Where have I been? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**swervin ervin** · 03-03-2005, 07:05 PM

Well first, I know you all have been missing me.

I've been doing a lot of other stuff lately. Sort of got bummed out on the truck scene if you can understand that. I once again changed jobs back last fall. I took a job too good to pass up and quit working for myself. Being your own boss has it's ups, but it's downs too. Construction is a dog eat dog world in my parts. Anyway, I went to work for a contractor and let him worry about keeping me busy.

I still have both trucks. The 79 justs sits in the drive and never moves. Sort of sad to see it do nothing. The 85 stays in the garage 99% of the time. I drive my work van all the time during the week and the wifes car the rest, except for a rare trip in the 85.

I did find out some great news a couple weeks ago though. I took the van in to get it inspected. He told me after this year, there will no longer be emissions tests on vehicles 95 or older in my county. Just safety inspections. I about fell out hearing this. So, after July, when my next inspection on the 85 is due, there will more than likely be a quick supply of used (slightly) emissions parts up for sale. I got so excited hearing this I didn't ask if there would even be a visual emissions test or not. I don't think so since he said all there would be is a safety test. He even said the 85 would probably love it.

Let's see. This will put me back in the mood to start working on her again. New exhaust system (oh, not again). New intake without EGR. New headers without A.I.R. ports. No damned cats either. The smog pump and hoses will be history. The charcoal canister and vacuum lines will be gone. I can sure clean up my engine bay the way it is supposed to be.

One thing is for sure, it costs a lot more money trying to make power with emissions junk bolted up. I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent because of it. Anyway, anyone need some almost new Random Technology cats? LOL

Anyway, enough rambling from me. I just thought I should stop in and let you know I hadn't fell off the edge of the world.

bigblock73 · 03-03-2005, 07:29 PM

Mike, I might have an interested buyer in the cats, can you PM me some info on them for me to pass along?

Welcome back to the board, hope to see you around a little more.

**Captkaos** · 03-03-2005, 07:38 PM

Mike,
Welcome back! Email me! I don't know your contact info apparently anymore.

SanitysBane · 03-03-2005, 07:53 PM

Welcome back, I was wondering were you had gone.

C-10volvo · 03-03-2005, 08:06 PM

i was wondering where you have been. how about you buy a new 454 and give me your motor. that way you can start "fresh"

KIILew · 03-03-2005, 08:39 PM

Mike:

Everytime I take a look at this board I wonder where you are! I figured the hectic nature of life probably drew you away from the "scene" here for awhile, though, and that we would see you when things calmed down.

Anyway, it is great that you have come back! I, like the others, am looking forward to hearing from you more often!

Ken Lewis

plumbcut · 03-03-2005, 08:45 PM

I was about 1 day away from asking you what other board you're hanging out @ now..... that really is somethin' about '95 and older being emissions exempt.. makes me kinda scratch my head... luckily here in cali, I have to smog my '77 one more time (this year in fact, I think...) and then it'll be exempt- woohoo...

pc

***Liz*** · 03-03-2005, 08:51 PM

mike check with the dmv too on the inspection thing.. my county changed it to 20 yrs or older no saftey at all as of this year. welcome back

*1FaastC10* · 03-03-2005, 09:19 PM

Mike, i was just out in the garage cleaning up my Grand Am and looked up on the wall, saw the pic of your truck (one of many lowered shortbed pics there), and realized that i hadnt seen anything from you lately. then you pop up on the board...

good to hear you've found new interest in working on your truck! i'm in the process of selling off some of my 4x4 parts to pay down some debt i have, so interest is a little low here. maybe a little too low, as im considering parting it out and selling off all my 4x4 parts. i miss my lowered 2wd!

8t5Silverado · 03-03-2005, 10:50 PM

Good to hear from you.

I would be afraid that the county might change their mind at a later date and then you would need all of that stuff back on your truck...just a thought.

I found a new way to fix my emissions problem...

**N2TRUX** · 03-04-2005, 12:02 AM

Well look what the cat drug up. I knew from your last post that you were staying busy with life and had been staying off the computer for a while. I'm glad to see you emerge again.

I hear ya on the working for yourself deal. While it certainly has it's perks, there are many adys I have to remind myself of exactly what they are, and how much I appreciate the blessings I have......

Welcome home buddy...

79BIG10 · 03-04-2005, 01:10 AM

Glad to see you chime in Mike

O can only imagine how happy you were to hear about the emissions. NOw I can't wait to see how clean that engine bay will be.

Did you ever get the brake problem fixed? If so can you write up an article on it? I'm going to do a rear axle swap and if I could go ahead and install discs while it's out I would.

TIMSPEED · 03-04-2005, 02:25 AM

Mike,
Glad to see ya back.

I don't know if you already done this or not, but before you change your exhaust, I would go to Pick & Pull, and pick up a dual exhaust crossmember. It'll make routing the exhaust much easier, and also a lot cleaner. I originally DIDN'T do this, but am going back and doing this now. (As well as changing my exhaust to 304SS piping, because I got some free.)

MylilBowTie · 03-04-2005, 02:42 AM

Mike has the double hump crossmember.

WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was about to post and see if anyone knew where you've been. Its been wayyy to long..

Mike was one of the very first to ever help me out. Its been so long ago that I stumbled on to your old old website (maybe the 1st about the 85?).

Just want to say thanks for all the help and support you have given me.

*1FaastC10* · 03-04-2005, 02:49 AM

yup, he got the crossmember from my C10.

86-C10-V6 · 03-04-2005, 06:59 PM

I don't think I would be ripping off any emmisions stuff just yet.
I live in Franklin county and the emmisions test was not even started here until last year, but the visual inspection has always been required.
The new law and method for emmisions in NC is to connect to the Diagnostic port to check for failure codes.
All 1996 and newer vehicles support the DIAG port.
This simplifies the testing, but I think the visual inspection will still be performed.
Just need to find an inspector with poor eyesight.
Good to see you back.

**swervin ervin** · 03-04-2005, 07:10 PM

Thanks for the kind words folks. Looks like there has been a lot of stuff going on around here. Quite a few new members too I see. Welcome to everyone of you newbies. This is a fantastic place to hang out and chat. A lot of great folks who will go out of their way to help you.

Brandon,

I haven't worked on the brakes anymore since I finished with them the first time. No, they're still not working right. Only thing left on the truck that hasn't been changed is the booster. It's a replacement I bought at Advance Auto Parts quite a while back. If my old man memory serves me right, I can remember the brakes started getting worse not long after replacing it too. I know when a booster is bad you get a hard pedal and such but as this is the only thing not new and going by the way I remember it doing before I switched to disc brakes, I do believe it has something to do with my problem. One thing is for sure, not long from now I'll find out if it is, when I replace it with a new 8" I plan on buying for it.

N2TRUK (Ken),

Looks like I was right all along. I knew you couldn't leave the 77 stock for long.

You are more like me than you will ever know. (or is it I'm more like you?) I can't (and refuse too) leave well enough alone. I never have liked anything stock. It's OK I guess, but why not make it better and faster?

Good luck with everything.

Ken Lewis,

every time you reply to one of my posts, email or whatever, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling. You have a way of typing stuff that lifts my spirits.

Once again, thanks. You guys are the best bunch of truckers around.

Mike

Hoods69BadBowTie · 03-04-2005, 10:02 PM

I am up here in MT and am so glad that I don't have to worry about that emmisions crap. I would fail horribly, make sure to post up some pictures of the clean engine bay when you get done doing it.
-Later

87 STEPPER · 03-05-2005, 10:17 PM

Welcome home stranger,

Befor you go gittin' rid of all your emission stuff ya may want to hold on to it for awhile just in case the fine state of N.C. changes there mind's.

Florida completely dumped emissions testing/inspection about 5 or 6 yr's ago and i still have all my emissions stuff just because i dont trust 'em.

If you have to go buy all that stuff again it will cost ya, well you know

Anyways

back!

**swervin ervin** · 03-05-2005, 10:40 PM

Bruce,

you have a point for sure. I don't even know yet if I will be able to remove any of it. They may still do a visual. I will find out in July. Until then I can't do anything anyway. Only thing I do know for sure is there will be no more emissions tests, which includes the tail pipe sniffer. The guy told me only safety tests will be done. I'm hoping no visual or anything but safety. I guess time will tell. If I can remove it, I will probably keep it just in case. I sure would hate to buy all that crap again 10 years down the road. It would be twice as high then.

03-03-2005, 07:05 PM	#1
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Where have I been? Well first, I know you all have been missing me. I've been doing a lot of other stuff lately. Sort of got bummed out on the truck scene if you can understand that. I once again changed jobs back last fall. I took a job too good to pass up and quit working for myself. Being your own boss has it's ups, but it's downs too. Construction is a dog eat dog world in my parts. Anyway, I went to work for a contractor and let him worry about keeping me busy. I still have both trucks. The 79 justs sits in the drive and never moves. Sort of sad to see it do nothing. The 85 stays in the garage 99% of the time. I drive my work van all the time during the week and the wifes car the rest, except for a rare trip in the 85. I did find out some great news a couple weeks ago though. I took the van in to get it inspected. He told me after this year, there will no longer be emissions tests on vehicles 95 or older in my county. Just safety inspections. I about fell out hearing this. So, after July, when my next inspection on the 85 is due, there will more than likely be a quick supply of used (slightly) emissions parts up for sale. I got so excited hearing this I didn't ask if there would even be a visual emissions test or not. I don't think so since he said all there would be is a safety test. He even said the 85 would probably love it. Let's see. This will put me back in the mood to start working on her again. New exhaust system (oh, not again). New intake without EGR. New headers without A.I.R. ports. No damned cats either. The smog pump and hoses will be history. The charcoal canister and vacuum lines will be gone. I can sure clean up my engine bay the way it is supposed to be. One thing is for sure, it costs a lot more money trying to make power with emissions junk bolted up. I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent because of it. Anyway, anyone need some almost new Random Technology cats? LOL Anyway, enough rambling from me. I just thought I should stop in and let you know I hadn't fell off the edge of the world. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

03-03-2005, 07:29 PM	#2
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,826	Mike, I might have an interested buyer in the cats, can you PM me some info on them for me to pass along? Welcome back to the board, hope to see you around a little more. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

03-03-2005, 07:38 PM	#3
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Mike, Welcome back! Email me! I don't know your contact info apparently anymore. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

03-03-2005, 07:53 PM	#4
SanitysBane Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,121	Welcome back, I was wondering were you had gone. __________________ '96 Nissan Pathfinder '02 Firebird Trans Am. '88 K5 Blazer

03-03-2005, 08:06 PM	#5
C-10volvo Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon Posts: 1,028	i was wondering where you have been. how about you buy a new 454 and give me your motor. that way you can start "fresh" __________________ Ken Morgan For fun: 1964 Volvo 122 For slow: 1984 Chevrolet C-10 For everything else: 1997 BMW M3

03-03-2005, 08:39 PM	#6
KIILew Active Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Prosser, WA 99350 Posts: 147	Mike: Everytime I take a look at this board I wonder where you are! I figured the hectic nature of life probably drew you away from the "scene" here for awhile, though, and that we would see you when things calmed down. Anyway, it is great that you have come back! I, like the others, am looking forward to hearing from you more often! Ken Lewis

03-03-2005, 08:45 PM	#7
plumbcut california fill Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sunny So-Cal Posts: 694	I was about 1 day away from asking you what other board you're hanging out @ now..... that really is somethin' about '95 and older being emissions exempt.. makes me kinda scratch my head... luckily here in cali, I have to smog my '77 one more time (this year in fact, I think...) and then it'll be exempt- woohoo... pc

03-03-2005, 08:51 PM	#8
*Liz* Catchy title goes here.. Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Rockwell, NC Posts: 39,734	mike check with the dmv too on the inspection thing.. my county changed it to 20 yrs or older no saftey at all as of this year. welcome back

03-03-2005, 09:19 PM	#9
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	Mike, i was just out in the garage cleaning up my Grand Am and looked up on the wall, saw the pic of your truck (one of many lowered shortbed pics there), and realized that i hadnt seen anything from you lately. then you pop up on the board... good to hear you've found new interest in working on your truck! i'm in the process of selling off some of my 4x4 parts to pay down some debt i have, so interest is a little low here. maybe a little too low, as im considering parting it out and selling off all my 4x4 parts. i miss my lowered 2wd!

03-03-2005, 10:50 PM	#10
8t5Silverado Mudslides 'r my specialty Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: STL Posts: 1,106	Good to hear from you. I would be afraid that the county might change their mind at a later date and then you would need all of that stuff back on your truck...just a thought. I found a new way to fix my emissions problem... __________________ Always on the lookout for old cars and parts...(20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.) http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/500339

03-04-2005, 12:02 AM	#11
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	Well look what the cat drug up. I knew from your last post that you were staying busy with life and had been staying off the computer for a while. I'm glad to see you emerge again. I hear ya on the working for yourself deal. While it certainly has it's perks, there are many adys I have to remind myself of exactly what they are, and how much I appreciate the blessings I have...... Welcome home buddy...

03-04-2005, 01:10 AM	#12
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,775	Glad to see you chime in Mike O can only imagine how happy you were to hear about the emissions. NOw I can't wait to see how clean that engine bay will be. Did you ever get the brake problem fixed? If so can you write up an article on it? I'm going to do a rear axle swap and if I could go ahead and install discs while it's out I would. __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

03-04-2005, 02:25 AM	#13
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Mike, Glad to see ya back. I don't know if you already done this or not, but before you change your exhaust, I would go to Pick & Pull, and pick up a dual exhaust crossmember. It'll make routing the exhaust much easier, and also a lot cleaner. I originally DIDN'T do this, but am going back and doing this now. (As well as changing my exhaust to 304SS piping, because I got some free.) __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

03-04-2005, 02:42 AM	#14
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	Mike has the double hump crossmember. WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was about to post and see if anyone knew where you've been. Its been wayyy to long.. Mike was one of the very first to ever help me out. Its been so long ago that I stumbled on to your old old website (maybe the 1st about the 85?). Just want to say thanks for all the help and support you have given me. __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

03-04-2005, 02:49 AM	#15
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	yup, he got the crossmember from my C10.



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03-04-2005, 06:59 PM	#16
86-C10-V6 Shadetree Mechanic Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Youngsville, NC Posts: 100	Welcome back I don't think I would be ripping off any emmisions stuff just yet. I live in Franklin county and the emmisions test was not even started here until last year, but the visual inspection has always been required. The new law and method for emmisions in NC is to connect to the Diagnostic port to check for failure codes. All 1996 and newer vehicles support the DIAG port. This simplifies the testing, but I think the visual inspection will still be performed. Just need to find an inspector with poor eyesight. Good to see you back. __________________ Dave M. (Hacksaw) 86 C10 Scottsdale LWB, 4.3L, Edelbrock 1904, K&N, 700R4, 3.08 Auburn Performance 89 GMC S-15 Extended Cab 4x4, 4.3L, FI 98 K1500 Xcab, 5.7L, 3.43 Gov-Lok

03-04-2005, 07:10 PM	#17
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Thanks for the kind words folks. Looks like there has been a lot of stuff going on around here. Quite a few new members too I see. Welcome to everyone of you newbies. This is a fantastic place to hang out and chat. A lot of great folks who will go out of their way to help you. Brandon, I haven't worked on the brakes anymore since I finished with them the first time. No, they're still not working right. Only thing left on the truck that hasn't been changed is the booster. It's a replacement I bought at Advance Auto Parts quite a while back. If my old man memory serves me right, I can remember the brakes started getting worse not long after replacing it too. I know when a booster is bad you get a hard pedal and such but as this is the only thing not new and going by the way I remember it doing before I switched to disc brakes, I do believe it has something to do with my problem. One thing is for sure, not long from now I'll find out if it is, when I replace it with a new 8" I plan on buying for it. N2TRUK (Ken), Looks like I was right all along. I knew you couldn't leave the 77 stock for long. You are more like me than you will ever know. (or is it I'm more like you?) I can't (and refuse too) leave well enough alone. I never have liked anything stock. It's OK I guess, but why not make it better and faster? Good luck with everything. Ken Lewis, every time you reply to one of my posts, email or whatever, I get a warm and fuzzy feeling. You have a way of typing stuff that lifts my spirits. Once again, thanks. You guys are the best bunch of truckers around. Mike

03-04-2005, 10:02 PM	#18
Hoods69BadBowTie Chevys Kick A$$ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zootown, MT Posts: 12,699	I am up here in MT and am so glad that I don't have to worry about that emmisions crap. I would fail horribly, make sure to post up some pictures of the clean engine bay when you get done doing it. -Later __________________ HOODS is what I answer too -'79, '77, '88 Pickup Sold, '85 Camaro, '83 T/A, '81,'83,'90 K5 Blazer All Sold -'79 3/4 ton "Big Yellow Bananna" Lifted 4spd. 39.5 TSL Swampers, The money Pit -'86 K5 Blazer Silverado 6.2 4" lift 35"s -'95 Ext. Cab Shorty 4" Tuff Country rolling 35" M/T's -'83 Monte Carlo T-Tops. 126,500 Original Miles -LATER I would rather push a Chevy then drive a ford!!

03-05-2005, 10:17 PM	#19
87 STEPPER STILL PLAYS WITH TRUX Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Fla. Posts: 2,764	Welcome home stranger, Befor you go gittin' rid of all your emission stuff ya may want to hold on to it for awhile just in case the fine state of N.C. changes there mind's. Florida completely dumped emissions testing/inspection about 5 or 6 yr's ago and i still have all my emissions stuff just because i dont trust 'em. If you have to go buy all that stuff again it will cost ya, well you know Anyways back! __________________ ~~Bruce~~ MY 87 STEPPER MY 99 2D/WD TAHOE

03-05-2005, 10:40 PM	#20
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Bruce, you have a point for sure. I don't even know yet if I will be able to remove any of it. They may still do a visual. I will find out in July. Until then I can't do anything anyway. Only thing I do know for sure is there will be no more emissions tests, which includes the tail pipe sniffer. The guy told me only safety tests will be done. I'm hoping no visual or anything but safety. I guess time will tell. If I can remove it, I will probably keep it just in case. I sure would hate to buy all that crap again 10 years down the road. It would be twice as high then.

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