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Build up questions.

I suspect this build will kick off after the new year. But, the build intention has changed again. My wife is wanting a new Dodge Durango and if we get one it will be Hemi powered so it will be fun to drive. When we do this we will be trading in two vehicles one that is my wife's daily driver and my daily driver as well. So, long story short this GMC is going to become my daily driver for a while. The 383 engine is now out and instead I am looking for a Ram Jet 350 instead. There has been a few folks on this board that have echoed the idea of keeping it close to stock. I think the Ram Jet is a great way to keep it somewhat stock and still bring some modern convinces as well. With the new Ram Jet in mind and becoming my daily driver is the 700R4 still the way to go or, should I just rebuild the TH-350?

LT.
 
Good news, the truck is at the shop right now getting the transmission rebuilt. The first step in rebuilding the truck is now under way. While the transmission is out I am also installing a part time kit into the 203 transfer case. It may not be much but, it is progress.

LT.
 
Ram jet would be sweet. I know a guy that does harnesses for your LS swaps too. Nothing like a 5.3 with more power than a ram jet :D
 
I would never spend money on an NP203. Take one out once and you'll understand why. The range box is the only decent part of them. Look for an NP208, and have that installed if you are having the transmission rebuilt.

Martin
 
blazinzuk said:
Ram jet would be sweet. I know a guy that does harnesses for your LS swaps too. Nothing like a 5.3 with more power than a ram jet :D
Click to expand...

As far as I know a 5.3l was good for a hair over 300 hp. The Ram Jet is good for an honest 350hp+. The last Ram Jet I saw dynoed in Chevy High Performance Magazine went 378 hp.

The problem with going and performing motor swaps is you start to get into some trouble making everything work correctly. There is a bunch of trial and error involved which I really don't want to have to play with. I need to drive this truck everyday here soon. I don't want to have to be making compromises and dealing with trial and error while depending on the truck as transportation.

LT.
 
82355 said:
I would never spend money on an NP203. Take one out once and you'll understand why. The range box is the only decent part of them. Look for an NP208, and have that installed if you are having the transmission rebuilt.

Martin
Click to expand...

I have dealt with more than a few 203's in my vehicles. Truth be told I don't hate them and find them to be plenty robust for 90% of what most folks use them for. I have nothing good to say about 208's. The 205 is by far my most favorite case I have ever used (I have never had an Atlas) and if I could swap one in and had one available here I would swap that in. I may do that down the road but, for now time is short for me to get this truck on the road and dependable. The part time kit is going in because I have the case out of the truck already. I am going to go through it and while I am there the part time kit will find its way in.

LT.
 
Transmission is back from the tranny shop and should have been installed today. I also ordered a brand new exhaust system from Dynomax with 2 1/4" tubing and the ultaflo mufflers. The exhaust is coming from Summit Racing and should be here next week. I had my daughter pick out the exhaust as it is her truck. I don't know how well it will turn out since she is so young and does not really know what she is doing but, she picked it out anyways.

LT.
 
Exhaust was delivered to the shop today. I hope that this stage of the build will be completed by this week. Not that this completes this build but, just this stage. I am not sure what the next stage will involve but, I will keep this thread updated.

LT.
 
Exhaust is on the truck and the new rebuild on the tranny is awesome. A big thank you needs to go to Mike's transmission. The truck is great.

LT.
 
Alright y'all. First things first, this truck is so much fun to drive. The engine is tuned up really, really well. You just bump the ignition and the truck fires right up. The exhaust is a little more quiet than I would have liked but, I recently took the truck on an extended drive and the exhaust sound, and db level is perfect. So, I guess I should be grateful that it is as quiet as it is. It drives so well and I am most impressed with such an old vehicle that it is so versatile.

I am going to open up a can of worms here and ask what tire I should run. I used to be a huge BF Goodrich fan but, the last couple of sets I have owned have not lasted me very long. I was very disappointed that my last set of All Terrains only lasted 30,000 miles and were completely shot. Lately I have been a Toyo snob but, I have found that my Goodyear's have been most impressive as well. I have narrowed the tires down to three possibilities. Toyo Open Country MT's, BF Goodrich KM2's, and Goodyear MT/R with Kevlar.

Tire size will be 35" and will be mounted on a 17X9 or a 17X10 wheel.

What would y'all suggest and why? Please discuss.

LT.
 
i dont have tons of experience, just because i havent had a lifted vehicle for long periods of time to even put 30k miles on it, however, from what i read 30,000 miles is pretty good for a tire that size, i hear alot of guys saying they get 15-20k on a 35" tire.

Not to say you shouldnt try something different, im sure there are tires with harder compounds that will last you longer.
 
wage92 said:
i dont have tons of experience, just because i havent had a lifted vehicle for long periods of time to even put 30k miles on it, however, from what i read 30,000 miles is pretty good for a tire that size, i hear alot of guys saying they get 15-20k on a 35" tire.

Not to say you shouldnt try something different, im sure there are tires with harder compounds that will last you longer.
Click to expand...

You know it just might have been good mileage. I was disappointed because they were BFG all terrains and they were rotated, and aligned regularly. Maybe my expectations are too high.

Thank you.

LT.
 
Slight hijack here......
You think that is bad, friend of mine's cousin came into his business with a newer model Camero, asking about new tires.
I haven't been dealing with newer model stuff for a little while, and was standing there looking at the car.
First thing I noticed was that the car needed an alignment. Both front tires were almost smooth on the outside edges.

My friend, who does not run a tire store, was just giving advice to his cousin, laughed and said check the back tires.
The back tires were the same way.......
I asked, four wheel alignment? He said nope, they are made that way for fast cornering. Outside edges have less tread.

Inside tread was nothing to write home about, and I asked how many miles. About 25K.
I bent down and looked at the codes. Treadwear was really low, but the main surprise was the traction code: AA!
I never saw a double A code for traction. No wonder they wore so fast. You would think they would make a Velcro sound going down the road.........

I asked how often she rotated them. My friend made a disgusted sound and said look again.
Different size front and rear. You can't rotate them.

I don't know what she wound up doing, but I said that if it was mine, I would scrap the whole system, get some equal size tires front and rear, and go with some good regular high performance tires and take care of them.

My old Mercedes would do 170, go around 35 mph rated corners at 80, and used regular V rated Michelins.
And I got over 40K per set.

Hijack off......
 
Fordum- I guess I shouldn't be disappointed after all.

I have had great luck with the Toyo tires in the older AT, the newer AT2, and the MT. My issue with running them on this old GMC is that they are a newer tread design and I don't think they will match the overall build theme well.

The BF Goodrich KM2's would fit the style better with the solid white lettering on the tires. The Goodyear MT/R would be an okay look with the white outline lettering. I just don't know exactly what I am wanting at this point. I was originally thinking about running a 17" wheel but, now I am thinking about keeping it closer to original with some 16" wheels. Mickey Thompson Classics or some old school white wagon wheels.

LT.
 
82355 said:
Stock steel wheels and hub caps?

Martin
Click to expand...

That thought crossed my mind as well. Problem is that this truck came with 16.5 wheels and the hub caps were for a full time 4wd. So, when I put the part time kit in the transfer case and the locking hubs in the front I had to ditch the front hub caps. 16.5" wheels are not really an option for this truck as there is no safety bead.

I am now starting to really think about running the old school Bushwacker cut out flares on the truck. Reason is that the rust is so bad around the wheel wells I have to either replace the panels or simply cut and use the flares. Using the flares will help keep the truck lower on larger tires.

LT.
 
Look at your 16.5" wheels again. Many of the GM wheels do have a safety bead. I have three or four sets. Other than that, you could also find a set if GM 16" steel wheels. Those hub caps fit both. A set of hub caps shouldn't be difficult to find, or you can always cut the centers out of the set you already have.

Martin
 
82355 said:
Look at your 16.5" wheels again. Many of the GM wheels do have a safety bead. I have three or four sets. Other than that, you could also find a set if GM 16" steel wheels. Those hub caps fit both. A set of hub caps shouldn't be difficult to find, or you can always cut the centers out of the set you already have.

Martin
Click to expand...

I have never had the tires off the original wheels so I am ignorant as to whether or not there is a safety bead. I may cut the centers out of the GMC hub caps I have. I had not given that any thought before. Thank you.

LT.
 
You don't need to take tires of to tell. Take a picture of one of your 16.5" wheels, and I can tell you.

Martin
 
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