1991 V3500 Project Heavy Hauler

[watahyahknow]

think irs a new salestrick , i had seen it with tools too , they show a complete set but you pay per piece

[MTCK]

The wife ordered me up a set of steps for the truck for Christmas. Should have them the first week of January. I'll post up pics when I get them.

[400/400]

Originally Posted by MTCK

The wife ordered me up a set of steps for the truck for Christmas. Should have them the first week of January. I'll post up pics when I get them.

I installed steps this summer. Definitely a big help. Also attached some boat handles inside above the doors.

[watahyahknow]

Originally Posted by 400/400

I installed steps this summer. Definitely a big help. Also attached some boat handles inside above the doors.

those foldable roofhandles that are usually mounted on the passengerside work well too and you dont hit them too hard when youre bouncing about on a dirtroad
think if you mount one a little above the steering to the a pillar you can swing youreself in and out verry eazy

[MTCK]

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

Did you ever get this figured out?

I never reported back on the grinding sound under hard acceleration. I can't say exactly what the culprit was, but it went away with the motor swap. The motor mounts were toast and I replaced them with polyurethane, and all the braces between the motor mounts and bell housing dust cover were loose / missing hardware. Everything went back together with new hardware and it hasn't made a noise since.

[MTCK]

It seems like forever since I did any real work on this project, but I finally picked up all my parts from the machine shop today. I have been accumulating parts this whole time, and I'm pretty excited to start wrenching.

The machine shop boiled and magnafluxed everything, honed the bores, surfaced the heads, valve job, polished the crank and checked everything out. Heads were reassembled with comp cams springs, locks, keepers and rotator eliminators. Freeze plugs and galley plugs installed along with new valve guide seals.

I procured a new timing set, cam, adjustable rocker studs and nuts, main and rod bearings, rings, a distributor (billet aluminum body) EGR block off plate and plug, block heater and of course gasket sets. Time to get wrenching!

[BossH0G]

Nice work so far, I'm looking forward to seeing more so please keep us posted.


(My preacher said I am going to hell ! I said it beats freezing my nuts off in Wisconsin)

[y5mgisi]

I forget now for certain what the plan was. This is a later vortec motor right? Are you sticking with the vortec injection?

[MTCK]

Thanks Boss.

Yep it is a 2000 model year Vortec 454. Keeping the sequential multipoint fuel injection, new cam, factory roller lifters, some GM LS1 injectors, Thorley headers and pretty much all stock otherwise. I'm going with a Howell harness and they will put the older style 4l80e plug in it for me.

[whitels1]

Get it together yet?!?! lol

[y5mgisi]

Nice!

[MTCK]

Hahaha not quite done, Dave. Finally had a couple hours to tinker this weekend. Installed the mains and checked clearances and end play. Everything checked out right down the middle. I also test fit the the LS1 injectors and they plug right into the manifold, fuel rail and harness. Tomorrow I'm going to drop off my pistons, tin and intake for a bath as those parts were all buried out in the shed when I made the first trip to the machine shop. Hopefully more progress this week.

[whitels1]

Looking good man, this thing will be a beast when you are done!

[y5mgisi]

Nice!

[Bird_Reynolds]

Sweet truck, man. Look forward to more updates. There was just an '85 crew cab 4x4 for sale in CO Springs, looked a lot like yours. We missed it I think it sold in 2 days.

[MTCK]

Thanks guys. Got the pistons, tin and intake back today. That was $$$ well spent! They are spotless. Hope to get some work done this weekend.

[DirtyLarry]

[COS399]

Looking good. This is a nice little project for this time of the year. You should have it up and going before the white stuff is gone.

[MTCK]

Thanks. Great project for this time of year. The best part is that we have not had any cold temps for more than a day or two, so parking outside hasn't caused too much strife with the CFO.

[COS399]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Thanks. Great project for this time of year. The best part is that we have not had any cold temps for more than a day or two, so parking outside hasn't caused too much strife with the CFO.

My CFO got a new truck in July and it has only been in the garage once. In October I had a remote start kit installed for her. Luckily she hasn't complained and at this rate she isn't going to get an opportunity to park in there.

[BossH0G]

Very nice. I also like that your using the dial indicator. Keep up the good work.

[MTCK]

It's funny those auto starts go a long ways towards making life more comfortable. Gas mileage suffers though. My little Tacoma gets down in the 12-13 mpg range when I'm in 4wd and hitting that button.

Radiator showed up today. Larry is right: Spectre does a ****ty job of packaging their stuff for shipment.

[MTCK]

Made in China.

[MTCK]

Thing is a beast, and appears to be undamaged. Thank goodness for Amazon prime.

[MTCK]

Also checked all my ring gaps tonight. All good at 0.020 - 0.022.