1990 GMC V3500 Slow Build

[burban nate]

The last year and a half was not very conducive to getting any work done on this project at all. I did manage to build a new motor for my 1970 GTO Judge and completely rebuild everything mechanical on the car (suspension, brakes, axle, and trans.) So I have just been in parts collecting mode for this truck.

My vision has changed a bit since I posted this thread also. I have finally decided that it will be black with maple/carmine red interior. I've also decided I'm going to buy a Chevrolet Performance ZZ502 Ramjet crate motor and use EFI Connection's 24x ignition system with an LS1 style ECM. I'm also going to use a 4L85e trans which I'll either adapt my NP205 to or if I'm lucky enough, find a '91 only VSS NP205 with correct adapter.

I'm hoping to find a 2011-2016 GM AAM 11.5" dually rear axle in a salvage yard for it. I'm also working with a machinist to convert a set of forged SRW Dana 60 hubs to 8x180mm bolt pattern so I can use the dually wheel adapters off of the same '11-'16 GM trucks. He is also going to build me some caliper brackets to use the brakes off the '11-'16 trucks on my Dana 60. I want to run the factory 17" forged aluminum dually wheels off the '13-'16 trucks.

I'll be finished with The Judge by the end of April, then I will be focusing on the metal work on this truck.

I did manage to get the gauge cluster sorted out though. I started with a '91 elec. speedo cluster and a junk c-70 diesel tach housing. I cut the tach specific parts out of the diesel housing and epoxied them in the '91 housing. Then I cleaned up the seams and gave it a coat of the closest blue the hardware store had in a plastic paint spray bomb. I bought a big truck gas cluster from Dave on here which donated its 5000rpm tach, 80psi oil gauge, and vacuum gauge. I still need to touch up some surface rust on the trip reset knob and some of the gauge face rivets, and I need to sand and polish out the lens. But I am really happy how this turned out. I still need to find a nice OD shift indicator, I thought I had a spare but I can't find it.



Nate