'89 GMC C1500 build thread

[69c10stepside]

No real updates, been helping my dad/grandpa load up some old vehicles for the crusher.. Pretty sad what kind of stuff has been left to rot around and has to be scrapped out.

I did secure a few Ford 9" rear ends and differentials.. Scored a housing that is overall .5" shorter then a 2wd 88-98 rearend.. 3.90 gear ratio, going to order a locker of some type for it after I get it fabbed in.

[69c10stepside]

Going to start work back on the project this week. Did get confirmation that my ram air kit finally shipped this last Friday. Will get pictures of that once I get it in.

[scotts62]

I would order an Auburn locker for it they are bullet proof but kinda spendy.

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by scotts62

I would order an Auburn locker for it they are bullet proof but kinda spendy.

I was looking at a detroit locker or an auburn for it. If I knew for sure how much wet weather driving I would be doing with it (or how much I wouldn't be I should say), i would be just buying a mini spool

[scotts62]

Originally Posted by 69c10stepside

I was looking at a detroit locker or an auburn for it. If I knew for sure how much wet weather driving I would be doing with it (or how much I wouldn't be I should say), i would be just buying a mini spool

true but the Auburns are good and usually dont lock in in light driving too much unless forced too like it would be if i was driving

[69c10stepside]

Still debating which posi/tracloc unit to go with on the 9", I am down to two different housings to choose from, one is about 1" narrower, the other is about .75-1.25" wider.

Finished prepping and painting/conditioning the 96 model dash that I am going to use in the truck. I will post pictures of it and the ram air kit today after I get back to the house. I have been having dirty thoughts of going back to the 88-89 style headlights/grille on this build instead of the 94+.. Hrrmm.

[jb1016]

I just had that thought the other day in another thread. That front end setup gets no love...

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by jb1016

I just had that thought the other day in another thread. That front end setup gets no love...

Only reason why I even had the thought in my mind was a picture of a truck from another site.. http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6689/89gmc.jpg

And it just reminded me of what my pickup looked like when I drove it home for the first time (front end wise only of course!)..

I have the dual headlight assemblies off of my truck still.. I don't know if I am going to do those or the ones I have now, but I am about 95% sure I am going to go with the 88-93 style Gmc grille again.

[69c10stepside]

Wow, DO NOT buy the good hood ram air kit. It isn't an air ram kit, all it consists of is a cold air intake that mounts on the fender. Nothing different from it to other cold air intakes.. Called the company I bought it from, and through their customer support tech, they agreed with me saying that the wording on the kit was deceptive.

So to repeat, the kit is only a cold air intake, nothing that attaches to the hood, or allows the kit to make the hood a true functional ram air kit. Sending back tomorrow.

[jb1016]

That sucks. I know you were looking forward to using that with your hood.

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by jb1016

That sucks. I know you were looking forward to using that with your hood.

Yep, looked forward to having something that I wasn't going to have to make, or should I say, attempt to make for myself!

I should have seen it as an omen that nobody else on the web had pictures of it working with this setup.

Have had some hiccups in work plans, still haven't been able to make it to the shop (other then to check out the "ram air" kit).

[69c10stepside]

While waiting for some other things to come around on the pickup, been working on moving some dash parts around and getting the wiring harness like I want it. Here are first shots of the first mock up.. As you can see that's an 88-91 style cluster in the 96 model dash. That is the direction I am going to go, even though I will probably migrate it over to the 94 tach style cluster I have. The factory cd player pocket on the 96 dash is open enough to house the 88-94 style a/c controls, which is the second picture.





Going to make a cover to go around the steering column to make it look closer to being right with the 96 dash, along with putting the rest of the ventwork in, etc..

:edit: Just noticed how red this looks, must be the flash acting up on the pictures, it is a medium burgandy, between the lighter and darker variants GM had in the 89 model year.

[89muscletruck]

looks good!, I like the moonies cluster in the newer dash.

[gmt400]

Looks good Im staying tuned to steal ideas!

[69c10stepside]

Been experimenting with fiberglassing in the area around the older instrument cluster to the dash.. Getting closer everytime, but i had a thought last night. The area by the cluster and how it goes into the dash, appears to be large enough to put a 3 1/2 or larger tach there. So, I am going to have to buy one to try it out and see if I can make a pod or something solid to hold it place..

Plan on working on the truck again this weekend, time flies.

[69c10stepside]

Will get some pictures this weekend of how everything looks. I have stopped and started on dash so many times on my free time, I am going to hold off on it for a while now. Just can't quite get it the way I like it.

I have pretty much scrapped the ford 9" idea. Everything that I can get ahold of locally is junk. If I am going to spend the money on something to get fabbed or made, I guess I will work with the 14bolt rearend that I have. Anybody out there have a lead on replacement 454 ss axles?

[scotts62]

Were you looking for a Ford 9"? I have a housing, not sure if i have the carrier or not ill have to look..

You can use a piece of pvc pipe that the tach will fit in and angle it anywhere and just fiberglass around and mold it in, just an idea.

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by scotts62

Were you looking for a Ford 9"? I have a housing, not sure if i have the carrier or not ill have to look..

You can use a piece of pvc pipe that the tach will fit in and angle it anywhere and just fiberglass around and mold it in, just an idea.

I have good housings, just everything else I get my hands on seems to be junk. Went through four complete rearends now.

Oh as far as the dash, I am just now getting to the point where I am happy with the mockup, it was kinda hard to get it all sitting right when I didn't have a seat in it to actually try looking at it all

As far as the rear housing is concerned, I checked moser's website and quoted some work through them. I am going to see if there is anybody local that can match the price plus shipping and see how it goes. One way or another.. I am getting tired of the pickup sitting in the shop!

[JohnC]

Good looking build man. Subscribed.

[69c10stepside]

14bolt rearend installed. Pulling the axles out this weekend to get them out the door to Moser to be machined for me.

No other work on it then that the last week or so, I have lots of time for everything but what I want to do right now it seems!

[69c10stepside]

Been too hot for me to work on this thing the last week or so. May have another truck this body style bought for some parts that I need.. But either way, hope to make some headway once it cools down.. if it does. Ha.

[JohnC]

Man I hear ya there. It's been hot over here too, not too far from ya. Just one more reason why I need to hit the lottery. Climate controlled garage!

[69c10stepside]

Originally Posted by JohnC

Man I hear ya there. It's been hot over here too, not too far from ya. Just one more reason why I need to hit the lottery. Climate controlled garage!

Between the heat and the humidity, I might actually get one thing done this summer, weight loss!

With that said, brought the new parts truck home today. It is an '89 gmc with a '94 and up style grille.. So that is the style that I am going to go back with. Truck might end up having something good about it that I didn't think it would. The guy I bought it from said it was a repo (his car lot) and the motor was bad, wouldn't turn over/locked up. Got it home and see that the starter is missing.. I put a breakover bar on the crank pulley bolt and the motor does turn with enough resistance that one should have with the spark plugs in it. Next minor project will be get a starter back on this truck and see if it runs!.. Might be able to make my small investment back without issue, ha.

[JohnC]

Sweet. Sometimes it's the simplest things that people just can't figure out.

[builtchevystrong]

Originally Posted by 69c10stepside

While waiting for some other things to come around on the pickup, been working on moving some dash parts around and getting the wiring harness like I want it. Here are first shots of the first mock up.. As you can see that's an 88-91 style cluster in the 96 model dash. That is the direction I am going to go, even though I will probably migrate it over to the 94 tach style cluster I have. The factory cd player pocket on the 96 dash is open enough to house the 88-94 style a/c controls, which is the second picture.





Going to make a cover to go around the steering column to make it look closer to being right with the 96 dash, along with putting the rest of the ventwork in, etc..

:edit: Just noticed how red this looks, must be the flash acting up on the pictures, it is a medium burgandy, between the lighter and darker variants GM had in the 89 model year.

did the new dash fit right in? and did u just wire up the new controls like ac air ect.