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#26 |
www.67HEAVEN.com
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SouthCentral Ontario
Posts: 625
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Beautiful vehicle. Congratulations on a great find.
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www.67HEAVEN.com 2004 Z71 Tahoe 4x4 5.3L (factory white monochrome theme) 1989 Silverado K1500 4x4 5.7L sportside (white monochrome theme) 1967 Belair 2-door-post (project) 1967 Corvette 427/435 coupe (now 502/502 red road warrior) ![]() |
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#27 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ontario CA
Posts: 317
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Like others said, you flat out STOLE that truck! I had a very nice 91 2WD/350/700R4 Sub that was a peach....problem was someone wanted it more than me, Some A$$HOLE stole it one night. It was the ONLY vehicle i'd never lowered or lifted, custom painted or anything. It was BONE stock with a PERFECT interior similar to yours ('cept blue). Your truck made me want another one bad. Again whatta nice find!
Tim
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Ontario CA•70 Chevy Shortbed Fleetside C-10 71 Chevy Longbed Fleetside C-20 (sold ![]() 63 Chevy II Nova SS 02 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson supercharged 5.4 2000 Harley Roadking Hot Bike Baggers Mag Shoot http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/i...oot/?start=all some truck lettering & flame jobs http://www.flickr.com/photos/4950319...7602894916215/ |
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#28 | |
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:
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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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#29 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 390
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
So you gave the guy a nice down payment, when are you paying him the rest Larry? Or were you wearing a mask during the crime?
![]() What do you think your going to use it for?
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-Don- '66 ![]() '77 ![]() '80 ![]() '04 Denali XL '05 DMax CCLB 4x Have a Hickey Sidewinder Winch and need the owners/install manual? Send me a PM with your email address and I'll forward you a .pdf ![]() |
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#30 |
6>8 Plugless........
![]() Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Prairie City, Ia
Posts: 17,140
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Awesome burb, and yes you did steal that beast!
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Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project Tired of spark plugs? Check this out. |
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#31 |
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
I know I still can’t believe the purchase price either. That is why I couldn’t pass up this rig regardless if I needed or not. I feel like I lost all chances of ever winning the lottery now being my lifetime lucky score was this rig. The seller was pretty desperate for cash and the tire kickers that looked at it before me were put off by the loose steering column (it was really bad! Worse loose GM Saginaw tilt column I’d ever seen!) and the fact it badly needed a clutch. Unless you spin wrenches yourself, fixing the steering column probably would have cost at least $300-$500 then the clutch could have cost another $700-$1000 at most shops with today’s door rates and ridiculous parts markups dealers and independent shops are asking. Most people (unlike us crazies!) aren’t up for an undertaking a needy vehicle like that which was good or me in this case. By the time someone would have paid someone else to fix everything, this thing would have been your typical $3000-4000 used 22 year old Suburban. Like the ole saying….”Mechanic’s Special” is what this Sub is all about. Nothing difficult or crazy expensive to fix just a bunch of little stuff and a lot of sweat equity.
Oilbrnr, I am not really sure what we will use it for but it will sure make a neat shop ornament. ![]() ![]()
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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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#32 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,858
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
I see them as all weather vehicles more than all terrain,just like the tires they put on "ALL"* factory 4wds.
*Ok,a few exceptions.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#33 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 390
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
![]() Don't know why I'm so fond of the SM465 other than nostalgia, but I do like'em. Maybe it could become the new Chuck Wagon for Bill? Should be able to haul a few potatoes... Hope to get going on my K5 and maybe join you guys one of these days! -don- ps. get that 95 going again too. ![]()
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-Don- '66 ![]() '77 ![]() '80 ![]() '04 Denali XL '05 DMax CCLB 4x Have a Hickey Sidewinder Winch and need the owners/install manual? Send me a PM with your email address and I'll forward you a .pdf ![]() |
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#34 |
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
![]() Well, the rattle can rebuild is complete and the engine is almost ready to stab but I am struggling with some major seized exhaust manifold flange studs and the power steering pulley does not want to go back on. I’ve never fought a pulley like this one ever in my life! Errrr! I am going to pull out the hot wrench here in a minute to help with both of those problems. Now this front axle snubber is just a dumb idea. I yanked it off and tossed it in the iron pile. ![]() ORD steering box brace installed ![]() Engine bay ready for install. New clutch fork, ball and release bearing. I didn’t paint the inner fenders as they will be replaced soon anyway. Same with the brake booster. It is going to be replaced with hydroboost. ![]() ![]() You can see those rat bastid exhaust manifold studs in this picture. Errr ![]() I wish I was putting this 8.1L back in instead of the 5.7L during this teardown. Next time! ![]() We’re all going snow wheeling tomorrow so nothing will get done with the Sub until maybe Sunday.
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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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#35 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,562
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Okay, I'm in for this one
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#36 |
Resident of Here
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL, USA
Posts: 7,716
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
What TBI unit is that?
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~Bradley~ 2004 Black GTO LS2/T56 too much to list ![]() Miss having a truck ![]() |
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#37 |
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 the stock TBI unit with some aftermarket TB spacer that one of friends dropped off yesterday.
__________________
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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#38 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Creighton Sask. Canada
Posts: 4,121
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Polar bear is cool, I didn't even know they still had manuals in the Subs, nice score and great project. Waiting to see the difference lifted.
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#39 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Bradford, PA
Posts: 395
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Wow! That's one heck of a deal you got Larry! I've always been a fan of your work, so I know this Burb will be pretty awesome when it's done
![]() I can also back up the statement of a 350 with 3.42's feeling gutless ![]()
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1981
![]() 305 ci | TH350 | NP208 | 60k miles |
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#40 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 390
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quite the intake manifold on that 8.1. Is that an LS to the left Larry?
I know Bill wouldn't want to get rid of that nice Ram Charger, I was just thinking someone else could drive the 'Burb and it could hold the whole kitchen with food and drink and then some! So, if it was built more or less like the 78, how do you think it would do on the trails you've gone on? Too long, or do-able with rear skid protection?
__________________
-Don- '66 ![]() '77 ![]() '80 ![]() '04 Denali XL '05 DMax CCLB 4x Have a Hickey Sidewinder Winch and need the owners/install manual? Send me a PM with your email address and I'll forward you a .pdf ![]() Last edited by Oilbrnr; 12-31-2011 at 10:45 AM. |
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#41 | |
K5Camper
![]() Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pueblo, CO
Posts: 1,513
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
Larry is big block nut through an through. There is an LS hiding out in his shop though. Sitting back in the corner waiting for yours truly to collect some more parts before he and I can swap it into my K5.
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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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#42 | |
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:
Yeah, those 8.1L’s have huge runners. Zoo hit the nail on the head with the engines in the back ground. The engine in the bag is a Gen V 7.4L headed into my FIL’s ’93 C1500 Sportside. Hopefully, we can get the LS engine stuffed into Zoo’s K5 soon as well. His LS is sitting in a crate to the left of the 8.1L that you can actually see it in one of the other pictures above (it is burried under boxes and ice chests). Plus Zoo has an 8.1L in his garage in a big wooden box that needs to come home to me! ![]() The Suburban would probably do just fine where we go but it has a long way to go before it is ready for anything like that. The stock height, open diffs and 3:42 gears aren’t going to cut it. We don’t do major crazy rock crawling stuff. That is not what we are into (Anybody with a credit card can build a beater rock crawler to haul around to each trail on a trailer). That is not for us, we just like to go wayyyy out in the remote areas for several days at a time to see the true natural beauty this planet has to offer that most people will never see. The places where you can hear the silence ringing your ears, coyotes, wild horses, wild donkeys, etc. keeping you nervous at night and easily spot satellites and the space station flyover head. For this you need to have a vehicle with above average off-roadability but more importantly reliability. Most of the places we go a person just can’t walk out of without spending a night or two before you see the next human. Forget about calling a tow truck. You know how desolate Arizona and Utah are. Colorado isn’t as bad as long as it is hunting season. Just keep walking down a mountain long enough and you will surely find some Texan riding a $15,000 ATV to give you a ride to the nearest highway ![]()
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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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#43 | |
K5Camper
![]() Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pueblo, CO
Posts: 1,513
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
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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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#44 |
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
After a slight delay acquiring a new/used RH exhaust manifold I was back in action Wednesday night (I gave up on trying to dig the broken studs out of the old manifold). Last night I got the routing and clipping done and engine fired up. Aside from the dizzy being a tooth off the first time, all went without a hitch. I took it for a test drive today and she runs great! What a difference a new/used clutch, new sensors, tune up, belts, hoses and fixing the intake vacuum and coolant leaks make! Just cleaning up the wiring adds a lot of reliability back to the old girl.
After the shake down run it feels like the clutch needs to be bleed a bit more and I need to do some more work on the throttle cable as the 1” throttle body spacer puts the cable at an angle where it doesn’t like to return to well. Of course, the only aftermarket equipment on the truck is what is causing issues. Typical. Also waiting on a battery cable. Tuesday night. Just about ready to go back in. ![]() On the hook ready for stabbing. The clutch is a used Centerforce Dual Friction from my K10. When I did the NV4500 swap in the K10 last year it got a fresh clutch. This Suburban is the low buck build so it gets as many hand me downs from the K10 as possible. ![]() TA-dah……… ![]() ![]() ![]() One new item the Sub got was a new HD Denso starter motor. These are awesome and will be the last starter motor you will ever buy. I run this same exact part number starter on the 8.1L in the K10. These are the starter motors severe duty applications like UPS trucks use. It spins the engine fast and sounds cool while doing it. Never mind the green stuff on the battery cable. A new cable is on order through Napa. ![]() Now that his portion is out of the way the next step is to get it to the exhaust shop to have the tailpipes redone as the current pipes will interfere with the rear ORD shackle flip coming shortly. 4” lift up next!
__________________
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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#45 |
Farm Truck
![]() Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Jersey Village, Texas
Posts: 547
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Gear reducted starter motor? It does look awesome.
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1969 CST/10 1984 K5 Blazer 4x4 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Mike Jersey Village, Tx |
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#46 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 390
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Larry, is that the part number for the starter there in the pic, or is there a different one for the whole unit?
BTW, where is the '68? Didn't it used to be back in the corner?
__________________
-Don- '66 ![]() '77 ![]() '80 ![]() '04 Denali XL '05 DMax CCLB 4x Have a Hickey Sidewinder Winch and need the owners/install manual? Send me a PM with your email address and I'll forward you a .pdf ![]() |
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#47 | |
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 ’68 got moved to the front garage last summer. ![]()
__________________
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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#48 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: phoenix
Posts: 254
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Very cool work getting that engine out, worked over and then back in..
So often people start a project and then it fades away, you have really set the standard for folks like me. |
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#49 | |
K5Camper
![]() Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pueblo, CO
Posts: 1,513
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Re: Polar Bear Suburban
Quote:
I've done all of the work on my K5 over at his place and follow his plan the truck usually drives in on Saturday and is driven back home by Sunday afternoon. Plan it in advance and get the parts together and a lot can be accomplished. The first engine swap, lift and clutch jobs all got done over a weekend. Bigger jobs might span a little more time, but he's got a method that works. Side note to Larry: A little bird told me your helper to bleed the clutch on the bear got fired. Let me know if you need any help with it!
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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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#50 | |
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
Ah, geeze guys. Don’t forget about the Corvair van sitting next to the shop that I yanked the engine out of last year and just can’t muster up the enthusiasm to get back to work on it. Won’t be long and I’ll forget how that odd ball vehicle goes back together.
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Yeah, she was doing a crappy job pumping the pedal while talking on her cell phone. I tell her to pump, pump, pump, pump, hold…..and she does the opposite. Had to send her back in the house! If you have time to swing by on your way by Saturday I could use some help bleeding this thing. The clutch works, it could just be better. Kind of spungy.
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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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