mustangGT90210]

Well, this thread is now over. Sold the GMC last weekend. See new thread for next purchase, and it's not the blue one I was talking about in the above post