Restoring Rusty

[Gregski]

and here she is all installed and put together - got her a little dusty whilst installing it, but you git the idear

[flashed]

I think it turned out very well ,looks great .

[lkfldredneck]

Looks good Greg! I wish mine had factory Tach And i dont really want to go the length you did to put a factory tach in.. haha

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by lkfldredneck

Looks good Greg! I wish mine had factory Tach And i dont really want to go the length you did to put a factory tach in.. haha

thanks, if we are talking about your 1985 GMC K15 than you already have a volt meter and a electronic oil pressure gauge I assume, so you would only be getting a tach out of a cluster swap, where as in my case I got all three, upgraded from an Amp meter to a Volt meter, from a mechanical oil pressure gauge to an electronic, and from no tach to a tach, so I get why you wouldn't wanna, but in my case it made sense / worked out

now back to reading your Spruce Moose thread

[Gregski]

alright boys, so we've installed the dash cover and the new speedo and tach, so how do the new gauges work? what RPMs is the truck idling at now? what about at 60 MPH whats the cruisin RPMs? etc, etc?

well if you had to ask than clearly you have not worked on a 40 year ol' truck, ha ha - cause she won't even start now, won't even turn over, no click, no clack, no pluck, no nothin' my gray hair wisdom tells me the new battery be kaput for some odd reason, go figure fellow truckodians, such is the way of the ninja warrior

we got no reading off the battery, nothin', so we put her on the ol' charge box and wait - might could take the battery to AutoZone for a test or super charge there later on

[lkfldredneck]

Originally Posted by Gregski

thanks, if we are talking about your 1985 GMC K15 than you already have a volt meter and a electronic oil pressure gauge I assume, so you would only be getting a tach out of a cluster swap, where as in my case I got all three, upgraded from an Amp meter to a Volt meter, from a mechanical oil pressure gauge to an electronic, and from no tach to a tach, so I get why you wouldn't wanna, but in my case it made sense / worked out

now back to reading your Spruce Moose thread

Yea in your case it made sense. I think i might have to get a big bulky autometer tach and make it look like a 90s wannabe drag truck hahaha

[Gregski]

just wanted to give you a quick update on the truck today, today was a good day, I found replacements for these nylon nuts that go under the dash, my old ones were crusty and brittle, NAPA came through for us, 16 for only $5 bucks, USA, USA, USA!!!

[Gregski]

Even more better, O'Reillys replaced my 1 year old battery with a brand new one, so I was able to start and test drive the truck today. The new speedo works, and the new tach works as well.

Here are some numbers for you all.

Idles @ 900 RPM (kinda high but that's by the book, will need adjustment) old Tach idled at @ 1200

with 235/75 R15 tires I get this:

35 MPH @ 1500 RPM

50 MPH @ 2000 RPM

60 MPH @ 2500 RPM

then I ran out of runway, lol

[D13]

Ah, Gregski, yer an insperatin to weuns. I wish I had half your energy. Not to mention yur weather (he sais looking at yesterday's 8" of snow)

BTW I'm not actually iliterate but I am kind of a redneck.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Gregski

Even more better, O'Reillys replaced my 1 year old battery with a brand new one, so I was able to start and test drive the truck today. The new speedo works, and the new tach works as well.

Here are some numbers for you all.

Idles @ 900 RPM (kinda high but that's by the book, will need adjustment) old Tach idled at @ 1200

with 235/75 R15 tires I get this:

35 MPH @ 1500 RPM

50 MPH @ 2000 RPM

60 MPH @ 2500 RPM

then I ran out of runway, lol

That's odd. Do you know your gear ratio? Plugging those numbers HERE says you have 3.58 gears, pretty much between 3.40 and 3.73.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

That's odd. Do you know your gear ratio? Plugging those numbers HERE says you have 3.58 gears, pretty much between 3.40 and 3.73.

I thought I read somewhere that there was an option for 3.54 which I think I may have, at some point I will just crack the punkin open and look for myself.

[hatzie]

I probably asked this already... Do you have the SPID label or even better was the build sheet still in the seat springs?
The axle ratio RPO usually starts with G
According to page 23 of this document from the GM Heritage Ctr.
C10 chassis...
GT4 3.73:1 was standard with the LD4 250 I6
HE4 3.40:1 was standard with the LF5 & LS9 350 except the LS9 with the M40 TH400.
HE3 3.07:1 was standard with the LS9 350-w-M40 & the LF8 454

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by hatzie

Do you have the SPID label or even better was the build sheet still in the seat springs?

I did not see anything related on the SPID plus lots could have happened in 40 a years

[Junqueboi]

Oh wow, that build sheet is SO close..... I see two of the three digits of the rear axle RPO code... HEx where "X" is the missing number. It's in the second column of RPO codes on the build sheet. There's a chance that missing piece is laying on the floor somewhere...maybe you could match it up.

[hatzie]

Only on the SPID if it's optional equipment. If it's not on the SPID then it shipped with the standard axle ratio. LS9 with a gearbox other than the TH400... HE4 3.40:1

So close to having the build sheet too... At least you have some of it.

[Gregski]

T r u c k !

[flashed]

And some say you cant haul anything with a short bed ,and it looks good doing it too.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by flashed

And some say you cant haul anything with a short bed ,and it looks good doing it too.

Thanks, gonna make two of these tall work benches out of it in preparation for March Madness. Nice and tall, 42"

[Gregski]

You Know What Time It Is !!!

picked up this engine hoist and engine stand from Pontiac Mike, March Madness is around the corner

[Gregski]

going to finally replace my rusted radiator support, mine has lost about 18 inches from the bottom under the battery section, picked up this one from Pick N Pull a few months ago, it only has surface rust, having this piece out will sure make pulling the engine out easier

[flashed]

What is this March Madness you speak of ,something sports related I guess .

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by flashed

What is this March Madness you speak of ,something sports related I guess .

MARCH MADNESS is where The Greg takes on a massive truck project or a series of projects. Here's a taste of what he plans on doing next month.

1. Engine Performance Top End Swap

2. Overdrive Manual Transmission Swap

3. Flowmaster 40 Series Exhaust Upgrade

4. Fix / Eliminate Massive Oil Leak

5. Relocated Alternator To Mid Engine

6. Rusty Radiator Support Swap

[daddyjeep]

March Madness sounds like a good time.

[flashed]

My March Madness will involve some of that .

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by flashed

My March Madness will involve some of that .

Sweet, so I'll represent the West and you represent the South, and if two more guys join we'll have our very own tournament bracket NCAA basketball style, LOL