Glock's new project: "Fred" w/ 5.3L LS swap info

[glock35ipsc]

It was much cheaper to get it from Summit that it is to buy it locally. For 15', Summit is about $4/foot. The Parker Store here in town is $7.28/foot, regardless of quantity!

[Driveway Dreams]

And let me guess...they couldn't even get close on the price to allow you to keep your business local.

[glock35ipsc]

Nope. $7.28/foot versus $4.00/foot. Wouldn't budge. No brainer, local or not.

[STOCKISH]

Hows everything in your neck of the woods Bob? Havent heard from you for a while, didnt know if you found some better friends or something.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

Hows everything in your neck of the woods Bob? Havent heard from you for a while, didnt know if you found some better friends or something.

LOL, I'm still alive! Freaking azz busy, but alive! Driving the tires off of Fred, enjoying the warm weather. The kids and I put a little over 100 miles on him Saturday.

Gathering parts to get the AC going, will be starting that real soon. Also need to get the temp sensor swap done ASAP.... the smell of burnt antifreeze is very nauseating!

BTW, my friends all abandoned me so they could find better friends!

[79gmc5.3]

Welcome back Bob! Slow down a little, we need you expertise around here!!

[cory15]

Hey guys whats up some color ideas for you bob.

[STOCKISH]

BTW, my friends all abandoned me so they could find better friends! [/QUOTE]

I didnt abandon you buddy! Just sitting here waiting to see pics of the trailing arm suspension swap progress.

[qu1cks1lver56]

Here's a paint color idea, black base under red pearl.

[bigdnew]

That is sweet. It looks kinda like Harley Davidson's Black Cherry Pearl.

[camdNsprayd]

THat is a badass color!!!

[Driveway Dreams]

That, but a little more red, is kinda what I have had in mind since you mentioned going to a dark red like a Black Cherry sort of color. Fred would be dang sexy like that. (Is that wrong to say?) And then, just have a good clear bra added to the front, and the bottom edges. Then...drive it.

[bigdnew]

wait a minute, fred, sexy and wearing nothing but a bra. i thought this was a G rated forum

[glock35ipsc]

More importantly, why the hell is he wearing a bra???? A bro maybe.....

Nice truck Cory!

Quicksilver, that paint job reminds me of my old Monza drag car, black base with a ton of red pearl in the clear. Looked very similar. I wish I could find some close up pics of it. That was almost 20 years ago though, I'll have to dig deep!

Nothing new with Fred, yet. I'll probably start pulling things apart this weekend to start on the A/C. I'll swap the temp sensor locations at the same time. And replace the fuel line from the filter to the rail with SS braided. Trans cooler lines too. I might even lop another 1/2 coil off the front if I get the itch.

I had to replace the tank selector switch yesterday. Sunday I was driving to my brother's, and couldn't remember how much fuel was in the other tank. When I switched it, the psi gauge went to 0, and the truck started to die, so I switched it back. I did this about a dozen times, then it finally switched to the other tank. I just left it there in case I couldn't get it to switch back.

On Sunday, I pulled the truck out so I could clean the shop. I though I would see what happened if I switched it again. It physically wouldn't move. Of course, with enough force, it moved. Oops! Picked up a new one yesterday at NAPA and replaced it last night. Not pretty. The connections on the switch where the two tan colored wires connect to were melted, and the harness plug was toast too. Don't know what happened, other than it being a 23 year old switch that has been switched well over 1000 times. I cut the plug off and used spades, and it works fine now. I drove him today, no problems. I'll be keeping an eye on it for sure.

[glock35ipsc]

Looking at the schematics, the two wires involved was the tan/white (power from the relay to the switch) and the tan (power from the switch to the L pump). I drove in this morning on the left tank and didn't have any issues. I just went out and started the truck and tried the switch, everything is normal. Hmmm......

[nlped]

^^^Curious. I hate electrical gremlins.

[glock35ipsc]

My guess is since the left tank is probably the most commonly used tank even with dual tanks, and that the switch is in the left tank position more than the right position. These aren't very heavy duty switches, pretty light weight actually. I imagine the contacts in the switch were just worn out, and probably a little flimsy, causing arcing and such and so fort and dat sort of thing (spoken in my best Arnold accent ). Driving on our gravel roads probably didn't help either. They must have decided that they have had enough of this touching stuff and just gave out.

The old switch was melted real bad at those two points, the harness plug was crispy and melted too as were the terminals, but the wires were fresh with no evidence of being hot at all. That leads me to believe that it was entirely in the worn out switch.

[nlped]

Okay, that's fixed! Now get on with the A/C stuff

[SatisTraction]

Originally Posted by nlped

Okay, that's fixed! Now get on with the A/C stuff

what are your ac plans?

[glock35ipsc]

Everything will be stock/standard for the 85 (although most everything will be new) except for the compressor, which will be the one that came with the 5.3. In other words.... rerouting the original hoses and crimping new compressor-side fittings onto them.

[rongstad]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

My guess is since the left tank is probably the most commonly used tank even with dual tanks, and that the switch is in the left tank position more than the right position. These aren't very heavy duty switches, pretty light weight actually. I imagine the contacts in the switch were just worn out, and probably a little flimsy, causing arcing and such and so fort and dat sort of thing (spoken in my best Arnold accent ). Driving on our gravel roads probably didn't help either. They must have decided that they have had enough of this touching stuff and just gave out.

The old switch was melted real bad at those two points, the harness plug was crispy and melted too as were the terminals, but the wires were fresh with no evidence of being hot at all. That leads me to believe that it was entirely in the worn out switch.

would you use relays to control the tanks? do you think its possible/feasible?

[glock35ipsc]

You could, but in OEM form, I don't really think they are necessary. However...... I was thinking this afternoon; I wonder if the high psi pumps are drawing more amps -vs- the tbi pumps? It is very possible, but I am still not entirely convinced that is was issue in this case.

But, one could leave the OEM wiring entirely in place, run a power wire from an ignition-on source, and put relays back near the tanks. Then cut the wires that run from the switch to the pumps, use the switch end of the wire to trigger the relay, and the other end to power the pumps as normal.

I don't have the wiring schematics in front of me now since I am at home. But, taking into account how the pump power wires run through the selector valve, it could easily be done and take a great load off of the switch.

I may just yank the bed off when I do the A/C and take a look at it,and possibly do it. And I'll probably put the one-way tank vents on while I'm there.

[rongstad]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

You could, but in OEM form, I don't really think they are necessary. However...... I was thinking this afternoon; I wonder if the high psi pumps are drawing more amps -vs- the tbi pumps? It is very possible, but I am still not entirely convinced that is was issue in this case.

But, one could leave the OEM wiring entirely in place, run a power wire from an ignition-on source, and put relays back near the tanks. Then cut the wires that run from the switch to the pumps, use the switch end of the wire to trigger the relay, and the other end to power the pumps as normal.

I don't have the wiring schematics in front of me now since I am at home. But, taking into account how the pump power wires run through the selector valve, it could easily be done and take a great load off of the switch.

I may just yank the bed off when I do the A/C and take a look at it,and possibly do it. And I'll probably put the one-way tank vents on while I'm there.

I'm still in the parts gathering stage before I begin my build; I will probably use relays but I dont want them under the bed and especially dont want too many wires runnning all over the place..

[Driveway Dreams]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

...But, one could leave the OEM wiring entirely in place, run a power wire from an ignition-on source, and put relays back near the tanks. Then cut the wires that run from the switch to the pumps, use the switch end of the wire to trigger the relay, and the other end to power the pumps as normal...

DENNIS!!!! Please chime in here...I hate being the only one who feels like I just read something in some foreign language. I hate electrical.

[qu1cks1lver56]

Originally Posted by glock35ipsc

More importantly, why the hell is he wearing a bra???? A bro maybe.....

Nice truck Cory!

Quicksilver, that paint job reminds me of my old Monza drag car, black base with a ton of red pearl in the clear. Looked very similar. I wish I could find some close up pics of it. That was almost 20 years ago though, I'll have to dig deep!

Nothing new with Fred, yet. I'll probably start pulling things apart this weekend to start on the A/C. I'll swap the temp sensor locations at the same time. And replace the fuel line from the filter to the rail with SS braided. Trans cooler lines too. I might even lop another 1/2 coil off the front if I get the itch.

I had to replace the tank selector switch yesterday. Sunday I was driving to my brother's, and couldn't remember how much fuel was in the other tank. When I switched it, the psi gauge went to 0, and the truck started to die, so I switched it back. I did this about a dozen times, then it finally switched to the other tank. I just left it there in case I couldn't get it to switch back.

On Sunday, I pulled the truck out so I could clean the shop. I though I would see what happened if I switched it again. It physically wouldn't move. Of course, with enough force, it moved. Oops! Picked up a new one yesterday at NAPA and replaced it last night. Not pretty. The connections on the switch where the two tan colored wires connect to were melted, and the harness plug was toast too. Don't know what happened, other than it being a 23 year old switch that has been switched well over 1000 times. I cut the plug off and used spades, and it works fine now. I drove him today, no problems. I'll be keeping an eye on it for sure.

A bro lol.
Nice Seinfeld reference.