Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
Yes, a good carb makes all the difference. :mm: Gave up gluing on our rearview mirrors years ago for the same reason. Paid some labor and supplied the windshield (way better deal and same glass) for Blue last summer. Glass shop was nice enough to install our mirror a month or two later for free since they had installed the glass. Thinking they get a better, stronger glue or something?
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
Per the speedo cable all mine needed was some oil , just unhooked the ends and wrapped some tape and fool around the top to make a real small funnel then added a bit and let it draw down over night.
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
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I bought a different product called VersaChem online for the rearview. Seems to be holding better than the Permatex but I have to admit I did all the adjusting with the mirror in my hand (off the metal nub) before tightening up the set screw. Quote:
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
After driving the truck for a few days, I'm starting to get more confident that it isn't going to let me down. I think I'm down to 3 main areas that I'd like to improve on.
I'd added shims to the front axle to give me more caster, and installed dual steering stabilizers. I didn't like having to steer back straight after making a turn so I removed one of the stabilizer shocks. It is "pretty" good now, but I'm wondering if 1 or 2 more degrees of caster wouldn't be better. Truck still bounces me around like crazy on rough pavement. Most of my daily commute is rough pavement. I've called the manufacture of my lift springs and they confirmed I got the correct springs and shocks for my application and I've already double-checked that I didn't over-torque installing them. Open to suggestions on this one. My SM465, 3:07 gearing, and 33" tires aren't quite working out. Just can't find the right gear in common situations like a right turn without a stop. Can't get down into second without slowing much more than necessary for the turn and making the turn in 3rd is lugging down pretty bad. I don't have a tach, but it doesn't seem that the truck wants to do over about 65MPH without feeling like its running too high RPMs. I've got a pair of axles from a '76 Blazer with brand new 4:10 gears and limited slip diffs. I've got a 1992 NV4500 that's already been "gone through". I've also got the Advanced Adapters NP205 adapter and bell housing. I've been saving them for my '59 Apache ...BUT... my wife has decided that I'll be building that truck for her... SO looking at a change of direction on that project and I'd rather use the parts than sell them. I think I'm about 99% decided that Hazel will get more shop time before I commit to her being my daily driver. |
Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
3.73 gears would be better with 33" tires. I ended up getting Bilstien shocks as the shocks that came with my 6"super lift kit were good for paper weights. I installed NV4500 in my truck with 4.10 gears but have not finished my build to drive it still in paint. I will be running 36" tires still unsure about the over drive with 4.10's and 36's.
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
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The suspension issue I feel from in the cab is more of a "bang bang" rather than "boing boing" if that makes sense. Like the springs aren't compressing or the shocks aren't letting them, rather than being too springy. Is that the issue you had, and are you now happy with your ride with the Bilstien's? |
Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
Excellent news on the confidence factor! My last alignment guy said 9 degrees caster is a majac number. :uhmk:
Thinking you do need a tach so the ear doesn’t play tricks, Blue has a noisy direct style fan that makes you feel like it’s twisting to the moon but in reality, it’s just a noisy direct fan. Big changes, you’d think with 3.07’s it’d be a freeway flyer but 4.10’s and OD would be a really sweet combo best of both worlds. |
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
Not much to report. My wife backed into my daughter's car so I've spent the last couple weekends fixing that.
I did get to spend some quality time with the truck's electrical system yesterday before the Superbowl party. Something drained the battery while it sat over the weekend a couple weeks ago. Read a bunch of threads here on tracking that down. After recharging the battery, I pulled the positive cable off the battery and read 12.6V from the positive battery post to the end of the positive battery cable which I understand means something is closing the circuit and draining the battery. I pulled every fuse out of the fuseblock one at a time and no change. Pulled every inline fuse for aftermarket stuff I've added and no change. Read that sometimes the alternator is the culprit so pulled all cables from it and still no change. I wasn't putting anything back, just continuing to remove while doing this testing. Now I'm at the head-scratching phase. Maybe something going on with the bus-bar I installed off the battery, or maybe starter... |
Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
It's always something! :confused:
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
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And, I got me a tachometer from gmsports.com/trucks. It's a combined tach and fuel gauge that replaces the 5" OE fuel guage. Price is reasonable and is a nice looking piece. I got lucky in that the AAW wiring harness I installed had everything set up for a tach - and I'd made all the connections earlier. Had to sacrifice the brake warning and seat belt warning lights, and do some carving on the cluster housing but I think it looks like it could have come this way from the factory. Tested running at fast idle and checked against the tach on my timing light and it looks right on. Happy with this upgrade!
Pictures are before and after. |
Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
Good looking tach. Looks like it could have come that way. Glad you're on the road.
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
Yea i'd take the tach too.. :)
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
Love the truck, just read through the whole build the paint looks great!
I can offer some advice for the rough ride. On my 81, I had the 4" rancho springs with dual rancho 5000 shocks. I took the dual shock setup off and installed a set of procomp mx6 adjustable shocks. This made a huge difference in the ride. Also, I ordered off road designs swaybar disconnect/correction kit. I will admit the shocks are expensive, but very well worth it if you drive the truck a lot. But overall, it rides awesome for what it is. But it is still a leaf sprung truck. |
Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
Never mind on the question MattMan. I reread your post and noticed you'd mentioned the brand. They actually explain on the website.
"The swaybar correction/disconnect kit corrects by raising the back of the swaybar two inches to help compensate for a lift and also by adding a pivot point to keep your swaybar from binding up the front suspension." "Many aftermarket leaf springs are built with the dimensions a little different from factory for various reasons. This is usually not a problem until you try to use factory parts like the swaybar that require the exact factory geometry to function properly. Most lift springs in the four inch and up range are a little longer that stock which causes the swaybar to try (it’s a solid bar) to stretch and compress. This translates into extra wear on the bushings, loosening of the U-bolts, and in extreme cases, the metal swaybar bushing brackets can be bent. Our kit’s swinging link design takes all the bind out of the system giving you a softer ride and eliminates bushing damage." This makes sense, and isn't that bad an investment to give it a shot. Thanks! |
Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
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Gotta say thanks one more time to Matt Man. Just finished installing the Offroad Designs swaybar correction/disconnect system. Took my wife for a test drive over some of the roughest roads we have around here. I quote her "I'd go on a road trip in this". I think this may be the best $110.00 I've spent on this truck!
You still feel every bump, but I'm no longer clenching both my gut and my teeth to keep from chipping them. I'm even still using the same shocks. I think that I am finally over the hump going from "I'm satisfied to be finally at least driving this" to "this is actually getting fun to drive". Still think I need to get the 5-speed in though:lol: Did some more carb tuning also over the last couple weekends, and it seems to be pretty good now. Of course its 76* here today so not a big challenge as far as getting it warmed up. |
Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
I’m glad you are figuring it out! I’m going to be starting on a 72 k5 and will be stealing all of your good ideas!
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
That’s awesome! I never did a stand alone Pepsi challenge with the disconnects, but they were part of the setup on my K10 along with the ez ride springs and 5100 bilstiens. Overdrive is nice. My truck was a different animal with 4.10 gears (originally 3.08) in a good way.
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
I just perused the whole thread, sharp looking truck, you did a mighty fine job bringing her back!
I hope mine looks anywhere close to that good when I am done with it! |
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
I gotta say Im not (usually) a "late model" fan, but I decided to check out your build thread one day. And I have to say, man what an excellent job you have done! And what a great looking truck, I would be proud to say I owned that one. I swear I get converted all the time on this board lol.
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Re: My 78 K15 High Sierra build - Fish Tremble
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waiting to see what happens with the rental garage up in town here, also I have a new business started that once it is making better money I will have much more of a budget to play with the truck. It is always a balancing act between desire and finance isn't it! :waah: |
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