Green Machine

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Hey guys this is my 1998 GMC Sierra. Lemme know what you think(Yes I know about the front). Besides that I am going to be working on it over the summer to restore it to its original shape. Oh and if you wanna sell me a hood or grille for cheap lemme know. Thanks for looking

[75ChevyGuy]

The truck looks good. Has definitely seen a few hard miles by the looks of it. How are the front frame horns? No damage?

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Thanks yeah the brackets are good I got new ones off a 1997 Suburban its the frame thats messed up... the again I guess its good for T-boning a 2005 Avalanche that pulls out in front of you while I'm doing alitte more hat 35.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

I realized I wrote "hat" earlier I meant "than"...spell check...

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Here are some pics from a couple of months ago

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Plan to do some body work today I'll have pictures later.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Did a little bit of body work but the bondo I used was bad so I will get more soon. Anyways heres to a late start.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

The last picture is the next one I have to work on.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Alright guys I need an opinion here. I calculate about how much bondo I would need to fill the dent in the quarter panel in the last picture. It would be around 1/2 to 3/4 gal of bondo. So should I just bondo it, which would be easier and faster, or should I just go with, welding a new quarter panel, seeing that I have no welding experience nor the time to weld, because I would have to use my dad's welder which he uses at work. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

[bulldog2513]

definitley cut and weld. if you run bondo that thick you will end up having it crack and possibly get knocked off. the way I look at it, if youre gonna take the time to do it, do it right. I dont have any welding experience in auto body either ( i do on sheet metal though) but Im learning and doing a heck of a job i think. as long as you keep the heat down and spot weld all the way around it instead of trying to do a continuous bead it will come out good. you just dont want to get too much heat built up in the metal because it will cause it to buckle. if youre worried about a first time job take a look at my truck (project ol' blue). if i can do it anybody can lol. just take your time. good luck.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Alright thanks guys where can I get a panel from, I'm thinking maybe a junkyard, any suggestions?

[rchavez101]

Welding is the way to go. If you put to much bondo I believe eventually it will just crack or fall off.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Oh and also I am considering doing a swap of my 4.3l to an old school 283. I want to eliminate the computer, since I won't need it for the engine. Those my transmission need the computer? It is a regular 4 spd tranny. If it needs is there a way to do without it? also is there any other system that needs the computer? Any help is need. Thanks for your time.

[bulldog2513]

you can either go to a junk yard and cut a donor panel or you can actually order a replacement online. as for the tranny, i think the computer does control it on your year truck. but if you go with a 283 you can swap the tranny to a th350 and you will be perfect. you can even do away with the factory harness and go with a painless wiring system to clean everything up and not have deleted wiring hanging out.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Yeah I can do that or me and my dad were talking about putting a 350 turbo-hydramatic trans in it. we shall see.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Ok decided not to do a 283 is there still a way to make something to take the place of the computer?

[bulldog2513]

Originally Posted by 98GMCSierraGuy

Ok decided not to do a 283 is there still a way to make something to take the place of the computer?

350 turbo hydromatic is a th350. ummm on the computer....if ur staying with the stock engine i wouldnt even worry about trashing the computer. i had thought about putting a 400 small block in mine with a th350 tranny and doing the painless wiring but i have decided to keep my 5.7 tbi/700r4 setup just to be simple. of course im gonna do some small upgrades to it to give it a little more kick. but you just have to figure out what you want to do and go from there as far as what to keep and what to trash

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Well I just wanted to not have the computer under hood maybe I can put it under the dash behind the glove box like in the 88-94(i think) It gets in the way but since I am going to keep it it will go under there if i can do that. Thanks guys for all your help.

[bulldog2513]

no prob man. you should be able to move it without much problem. good luck and have fun on the build!

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Absolutely I think the Engine and trans was to good to get rid of the tranny was only a couple of years old. And the engine kept kicking v8 butt haha. The block is crack though where the starter bolts up.

[bulldog2513]

that sux. but as long as it aint too bad and cracked on like the starter assembly location you can take it to a welding shop and have it fixed. mine runs good too thats why im gonna stay with a stock set up. i AM however gonna go back with a 5.7 (350) and my original 700r4 thats in the barn. I miss my 350 bad. the 305HO is ok but not what i was used to in this truck.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Yeah my bro's got a 305 in his 88 (I'll make a thread for him soon) He wants to upgrade the heads and crank to make it a 327 i don't if that will work but he says it will. The cracks aren't bad the just make the engine hard to start and it makes a bad sound but me and my dad are working on making something for it. I'll probably keep mine stock except exhaust (nothing to fancy), that and if I can find a 454 7.4 for cheap.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

I might also see if I can convert the air intake now (plastic junk) to old school air filter like on older vehicles. How would I do this on a 98 4.3l 262 V6?

[bulldog2513]

i put an eldlebrock 14" chrome air cleaner on mine when i had the 350 in it. it gave it a little more pep since it was breathing better. im going back to that myself on this 305 too. just get one that fits and put it on. if it doesnt perform to your liking you can always go back to the stock set up.

[98GMCSierraGuy]

Do I need to put a stud I guess is what its called on the throttle body (again I guess its what its called) to hold up the air filter if so how, or do i need to get a TBI for it and do that.