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Project Polar Bear: '89 V2500 Suburban

Kay86K5 said:
That is really good to know too. I was wondering if I was going to need to upgrade the rear of mine to disc's, but I didn't really want to. But hearing that the factory hydroboost with drums in the rear stop that well...I will just leave them be (obviously fresh'n them up though). Thanks for all the info Larry!!
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I also left the 13" drums on the back of my Suburban's 14bff. Though mine were of the later (removable) kind, so they're much, much easier to service. No complaints with them for non-mud use. I have hauled a few loads and one 400-mile towing expedition. Never had a problem stopping, even with the CUCV trailing.


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Talk about awkward. Looks like my membership expired the minute I posted that. So I went back to edit it (within a few seconds) and was denied. :doah:

I was going to add that it was much less hassle to simply bolt up the new axle with brakes and not mess with proportioning valves or M/C setups or anything. I just bled it out and drove away. Looking back, I probably should have swapped the 1/2-ton front calipers for 3/4-ton calipers. But the balance is satisfactory as it is. With a load in the back it's perfect, when empty the backs lock up a hair too quickly.

I'm also running hydroboost, FWIW.
 
hydroboost is the shizzle!
 
Larry said:
For sure! In May I plan to drag my in-laws little tent trailer to Flagstaff for the Overland Expo. Should be a good test run for the ole Bear. That is about a 1600 mile round trip
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I'm going to try and make this my first highway trip in my truck. It's only a few hours away so not nearly what you will be doing.
 
Yeah, drum brakes are actually better than disc brakes, as they self actuate, they just don't cool off as well.

I like rear discs in my application, as I drive in a sand bottom river.

Martin
 
azblazer said:
Part numbers please.....
Radiator...CU774
Shroud? HydroBoost? Master? McMaster Plug For Firewall? My 6.0 is coming out shortly.
I'll start a post on the rework after i get my stuff from the boob in Vegas.

DW
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Are you talking about the turnkey guy?
 
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Larry said:
Flywheel PN, pilot bearing and Crank sensors location for future reference
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Hey, I know this was a while ago, but which pilot bearing did you use? Do you have a part number for that?
 
Kay86K5 said:
Hey, I know this was a while ago, but which pilot bearing did you use? Do you have a part number for that?
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There is really only one pilot bearing that fits the 8.1L that I know of and that is the 8.1L specific pilot bearing that a GMT800 with L18 & manual would have called for. GM 12557583 or SKF 6302VSP43
 
Larry said:
Burb back together (driver’s door shuts nice too!) and Rob’s ZooK5.3 loaded for its ride to Canon City for exhaust and to have the interior bed lined. It will be a good road test for the Burb. The Burb only has about 120 miles on it since the re-cam.

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Hey, did you notice any real difference with towing with a shackle flip in the back of this thing? Did you notice any more sway than what you would expect with a normal shackle setup?

P.S. Sorry for asking so many Q's in your threads...I'm sure your sick of it by now
 
Kay86K5 said:
Hey, did you notice any real difference with towing with a shackle flip in the back of this thing? Did you notice any more sway than what you would expect with a normal shackle setup?

P.S. Sorry for asking so many Q's in your threads...I'm sure your sick of it by now
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No, not at all. In fact, the Workhorse W-series chassis with GVW up to 26K had shackles mounted the same way (compression opposed to tension). Dodge RAM HD trucks since 2003 are the same way. That said, compression mounted shackles are not that uncommon even in the OEM world. I think Stupid Duties are mounted in a compression manor as well. Seems only GM is hung up on the tension design for some reason.

Hehe, no worries.....I'm sick of a lot of people but your not one of them :haha:
 
Larry said:
No, not at all. In fact, the Workhorse W-series chassis with GVW up to 26K had shackles mounted the same way (compression opposed to tension). Dodge RAM HD trucks since 2003 are the same way. That said, compression mounted shackles are not that uncommon even in the OEM world. I think Stupid Duties are mounted in a compression manor as well. Seems only GM is hung up on the tension design for some reason.

Hehe, no worries.....I'm sick of a lot of people but your not one of them :haha:
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Haha, I hear ya on that one.

Good to know. I had noticed the same from my research just wanted someone with more real-world experience with towing and a shackle flip on a square body. I will probably get air bags in mine eventually anyways.

Thanks for all the great info and part numbers. Been very beneficial with my build/8.1 swap. I'm pulling the tired TBI350/TH400 out of my crew cab this weekend. I have just about everything (minus 1 or 2 things) to at least bolt in the 8.1/NV4500 into mine. Then the real fun begins (and all the small crap that takes freaking forever :D).

One of these days I need to come down and check out both your Burb and K10. They are both fantastic looking rigs!!! :thumb:
 
You know, I swear the shackle flip makes them ride better too but then again, it could be because many suspension parts are upgraded at the same time the flips are installed.

Always glad to help. Ya, come down sometime. It’s always fun to have company to talk shop with.

Between ramrodding work emails and phone calls today I’ve been ripping down my Pewter Puff Silverado to replace the 8.1L rear main seal. Only 68K on her but it is 16 years old and spends most of the time sitting which is bad for seals. Wholly fock, this ZF S6-650/NP261 assembly is a huge sumbish to wrestle around (pulling them out in one piece). Makes a N4500/205 or 241 seem like child’s toy. Never mind the front end all torn apart…..I rear-end some meth head in Canon City a couple weeks ago when I towed Rob’s ZooK5.3 back to Pueblo West. Long story… but the damage was minimal and yea…I got a ticket even though it wasn't really my fault. The dude even drove off after I totally wasted the ass-end of his old Buick LeSabre! He didn’t even bother stopping to check out the damage :dunno: . The cop and I figure he was probably wanted, under the influence or all of the above. I hate people! This truck was a total virgin until that mishap....but it is getting put pack together with all factory GM parts thanks to Rob (Zoomad) :waytogo:

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Following too closely, or unsafe stopping distance or some shit. When you rear end someone you always get a ticket no matter the circumstances. At least 9 times out a ten.
 
skunked said:
I assume you meant to say you didn't get a ticket right?
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Nah, I definitely got a ticket.

Smokinthehippies said:
Following too closely, or unsafe stopping distance or some shit. When you rear end someone you always get a ticket no matter the circumstances. At least 9 times out a ten.
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Exactly, this ordeal is even more complicated as it happened at a Round A Bout where I was in the merge lane and the meth head in front of me kept pulling forward and stopping, pulling forward and stopping, 6 inches at a time until he was so far out in the intersection I figured he had passed the point of no return on his last dart out. I let off the clutch and threw down the berries while looking in my driver’s mirror at traffic coming out of the Round A Bout. Just and as I looked up from the mirror the meth head was stopped again out in the intersection with nobody around him... BOOM! I hit him hard! Clutch out and throttle down! :haha:

Then the guy bolted. The cop was really cool and agreed he was most likely at fault given his erratic behavior but like Smokin said, anytime you ass-end anybody you pretty much get a ticket regardless. He wrote it as following to close, which is a $100 fine but here in CO it is a 4 point ticket. 4 points towards your record is not good in CO. He said to go to court and it talk to the judge where it will probably get deferred or thrown out altogether. He was even nice enough to go into Safeway to try to get their surveillance video. I’m confident the video ( if any ) will help. The fact the other guy fled the scene also helps me. Even though the guy fled the scene I still felt the need to call the cops to cover my butt in case he ever popped up later claiming I hit and ran on him or has some broken neck or hang nail.... You know how these bottom feeder people are. We’ll see what Mr. Fremont County Judge has to say on April 12th.

Not sure if this will work but, he was clear out where the white car is in this picture on 15th Street in between Safeway and the BBQ joint headed towards Hwy 50 (Royal Gorge Blvd)
http://binged.it/1S4JEQV

It could have been worse, Rob’s Blazer could have busted loose from the trailer and landed in my bed but luckily, it didn’t move an inch. The damage to my truck was pretty minimal actually….$191 in GM parts and about an hour with the Porta Power to adjust the bumper brackets on the frame. I figured while it was in for cosmetic surgery it was a good time to deal with the pesky oil leak.
 
That's a bunch of BS! Let us know how your day in court goes.

I was in a very similar accident and the guy fled but we got his plate#. He was located later that day in gilroy and sited for leaving the scene of an accident, not having insurance and locked up for an open warrant. I had to buy myself a new bumper (GMT400), the kia I hit (his GF's car) was smashed!
 
I hate that roundabout, All of them actually. I just about T-boned a pontiac grand am the other day on a round about. I was stopped let a few cars pass, look completely clear started to go and the car comes off the exit at about 35 and now is right in front of me. The jimmy would have done a number on it and I wouldn't be surprised if it would have rolled over after I pushed it sideways.

At the last second I caught a glimpse of it. Without 4 wheel disc I would have wasted the car. Yep I would have gotten the ticket.

I haven't dealt with Fremont courts. Some of the courts will give you a break if you take a driving course, or after hearing the story and circumstances maybe the judge will have some leniency.

I have seen an old faded le Sabre around Canon City a few times. Was the officer going to keep an eye out for the car??
 
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