Got another Truck, What should I do with it?

[aggie91]

I picked up this truck last night. 1987 R20 with a TBI 454 TH400 Auto, power locks, windows, cruize, and all original interior and under the hood looks original except for the battery and the air cleaner lid was painted blue. The exterior was repainted at some point in the past. The major issues are the fuel system is shot, the DS tank was taken out because it was rusted and leaking, the PS tank is still there, but the PO thinks it is rusted too. The A/C does not work and neither power window works. The PS window regulator has been removed and taken apart, should be easy fix with a new motor. There is a dent in the DS door and minor damage on that side of the bed, no big deal for me. Both cab corners have rust but I can deal with that later.

Big plus for me is that the headliner is is good shape as is the seat and interior plastic. The dash is cracked but seems to be typical in Texas. The body overall is good and the front grill/bumper is near perfect for this age truck. I have not gone thru much of it yet since it was raining all night and is raining again today. Maybe this weekend I can look it over and clean out the junk...I snapped this pic as I was walking out to leave for work. What do you guys think?

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Since it is already on a trailer you can make a donation out my way?

Trade you some magic beans for it.

[aggie91]

Thanks, but I don't need any magic beans..LOL

[88Jimmy4x4]

Looks like a nice truck, I have always liked that color combo
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[Paul83]

Very sharp looking truck. Are you going to keep it stock color? You have any other plans for it?

[86c20]

give her some rims and run her. through a duel 2.5 exhuast tint windows fix the little bs. i would think if a overdrive if it here me. high ways??. i like the color combo myself.

[rs74]

I like it just as it is, hubcaps and all. You don't see them like that around here too often.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Racecar!
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[aggie91]

Did not have time to look at it more in depth yet, most likely will be this weekend before I can do anything.

Right now my thoughts are to get it running, clean it REALLY good and drive it. I will fix the broken stuff as I go, after getting it running, the windows are next then new shocks, I noticed one of the rear shocks is broken off at the frame mount (the eyelet of the shock snapped off) when I unloaded it off the trailer. Once it is running, I will check out the brakes and make is safe to drive, then maybe the AC before summer sets in around here. I'll get more pics this weekend.

[aggie91]

Got Korbin and Owen (my two boys) to get the PS tank out. Took out the sending unit/fuel pump assembly and dumped out the old gas. Tanks looks good inside with no sediment in the baffled area around the pump. Tested the pump and it works. The short piece of hose between the pump and outlet tube inside the tank was all swole up and had a split in it. That might be the issue of the truck not running correctly since the fuel was bleeding off inside the tank. I will get a new filter screen and connector hose for it and reinstalled the set up. Before the tank goes back in, I will blow out the lines and install a new inline fuel filter. I will just run the truck with the one tank for now.

We also gave the truck a name. This truck will be BUBBA since it has a redneck kind of look to it. I have a grill guard that I might clean up and through on it, we will see...

[rollin thunder]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Got Korbin and Owen (my two boys) to get the PS tank out. Took out the sending unit/fuel pump assembly and dumped out the old gas. Tanks looks good inside with no sediment in the baffled area around the pump. Tested the pump and it works. The short piece of hose between the pump and outlet tube inside the tank was all swole up and had a split in it. That might be the issue of the truck not running correctly since the fuel was bleeding off inside the tank. I will get a new filter screen and connector hose for it and reinstalled the set up. Before the tank goes back in, I will blow out the lines and install a new inline fuel filter. I will just run the truck with the one tank for now.

We also gave the truck a name. This truck will be BUBBA since it has a redneck kind of look to it. I have a grill guard that I might clean up and through on it, we will see...

redneck kinda look?? guess texas has a different view on redneck. you should see some these Missouri and Arkansas boys

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by rollin thunder

redneck kinda look?? guess texas has a different view on redneck. you should see some these Missouri and Arkansas boys

That came from Korbin, most of his peers think that a truck has to be 4wd, lifted and diesel to be cool. He and I on the other hand enjoy alot of different styles and what he is building is not seen at his school and gets a lot of comments that he just blows off.

I just need a truck to use as a truck. My 65 is my toy and it will be low and ride/handle well.

Bubba has got to do some work!

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by aggie91

That came from Korbin, most of his peers think that a truck has to be 4wd, lifted and diesel to be cool.

Oh man, if I had a dollar for every lifted diesel truck with a straight pipe blowing black smoke here in Kingsville....I could probably buy one of those trucks!

If that were my truck, I'd put a set of these wheels on it and drive it!

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by Pyrotechnic

Oh man, if I had a dollar for every lifted diesel truck with a straight pipe blowing black smoke here in Kingsville....I could probably buy one of those trucks!

If that were my truck, I'd put a set of these wheels on it and drive it!

I know what you mean. Half the parking lot at my high school is made up of the football team who ALL drive lifted, F-350's with 8" exhaust tips that spout out black smoke. Annoying as crap.

[1977cheyenne_C10]

let me have it lol

[N2TRUX]

Lift it and put some nice wheels on it. Then drive it like he stole it is my guess to how this will end.

[aggie91]

Thanks Ken, this is actually going to be my driver/tow pig. Korbin is not a follower around here when it comes to trucks. He is slowly converting one of his friends to the low life....We are building the 82 for Korbin and he has used yours for inspiration. His will sit about the same as yours, but look more like hottrux's red stepside.

Thanks again.

[83GMCK2500]

I vote as stock as possible. Most of us have seen the Saudi and Kuwaiti trucks that have been posted lately and how absolutely amazing they look STOCK.

[aggie91]

Worked on Bubba this weekend. The pump was good and all I needed was a short piece of hose between the pump and the metal tube going out the sender set up and 2 clamps. Got that in along with a new pickup screen. Put in a few gallons of gas and charged up a battery and replaced the ground cable with one I had pulled from a 2000 GMC truck we parted out.

Turned over the key and let it crank over and OH BOY it runs. Let it warm up and the engine idled down to a good idle. We moved it around a little and aired up the tires. Seemed to slip into reverse and not just engage. moved sorta OK.

Things seemed ok so we hoped in and headed down to Walmart for gas. While filling up the Trans fluid did not show on the dip stick and the power steering was howling and that was emptu too. So inside we go for Trans fluid and wiper blades, the PO had used Trans fluid in the power steering and it leaks anyway so that is what we put in too. Well it took 2.5 qts of trans fluid to get it on the stick. We drove it home and seems everything works except for the high beam switch. Got to see what that is all about, but it has an exhaust leak on the PS. There is one manifold bolt broken off on that side that holds the end of the oil dip stick tube. Must be where the leak is. for now, it needs inspection and registration and one rear shock is broken in two... But I think it is going to be an OK driver after a bit of attention.

[aggie91]

Drove Bubba a bit more over the weekend and last couple of days. Seems the high beam switch does work now and all the lights work. The dash gauges (except the speedo) do not work. I pulled some wiring diagrams yesterday and will work thru them soon. I'll start with the fuse first since that will be easy. I need to get the manifold gasket replaced, that is annoying and sounds like crap. It needs shocks too.

later...

[aggie91]

Drove him quite a lot over the last few days. I now need to get a window motor for the PS, I was able to get that side electrical put back together and working. I will need to do a tune up soon on the engine. It has a rough time warming up and has a little issue of some sort, the "service engine soon" light comes on from time to time. I will have to get a scanner and see what it means...I am enjoying having an old square to drive again. This is my 5th one and first 3/4 ton. I might have to do something with that dent in the door, it looks bad. First is to get it running right, window working and then the AC fixed.

[zook]

my 2 cents...drop/lower it. good find!
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[mooseknuckles]

bagged and billets....

[aggie91]

I don't think bags and billets are in the budget for this one. I think it is going to stay a "work" truck for bit. Once it has to have tires, then I might do something then.

I tried to get it inspected this week and was a no go. In Texas, any thing newer than '84 has to have cats on it. The PO had taken them out and put in a true dual exhaust with glasspacks and no cats. I has been inspected in the past that way, but where I went it was a no sir...I ll find someone to get it to pass for now...

[Tx Firefighter]

There are options out there to pass a catalytic converter visual inspection. Cheap too at 50 dollars. This is a 3 incher under my big block dually. All it has to do is look like a converter. They don't test emissions on ones this old.









A google search for "fake catalytic converter" will fix you right up.
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