CK5
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82 stepside. Thoughts and crazy ideas
- Thread starter KirsL
- Start date
Now that the steering was taken cared of.
It gets cold in Jersey and old diesels aren't huge fans of it. Now I had been using a piece of cardboard but it works, it's cheap and easily replaced. But the rain kills it so fast.
So I made this up real quick.
I thought about leaving the silver side out but figured it would kill on coming traffic with the glare.
Now we had a couple 60°f days and cooling Temps stayed in range. So I'll run the solid cover until spring.
Then I'll swap it out for a piece expanded sheet.
So why not reinstall the stock grill you say. The fans I added in front of the AC condenser won't allow the stock grill to fit.
Is this perfect, hell no. Does it work and look decent, yes.
It gets cold in Jersey and old diesels aren't huge fans of it. Now I had been using a piece of cardboard but it works, it's cheap and easily replaced. But the rain kills it so fast.
So I made this up real quick.
I thought about leaving the silver side out but figured it would kill on coming traffic with the glare.
Now we had a couple 60°f days and cooling Temps stayed in range. So I'll run the solid cover until spring.
Then I'll swap it out for a piece expanded sheet.
So why not reinstall the stock grill you say. The fans I added in front of the AC condenser won't allow the stock grill to fit.
Is this perfect, hell no. Does it work and look decent, yes.
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What's the semi with the drop frame gonna be in the first pic?
The drop frame is for a beverage body. By dropping the frame down they can make the bays taller and deeper on a side load body, hauling more product.
The shop I run is a repair/reconditioning center for a body builder. We have a main plant in NC that builds beverage bodies and van bodies.
That's what I figured but I thought it was odd how it was behind the rear axle.
It's dropped in front of the rear axle also. Angle of photo doesn't show it.
Bittersweet day. The big girl has been sold.
End of an Era for me, March would of been 18 years of owning it.
Time to find the next rig.
End of an Era for me, March would of been 18 years of owning it.
Time to find the next rig.
I understand that, even though I am not a Dodge fan. The power of the modern diesel engine and the familiarity is quite a thing.
I can't complain. 18 years and 218,000 miles. It only let me down and not get me once. So overall, it was a good rig and I have a ton of memories because of it.
Between the issues I've gone over here and changes in my life, a different style of rig is needed.
Looking at used suburbans. Kinda debating between a 90s with the 6.5, again very familiar platform. Or looking for one with the 8.1.
Both are equally hard to find in decent shape in the 5k-7k price range.
Well, I'm officially a member of the suburban club.
'97 2500 with the 6.5. Is the body perfect, nope. High miles, yes, 413k! Interior is really nice, a good shampooing and it'll be great.
Best part.
One owner, never been modified.
Guy had 4 kids that it hauled off to college and back.
Needs little bit of work and some important 6.5 maintenance items. But nothing crazy.
I'll have to start a page just for it.
'97 2500 with the 6.5. Is the body perfect, nope. High miles, yes, 413k! Interior is really nice, a good shampooing and it'll be great.
Best part.
One owner, never been modified.
Guy had 4 kids that it hauled off to college and back.
Needs little bit of work and some important 6.5 maintenance items. But nothing crazy.
I'll have to start a page just for it.
Jealous. Dream truck right there.
Did the suburbans keep the old style dash still in '97? I like the late 90s gmt400 trucks with the newer style dash.
Dash changed in '95. Big reason I wanted a later one. I'm not a huge of the early style.
Plus 96+ 6.5 had the better serpentine setup that easily allows for dual alternators and uses the better saden style ac compressor. Vs the early setup using the R4.
Worked on stuff for both trucks today.
Got the holes drilled to attach the new air box and battery tray together. Also made a cover to help limit the amount of underhood air the engine can see.
The lid will be removable to of course service the filter. But also if in winter I want to let the engine breath warmer air.
Couple little tweaks and make the mounting points. And it'll be ready to install.
Got the holes drilled to attach the new air box and battery tray together. Also made a cover to help limit the amount of underhood air the engine can see.
The lid will be removable to of course service the filter. But also if in winter I want to let the engine breath warmer air.
Couple little tweaks and make the mounting points. And it'll be ready to install.
Summer version of my temporary grill.
Not that it's necessary. But it'll gives a nicer look then the electric fans and such.
I'll get the stock grill to fit again one-day.
It sits at such a crazy angle. I'd have to chop the middle third out for it to fit properly. But that's a project for a later time.
Not that it's necessary. But it'll gives a nicer look then the electric fans and such.
I'll get the stock grill to fit again one-day.
It sits at such a crazy angle. I'd have to chop the middle third out for it to fit properly. But that's a project for a later time.
Parts from ORD arrived on Friday. Willow just had to inspect them once I opened the box. They got the sniff of approval.
I'm trying to make the effort to make things look good before installing them. So I smoothed the new shackles out and gave them a nice coat of primer and flat black.
I had to break out smokey to get the bushing out that goes through the rear mount. Makes quick work of bushing removal, too.
And the new shackles and bushings installed.
Both sides are done, along with the front eye of the springs.
I just have to snug them down and that'll be all fixed.
Even without the shackle breaking, the bushing were shot. They where 20 years old, it was time for them to be changed.
I'm trying to make the effort to make things look good before installing them. So I smoothed the new shackles out and gave them a nice coat of primer and flat black.
I had to break out smokey to get the bushing out that goes through the rear mount. Makes quick work of bushing removal, too.
And the new shackles and bushings installed.
Both sides are done, along with the front eye of the springs.
I just have to snug them down and that'll be all fixed.
Even without the shackle breaking, the bushing were shot. They where 20 years old, it was time for them to be changed.
I didn't really get any pictures today. Was too busy. But I got a fair amount done.
I snugged all the new rear spring bolts and greased them. Was smooth as could be on the ride home.
I mocked up a cut some pieces for the tire carrier.
Then I spent most of the day working on my air filter box and dual battery tray. There's still a lot to do, but I made some really good progress.
I also gave the outside a quick bath. poor girl usually only gets a bath when it rains, lol.
I snugged all the new rear spring bolts and greased them. Was smooth as could be on the ride home.
I mocked up a cut some pieces for the tire carrier.
Then I spent most of the day working on my air filter box and dual battery tray. There's still a lot to do, but I made some really good progress.
I also gave the outside a quick bath. poor girl usually only gets a bath when it rains, lol.
Nothing major this weekend. But I got a couple small things done. Found my one electric fan on the ac condenser died. So I need to get a replacement.
Also, I have been without a glove box ever since I installed the vintage air setup. The vintage air takes up more room under the dash so you have to modify the glove box. Easy enough to do. Except when you leave said glove box door in Florida and your folks can't find it.
Any way, I found a guy out in PA that parts out these trucks. Picked up a decent for 60 bucks with shipping.
It's nice having some storage space again.
Also, I have been without a glove box ever since I installed the vintage air setup. The vintage air takes up more room under the dash so you have to modify the glove box. Easy enough to do. Except when you leave said glove box door in Florida and your folks can't find it.
Any way, I found a guy out in PA that parts out these trucks. Picked up a decent for 60 bucks with shipping.
It's nice having some storage space again.
New upgraded crank balancer bolts for both trucks.
Now, I've never had an issue. But, seemed like. Decent upgrade. So why not.
Now, I've never had an issue. But, seemed like. Decent upgrade. So why not.
So today we had some crazy heavy rain for about an hour right before I left work. Tons of standing water with puddles that would completely cover the two lane back roads.
I came upon one puddle, it came about halfway into my lane. I was doing around 35, right front tire caught the edge of the puddle and it sucked the truck right onto the dirt shoulder. Very luckily I didn’t hit anything or anyone. Checked my gauges and kept on heading home.
My dash cam did catch it. I have to edit it down to a size that can be shared.
Now the point of all this, is this. Why did she dart over so hard. If I was going a little faster I would have either spun out or head on into a tree. Neither are good options.
Truck has 1 finger steering with full crossover, panhard bar and hd superlift springs. On the Highway you can take your hands off the wheel at 80 and she’ll go dead straight.
The stabilizer I just changed over the winter. All new tie rod ends from ORD over the winter so maybe 6k miles on them.
Now I have never done the kingpins on this axle. But they feel tight when I check them and I grease them a few times a year.
The truck drives great. Expect when you hit a sizable puddle with 1 front tire. Then it pulls you right into it, and does it hard.
The steering box is setup for hydro-assist but I’m thinking that’s just a bandaid and an expensive one at that.
I came upon one puddle, it came about halfway into my lane. I was doing around 35, right front tire caught the edge of the puddle and it sucked the truck right onto the dirt shoulder. Very luckily I didn’t hit anything or anyone. Checked my gauges and kept on heading home.
My dash cam did catch it. I have to edit it down to a size that can be shared.
Now the point of all this, is this. Why did she dart over so hard. If I was going a little faster I would have either spun out or head on into a tree. Neither are good options.
Truck has 1 finger steering with full crossover, panhard bar and hd superlift springs. On the Highway you can take your hands off the wheel at 80 and she’ll go dead straight.
The stabilizer I just changed over the winter. All new tie rod ends from ORD over the winter so maybe 6k miles on them.
Now I have never done the kingpins on this axle. But they feel tight when I check them and I grease them a few times a year.
The truck drives great. Expect when you hit a sizable puddle with 1 front tire. Then it pulls you right into it, and does it hard.
The steering box is setup for hydro-assist but I’m thinking that’s just a bandaid and an expensive one at that.
