y5mgisi
1 ton status
Its so easy to forget that and is something i have been trying to pay more attention to. THe flip side is that temporary becomes permanent in an instant! So i try to watch out for that too!
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond
- Thread starter mrk5
- Start date
Started out with 2wd TBI350 with SM465 to current 4wd with 454, 700r4, NP241
Its so easy to forget that and is something i have been trying to pay more attention to. THe flip side is that temporary becomes permanent in an instant! So i try to watch out for that too!
Yeah those temporary become permanent fixes always make me laugh when I come across one.
although in this case if it works and rides nice, temporary becoming permanent wouldn't really be a bad thing
I really like to get the whole suspension squared away before spending big money on shocks.
You could sell those other ones for a decent price I am sure, then go cheap until you decide exactly what to do on the rear. Measure em up and make em fit then
I really like to get the whole suspension squared away before spending big money on shocks.
You could sell those other ones for a decent price I am sure, then go cheap until you decide exactly what to do on the rear. Measure em up and make em fit then
I have thought about selling them. If nothing else to get the same thing in a different length. You are right about getting the suspension squared away. I'm kinda thinking the nice shocks are a bit of a waste with the setup as it sits now.
We're on vacation visiting my CK5 buddy Nick (B_to_C) in D.C. We drove our VW Jetta TDI out here from CO averaging 52mpg. We're headed back tomorrow taking 4 days to see some sights on the way.
Anyway, I did finish some work on the truck before we left. I got a solid start on the front bumper.
Plan to make a cover over the top of the bumper. I'm also going to add a grill & brush guard. One of my big goals is to protect the front corners; one of the places I noticed got beat up a lot on the General.
The winch will mount "feet forward" behind the center section of the bumper.
I messed up the vertical center section a little. I forgot to make sure it was flush with the lower angled part before I laid down the solid beads. So unfortunately I have to cut those welds and redo that part.
Best part is I drove the truck 20 miles home down the highway. This was the first drive of any distance I've done. Truck seemed to run good and I was happy to have it home.
The truck in the background is Nick's K30 on 40's. I've been teasing him this weekend that the crewcab dwarfs his truck.
Anyway, I did finish some work on the truck before we left. I got a solid start on the front bumper.
Plan to make a cover over the top of the bumper. I'm also going to add a grill & brush guard. One of my big goals is to protect the front corners; one of the places I noticed got beat up a lot on the General.
The winch will mount "feet forward" behind the center section of the bumper.
I messed up the vertical center section a little. I forgot to make sure it was flush with the lower angled part before I laid down the solid beads. So unfortunately I have to cut those welds and redo that part.
Best part is I drove the truck 20 miles home down the highway. This was the first drive of any distance I've done. Truck seemed to run good and I was happy to have it home.
The truck in the background is Nick's K30 on 40's. I've been teasing him this weekend that the crewcab dwarfs his truck.
I'm working on swapping over the engine accessories. At this point I'm planning to keep the brackets that came on the 89.
But I have a couple of problems/uncertainties. First, the power steering pulley doesn't line up well with the other pulleys.
Second, someone put a bunch of washers under the bolt threading into the head. I assume it was an attempt to line up the pulleys. I'm wondering if there are spacers missing, the correct spacers. Maybe that's why the pulley doesn't line up well.
Here's a picture:
Curious if anyone has some input that has messed with the hybrid serpentine-vbelt setups.
But I have a couple of problems/uncertainties. First, the power steering pulley doesn't line up well with the other pulleys.
Second, someone put a bunch of washers under the bolt threading into the head. I assume it was an attempt to line up the pulleys. I'm wondering if there are spacers missing, the correct spacers. Maybe that's why the pulley doesn't line up well.
Here's a picture:
Curious if anyone has some input that has messed with the hybrid serpentine-vbelt setups.
Just put the washers behind the mount closest to the intake or make the one on the exhaust shorter.
Come to think of it I'm certain the driver exhaust manifold has been replaced. You can see the pinched off line in the pic. It also has an unused O2 sensor; the factory sensor being in the y-pipe. So I wonder if the wrong bracket to the exhaust manifold bolt was installed.
Perhaps someone replaced the power steering pump and pressed the pulley on too far.
That is a variable that is easy to miss.
Then it almost looks like there are washers between the bolt head and bracket setup that should go between the block and the bracket.
That is a variable that is easy to miss.
Then it almost looks like there are washers between the bolt head and bracket setup that should go between the block and the bracket.
where the washers are stacked, there is usually (at least on mine since I just touched it) a stumpy little spacer that mounts between the head and the bracket. it looks like someone tried to make up for it with washers, but put them on the wrong side of the bracket?
Okay, so it should be easy enough to deal with. I may run through the pick-n-pull to see if I can find the correct spacer. I guess the washers work even if they aren't the prettiest.
It isn't a spacer, it's a stud that screws into the hole, and the "spacer" is the hex head in the center of the stud. Kind of like the 3/8 bolts holding the transmission to the back of the engine on the newer trucks.
Martin
Martin
hmmm not on mine. mine is an actual tube spacer like on a steering box bolt, only much shorter
Damn, I just had an epiphany this morning about the rear shocks. I had an error in my thinking.
I measured the articulated axle angle at 30° but it occurred to me the truck frame is not sitting exactly level with the axle articulated like that. I need to find the difference in the angles between the axle and the frame. I'll bet the shocks will be able to accommodate that angle. I'm guessing it's going to be more like 15°.
So I can go back to my original plan.
Finally broke down and did something with the exhaust. Between the muffler and the cat, it sounded like some old lady's Lincoln; too quiet. I don't like a super loud exhaust, but it's gotta have some sort of growl.
So I bought $20 worth of exhaust parts; 18" length 3", a 3"ID/3"ID adapter, and a couple clamps. I had a short piece of 3" leftover from a previous exhaust manufacture. Basically made a cat-delete pipe and put on my old Magnaflow from the General.
Out with the old:
Cat-delete pipe welded in:
Forgot to get a picture of it all hung. I just did a short down pipe off the end of the muffler; just long enough to accommodate the hanger there.
Sure sounds a hell of a lot meaner, but not too loud. I like the deep throaty idle of the Magnaflow. The old muffler was actually smaller than 3" on the inlet so I wonder if that was intentional. I could tell the muffler had been replaced at least once before.
I didn't want to get too much invested in this because I'll have to redo the exhaust for the 4wd parts.
So I bought $20 worth of exhaust parts; 18" length 3", a 3"ID/3"ID adapter, and a couple clamps. I had a short piece of 3" leftover from a previous exhaust manufacture. Basically made a cat-delete pipe and put on my old Magnaflow from the General.
Out with the old:
Cat-delete pipe welded in:
Forgot to get a picture of it all hung. I just did a short down pipe off the end of the muffler; just long enough to accommodate the hanger there.
Sure sounds a hell of a lot meaner, but not too loud. I like the deep throaty idle of the Magnaflow. The old muffler was actually smaller than 3" on the inlet so I wonder if that was intentional. I could tell the muffler had been replaced at least once before.
I didn't want to get too much invested in this because I'll have to redo the exhaust for the 4wd parts.
I also finished up the rear seating area. Still need to modify a few things with the front seats so they are "done" yet.
For the back seat of the General I had some inexpensive suspension seats that I found on sale, but the fabric didn't hold up very well. Plus I figured out they were too wide for the back of the crew cab. My main goal is to have 3 seats across the back.
So I ordered a pair of PRP roadster seats from DIY4x. I figured I could mount a roadster on either side with 1 of the old suspensions seats between (the one in the best condition). They fit perfectly width wise but they are tight on the depth.
I build a frame out of 1" square tube. I remove the "feet" from the old bench seat and welded them to the frame.
Back of cab:
The front mount:
I started out the the front of the frame raised about 1" to put a little extra recline on the seats. This brought up a problem I didn't have in the K5. The built in headrests hit the back window unless I move the seats too far forward. So I leveled the frame by dropping the front down.
I still ended up with the seats closer to the front seats than I had planned. But there is still room for an adult to sit comfortably. Actually I realized I had the front seats located a little too far back.
Here's how they fit together:
I had to add extensions off the front of the frame so the headrests would clear the back window. You can see how close the driver seat is to the backseat and my oldest son can still sit in it. However, as I mentioned above the front seats slide way too far back so they'll never be that close. I also plan to move the front seats further forward.
You can see the blue seat belts Issam hooked me up with.
It's a little tight operating the belt buckles between the seats, but the kids can manage it. The middle seat is the hardest with the lap belt. I wanted to have that in there so my sons could invited a friend when we go camping or wheeling. Plus the dog can lay there too. All in all not as ideal as I hoped, but still functional.
The last thing to do is set up the outside seats with pinch-lock nuts and pins so I can hinge them forward. I'd like to be able to store stuff behind them.
It was very hard for me not to stop and repaint the floor of the cab, that yellow paint is driving me nuts. However I don't have the time to do it now. I hope this fall or spring I can get some sort of floor covering done. Ideally some sort of sound dampening.
For the back seat of the General I had some inexpensive suspension seats that I found on sale, but the fabric didn't hold up very well. Plus I figured out they were too wide for the back of the crew cab. My main goal is to have 3 seats across the back.
So I ordered a pair of PRP roadster seats from DIY4x. I figured I could mount a roadster on either side with 1 of the old suspensions seats between (the one in the best condition). They fit perfectly width wise but they are tight on the depth.
I build a frame out of 1" square tube. I remove the "feet" from the old bench seat and welded them to the frame.
Back of cab:
The front mount:
I started out the the front of the frame raised about 1" to put a little extra recline on the seats. This brought up a problem I didn't have in the K5. The built in headrests hit the back window unless I move the seats too far forward. So I leveled the frame by dropping the front down.
I still ended up with the seats closer to the front seats than I had planned. But there is still room for an adult to sit comfortably. Actually I realized I had the front seats located a little too far back.
Here's how they fit together:
I had to add extensions off the front of the frame so the headrests would clear the back window. You can see how close the driver seat is to the backseat and my oldest son can still sit in it. However, as I mentioned above the front seats slide way too far back so they'll never be that close. I also plan to move the front seats further forward.
You can see the blue seat belts Issam hooked me up with.
It's a little tight operating the belt buckles between the seats, but the kids can manage it. The middle seat is the hardest with the lap belt. I wanted to have that in there so my sons could invited a friend when we go camping or wheeling. Plus the dog can lay there too. All in all not as ideal as I hoped, but still functional.
The last thing to do is set up the outside seats with pinch-lock nuts and pins so I can hinge them forward. I'd like to be able to store stuff behind them.
It was very hard for me not to stop and repaint the floor of the cab, that yellow paint is driving me nuts. However I don't have the time to do it now. I hope this fall or spring I can get some sort of floor covering done. Ideally some sort of sound dampening.
I wanna hear what this thing sounds like in person . I love the sound of magnaflows. I have one on my 96 3/4ton with a 7.4 454, and I love how it sounds!! Keep it up Scott. It's looking good
. I love the sound of magnaflows. I have one on my 96 3/4ton with a 7.4 454, and I love how it sounds!! Keep it up Scott. It's looking good
Thanks!
I have to basically make the same kind of seat mount for my rear seats. Was good to see how you did it.
Not much I would have done differently. The only thing that would have been a little better is if the middle seat was narrower like the outside seats. The kids are almost too close to the shoulder belt attachment. We figured out if they were taller in the seats it would be fine. The youngest has to be in a booster anyway so that works for him. The oldest just hit the height to be out of the boosters so of course he won't stand for sitting in one so the wife is going to make a foam pad for him to sit on to get him in the right spot. Kinda like sitting on the old phone book. I could raise the seats to work but then adults would be hitting their heads on the roof and I'd like to be able to fit grownups too just in case.
