1991 V3500 Project Heavy Hauler

[watahyahknow]

darnit another half days work replacing a radiator shot to h@ll

[Dieselwrencher]

That sucks to hear on the radiator! I've used a few ebay aluminum radiators with good luck. Champion were the brand of 2 of them. Your mileage is pretty good. I could show you a pic of the last camper jack situation I was in. I'm so glad that POS is out of my life.

[COS399]

Nice looking rig/set up you got going there.

[Greenlee]

I feel your pain trying to find a good original style radiator. I went to O’Reilly’s a few years ago and they brought out one of those cheap looking plastic and aluminum ones, and I thought that can’t be for my truck! Actually, I ended up getting one and it has been flawless. The truck runs cooler that it did with old radiator.

I love the camper!

[400/400]

Looking good!

Road salt is sure hard on vehicles.

I’ve got 45,000 miles on my parts house radiator with plastic tanks and no issues (“knock on wood”). Also seems to cool just fine in summer heat even when towing. I’ve got a 190 degree thermostat in my 400 and haven’t seen it go past 205 degrees on the gage when pulling on a 80+ degree day.

Do you notice any “clocking” of the steering wheel when loaded with the camper or trailer?

[68Timber]

All the crappy radiators being sold, seems like opportunity for someone to make one better. Hope it doesn’t spoil your trip.

[MTCK]

It’s been forever and a day since I updated. The radiator kept on dripping. Napa kindly offered to order me another one and take mine back, but would be without any radiator for 4-6 weeks while they ordered it from.... overseas. I told them to... I can’t really say. Took the new radiator over to the radiator shop and for the first time since I swapped the L29 in TWO YEARS AGO, it doesn’t leak. Our summer is too short to miss out on two months waiting for parts.

I’m going to try to embed a couple videos so folks can hear it run and work.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/prm7N5GlJJw" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[MTCK]

Fail. Here are the links.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=prm7N5GlJJw

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm48rMuSCFA

[MTCK]

Yes when I built the motor, the machine shop did some work to the heads. Valve job, rotator eliminators and believe they machined the valve guide down to allow for more lift and different seals (if I’m using the correct terminology).

In other news, the truck is back in the transmission shop. It started walking through the torque converter lockup and making heat while I was hauling gravel to my brother in law’s place last month. Took it back and it needs another rebuild. Grrrrrrrrrr.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Yes when I built the motor, the machine shop did some work to the heads. Valve job, rotator eliminators and believe they machined the valve guide down to allow for more lift and different seals (if I’m using the correct terminology).

In other news, the truck is back in the transmission shop. It started walking through the torque converter lockup and making heat while I was hauling gravel to my brother in law’s place last month. Took it back and it needs another rebuild. Grrrrrrrrrr.

Sounds like it's time for a stick Marcus! JK. I seldom hear of the 4L80s having issues. On the other hand you run pretty heavy most of the time right?

[MTCK]

I was thinking the same thing about a stick! If it takes another crap, I’m done with the slush box. My wife actually doesn’t mind driving the camper, which is a huge plus for the auto.

You are correct that it is always heavy and the throttle is always down. Between that and disabling the active torque management, this one didn’t survive. I was told during the last rebuild that it got a billet converter, heavier clutches, and revised valve body but now they are saying maybe that wasn’t the case... I’m curious to see what the bill is.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by MTCK

I was thinking the same thing about a stick! If it takes another crap, I’m done with the slush box. My wife actually doesn’t mind driving the camper, which is a huge plus for the auto.

You are correct that it is always heavy and the throttle is always down. Between that and disabling the active torque management, this one didn’t survive. I was told during the last rebuild that it got a billet converter, heavier clutches, and revised valve body but now they are saying maybe that wasn’t the case... I’m curious to see what the bill is.

Truth be told Marcus, I would run a good auto myself. The 4500 is nice but I do hear it "talking" when I work (abuse) it. Just got done hauling four 3500# + loads of beach ball and watermelon sized boulders with the 63. Filled above the sides of the bed. In a hurry as the rock was free and the guy was going to call an excavator to get rid of the rest. That massive 4500 didn't seem as big anymore and was making some weird noises.

Maybe time to start an Allison swap thread? If anyone could do it, it'd be you!

[kacy]

Are you putting the hd shift kit in the truck? Guys are saying using that kit their 4l80s are holding almost 1000 hp with turbo ls.

[MTCK]

Yeah it’s supposedly getting the HD shift kit (revised valve body) extra clutches and billet converter for a big block. Same as last time but actually putting the parts in this time!

I’ve thought about an Allison, but between the physical size and complexity of tuning I just can’t get excited about that project. This 4L80E just needs to work.

1000 hp for a few seconds is different than big input torque and low RPM for minutes at a time while pulling a grade with a load. I agree it should last longer than 15 months though!

[Greenlee]

I hate to hear that about your transmission. I had the same thing happen with a 700r4 and it made me sick. It was freshly rebuilt and supposed to be built strong, but it only lasted a few months. On the bright side, I swapped in a TH400 out of a CUCV 1 ton military truck and it’s been running strong for about 6 years now. I didn’t even have the 400 rebuilt. The fluid looked good and the truck appeared to have low miles, so I just said a little prayer and swapped it in my truck. Lol I miss the overdrive a little, but have much more confidence in it now. Especially when I’m pulling a trailer.

[MTCK]

I’m glad that used TH400 just keeps on trucking! I’d be in a bad way with no OD and 4.56 gears.

So good news today in the fact the truck came home. Bad news is all the repairs cost more than I originally paid for the truck! Another rebuild on the transmission, new billet torque converter, full rebuild on the NP205, replaced carrier bearing and dropped it 2” to improve driveline angle. Man she is tight now. The shop did right by warrantying all the parts they could, and giving me a written unlimited mileage 2 year warranty. It still wasn’t cheap. If it blows up again I’m letting my wife take it in. The shop can explain it to her because I’m not going to!!

[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by MTCK

I’m glad that used TH400 just keeps on trucking! I’d be in a bad way with no OD and 4.56 gears.

So good news today in the fact the truck came home. Bad news is all the repairs cost more than I originally paid for the truck! Another rebuild on the transmission, new billet torque converter, full rebuild on the NP205, replaced carrier bearing and dropped it 2” to improve driveline angle. Man she is tight now. The shop did right by warrantying all the parts they could, and giving me a written unlimited mileage 2 year warranty. It still wasn’t cheap. If it blows up again I’m letting my wife take it in. The shop can explain it to her because I’m not going to!!

Just think of all the money you are saving by not buying a new comparable crew cab for 50k plus. Plus your truck is freaking cool!

Yeah, my truck has 3.42 gear ratio and it still revs up pretty good on the freeway with the 3 speed. I can cruise along about 70 okay, but much faster than that makes me uncomfortable. I guess you have to remember the speed limit was 55 when theses trucks were new!

[MTCK]

Thanks Greenlee, I think it’s pretty cool too. Hauled one of the lighter loads she’s had on Saturday. Maybe 30 lbs of Christmas tree. I continue to be impressed with how much tighter the drivetrain is now with the rebuild on the 205. My speedo works again too! Checking stuff off left and right.

[MTCK]

It was bound to happen and it finally did. Winter arrived. I got back into town last night to -40 at the house. All our cars were outside so I plugged in the Yukon and my wife’s RAV4. They both sat all night with the juice on. Just to be safe since this is the first real cold snap in a couple years, I took the IR thermometer out this morning. Mamas Rav was about zero on the motor. Pans were close to 15. Pans on the Yukon were good. Motor was -40. WTF.

All the new GM block heaters have a thermostat on the cord. They won’t send juice to the heater until the outside temp is 0F or colder. Apparently the thing will set a code if the delta between the coolant temp and outside air temp is too much during a cold start. Mine doesn’t work. Gotta love technology.

The 3500 got plugged in for 4 hours. It has a 1500 watt circulating heater, oil pan, trans pan, and battery trickle chargers. Noon today the top of the intake was 105 degrees. No codes here.

[whitels1]

Dang bro, I'm having a hard time dealing with 40deg down here! Crazy you gotta plug your cars in, guess I'm spoiled down in Vegas.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by whitels1

Dang bro, I'm having a hard time dealing with 40deg down here! Crazy you gotta plug your cars in, guess I'm spoiled down in Vegas.

Over the years Ive worked with countless guys who had worked the pipeline up there. There were many stories of pouring some diesel into a coffee can and lighting it underneath the engines of equipment to keep them warm or get them warm enough to start.

I don't think I could sleep knowing that there was a fire burning underneath my rig . Sounds like a good spring project might be "supercharging" the heater on that Yukon!

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by whitels1

Dang bro, I'm having a hard time dealing with 40deg down here! Crazy you gotta plug your cars in, guess I'm spoiled down in Vegas.

Ha... It's only 80 degrees colder up there. Kinda crazy to think about that.

[whitels1]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

Ha... It's only 80 degrees colder up there. Kinda crazy to think about that.

Just 80

[Greenlee]

So I guess the old 1 ton was the only one that would start in those conditions. That’s awesome!

[Matt Man]

Marcus, how is the new trans doing? I just dropped mine off today for a new converter and flexplate.