Project Craigslist Karma into a family vehicle

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Before of carpet

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Across the interior

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Across the interior and of what I used, HOT SHOT and a scrub brush. I used a whole can of the toxic non environmentally friendly version before these pictures were taken and only blotted with a cloth as the instructions said since I couldn't find my brush but knew a brush would do better, so these pics don't show how bad the carpet was. The other stuff stank bad so I got the non toxic stuff this round and scrubbed but it didnt do as much as I hoped. I'm renting a carpet cleaner machine today to try more. It got dark before I could get present pics.

When I bought the truck the battery was shot. I bought a new 700CCA 5 year battery at Walmart and put that in, but when I pulled the dead Duralast gold battery I noticed it had a sticker from 5/12, and knew it was a 3 year battery. Walmart had a $15 core charge but I decided to try to see if Autozone would replace the Duralast and give me a spare. I went to Autozone with the battery and she tested it and asked for the phone number it was under, but knowing that the guy I bought it from bought the truck in 2013 I didn't have it. The Tahoe I used to have was my brothers, and he had a Duralast Gold battery in it when I got it that died under warranty when i had it so I had it replaced for free summer of 2012, which was close to the 5/12 date on the battery, so I gave his phone number. She pulled it up and saw the transaction where I had it replaced, but it had been over 3 years since the first battery was purchased so it was technically out of warranty (even though it was not the same battery or vehicle but she didnt know that). She said she could give me $66.85 off of a new one, but I said I already bought a new one from Walmart when this one failed and left me stranded . She thought for a minute, then hits some buttons, the drawer pops open and she hands me $66.85 cash! So a dead battery got me everything I was about to buy anyways.

I had 9 bulbs out on the truck. All 4 on the 3rd brake light and cargo light were out, I used regular Long Life bulbs on the 3rd light and Silverstar ultra brights on the cargo light, but the ultra brights didnt light up when I tested it, it was about to rain so I had to seal it up before I could pull the bulbs and check the sockets. When I bought the truck there was a rear taillight bulb circuit board in the truck and the left tail light didnt work so I assumed the current board was bad, but found that he just had reverse 3156 bulbs instead of the needed 3057s in all the sockets, which have the metal piece on the right instead of left for running lights and the brakes have 2 lights in 1 bulb. I'm guessing he replaced the bulbs with the wrong ones so bought a new circuit instead of checking the bulbs. Also out was 1 of the 2 front running light bulbs and 1 broken wire, and 1 corner front bulb, and 1 license plate bulb. Took a mothers powerball headlight cleaner to the rear lights and front lights and got them to be clearer but not quite perfect. Also noticed someone cut off the trailer wiring and wire nutted off the wires, ill splice in a spare trailer harness today. Also got a can of seafoam to run through the brake booster vacuum line and a can of some C12 super concentrated super lethal intake valve cleaner that goes in the fuel.

The truck also needs a windshield, this one is very cracked. Anyone ever do a windshield on these trucks and have a writeup on it? Debating doing this myself to save a few dollars.

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Chasing the stumble at idle I rebuilt the throttle body with a $15 rebuild kit off eBay and had no change. I pulled the IAC to clean it, got too aggressive and broke the plunger so had to spend $40 to replace that, no change. Did the paper on the exhaust pipe trick and the paper got sucked in, meaning an exhaust valve was not sealing. Fearing my $1200 Craigslist truck was not such a bargain and needed a rebuilt motor, I shopped Craigslist for a new set of heads. Decided to pull a valvecover and found that when the previous owner had his mechanic replace the intake gasket and relash the valves, he tightened the #1 exhaust valve too tight and I could not spin the pushrod with my fingers. Relashed that valve, and the idle stumble is solved, and it runs extremely smooth idling at 600rpm.

With the engine running smooth, I turned to Craigslist for new wheels with no peeling and found 4 wheels from a 99 Tahoe in like new condition wrapped in tires with 40% tread for $50. I installed them and sold 3 of my peeling wheels for $210 and kept the 4th as a spare. Old wheel on top, new on bottom.

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Much better. Now with my $160 profit I am looking for a welder to try my hand at replacing the rockers which have rust starting and about a hole the size of a quarter on each side.