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View Full Version : Mud's '92 Chevy K1500 Silverado... with goodies.


MudRunner
11-20-2009, 01:15 PM
Alright, so here it goes.

Purchased in December of '07 as my first vehicle, I was 16 at the time. Got it from a neighbor down the road, who told me it had a few issues. However, it had a recent longblock in it with 30k, and the interior/exterior were in great shape, so I took it.

Quick facts (stock):
350CID, 5.7L V8 (210bhp, 300ftlbs)
TH-700R4 Automatic
4WD with front locker and rear LSD

Pics from the day it came home, and I gave it a bath. Pretty homely looking, but it was my ride.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/afterwax-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/Dash-1.jpg

First mod was cheap ebay headlights (my stockers were like driving with just the parking lights on). They took some getting used to in the looks department, but they work really nicely for $10. They were crooked in this pic, I was still adjusting them. They're straight now. :lol: Also sanded and plasti-dipped the grille, since the paint was coming off.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/Newheadlights-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/MosesGrille1-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/MosesGrillCloseup-1.jpg

After that I drove it for several months, until the transmission blew (welcome to the 700R4 :smt014 ). Rebuilt it with stock parts, and kept going. For my birthday I got a Pioneer DEH-6000 headunit, and a cheap but nifty little SunPro tach.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/Truckstereo1-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_2354-1.jpg

A few months later my right front tire blew on the freeway at 70mph, due to tread separation. Thanks, BFG. I'm sure glad I knew what I was doing, or my little sister and I might be dead. I said I'd never buy Firestone tires, but these got top reviews everywhere, and I got a sweet 50% coupon from Firestone on them. 275-75-16's, so much chunkier. I could lock up the front wheels with the stock 245's easily at a stoplight (rear wheel ABS only). My stopping distance greatly improved with the 275's.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_3956-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_3966-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_3967-1.jpg
MudRunner
11-20-2009, 01:38 PM
Then came a new 3" catless single exhaust with a Flowmaster Super44 Muffler. Looks pretty stealth, and is nice in quiet in the cab. Combined with my Christmas presents (next pic) I got a nice boost in low range torque. Gas mileage also improved, to a whopping 15mpg average.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/th_Mosesnewexhaust-1.jpg (http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x159/737LUVR/BlueTruck/?action=view&current=Mosesnewexhaust.flv)

Then I got a Christmas present from my mother!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/Headers-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/oldheaders-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/newheaders-1.jpg


I decided that the valve covers looked like crap, so they got painted.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/leftsidepainted-1.jpg

Removed the bug deflector, and fixed the rust on the edge of the hood. I was procrastinating.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/DeflectorgoneRSZ-1.jpg

Rear drums are of Satan, I'm sorry. Here's a fun little rant. http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin ... tan-47142/ (http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f76/ive-found-spawn-satan-47142/)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/satan-1.jpg

Snagged an intake off ebay for $7, looks ghetto but works like a charm. Sounds evil too.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/intake1-1.jpg

I took care of some regular maintenance as well, and upgraded the swaybar links to heavy duty ones. Handles much better.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/CV5-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/CV4-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/CV1-1.jpg

Swapped my worn out steering gearbox for a rebuilt, quick ratio one from a 454SS sport truck.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/CV2-1.jpg

Added Monroe SensaTrac load adjusting rear shocks (RockAuto clearance, $100 for the set, and they work!) Holds loads level up to 1200lbs.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_0487-1.jpg

After that, everything was fine and great for a while. I'll update the rest of the story tonight after I get home from work... the fun (and frustrating / expensive) stuff is about to happen. :grin:
Reason
11-21-2009, 05:08 AM
It's coming along nicely. My brother has the same truck but its the Z71 step side. I'm wondering what bulbs these take for the low/high beams? I was trying to talking him into those same headers buts hes not going for it lol
MudRunner
11-21-2009, 12:32 PM
It's coming along nicely. My brother has the same truck but its the Z71 step side. I'm wondering what bulbs these take for the low/high beams? I was trying to talking him into those same headers buts hes not going for it lol

9006 for low beams ( I run Osram Silverstars ) and 9005 for high beams (I run long life bulbs in those, since they are a #$%^ to get to, you have to pull the grille to get back there.)

The headers were a royal pain to get installed the first time, mostly due to rusty manifold -> crossover pipe bolts. Impact wrench just rounded off the nuts, and I had to cut all six of them with a dremel since I couldn't fit a torch up there. :smt021 Now I can remove/install them in less than 30 minutes. Which is good, because you have to loosen them to change the spark plugs towards the firewall. That's my only gripe, other than that, I love them. I eventually sprayed them in hi-temp silver, which looked awful... and then last time I had them off they got resprayed in black ceramic.
MudRunner
11-21-2009, 12:52 PM
...and speaking of last time I had them off...

While towing a trailer with a tractor on it one day, my transmission decided to drop third gear at 55mph, with the cruise control on chugging up a medium grade hill. Trans essentially goes to neutral, cruise senses truck slowing, floors truck in 'neutral', and revs engine to 7500RPM. This all happened in about half a second. Bends 4 pushrods and snaps two valvesprings (Stock springs redline at 4500, thanks for cheaping out on those, GM). Luckily no valves were bent. Had it towed home (I was all misty-eyed... it sucks to see your baby on a tow truck).

When I got home, I started taking things apart, and ordered some parts that I knew I needed (Springs, pushrods, etc) and also tossed an Edelbrock Perfomer Plus Cam in the cart. I figured, hey, why not? Here are some pics of the whole teardown, somewhat in order. I thought about heads, but after further consultation with my tuner, Brian at Harris Performance (http://www.tbichips.com) decided to keep the TBI heads since they make some monsterous torque down low, and that's what I wanted. While it was apart, I removed and bored out the throttle body slightly, knife edged the plates, and filed down the shafts.


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_0046-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_0051-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_0056-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_0060-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_0069-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_0081-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_0078-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_6891-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/11/IMG_6901-1.jpg

Here's the second start (open header... lol)

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x159 ... lusSBC.flv (http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x159/737LUVR/BlueTruck/?action=view&current=EdelbrockPerformerPlusSBC.flv)

I then had the transmission rebuilt by a local speed shop, using a Monster Transmissions (http://www.eatmyshift.com) full Stage 2 kit. It shifts so hard now that I have to warn any new passengers riding in the truck... it's like whiplash. lol It's not so bad when you're towing or hauling though, which is what I use it for most of the time how since I have the Outback.

I'm also extremely happy with my chip/tune from Harris Performance. While I haven't had it on a dyno yet, a truck with the same setup recently made over 400wtq on a mustang dyno, on 89 octane. My tune is for 87, and it pulls plenty hard for a 4329lb (weighed with me in it) truck.