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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Winfield KS
Posts: 489
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Hey Larry I thought I read somewhere that you have had problems with your 5th gear nut on your NV4500's. I just got done with my swap over a week ago and had been driving my truck everyday and just last night developed a ringing/rattling sound only in 5th gear. The noise doesn't really change when 5th gear is under load or not.
Does this sound like a 5th gear nut problem and what have you found to be a good fix for this. I really don't have much money to throw at it and I'm told my tranny doesn't have many miles on the rebuild. I know some have welded the nut on with great results but also know that sometimes the welds break and then you must install a new shaft. What are your thoughts, Thanks
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88' Chevy V30 3+3 4x4 Dually 454 TBI/NV4500/NP205 |
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#2 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
Funny you should bring this up as I just got a reman NV4500 for the Polar Bear about 3 weeks ago. The new one shifts fine but it makes a huge racket in 5th gear…not under acceleration or coast but a coast with a slight tip in of the throttle. Hard to explain the noise but it sounds like something inside is loose. The closest thing I’ve ever heard to a noise like this is when the idler gear in the NP205 in the K10 was loose and would bounce around under a slight tip on of the throttle on a partial coast when the gears are somewhat relaxed. I’ve been going round and round with the reman company where they said “No problem….ship it back and we’ll take a look”. And I’m like nooooo…..you guys send me another one so I don’t have to have my shop plugged with the Suburban for 3 weeks while this one gets shipped back, they take a look/fix then ship it back. They aren’t willing to send me another unless I pay for it then they will reimburse me once they tear into it and confirm a defect on their part. That leaves me in an awkward position with $1000 on the line hoping they will be honest and own up to an issue rather than pull some shenanigans that reman companies are famous for pulling. I guess they’ve been burned before where they won’t ship anything until they confirm the issue is theirs and not an installation error. There is no error even a moron could do with the installation that would cause this noise other than something went wrong during their rebuild. Very frustrating. I tell ya, I am done with NV4500’s after this mess gets resolved. The next NV4500 that dies in the K10 or this burb is getting replaced with something else even if it is an automatic. Tremec makes an equivalent transmission to a NV4500 (similar dimensions, same input and output spline size and counts) that is used in Mexican and South American market GM trucks but we never got them in the US. Tempted to see what it would take to get one of those…..or just go 4L80E next go around. I’m in a real bad mood about NV4500’s lately ![]()
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
The variety of NV4500 experience is good to hear. I own two, one is on the road, other waiting for bearing kit and mainshaft swap to 4WD. To my knowledge the one in the '96 has never been rebuilt, 293,### miles and the wear in the shift tower and general transmission behavior reflects that. Once it's warmed up it might as well not have syncros, I do a lot of double-clutching when the oil is hot. In the past month or so it's developed a howl in 5th at 60+ MPH, it howls over tires, it howls over the radio, and it's only while under drive, if I go down a good enough hill (with cruise set) or let off it quiets in an instant. Feather the throttle and it chirps out a howl in relation to drive from coast.
I'd like to find a shop that knew these intimately enough to go through both of mine. Larry, your ZF description has me laughing at my desk, not only the mental picture but the accuracy of it.
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Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96 |
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#4 |
I know the pieces fit
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MONTGOMERY, AL
Posts: 5,523
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Dang, I'm surprised and a little disappointed to hear this. All you normally hear is praise for them.
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#5 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 1,813
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Are you guys running the press fit damper on your output shaft?
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Jason M. @argonaut62 1972 K5 Blazer CST, Turquoise 1966 K20 Short Fleet Pickup, Big Ugly 1964 C10 Short Fleet, Gertrude 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera 1996 Ford Bronco XLT 1980 Jeep Wagoneer 2008 Honda CBR1000RR 2005 Honda RC51 1981 Honda CB750C No dis-assemble Johnny Five! No dis-assemble! |
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#6 |
K5Camper
![]() Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pueblo, CO
Posts: 1,513
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Yeah I heard the noise this weekend. Odd to say the least. It's only on light load, tip in of the throttle in 5th. Which, because of the wide flat torque curve of the 8.1 could happen at 30 mph or higher. The faster it's going the worse it sounds though. Similar to putting a few golf balls in a blender and hitting Frappe. A little more muted, but rough none the less.
Normally I've got a higher tolerance for noises than Larry does (or higher amount of hearing loss), but at highway speeds it's downright obnoxious. The only way to make it stop is to completely let off the throttle or keep your foot in it. Driving either way would be annoying. Anything that makes that vibration along with the noise can't be good for itself long term.
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Rob Z. 1975 K5 350/465/205/D44/12b 4" lift on 35's- RIP 1991 K5 8.1L/NV4500/241/D44/14b FWC Camper |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Winfield KS
Posts: 489
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Well I drained out my trans oil which didn't look fantastic. It was darker in color. When I put the transmission in I filled the oil until it ran out the fill plug. I drained almost 4 qts from it today. I started adding oil through the fill plug on flat ground and only managed to get about 3.75 qts into it before it ran our the fill plug hole. I added an extra quart through the shift tower and got it out on the road. The shifting is smoother and it did quiet the trans down some. Now I can't get 5th gear to make any noise. Only sounds from the trans now I would consider normal.
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88' Chevy V30 3+3 4x4 Dually 454 TBI/NV4500/NP205 Last edited by Chevy3+3; 04-07-2016 at 11:06 AM. |
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#8 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Indpls. , IN
Posts: 795
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
I'm having a problem that may not relate to my NV4500, but it would have to be the transfer case if it isn't the trans ( I need to search the web again to refresh myself of the NV4500's problems and their symptoms). http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=697706
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Tim K. 84 K30 srw Silverado 454 auto 85 C20 350 C6P auto flatbed 94 K1500 lifted shortbed 350 4 bbl NV4500 Last edited by 68post; 04-07-2016 at 10:53 AM. Reason: yes, of course |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Winfield KS
Posts: 489
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
That's good enough for me. Only time will tell. I may buy some more and run it iny np205 t-case. By the way.....I didn't mean to hi Jack Dirty Larry's thread. If anyone has any questions for me please PM me and not post here. I want this thread to remain Larry's and his badass Polar Bear Suburban.
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88' Chevy V30 3+3 4x4 Dually 454 TBI/NV4500/NP205 |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Winfield KS
Posts: 489
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Sorry in my above post I said didn't help with noise. I corrected it now saying changing the fluid and overfilling DID help with smoother shifting and help make it quieter
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88' Chevy V30 3+3 4x4 Dually 454 TBI/NV4500/NP205 |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Exton, PA
Posts: 1
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
I have just started down the L18 road. What I am doing is a little different than the folks on this forum are doing but this looks like the best place to ask the questions.
My tow vehicle is a 1999 GMC PU with the 6.0L and broken exhaust manifold studs. I just picked up a 8.1 that I just pulled out of a 3/4 ton van. What the motor has is all of the accessory hardware that is desirable if this was going into an older truck. So the question is do keep this configuration or convert to the correct setup my truck was optioned for. I am inclined to convert and possibly trade my brackets for the more common versions. |
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#12 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
On a GMT800 you could use either brackets but if you plan to use OEM A/C lines you would be better off using the GMT800 brackets (low mount A/C compressor). You shouldn’t have any problem finding someone to trade brackets with you as the van/medium duty brackets are the most desirable for swappers. If you haven’t already joined the group, there is a nice group on Facebook called the “8.1L Info Swap Classifieds”. Lots of guys there always looking for brackets and Ed over there has done a couple L18’s in GMT800 trucks. Also, if you have already found it…. I put together a complete thread on all things 8.1L HERE Good luck with you project..
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#13 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Glen St. Mary, Florida
Posts: 304
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Larry, I was directed to your build while searching for answers in Crocky125 thread about parking brakes. Looking at your pics of the 9.5" semi-float rear you had in the Suburban, the parking brake cable for the passenger side enters the backing plate on the rear side of the axle tube. On the 14FF you installed, the passenger side cable enters the backing on the front side of the baking plate. My questions are: 1. Was the cable for the semi-float original to your Burb? 2.Did you use the same cable on the Full float as was on the semi-float?
I swapped in a 1999 14FF with 13"slip on drums into my 1986 K10 and I am having a little trouble with the parking brake hanging up on my passenger side. Not sure yet if it my cable routing, the way a connected it to my system of if it is the cable I purchased to use. Just looking for resources and/or options.
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86 Chevrolet K10 350/SM465 Frankie SOLD 1995 GMC Yukon GT SOLD 1996 GMC Yukon GT 2010 Suburban 1500 4x4 5.3l/6L80e. Sold 2016 Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab 4x4 6.0l/6L80e |
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#14 | |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
The 99 axle could have entirely different backing plates being it is from a newer body style than what I have but if it helps, below are the Napa park brake cable part numbers I used on the Polar Bear. If I recall correctly, I used an 89 R2500 (2wd) w/7.4L as the application as those came factory with 10.5” 14FF’s and was a direct plug and play for my Burb. Might not be the case on your truck with a later body style axle. You could look at other 1 ton trucks and van's with 14FF and look at their dimensions to see if they would fit your K10 better than the part numbers below. There are few different lengths of cables out there for the 84 and later 14FF's. 93253 Parking Brake Cable - Left Rear, 55.5; Rear Left 93254 Parking Brake Cable - Right Rear, 77.81; Rear Right You can barely see here where the passenger’s side cable crosses the axle and is tied to the top pinion bolt with a p-clamp. That is the way the 2wd Suburban’s with full floaters were routed….at least the one I saw at the boneyard anyway. ![]()
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#15 |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Geez, looking through this thread it looks as though I haven't updated it in a very long time. Here is a link to the 2016 Desert Trip trip report that the Polar Bear and K10 took in June 2016. Link HERE to the trip report.
And a few recent out and about pics. We took the ole Polar Bear on a family camping weekend to a lake about 3 hours away a couple weeks after returning from the Desert. Fun times. ![]() ![]() ![]()
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Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#16 |
Post Whore
![]() ![]() Join Date: May 2015
Location: Alabama
Posts: 14,639
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Man I like that big mud tire stock wheel hubcap setup..that's sweet
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Saluda, SC
Posts: 1,276
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
What do you have going on with the mirrors? They look interesting.
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1988 GMC R3500- Cut Brothers 4WD Conversion Kit, 6.5 TD NV4500/NP208 D60 14BFF 2020 1500 Silverado 3.0 Babymax 2002 2500 Silverado- 6.6/ Allison 2010 CTS V- The "NastyBuzzard" 1979 Trans Am - Eventually getting 6.0/T56 swap with boost |
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#18 |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Just cheap clip on mirror extensions. They suck and don't fit worth the hoot
__________________
Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Are you familiar with the tow mirrors that exist in the style of the stainless mirrors? They have a lock ring with set screw at the mirror head that you loosen, extend mirror, and tighten up?
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Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96 |
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#20 |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Hmmm, not sure. I may have saw them while searching for something when I ended up with these. Link? Pic?
__________________
Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Weare,NH
Posts: 1,592
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
I too have questions Larry. haha. A friend and I are interested in installing the stepntow bumpers on our Suburbans. You mentioned earlier in the thread you had to fab up brackets, any details on those?
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#22 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
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Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96 |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
More pics of a NOS set...part number shown. Good luck. Those are a friend of mine's pics, he was shopping for the GMT-400 set (pictured above) and ended up with square body ones. Sold them long ago. For reference the GMT-400 set is P/N 95155.
The heads on them were stainless as well, like original. THESE: http://bumpersuperstore.com/i-114088...ng-mirror.html are the only ones I see yet for sale by the part number. I'm half tempted to believe they're using a stock photo of the slip on garbage ones. Their title/description says slide-out door mount, not slip-on poop.
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Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96 |
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#24 |
Windy Corner of a Dirty Street
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Pueblo West, Colorado
Posts: 2,926
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
That is interesting! Bummer too as I just bought new mirrors for the Burb not long ago. Snagged one backing out of the garage and busted it to smithereens. Looks like another 7 years of bad luck coming my way
__________________
Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State
Posts: 1,515
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
I had the passenger side mirror pane fall out of the housing of my '83 as I was driving down the highway. Caught a glint out of the corner of my eye then sparkly things in the rearview, started looking around wondering what in the world just happened.
Larry, if you get a minute I would appreciate your 8.1 input: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=721338
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Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96 |
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