Daughter's 1st Square

[my4by2]

Also ordered up the Edelbrock Performer RPM carbureted intake (as the one in the motor pic was a Victor Jr. & wasn't included), all new gaskets, new head bolts & a new timing set for that 5.3L. It'll be at Mario's shop tomorrow & he can work on it whenever he gets to it.

[my4by2]

Man what a score this axle is - the brakes are basically all new!!!! Here's hoping the internals are in as good a shape when they pop the cover tomorrow!

[my4by2]

Well, I went ahead & bought 1 Wheel Vintique 62 series wheel & trim ring today. Only bought the 1 because I want to be totally sure that the "dog dish" caps we have will fit on there before I order a whole set.

Only drawback to that particular wheel is that I could only get it in a 15x8 size... Had wanted to go up one size to a 16", but oh well I suppose.

Once I verify the hub cap fits I'll most likely get the one wheel powder coated & then assemble it all to verify that it's the look she really wants. I think it'll look great though & fit her "red wheels" criteria pretty well!

[J Knight]

http://www.wheelvintiques.com/index.php/products/ (Page 32)

These wheels go from 15x5 to 15x10. Are they only offering 15x8 now?

[my4by2]

No, they have all those sizes, but I had wanted a 16x8 to go up 1 size over the stock 15".

[J Knight]

Wich dog dish caps are you going with? Correct for truck year? I been wanting these for mine.

[my4by2]

Went with a set of N.O.S. GMC "dog dish" hub caps.

[my4by2]

Wheels will be getting powder coated to match that orangish-red color.

[J Knight]

Considering 8s and 10s?

[MrBeast]

Glad to see another father daughter project, cant be enough of them.

It will hopefully help teach her some good things, and it will keep her from getting ripped off by a shady mechanic someday who thinks he can take her for a ride because she is a woman.

[my4by2]

Originally Posted by J Knight

Considering 8s and 10s?

Considered that myself & that truck looks sweet! Only issue I have is that I like to be able to rotate the tires properly - not just side-to-side. More than likely I'll add on some spacers in the rear just so they fill the wheel well similar to the front.

[C&C Chevy]

Hey, I just got an 86 for my 13 year old daughter too! I had an 87 when she was growing up and she wanted an 80's chevy truck for her first vehicle too! Your truck is looking good!

[my4by2]

That's too cool! So glad the squarebody bug bit my Daughter - just hope the bite sticks once she's getting dirty & tired working on it.... Told her though, if she doesn't do the work & stick with it - she won't have a vehicle ready when she gets her license!

She's gonna know everything about her truck the day she starts driving it! Learned my lesson with my Son - gave him his first car & never got to do any work with him or teach him anything - now he knows squat about cars & really doesn't care for them or respect them the way he should - live & learn....

[JPalmer81]

Pretty sure if you went to a 16" rim, the dog dish hubs you have wouldnt fit them because they are for a half ton. I have done a lot of research on this issure here lately as i have been looking for some for my 1 ton. The 16" wheel are designed for the 12" hub caps and the 15" rim has the 10" or 10.5" hub cap, cant remember now. I think it was the same across the board for all the big 3, so the 15" wheel will work with the caps you have and the 16" will not.

[my4by2]

Yeah, about what I was discovering too... I could'a had a set made to work, but then if I ever damaged one I'd have to wait to have another made rather than just ordering a new one.

[JPalmer81]

but a 16" factory steel on the truck would look dynamite!! but, i wouldnt want to know how much it would cost to make the wheel! I just ordered 4 widened factory steelies through stockton wheel and they were really reasonable, dont know if you have looked into them or not.

[my4by2]

Yep, they were one of the places I was looking into. As long as the hub caps fit good on these Wheel Vintiques wheel I'll be happy - it's an 8" width so it'll look good. Probably end up with spacers on the rear to widen the track a bit to match the front.

[JPalmer81]

Hopefully they fit up nicely. That was the first question i asked was if the OEM dog dish hub cap would fit and they said yes, so i guess i will find out!

[my4by2]

Well, turns out the axle internals aren't quite as good as we'd really hoped dang it... The Gov-Lock (AKA "Gov-Bomb") has broken teeth & the bearings have surface rust.

The gears however are cherry, so we're gonna throw in some new bearings & replace the carrier with a Detroit True-Trac. They've always been my choice anyhow, was just hoping to get off cheap & easy....

[my4by2]

Axle's all complete - new bearings, cover & True Trac are all installed!!!

Just have to get it shipped back to Arkansas & we'll be good...

[4x4s4allie]

Awesome thread! Awesome project!

Your daughter is one lucky little lady. It's awesome to see a young lady taking interest in things that many her age don't, nor ever will ... she's gonna be a heartbreaker, cute little gal like her in one bad truck as such ... and best of luck keeping the boys away ... speaking from experience, it may work as they're younger, but the older the boys get, the more the grease and grime works as well as perfume and push-up bras ...

keep us posted on the build, my first square was an '85 K20 suburban ... can't get enough of them, still can't

[my4by2]

Well, thank goodness for Harbor Freight!!! Just ordered up a bunch of stuff I'm gonna need for the project once I get home that I don't have unfortunately... Got a nicer floor jack, tranny jack (right now for the rear axle), saw horses (to set the bed on), jack stands & an assortment of cut-off & grinding discs.

The real horror's going to be relocating my toolbox from the storage room it's in right now - I absolutely HATE moving that big 'ol thing from shop to shop.... Plus I need to clean it & re-organize it - been 7 years since I've really had to work out of it like this!

Wife's not gonna be too happy - have a 3 car garage with the typical 2/1 split up - she's been enjoying the 2 car side but when I get home I'm moving the Daughter's truck over & she'll have to use the smaller 1 car side for a few weeks... Mostly hate it because that side is manual roll-up, but pretty sure I'll get stuck with those duties!

I'm so darn excited to get home & start tearing into this thing with my Daughter!!!!!

[my4by2]

So the Daughter tells me today she "really wants power windows" in her truck down the road. I think I've found her the perfect kit!!!!

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by my4by2

So the Daughter tells me today she "really wants power windows" in her truck down the road. I think I've found her the perfect kit!!!!

The sad thing is, the dewalt is probably more expensive! lol

[my4by2]

True... Might have to go with a Harbor Freight el-cheap'o drill then!