'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper

[ZooMad75]

Sell your factory tach and buy this?

http://www.gmsports.com/content/new-tachometer-1973-1988-chevy-and-gmc-trucks

You could see if they have an adjustable tach setup?

Martin

I've seen that before. Nice setup. Not $200 nice for me right now. I got a tach. I'll just mount it like the last one.

I found something else to spend a similar amount on. Actually Larry found it, but by the time I found it on craigslist the price dropped another $50. We found an actual NOS GM hood for the 81-87 trucks or 81-91 Burb or Blazer. It's legit. GM part number on the backside too. We were planning on making my beat up hood more presentable, but passing up a perfect NOS GM hood wouldn't be coming by anytime again soon. So I had to pick it up. No pics as it was raining cats and dogs when I picked it up.

 

[82355]

After you sell your factory tach cluster, to offset the cost, it's not $200 anymore!

Martin

 

[ZooMad75]

After you sell your factory tach cluster, to offset the cost, it's not $200 anymore!

Martin

I haven't even looked what the factory tach clusters are going for now. I've got a second factory tach I pulled out of another truck in a boneyard some time ago too.

 

[ZooMad75]

Here's a pic of the hood. I didn't take a new one, it's from the craigslist ad.



Super happy it's so nice for the price.

 

[ZooMad75]

Picked up a bunch of stuff while I was hanging out with my parents in Denver this weekend. Got to take my little Sister's 51 Chevy truck to Bandimere speedway for The Super Chevy Show too. Didn't win, but cruising a cool old truck is a win in my book.

So I was able to pick up a factory air filter box and intake tube for a 02 Silverado and fresh take of truck manifolds from my Dad's stash. I had made arrangements to meet up a friends place northeast of Denver that offered up a Detroit Tru-trac for the front D44 axle. So on Sunday Dad and I blitzed out east in his El Camino to my Buddy Brian's place. After a couple of hours of getting caught up and bench racing We loaded the tru-trac and set back for Dad's place. We then loaded up at his place for me to take the 51 back to my Sister and pick up my S10 for home. Lucky for me Cabela's built a new store on the far south end of Denver I was going to pass on the way home, so I stopped in and grabbed a pair of Larry's favorite seat covers.

So onto some pics. The airbox and tube. We might have to shave the resonator off to make it fit.


Almost perfect truck manifolds. All the studs are there and not tore up at all.

exhaust manifold

• ZooMad75
• Jul 8, 2017

Seat covers. Larry swears by these. They are nearly bulletproof. Fit well and will allow my charcoal Silverado bucket seats to blend into the tan interior. They are a great buy at $24.99 per seat too.

seat covers

• ZooMad75
• Jul 8, 2017

I stopped by Larry's place to drop off another load of goodies tonight. Larry got some work done. Firewall and the inside of the fenders have been treated to some fresh tan. He even put undercoating back on the seams where the factory had it. We worked together to pull the windshield out so he can repaint around the inside without dealing with the glass in the way. His plans are to get the front frame done and new poly engine mounts installed. Progress is happening...
__________________

 

[82355]

You had no picture capturing device with you there?

Martin

 

[y5mgisi]

Cool stuff!

 

[ZooMad75]

Stopped by to drop off some more tractor paint and got to see some progress. Pardon the crappy cell phone pics.

The effect of a wire wheel cup on an angle grinder is undeniable. Add some black satin tractor paint and we got some clean frame rails!

clean engine bay

• ZooMad75
• Jul 8, 2017

Again, crappy quality with a load of sun glare but Larry's got the firewall fresh with new paint and replicated the factory undercoating at the seams.

clean

• ZooMad75
• Jul 8, 2017

ORD goodies in satin black.

ORD parts

• ZooMad75
• Jul 8, 2017

Heater box and blower motor refreshed.

heater box

• ZooMad75
• Jul 8, 2017

Opposite side of the firewall.

cleaned up

• ZooMad75
• Jul 8, 2017

Pass side view of the frame. With the poly engine mounts installed.

engine comartment

• ZooMad75
• Jul 8, 2017

Front side of the core support.


Backside of the core support.


Larry plans on taking better pics when he's got a little more done. Still it looks awesome.

 

[82355]

Very nice.

Martin

 

[Larry]

Ya, those pictures suck! I'll get some better ones in minyona

 

[Larry]

Some progress update pics of Zoo5……….

Heater box getting ready to go back on

The last hack that had the heater box off the firewall used some kind of sloppy RTV crap to seal it. I prefer to use Strip-Calk like factory

Frame turning out nice. Didn’t bother with anything on the suspension as it is all coming out and being replaced anyway.

Firewall turned out nice too. I replicated GM’s undercoating tracks to make it look as OEM as possible. The engine is getting dropped in shortly

Backside of the firewall resprayed and wiring cleaned up

Interior gutted. Will be starting on the interior next week after the engine is dropped in

Neat piece of the rigs history. Definitely will preserve this when the upper radiator support is resprayed

That’s it for now

 

[y5mgisi]

Looks super nice!

 

[max 02]

Looks super nice!

No kidding!

 

[ZooMad75]

Loving the look. Larry's taking this truck to a whole new level. As the resident garage gnome I need to feed the shop more parts and beer to keep the work flowing.

 

[82355]

Fancy.

Martin

 

[Larry]

Square body essential ORD steering gear brace installed

Almost ready for some red hot poke’n action

Engine is in! Now the trans must come out the other side so Rob can install the Bowtie Overdrives kit so the 700R4 will work with the Gen III throttle body then reseal the trans and tcase. Even though the trans must come out, it was easier to stab the engine now so I could set the Dirty Dingo engine mounts in the right place. Without the trans in there it would have been a guessing game as to where to synch down the dingo mounts.

I’m actually surprised how close the Gen III engines sit to the firewall. I would have figured the 8.1L’s in my K10 and Polar Bear Suburban would be closer but there is actually more room between the cylinder heads on the 8.1L and the firewall than the 5.3L. Surprised by that!

 

[ZooMad75]

I sent Larry a text to tell him I picked up a vent window assembly and the master swapper sends me a one back that said: "Don't bother me, I'm busy". He attached a pic of the 5.3 sitting in it's new home.

Needless to say I had to stop by to see it and toast a frosty one in honor of the occasion. It already looks like it's supposed to be there. The positioning of the engine looks like we should have room for the stock truck manifolds without any butchery. It's bad ass.

 

[tRustyK5]

My 5.3 sits that deep with the DIY4X mounts too. I'm using the stock truck manifolds...

 

[ZooMad75]

My 5.3 sits that deep with the DIY4X mounts too. I'm using the stock truck manifolds...

That's promising. What about the clearance to the auto trans shift linkage?

 

[82355]

I’m actually surprised how close the Gen III engines sit to the firewall. I would have figured the 8.1L’s in my K10 and Polar Bear Suburban would be closer but there is actually more room between the cylinder heads on the 8.1L and the firewall than the 5.3L. Surprised by that!

The Gen III small blocks don't have that bellhousing area around the flywheel/flexplate like a Gen I small block. Hence not being able to use the top passenger side bellhousing bolt, as it would screw into cylinder #8.

Martin