CK5
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'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper
This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
Thanks dude.
Funny you should mention making it back. I’m currently figuring out what to do about my wounded NV-4500.
Mid trip I started experiencing issues shifting along with a consistent growling noise coming from the transmission with the unit in neutral and the clutch pedal released. The further we went the more challenging it was to get fifth gear to engage. Rev matching helped but not always. 4th pops out of gear when the the torque is let off.
Once rolling in fifth it was fine on the highway. But it’s obvious the trans is hurt. My hunch is either the input bearing or a countershaft bearing started to fail and the resulting garbage being circulated through the trans and synchros.
The transmission was used when it was installed. A calculated risk for sure. But given The fact it came from a tow truck with a PTO driven by it so the trans might have had a harder life than normal.
I consider it a cost of doing business. Stuff don’t break if it sits in the garage or driveway. I’m just happy it survived long enough to drive up to my house under its own power.
I’ve looked at possible replacement scenarios. A new Tremec TR-4050 is the only new way to go if you want new. I got a quote from silversport transmission. No bueno. $4900 all in with needed parts.
I’m going to check on getting mine rebuilt by a local shop and pricing reman options online.
Stuff happens. A fresh rebuild or reman will make it better. I’ve got more trips to take.
Made a call to a local trans shop. Sounds like a cool guy, ran the Baja 1000 9 times. He knows the trans well but based on what I told him it could tun into the thousands to have him rebuild it. Can’t really pin it down until it’s apart and he has a list to go after. I totally understand that as I couldn’t pull a quote off like that over the phone either.
But I know from my past that trans is more expensive if you go and buy it piece by piece. Last one I priced out to a customer that had the normal fifth gear problem was cheaper to get another unit.
It’s probably the direction I’m going to head. Looking at sources.
But I know from my past that trans is more expensive if you go and buy it piece by piece. Last one I priced out to a customer that had the normal fifth gear problem was cheaper to get another unit.
It’s probably the direction I’m going to head. Looking at sources.
Splendid trip, Rob! It makes for an enjoyable read. Glad to see Nick is still tooling around the desert.
Thanks dude.Splendid trip, Rob! It makes for an enjoyable read. Glad to see Nick is still tooling around the desert.
Nick and his son Leland were great to have along. I think Nick had forgotten more about the desert than I could ever learn. They are good people and were up to join us on only a couple days notice.
Plus his suburban is a treasure trove of awesome little details unique to a build that’s been ongoing for a long time. He had just finished installing a new intercooler for the 12v the weekend before. It was great listening to him and Leland talking about the irony of chopping up a brand new and expensive Mishimoto cooler to make it fit within the confines of a vintage Suburban.
Plus watching that giant pumpkin boogie through the desert at higher speeds than I could was pretty cool too. Another reason I need to step up to ORD custom springs like he has.
I’m not saying I need trophy truck speeds but anything will be better than the rough country springs I’m on now.
Back on the transmission business. A local buddy tipped me off to a local old school trans shop who specializes in manual transmissions and t-cases. He beats the price of the online rebuilders and I don’t have to deal with shipping the new unit or the core back.
Those little hole in the wall word of mouth trans shops are the best. I knew a guy in WI when I was in high school who had been a gm tech his whole career and did transmissions and transfer cases out of his shop at home. Great quality for a great price. He also had a mini rod pull tractor.
Whereabouts in WI?
You never know when I'll be in need of a local(ish) tranny guy...
That was a loonnngggg time ago but he was near Cambridge on the Fort Atkinson side on the main highway.Whereabouts in WI?
You never know when I'll be in need of a local(ish) tranny guy...
I think this is probably my favorite post of the entire thread. Certainly the one I was happiest to read.
So plans shift slightly with the pending implosion of the trans and required replacement.
I had every intention to call up ORD and get a set of custom springs. The budget has room for one or the other but not both ORD springs and a fresh transmission. Consulting with Larry I’m taking another page out of his playbook. He’s had very good service out of his Superlift Softride front springs on both of his trucks. I’ve ridden extensively in both so I have first hand knowledge of how they perform. Key point is how they work in his K10 which is put through the same punishment as mine. They ride really nice. Handles well at highway speeds and most importantly deal with the higher loads of a big block equipped truck and the camper.
I know the custom ORD setup would be even better, but these are way better than the rough country springs I’ve been running since 2005 on this truck and my other one. Plus the price is right. Pn 01-234-6 for $98 per spring at summit. Shipped and got here in 4 days too.
New springs need new bushings too. I pulled up the ORD site and ordered the complete front spring and FUSH kit with the Kevlar bushings/greaseable bolts and the beefy shackle plates. I also picked up fresh u-bolts to install the springs too.
I’ve got a new integrated slave/throw out bearing here and a new spectra premium fuel sending unit to fix my broken fuel level sensor.
I’ve got other parts waiting to address other smaller issues while I’m at it.
I need to drive it probably another 100 miles to get more fuel out of the tank. Weather is stabilizing so I should be able to roll it out back and get to tearing it down.
I had every intention to call up ORD and get a set of custom springs. The budget has room for one or the other but not both ORD springs and a fresh transmission. Consulting with Larry I’m taking another page out of his playbook. He’s had very good service out of his Superlift Softride front springs on both of his trucks. I’ve ridden extensively in both so I have first hand knowledge of how they perform. Key point is how they work in his K10 which is put through the same punishment as mine. They ride really nice. Handles well at highway speeds and most importantly deal with the higher loads of a big block equipped truck and the camper.
I know the custom ORD setup would be even better, but these are way better than the rough country springs I’ve been running since 2005 on this truck and my other one. Plus the price is right. Pn 01-234-6 for $98 per spring at summit. Shipped and got here in 4 days too.
New springs need new bushings too. I pulled up the ORD site and ordered the complete front spring and FUSH kit with the Kevlar bushings/greaseable bolts and the beefy shackle plates. I also picked up fresh u-bolts to install the springs too.
I’ve got a new integrated slave/throw out bearing here and a new spectra premium fuel sending unit to fix my broken fuel level sensor.
I’ve got other parts waiting to address other smaller issues while I’m at it.
I need to drive it probably another 100 miles to get more fuel out of the tank. Weather is stabilizing so I should be able to roll it out back and get to tearing it down.
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Yeah help will be needed. Ron is going to come over with his welder so we can do the frame repair at the steering box. He’s bringing his trans jack also.
Should be pretty easy to take apart. Larry’s religious use of anti-seize will make it easy.
I think getting the factory bushings out of the FUSH may prove to be the most challenging.
Nice updates.
You didn't get the new ORD fush brackets?
1 method ball joint/bushing press.
2 probably easiest snap on long barrel air hammer.
3 burn out the rubber and split shell with hack saw blade
You didn't get the new ORD fush brackets?
1 method ball joint/bushing press.
2 probably easiest snap on long barrel air hammer.
3 burn out the rubber and split shell with hack saw blade
Good suggestions.
I thought about it but there isn’t any damage to the ones on there and removing them adds to the fun. Might not be any less of an issue than getting the bushings out but I’ll try getting the bushings out first.
My bushings came out easy, the sleeve i cut and bent it up and out.
You probably know but you can drill out the rubber between the inner and outter sleeves first then drive it out.
Hole saw works wonders.
If I can find mine. I got crap in boxes all over the garage.
I know Mrk5 has the big barrel snap on air hammer, cut the rivets on my fush like warm butter. Should have bought one years ago.
Is changing the sending unit from the top an option? I don't remember what you have for flooring.
