Man, I started reading this thread on Wednesday evening and its been a great read. Great build Scott. I'm at the point where I am about to break down, clean then engine bay on my K5 , the motor, and see how far I can get this weekend in regards to swapping the motor in. This is the inspiration I needed. I was considering the idea of going with most of the factory AC parts and using the cross flow condensor but after seeing all the problems you had I am thinking it may just be better to drop the cash and go with the Vintage Air setup. I'm not in Nevada but over in Dallas, it's hotter than ever and there's no way I am going to be cruising around in sub-par AC, lol.... Great build and I'm hoping your latest round of AC repairs and fan mod's stand the test of time!!!
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
The restoration/modification of Daisy.
- Thread starter muddysub
- Start date
Thanks man! It's a daunting task to undertake but it's worth it. I'll probably LS swap more vehicles in the future. If there's any way I can help, just ask.
I'd love to swap in a vintage air system but I feel like I'm too far in to abandon the route I've taken.
We've gone back and forth and finally decided to take our chances and hit the road in the morning. I need to get out of town and we can dress accordingly. We're going camping!
Might as well head to Moab after Brian Head. See you at Blazer Bash!
I was wondering if it would negate your ability to use the rear AC as an option. Not a problem in my k5 so much but I can imagine that being a roadblock in the Burb's....
Also, looking at the compactness of the LS motors I'm already looking at options for my next project... I was thinking an LS powered 240sx or RX8-LS..... who needs a turbo, lol.
I had this conversation with Vintage Air before doing my install. You can still have rear air, but it's not bolt on. Then again, what system truly is?
You would 'tee' into the #6 and #10 lines under the hood (they'll make the custom fitting) and either adapt to the factory lines (the fittings will be different), or run one of VA's trunk systems. They offer two different trunk systems. It can be done, and while it's not a budget breaker, it will take some research and figuring.
Quite frankly, my front only system blows darned cold. It's been high 90s here in Dallas, and kept the middle row quite comfy.
David
You would 'tee' into the #6 and #10 lines under the hood (they'll make the custom fitting) and either adapt to the factory lines (the fittings will be different), or run one of VA's trunk systems. They offer two different trunk systems. It can be done, and while it's not a budget breaker, it will take some research and figuring.
Quite frankly, my front only system blows darned cold. It's been high 90s here in Dallas, and kept the middle row quite comfy.
David
We're home from our quick trip to Utah. We had a really good time, Daisy ran like a top with the AC blowing cold and the engine running at 195*. We camped in a different spot that damn near took 4wd just to get to. It was nice, after driving around a while seeing more travel trailers and RZRs than ever before, to find a secluded spot that was quiet. We let the dogs run, swim and have a good time all over the mountain. This morning I got to have some fun as well, we drove a trail from where we were camped through the forest to Duck creek villiage. The looks we got from all the quads and RZRs were priceless. The trail was tight in places, muddy in places and rocky in places. I had my GoPro running a lot this weekend and of course the card filled up as we were getting into the rocky stuff. After running that trail, we aired up headed down the mountain. We fought a headwind the entire drive home. It was terrible, we spent most of the day going 65mph or so, the wind hit us so hard it caused noises and vibrations that I've never heard before. We were very glad to be home, 3.5hrs of fighting the wind and watching the hood bounce wondering if that latch that I hate so passionately was going to hold up in a roughly 90mph wind. I'll have photos and video up soon.
Sadly I do have a small carnage report.
1. About 50mi from home I noticed that the transmission felt funny. We got off the highway to take our favorite back road and get the hell away from I-15 and I had no overdrive. I stopped and plugged in the TCI controller's scanner. I found a code for a TPS error. Cleared it, restarted the truck and everything was cool. For about 25mi. When I felt it again, I plugged in the scanner and found the same error. Cleared it, restarted the truck and left the scanner plugged in. It shows live data so I drove the rest of the way home with it on the dash watching the TPS percentage and trans oil temp. It made it the rest of the way home just fine, I'll take a look tomorrow and see if I can find anything wrong.
2. The latch on my rear bumper swingouts snapped. It's fixable. I tied it together with a rope for the drive home.
Sadly I do have a small carnage report.
1. About 50mi from home I noticed that the transmission felt funny. We got off the highway to take our favorite back road and get the hell away from I-15 and I had no overdrive. I stopped and plugged in the TCI controller's scanner. I found a code for a TPS error. Cleared it, restarted the truck and everything was cool. For about 25mi. When I felt it again, I plugged in the scanner and found the same error. Cleared it, restarted the truck and left the scanner plugged in. It shows live data so I drove the rest of the way home with it on the dash watching the TPS percentage and trans oil temp. It made it the rest of the way home just fine, I'll take a look tomorrow and see if I can find anything wrong.
2. The latch on my rear bumper swingouts snapped. It's fixable. I tied it together with a rope for the drive home.
The "there's no way a suburban made it back here, but that thing is hugely badass"-look is a great payoff for all your hard work. Hope the trans is okay.
David
David
I have a big hole in my firewall now and yanked all the wiring out. You guys inspired me with the VA setup and I gotta say, if I had doubts, after I took the airbox off the nasty crap that came out... I have none now. Gonna be another couple months before I actually get the system but I have other things to work on in the time being.
This. I love that look. I love pushing a vehicle past the point where others think something can't be done. Running ORV trails in a Saturn, blitzing through blizzards in my old 2WD Ranger, or following the Iron Maiden in my relatively tiny 1/2-ton. So many 'impossible' things become possible for a careful and adventurous driver.
Job well done, Scott! Someday that will be my Suburban. Until then I know where to find inspiration.
I took her just out of town today to go shooting. Had a good time and the trans didn't act up any. Also that noise/vibration I was feeling must have been wind based, didn't feel shit up to 80mph today. I think Daisy was just pissed off at me for pushing her through the wind for a few hours. She didn't want to come home from the mountains.
Photos as promised.
This is pretty much all it did all weekend.
I love it up here, even the paved roads are beautiful.
I still prefer dirt.
Panguich lake with the pit bulls.
Camp.
This is pretty much all it did all weekend.
I love it up here, even the paved roads are beautiful.
I still prefer dirt.
Panguich lake with the pit bulls.
Camp.
I'm sure we've got some dog people around here. My dogs are my kids, I love to see them happy and southern Utah makes all of us happy. Hank (the white/brown one) won't even sit in the dirt at home, up here he rolls around everywhere. He even played fetch for the first time this weekend. Almost 6yrs old and he finally figured it out.
Yay for overlanding pictures!
Scott, any issues with the Peel and Seal you did on your interior a while back? I need something in my truck to keep the heat and noise down a little.
No issues at all. It hasn't fallen off of anything yet.
Are you sealed on the doors or roof? Trying to decide where to put my next few sheets of dynamat.
David
Doors yes, roof no. When it cools off here in about 100 years I'll have the headliner redone and add some to the roof while its out. I still need to do the rear floor as well.
