magik235
Still Alive
You have made nice progress in the past month. Sorry about the 12 bolt howling.
CK5
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ccarley's '89 V1500 Suburban Post #38: True Track install
- Thread starter ccarley
- Start date
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Thanks for the comments!
I noted the rear of the fender opening on the fronts were trimmed a bit. As of right now, I haven't had any rubbing issues... however if that does happen... I'll be breaking out the duct tape & sawzall. I'll try to keep it as good looking as possible
Hopefully the work tomorrow, replacing the bearings, shims, crush sleeve, and re-setting the gears, will solve my howling issue. If not... hopefully the gears will last a little while anyway! The only other big issue is that gov-loc locking on the street
I'm going to fix that while we have it open tomorrow too. It won't be locking anymore though
Clay
I noted the rear of the fender opening on the fronts were trimmed a bit. As of right now, I haven't had any rubbing issues... however if that does happen... I'll be breaking out the duct tape & sawzall. I'll try to keep it as good looking as possible
Hopefully the work tomorrow, replacing the bearings, shims, crush sleeve, and re-setting the gears, will solve my howling issue. If not... hopefully the gears will last a little while anyway! The only other big issue is that gov-loc locking on the street
I'm going to fix that while we have it open tomorrow too. It won't be locking anymore though Clay
JPOutfitters
1/2 ton status
I am so impressed with this Thread and look forward to following it!
Slapperbar
Retired Navy NDT Examiner
Very nice ride.
scottsdale86
1/2 ton status
I love the look of the burb. I am looking at an 85' on CL now with a 6.2L, th400 3/4 ton everything in your same color scheme that the guy wants $1500 for. Might have to go check it out and maybe get it.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Long time with no update!
My buddy from work helped me fix the 12-bolt, it's all good now, and the locker will no longer lock. Waiting & casually looking for a real diff to put in there later on. The axle has made it to Tahoe & back, in the snow, with no issues (4+ hour drive).
And then... the ignition had some issues. Code 42, then HEI modules... and then the pickup in the dizzy got replaced. Had code 42 again the other day, but I think it may be a loose connection somewhere that I need to track down. Engine runs great though.
And the reason I've been away for so long: my baby girl was born! I've been off work for a while (CA parent bonding leave) but haven't had much time anyway; my wife had a C-section, and I've been helping. A lot!
Now, the other day I finally installed the Robertshaw high-flow 195 t'stat. Found a 180 t'stat in there, of course, so I'm hoping that my mileage will improve, as well as cooling during the hot summer months. We'll see how it goes.
scottsdale86: $1500 for a diesel? Sweet... I'd much rather have a diesel. I have the Mad Max scenario in my head: at least if it comes down to it, you can make your own fuel!
Clay
My buddy from work helped me fix the 12-bolt, it's all good now, and the locker will no longer lock. Waiting & casually looking for a real diff to put in there later on. The axle has made it to Tahoe & back, in the snow, with no issues (4+ hour drive).
And then... the ignition had some issues. Code 42, then HEI modules... and then the pickup in the dizzy got replaced. Had code 42 again the other day, but I think it may be a loose connection somewhere that I need to track down. Engine runs great though.
And the reason I've been away for so long: my baby girl was born! I've been off work for a while (CA parent bonding leave) but haven't had much time anyway; my wife had a C-section, and I've been helping. A lot!
Now, the other day I finally installed the Robertshaw high-flow 195 t'stat. Found a 180 t'stat in there, of course, so I'm hoping that my mileage will improve, as well as cooling during the hot summer months. We'll see how it goes.
scottsdale86: $1500 for a diesel? Sweet... I'd much rather have a diesel. I have the Mad Max scenario in my head: at least if it comes down to it, you can make your own fuel!
Clay
Burbdood 74
Giver of not a single damn...
Congrats on your daughter!! I hope everything goes great for you guys. 
Congrats on your daughter!! I hope everything goes great for you guys.
X2!
Take lots of pics!!!
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Thanks guys! Baby girl's name is Cailyn Marie Carley.
I got some photos this afternoon, along with the new mod to the backseat:
Mommy & baby:
She was tired, the best time to test out the car seat:
Daddy & baby (little dark, sorry...):
Can't wait to get her out camping!
Clay
I got some photos this afternoon, along with the new mod to the backseat:
Mommy & baby:
She was tired, the best time to test out the car seat:
Daddy & baby (little dark, sorry...):
Can't wait to get her out camping!
Clay
ccarley
1/2 ton status
More interior work. Finally getting around to fixing the headliner. You all know how it is; buy used truck, have saggy headliner. This one was bad though, as the foam was deteriorated and blowing through when I have the windows open, dusting the entire inside with foam dust! We can't have that with a baby in the back.
So, I went to Jo-Ann fabrics & picked up what they called "speaker box" fabric. It was a very nice match to my interior (not the black fuzzy stuff you think of). They also carried the 3M Super 77 spray glue, so I got a couple of cans of that as well.
Pulling out the rear section of headliner sucked. I haven't done the front yet, but the foam went everywhere, and with the trim loose/ removed, the fabric basically fell down. I cleaned the board with a scraper, and as the sun broke thru here in Nor-Cal I started gluing. I had some clothespins handy to hold the fabric in place, which worked out well, and cut it at least 1/2" past the edge of the board to fold over & glue on the backside.
This fabric has no foam backing, so any imperfections in the board will show through; in my case, the biggest thing that bugs me is the flex lines near the edges where it curves. Oh well, it's better than it was before!
Photos:
Now, to do the front section...
Clay
So, I went to Jo-Ann fabrics & picked up what they called "speaker box" fabric. It was a very nice match to my interior (not the black fuzzy stuff you think of). They also carried the 3M Super 77 spray glue, so I got a couple of cans of that as well.
Pulling out the rear section of headliner sucked. I haven't done the front yet, but the foam went everywhere, and with the trim loose/ removed, the fabric basically fell down. I cleaned the board with a scraper, and as the sun broke thru here in Nor-Cal I started gluing. I had some clothespins handy to hold the fabric in place, which worked out well, and cut it at least 1/2" past the edge of the board to fold over & glue on the backside.
This fabric has no foam backing, so any imperfections in the board will show through; in my case, the biggest thing that bugs me is the flex lines near the edges where it curves. Oh well, it's better than it was before!
Photos:
Now, to do the front section...
Clay
Burbdood 74
Giver of not a single damn...
If anyone gets close enough to look at the wrinkles near the edges, bash their head against the roof 5 times and tell them to do it themselves. That'll teach 'em to point out flaws in your hard work! 
DEMON44
Low-Tech Redneck
If anyone gets close enough to look at the wrinkles near the edges, bash their head against the roof 5 times and tell them to do it themselves. That'll teach 'em to point out flaws in your hard work!
thats money right there....... and awesome rig. I love subs.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Heh heh good idea, thanks guys!
Yesterday afternoon I spent on the front section. It went easier than I thought, but the foam was in "better shape" than the stuff in the rear, i.e. it didn't want to come off as easy. I spent my time with it though and finally got it all off, and finished up right before the rain came again.
Next planned project is some sort of storage solution for behind the wheelwell on the passenger side, and probably some speaker work too. The spare won't fit anymore, and I doubt a 35" tire will fit in the stock location, so I am thinking a subwoofer might go there... or a water tank for camping... not too sure yet. The passenger side might get some shelving, and maybe a nice spot for my high output air compressor. Have to draw up some ideas still.
I was planning on hitting up Pick-N-Pull today, for maybe a new dash, and some older Suburban emblems (to make license plate frames), but it's storming outside right now! WTF, it's June, and raining in Nor-Cal. Somethings off. Well, at least it's not 100 degrees out.
Clay
Yesterday afternoon I spent on the front section. It went easier than I thought, but the foam was in "better shape" than the stuff in the rear, i.e. it didn't want to come off as easy. I spent my time with it though and finally got it all off, and finished up right before the rain came again.
Next planned project is some sort of storage solution for behind the wheelwell on the passenger side, and probably some speaker work too. The spare won't fit anymore, and I doubt a 35" tire will fit in the stock location, so I am thinking a subwoofer might go there... or a water tank for camping... not too sure yet. The passenger side might get some shelving, and maybe a nice spot for my high output air compressor. Have to draw up some ideas still.
I was planning on hitting up Pick-N-Pull today, for maybe a new dash, and some older Suburban emblems (to make license plate frames), but it's storming outside right now! WTF, it's June, and raining in Nor-Cal. Somethings off. Well, at least it's not 100 degrees out.
Clay
Burbdood 74
Giver of not a single damn...
Where the floor mounted rear heat unit used to be, (passenger side by back door), I bolted a 20mm ammo can in it's place to store food, a first aid kit, toilet paper, dry socks, etc. Works great and keeps everything dry and dust free no matter how much dust and silt I drive through.
When I get my lift installed in a couple of weeks and put my 35's on, I was planning on a 12" sub in the stock spare tire location but I was going to build a sub box with fiberglass and make it look like a spare tire with the speaker as the wheel center.
When I get my lift installed in a couple of weeks and put my 35's on, I was planning on a 12" sub in the stock spare tire location but I was going to build a sub box with fiberglass and make it look like a spare tire with the speaker as the wheel center.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
That's kind of what I'm thinking for the spare tire area as well, so that I can still use the carpet to cover/ conceal it. not that you can really see in the back area, either due to the height or the black windows...
The 20mm ammo can sounds cool, I like the sealed container idea. I might do something like that under the hood, but in the back I want some shelves to hold stuff like my compressor of course, as well as a place to stash my watch/ wallet/ etc. while camping/ sleeping in the back
I did score a couple of older Suburban tailgate emblems at Pick-N-Pull yesterday (in the pouring rain no less), to make a couple of license plate frames. Also got the duct that goes to the furthest left vent on the dash; mine is missing.
It was very sad to see a couple of K5's there
They looked to be in good shape too. Straight bodies, slider windows in the tops... The Sub's on the other hand were not the greatest. One was a camper conversion, with lame huge RV lights in the headliner creases, a conversion van sleeper couch in the back that didn't match. A couple of SF 14 bolts and FF 14 bolts out there, and what looked to be a Dana 70 under an old Ford too.I still don't know where to put my 2-meter radio & antenna though. It's a slim Kenwood model, and the antenna is fairly short. It would be nice to have a no-ground-plane antenna to mount on the other side of my rear bumper, but that might be hard to find. I tried out my super-duper 5" mag mount on the roof, but driving North on Usal Road, it got ripped off by some low hanging branches. I've got my CB mounted on the front of the center console, which is nice & easy to reach. I may have to move it to mount the 2-meter there
That CB is just too big to mount under the dash. Well, to look decent anyway. Maybe I could mod the overhead console to mount the 2-meter there. Hmmmm.....
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Brown truck came yesterday!
Box from LMC. I'm stoked too! What's in the box?
Hood springs!
My hood, especially since all the pivots were lubed, will not stay open on it's own. Before the pivots were lubed, it would fall on me. Especially when I was working deep in the engine compartment LOL! So I'm quite stoked to install the new springs. I figured for about $15 each from LMC, it was worth it to buy new ones than take my chances with used ones from the junkyard.
Also got a couple sets of GM key blanks. Little details
Clay
Box from LMC. I'm stoked too! What's in the box?
Hood springs!
My hood, especially since all the pivots were lubed, will not stay open on it's own. Before the pivots were lubed, it would fall on me. Especially when I was working deep in the engine compartment LOL! So I'm quite stoked to install the new springs. I figured for about $15 each from LMC, it was worth it to buy new ones than take my chances with used ones from the junkyard.
Also got a couple sets of GM key blanks. Little details
Clay
ccarley
1/2 ton status
Hey all, been a long time since I updated!
New baby, and now a house, have taken most of my time and available funds for the past few months.
Christmas bonus came though, and so I've ordered a few drivetrain parts.
I was tightening some bolts under the front end the other day. Noticed some missing bumper bolts, and about all the fender bolts were loose. Smashed a finger, found that an inner axle seal is leaking on the front 10-bolt... and now it drives sooooo much better. It was starting to feel like it had rear steer, so I was focusing on all the spring bolts. Little did I know that the 1/2 ton frame is that flexy.
So, I placed an order with Randy's for some inner axle seals, cover seal, and carrier setup shims so that I may install the 10-bolt gov-bomb up front. Why? Because I have it, and hopefully it can maybe help out in mud, snow, or sand. This is not a rock-crawler!
I also ordered a set of shims, cover gasket & carrier bearings for the 12-bolt in the rear. Why now? I finally ordered up a new diff to replace the failed gov-bomb back there. Detroit TrueTrac. I'll feel a heck of a lot better driving that off-road with a real diff back there, and not have to worry if the gov-bomb will start working and blow up all of a sudden.
Next on the list is a Skyjacker dual steering stabilizer setup. The old Rancho unit was beat up when I bought the truck; I had to remove one of the cylinders, and now the other one is leaking too. I went for the side-by-side version rather than stacked, to keep ground clearance better.
Otherwise, the truck has been running nice. I'd love to find a vinyl upholstery kit, since we are now changing diapers on the back seat, but no stains yet :-) It's been working great to not only haul several boxes worth at a time from the old place to the new, but also plenty of firewood as well. The Pro-Comp springs in the rear hold a load quite well without sagging much.
Since I've got the week between Christmas and New Year off, I'm sure I'm going to be getting a workout not only working on the truck, but hauling more & more wood. Pics will be coming soon...
New baby, and now a house, have taken most of my time and available funds for the past few months.
Christmas bonus came though, and so I've ordered a few drivetrain parts.
I was tightening some bolts under the front end the other day. Noticed some missing bumper bolts, and about all the fender bolts were loose. Smashed a finger, found that an inner axle seal is leaking on the front 10-bolt... and now it drives sooooo much better. It was starting to feel like it had rear steer, so I was focusing on all the spring bolts. Little did I know that the 1/2 ton frame is that flexy.
So, I placed an order with Randy's for some inner axle seals, cover seal, and carrier setup shims so that I may install the 10-bolt gov-bomb up front. Why? Because I have it, and hopefully it can maybe help out in mud, snow, or sand. This is not a rock-crawler!
I also ordered a set of shims, cover gasket & carrier bearings for the 12-bolt in the rear. Why now? I finally ordered up a new diff to replace the failed gov-bomb back there. Detroit TrueTrac. I'll feel a heck of a lot better driving that off-road with a real diff back there, and not have to worry if the gov-bomb will start working and blow up all of a sudden.
Next on the list is a Skyjacker dual steering stabilizer setup. The old Rancho unit was beat up when I bought the truck; I had to remove one of the cylinders, and now the other one is leaking too. I went for the side-by-side version rather than stacked, to keep ground clearance better.
Otherwise, the truck has been running nice. I'd love to find a vinyl upholstery kit, since we are now changing diapers on the back seat, but no stains yet :-) It's been working great to not only haul several boxes worth at a time from the old place to the new, but also plenty of firewood as well. The Pro-Comp springs in the rear hold a load quite well without sagging much.
Since I've got the week between Christmas and New Year off, I'm sure I'm going to be getting a workout not only working on the truck, but hauling more & more wood. Pics will be coming soon...
ccarley
1/2 ton status
True Track installed!
Did it yesterday; a buddy of mine from work helped me out with the gear setup. He was able to snap some photos while we did the work:
The installation took longer than expected; it was difficult to get the C-Clips to line up right in the old Gov-lock, and of course some people stopped by to chat while we were in the middle of setting up the shims.
No real test yet, but it's been quieter than the Gov-Lock so far. It was well worn... just about ready for the scrap pile unless someone wants to pick it up for free...
I'll get some photos of the new steering stabilizer soon. It's installed, and sure helps, but I still need to swap my steering box, and replace the drag link ends.
Clay
Did it yesterday; a buddy of mine from work helped me out with the gear setup. He was able to snap some photos while we did the work:
The installation took longer than expected; it was difficult to get the C-Clips to line up right in the old Gov-lock, and of course some people stopped by to chat while we were in the middle of setting up the shims.
No real test yet, but it's been quieter than the Gov-Lock so far. It was well worn... just about ready for the scrap pile unless someone wants to pick it up for free...
I'll get some photos of the new steering stabilizer soon. It's installed, and sure helps, but I still need to swap my steering box, and replace the drag link ends.
Clay
Burbdood 74
Giver of not a single damn...
I swear you somehow got into my head and figured out my plans for Fillmore and you're just taunting me with progress while I'm stalled. Everything you've done to your Sub is what I want to do to mine.
ccarley
1/2 ton status
LOL Danny...
I'm just testing this stuff out, so then you know for sure what you want to do
One key point to the Truetrac... the Gov-Bomb, even though the centrifugal weights were disabled, still had issues with spider gear binding apparently. Causing a weird rear-steer feel from time to time, more often than not. That weird feeling has now gone away with the installation of the Truetrac.
The Truetrac is awesome. We've had some mornings in the high 20's to low 30's, and thus some icy sections of roadway. The Truetrac is by far the smoothest limited slip I have had in a vehicle, working really well at keeping forward movement happening. We tested it in a gravel lot yesterday, and got great sideways action quite easily, much to my wife's delight; she has always wanted to see this thing do donuts... not sure if I'm that willing to do that yet though! Then again, afterwords, she says "what's that smell? It stinks!"... it was the smell of burning rubber... LOL! Not doing that again, with these tires at least!
Clay
I'm just testing this stuff out, so then you know for sure what you want to do
One key point to the Truetrac... the Gov-Bomb, even though the centrifugal weights were disabled, still had issues with spider gear binding apparently. Causing a weird rear-steer feel from time to time, more often than not. That weird feeling has now gone away with the installation of the Truetrac.
The Truetrac is awesome. We've had some mornings in the high 20's to low 30's, and thus some icy sections of roadway. The Truetrac is by far the smoothest limited slip I have had in a vehicle, working really well at keeping forward movement happening. We tested it in a gravel lot yesterday, and got great sideways action quite easily, much to my wife's delight; she has always wanted to see this thing do donuts... not sure if I'm that willing to do that yet though! Then again, afterwords, she says "what's that smell? It stinks!"... it was the smell of burning rubber... LOL! Not doing that again, with these tires at least!
Clay
