CK5
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The RedBurb

Every Part Is Replaceable
As far as the GP controller. I ditched it completely, and installed a starter solenoid (on the driver fender for ease of maintenance) wired to a push button switch in the cab. One of those “make it work for me” mods. Very reliable.

Did you plug the sensor hole in the driver-side head? It looks empty. :dunno:
 
I didn’t actually remove any sensor from the head, just the controller itself ... but now I’m wondering ha ...

Ok. There are multiple styles of GP controller. But the usual squarebody one involves this temperature probe:

HDC903A.jpg


It plugs into the water jacket port just aft of the last intake port on the driver-side cylinder head.

Crummy internet picture (turn head sideways):

maxresdefault.jpg
 
Perhaps this provides a better view ...

View attachment 295361

Oh! Yeah, that's a blockoff plate where that stock probe would have gone. I just saw the empty hole and wondered if you were going to have a waterfall when you started up with your new GP system.

Carry on, nothing to see here... :blush: :whistle:
 
Ok. There are multiple styles of GP controller. But the usual squarebody one involves this temperature probe:

HDC903A.jpg


It plugs into the water jacket port just aft of the last intake port on the driver-side cylinder head.

Crummy internet picture (turn head sideways):

maxresdefault.jpg
This is only for up to 83.
After that it was a different style and shape.
I will take a picture of it tonight
 
Oh! Yeah, that's a blockoff plate where that stock probe would have gone. I just saw the empty hole and wondered if you were going to have a waterfall when you started up with your new GP system.

Carry on, nothing to see here... :blush: :whistle:

I might cry if something like that happens.

Yet another non-stock thing about this engine bay. What style of controller did you have before you wired the new solenoid?

Not certain, but I still have it and will post a pic of it after dinner. It was easy to remove. Just unbolted it and rerouted the positive and negative cables.
 
I might cry if something like that happens.



Not certain, but I still have it and will post a pic of it after dinner. It was easy to remove. Just unbolted it and rerouted the positive and negative cables.
Your setup is a flat piece with 4 I think connections.
 
This is only for up to 83.
After that it was a different style and shape.
I will take a picture of it tonight

Interesting. I thought the switching date was later. My '84 rig came with the large (separate) temperature probe and the solenoid mounted to the inner fender. It looked like factory wiring, but who knows? :dunno:

The CUCV had its own system with a much smaller probe in the head port, and the solenoid mounted to the firewall.
 
Interesting. I thought the switching date was later. My '84 rig came with the large (separate) temperature probe and the solenoid mounted to the inner fender. It looked like factory wiring, but who knows? :dunno:

The CUCV had its own system with a much smaller probe in the head port, and the solenoid mounted to the firewall.
Might have been 84.
I know my 85, 86 and 89 had the new one
 
Sorry for the bad information. :blush: :blush:



I'll go hide in my corner now. :rolleyes:

Not bad information at all. I value the knowledge on this board. The more I work on this truck, the more I realize I don’t know as much as I thought I knew. So when someone is willing to point out something I might be missing, I’m all ears.
 
Sorry for the bad information. :blush: :blush:



I'll go hide in my corner now. :rolleyes:
Actually you corrected my information, I should have known 84 was the last year for a lot of electrical changes and mechanical as well. I believe 85 was the first year for different steering column, hydraulic clutch, and 32 spline 205.
I am sure there's more...
 
Actually you corrected my information, I should have known 84 was the last year for a lot of electrical changes and mechanical as well. I believe 85 was the first year for different steering column, hydraulic clutch, and 32 spline 205.
I am sure there's more...

Those answers I'm much more confident about. '84 got the new column & electrical changes ('83 was the last year you could stomp for high beams :(). The transmission standardization, W-style cross-member, 32-spline NP205, and hydraulic clutch are 1985 upgrades. UNLESS YOU HAVE A CUCV. All CUCVs are 1984 models, regardless of when they were produced. This is a minor pain if you ever decide to put an NV4500 into your M1009. ;)


The later you go in the squarebody catalog, the more parts start interchanging with GMT400 rigs. A 1991 Suburban is much closer in tech to its roundbody counterpart than to the original 1973 squarebody that it descended from. Carbureted 292 inline 6, manual clutch linkage, short-body 3-speed saginaw transmission, NP203, full-time D44 front axle, 12-bolt rear axle, round headlights, wiper switch on the dashboard, stomping for high beams, 2-knob radio...you won't find any of that in a 1991 square. Lots of stuff changed during the 19 years these trucks were produced.

If Martin were still here he'd fill in a bunch more things that I forgot about.
 
Last edited:
Those answers I'm much more confident about. '84 got the new column & electrical changes ('83 was the last year you could stomp for high beams :(). The transmission standardization. W-style cross-member, 32-spline NP205, and hydraulic clutch are 1985 upgrades. UNLESS YOU HAVE A CUCV. All CUCVs are 1984 models, regardless of when they were produced. This is a minor pain if you ever decide to put an NV4500 into your M1009. ;)


The later you go in the squarebody catalog, the more parts start interchanging with GMT400 rigs. A 1991 Suburban is much closer in tech to its roundbody counterpart than to the original 1973 squarebody that it descended from. Carbureted 292 inline 6, manual clutch linkage, short-body non-O/D SM465, NP203, full-time D44 front axle, 12-bolt rear axle, round headlights, wiper switch on the dashboard, stomping for high beams, 2-knob radio...you won't find any of that in a 1991 square. Lots of stuff changed during the 19 years these trucks were produced.

If Martin were still here he'd fill in a bunch more things that I forgot about.

I stomp for high beams in my 88 ... but then again, that is yet another non-stock thing about this truck ... :D:saweet:;)
 
I stomp for high beams in my 88 ... but then again, that is yet another non-stock thing about this truck ... :D:saweet:;)

I ALMOST did this mod to my burb. Laugh all you want, it might be the biggest thing I miss from the old stepside. There's something satisfying about giving a big ol' stomp and watching the world light up around you.

I still might.

Almost. :rolleyes:
 
I ALMOST did this mod to my burb. Laugh all you want, it might be the biggest thing I miss from the old stepside. There's something satisfying about giving a big ol' stomp and watching the world light up around you.

I still might.

Almost. :rolleyes:

It’s easy to do. I can’t remember why I did it at this point. I think there was a time when I had it in my head that I was going to rewire all my switches to a toggle switch panel then abandoned that idea when I couldn’t figure out the turn signal wiring. I think the foot switch for the high beams was a part of that effort.

Before you ask why I would go through all that, I’ll answer. My tilt wheel was trash and bounced around all over the place, slowly breaking all the switches in it. Actually that’s why I did the stomp switch. I was going to rewire everything else to a toggle panel and install a very simple no frills ididit steering column, then decided it would be easier and cheaper to just replace the column with a junk yard unit, which I did, in the non-tilt variety. I retained the stomp switch though.
 

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