1986 GMC K20, aka the old ladies shitbox

[kennyw]

In reality those are good options! The power windows always give trouble.
Does it have wiper delay?

Yes, it also has delay wipers.

Still can't over how clean the truck is.

No rot in the body anywhere but it does have a few minor dents in just about every panel.

Any clue what "YH8" Gold Medal Special option might be?

No clue. It could be the colorful tape/stripe that runs down the border of the two tone paint? It could also be a grouping of options for that year that wasn't defined in the sales brochures? There are references to GMC being the official truck for the 1984 Olympics and the option code lived on a couple years after that. The code was a wild card that changed over the years according to this thread:

RPO code YH4 - Gold Medal Special - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

RPO code YH4 - Gold Medal Special The 1973 - 1987 Chevrolet & GMC Squarebody Pickups Message Board

67-72chevytrucks.com

 

[kennyw]

It looks like they came with a "Gold Medal" if this is correct:

https://www.hemmings.com/auction/1985-gmc-1500/sold

 

[Big Ray]

4.10s huh, ears will bleed!
My burb with th400 and 3.73s screamed at anything above 65.
Nice looking rig.
Thinking of selling a burb and getting a pickup. Or cutting the top off the burb lol

 

[82355]

I had an '88 Blazer that had power locks and manual widows. It was a Silverado trim level.

Martin

 

[kennyw]

I replaced the pulley and noticed the starter had issues. The starter brace was not bolted to the block and there was a tall stack of washers under the outer bolt head. Pulled the starter to check everything out and found a helicoil repair that wasn't quite right and the casting plugs were starting to leak.

 

[Wes Harden]

Nice new brass ones.
You going to double deep heli coil? Only marginally difficult to time the 2 heli coils.
Or maybe a time cert

 

[max 02]

Hopefully you can save the block.

 

[kennyw]

Hopefully you can save the block.

I can use the block as is until it breaks, if I cannot improve the repair. After that, there is a plate available to relocate the starter and not use these mounting holes. Although, at that price point and the "custom" starter required, I would probably be engine swapping first.
https://leroydiesel.com/products/starter-relocation-kit-for-broken-blocks/

Casting plugs arrived today so I can get out back together now.

 

[kennyw]

Getting better. I installed two new casting plugs and reinstalled the starter. I was not able to get the remaining broken bolt out and put it back together with the bandaid helicoil for now. I also switched to a year reduction starter, installed the proper starter brace, and dug out a set of OEM fasteners for the inspection cover.
View attachment 20230504_170032.mp4



I also started installing the AC delete cover that came with the truck. I do not have the parts to restore the AC right now.

 

[kennyw]

AC delete is installed and the new blower motor is wired up and running. I had to drill out all the mounting holes and cut a hole for the resistor as well. I'm not happy with the quality of the cover, but since it came with the truck and the parts to get the AC fixed were missing at this time, this was the quicker solution to get it on the road.


My wife drove it to work today and it's very happy with the purchase. After work we looked at some wheel options I have on hand...

 

[imiceman44]

Options are interesting in this truck. Power locks but manual window cranks. Factory sliding window and AC as well.

View attachment 445253

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I had a truck like that.
Power locks crank windows slider back window, A/C and manual transmission .

 

[Big Ray]

thats a fine rig.

 

[kennyw]

Tonight, I pulled the dash pad out of the new parts truck, scrubbed it a dozen times, and installed it in the GMC. It looks much better with a dash put together.

 

[82355]

Yes it does.

Martin

 

[kennyw]

The tilt column in this thing has been sloppy since we bought it after the PO tore into it to tighten the loose screws. He most likely lost parts in the process like everything else he "fixed". Tonight, I finished going through a spare column so I can swap it out this coming weekend. Then I can go through that one and fix it to save as a spare.

 

[Chevy305]

Subscribed

 

[kennyw]

Old.




New-ish, but still old.

 

[kennyw]

Restored steering column now installed with an XJ steering shaft. I think she approves...

 

[kennyw]

This one has been getting an interesting vibration. I already had a Fluidamper in hand for it so I went ahead and pulled the old one off. No issue with the harmonic balancer yet, but the Fluidamper, solid steel pulley, and new front seal are all good piece of mind. Only hangup, the installer that I ordered did not have the correct adapter so it will be Monday before the correct one arrives.

 

[kennyw]

New Fluidamper and stock steel pulley installed properly. I had to order a cheap install kit from Amazon to get the correct threads, M16x1.5.