Howdy, I've got an '87 K5 with a 5.7L and TBI, with 700R4. It's my first fuel injected computerized off road rig. I have always been a die hard "less technology, less to fix off road" kind of guy. Carbs, and three wires are my friends. I like the way this rig runs, so I don't really want to mess with working emissions, ECM, and Disty. With that said, if you were doing multi-day trips off road with no other support rigs, what would you carry for spares? ECM? Distributor? Anything else electrically that could leave a guy stranded? Thank you.
CK5
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Off Road spare parts question
- Thread starter kyalbert
- Start date
In your case the likelihood of a complete dizzy failing is slim. Ignition module inside the dizzy? Possibly. That's small and easy to carry. An ECM is another one that is very unlikely to fail just out of the blue. TBI trucks are insanely simple compared to LS or any other later fuel-injected engine swap. You really couldn't get any more simple FI system on a truck than a GM TBI system. There were millions of them built between '87 and '95 and are very reliable. Many here run them stock or have swapped them into older rigs for the simplicity of them.
Carry an ignition module and a spare serpentine belt and tensioner. A paperclip and the cheat sheet with the codes mapped out on it will help find out why a check engine light is on.
Main thing? Rack up miles on pavement and prove that it's reliable. Fix problems before going off-road.
Carry an ignition module and a spare serpentine belt and tensioner. A paperclip and the cheat sheet with the codes mapped out on it will help find out why a check engine light is on.
Main thing? Rack up miles on pavement and prove that it's reliable. Fix problems before going off-road.
Absofreakinlootly
Maybe a fuel pump too.
Maybe a fuel pump too.
I carry a spare distributor...easier to swap than the components IMO, and the diagnosis to determine pickup coil (which requires you to remove the distributor anyway to replace) vs. module is not going to happen without a voltmeter and a manual. Spare distributor covers everything in your case: cap, rotor, coil, ignition module, and pickup coil.
Spare fuel pump for sure. Spare bag of various fuses. 25' of at least 12AWG wire. Water pump. Belt(s). Upper and lower radiator hoses. At least a couple of plug wires long enough to replace any one that might get damaged. Paperclip to pull codes if the check engine light comes on. Quart of oil. I have a jug of water in case of a coolant system problem.
In your case I might throw a MAP and TPS sensor in there for the heck of it.
All that junk except the water and oil fits in a reasonably sized plastic tote.
I'd probably say the water pump is overkill, as they normally just start leaking slightly from seal failure, you can go a long ways with that problem. But I had a spare anyway, so why not? And I'll go out for a week plus at a time.
Spare fuel pump for sure. Spare bag of various fuses. 25' of at least 12AWG wire. Water pump. Belt(s). Upper and lower radiator hoses. At least a couple of plug wires long enough to replace any one that might get damaged. Paperclip to pull codes if the check engine light comes on. Quart of oil. I have a jug of water in case of a coolant system problem.
In your case I might throw a MAP and TPS sensor in there for the heck of it.
All that junk except the water and oil fits in a reasonably sized plastic tote.
I'd probably say the water pump is overkill, as they normally just start leaking slightly from seal failure, you can go a long ways with that problem. But I had a spare anyway, so why not? And I'll go out for a week plus at a time.
I carry a spare distributor, much easier to swap on the side of the road or off camber trail. ( I do have a ICM too) I have fan belts, water hose, fuel hose, some braided hose and extra fittings, fuses, relays, wire, terminals, hose clamps, battery clamps, black tape, gorilla tape, assorted nuts and bolts, in a coffee can. Gear oil, trans fluid, motor oil, p/s fluid, brake clean, fast orange hand cleaner, blue paper towels, u joints, wheel bearing seals, wiper blades, jumper cables. 1 gal of distilled water. As my brother claims enough tools that 3rd world mechanic would kill me for them.
My recent trip, got tools out to check new volt meter, and replace the master bath toilet at my Dad's place. Truck ran flawlessly.
Need to add a spark plug wire or 2 and a couple of spark plugs.
My recent trip, got tools out to check new volt meter, and replace the master bath toilet at my Dad's place. Truck ran flawlessly.
Need to add a spark plug wire or 2 and a couple of spark plugs.
Ignition modules and fuel pumps are the 2 things that immediately come to mind as repairs I've seen needed repeatedly.
With no other rigs, consider your communication. If you are within an hour or two of hiking to get cell service, that's probably OK, but if you're going more remote than that you might consider one of the gadgets that can get a text message out via satellite. Also, make sure you have a good spare. Some wheeling forums make it sound like a spare is to get you a mile off the trail, but I've learned it needs to be something you could do the entire trip on. But also bring plugs and patches for sure. Sometimes plugging a tire is faster and safer than raising it to swap a spare in a precarious situation. This also implies a source of air.
I usually carry at least the longest plug wire or 2, in case one gets melted on a header or something. And some of every fluid the thing uses.
Nothing beats putting miles on it ahead of time, making sure every bolt is tight and other general maintenance stuff.
I usually carry at least the longest plug wire or 2, in case one gets melted on a header or something. And some of every fluid the thing uses.
Nothing beats putting miles on it ahead of time, making sure every bolt is tight and other general maintenance stuff.
As others have said, ignition parts and a fuel pump….hard to run without those two….I carry a spare mechanical pump (carb) and a Holley blue inline pump in case for some reason the mechanical won’t work. I carry a fire extinguisher in all my rigs, u joints, a spare rear driveshaft is strapped to the side of my bed, fluids, belts and hoses
I always carry the old oil from my last oil change in a jug plus a new cheap filter. Gal of gear oil, gal of transmission fluid. 5 gal of water for the truck and 1 gal of water for every passenger. 5 to 10 gal of fuel. Tube of black RTV. 100 ft of 12 and 10 gauge wire plus connectors and a crapload of electrical tape. Tire plugs. Half way decent air compressor. Spare plug wires, fuel line, vacuum hose, heater hose, duct tape, splices, and hose clamps. I also carry a spare ignition module. Hi lift jack, chain, and ratchet straps. Fuel filters. Plus my tools and my ham radios.
That being said, I use the Jimmy for work and sometimes I gotta fix stuff offsite. Based on what's already been mentioned, I need to carry some spare ujoints, a complete dizzy, and a fuel pump although I've never had a mechanical fuel pump completely quit. Leak yes, but not completely quit.
That being said, I use the Jimmy for work and sometimes I gotta fix stuff offsite. Based on what's already been mentioned, I need to carry some spare ujoints, a complete dizzy, and a fuel pump although I've never had a mechanical fuel pump completely quit. Leak yes, but not completely quit.
since this is basically my truck, I'm excited to see a lot of TBI specific suggestions here.
I've never taken mine so far away that i could not abandon the vehicle and walk to cell service within 4-8 hours, and things i have needed in the past were spare tire, gas, fuel pump battery cable, wire, multimeter, fuses of all kinds, vacuum line. Had a EGR diaphragm rip on one trip, but the annoying idiot light and rough idle were workable for the remaining trip.
across several trucks and model years, I've NEVER had a failure with TBI related sensors or equipment. that being said, all my trucks had less than 200K on them and its been a while since I've been able to REALLY use the blazer. I would like to find spares for the ecm, dizzy, carry a complete throttle body, fuel pump, extra front axle shafts (cant I just duct tape them to the frame so I don't need to change u joints in the field????!), inner tube and tire spoons, and would like a replcement idler pulley that is capable of bolting into the place of ANY accessory that might fail and cause problems with the serpentine belt system...
what else- chase vehicle, pit crew, helicopter...
I've never taken mine so far away that i could not abandon the vehicle and walk to cell service within 4-8 hours, and things i have needed in the past were spare tire, gas, fuel pump battery cable, wire, multimeter, fuses of all kinds, vacuum line. Had a EGR diaphragm rip on one trip, but the annoying idiot light and rough idle were workable for the remaining trip.
across several trucks and model years, I've NEVER had a failure with TBI related sensors or equipment. that being said, all my trucks had less than 200K on them and its been a while since I've been able to REALLY use the blazer. I would like to find spares for the ecm, dizzy, carry a complete throttle body, fuel pump, extra front axle shafts (cant I just duct tape them to the frame so I don't need to change u joints in the field????!), inner tube and tire spoons, and would like a replcement idler pulley that is capable of bolting into the place of ANY accessory that might fail and cause problems with the serpentine belt system...
what else- chase vehicle, pit crew, helicopter...
Not TBI specific, but I had this fail on me and could have been a nightmare except the ignition was in the "on" position when it failed...the key was stuck in the ignition lock....wouldn't come out, wouldn't turn, we tried pulling it out with vice grips, not coming. To this day, that key is still in the lock sitting on my bench. Apparently it's fairly common according to the NAPA guys. So, unless you want to carry a steering wheel puller with you, maybe change the lock cylinder at home so you don't have to worry about it. Only other thing I didn't see is maybe get yourself one of those element fire extinguishers. spare fuel pump relay. Possibly a spare injector, h20 temp sensor? Pretty unlikely to need them, and truck still runs, just not so good.
Having had many well used chevy keys in our fleet, the key not working, or getting stuck is an issue. I found that a well worn key is the cause, if you have a fresh cut key these problems usually disappear.
Add a second key to spares.
Add a second key to spares.
I wheel with a replacement for everything electrical under the hood. New distributor, a working ecm, every sensor, injectors and a full under hood harness for the engine. 2 fuel pumps.
Is it too much stuff? Ask the guys I have given parts to on the trail to get them back.
Might be part of the reason why the truck weighs 7k.
Is it too much stuff? Ask the guys I have given parts to on the trail to get them back.
Might be part of the reason why the truck weighs 7k.
I really appreciated the upper coolant hose that one time... 
Yeah, is there a tape that really can patch rad and heater hoses and get you 100's of miles to a parts store? I've cut hoses back an inch or two to get rid of the problem section, but I fear ruptures out in the middle of the hose somewhere.
I have both hoses and a 6 foot section of heater hose.
I had 2 pieces of exhaust tubing a few inches long and some clamps for radiator hose repair.
Forgot, I bought and carry garden hose repair barbs.
