Decisions on how to proceed on 87 GMC

[Tech_Ed88]

I have a completely stock 1987 GMC short bed 2WD.
It was my paps truck and was always taken care of. It is just shy of 99K miles on the chevy 350. Still runs strong. The primary purpose of the truck has always been pulling a camping trailer.
He pulled a 1988 20 foot trailer with it, and I just bought a Jayco lite 27 foot trailer. It has a 5000 lb dry weight and a 7000 lb gross weight.
I have not pulled the trailer yet, and assume it will be fine to pull with a half ton truck.

Here is my question:
I have about 2k burning a hole in my pocket. I want to spend it!


Since the truck will be pulling a trailer about 4-5 times a year, should I stick with a stock tire? 235 75 r 15?
I want a nice white letter tire but not sure what style

Should I replace a perfect hood with a cowl induction hood or use the money elsewhere?

I thought about buying a tire/wheel package from one of those wholesellers on the internet
like an american racing baja or outlaw II with bf goodrich or wrangler white letter tires.
But..... The stock wheels are starting to grow on me and I'm thinking about just replacing the beauty rings and painting or powdering the wheels instead.

I have a billet grill for it, and was wondering about replacing the stock trim with new trim.

I also need/want a nice tonneau cover with easy access.
I have a buddy that will sell me a hard top for 200.00 but it's red..... like the perfectly new red cap I just took off.
I like the roll up tonneau covers too.

How would you spend 2k on your new toy that still has a job to do?

[snc4life]

nothing looks better than 255/70/15 bf goodrich radial t/a's on a stock height ralley wheel truck

[Tech_Ed88]

Since I'm pulling a camper, how will that wheel height affect my overall power?
I remember my 33's on my bronco looked great but lost some on power.

I love the look of the 255 T/A's too by the way. and would love to go that route, but I'm a little concerned.

ok... New tires... stock wheels...
how about trim... replace chrome trim, and wheel well trim or leave it off.

[MTCK]

Towing 7k on the rear hitch? For starters reciever hitch if it doesn't have one, transmission cooler, trailer brake controller, good tune up, check the brakes wheel bearings etc. Not very sexy but if you want it to tow....

edit: and if you really want to spend some bucks put a set of 3.73 gears or 4.10's in it if you have an OD - great towing upgrade. Can probably find your stock axle ratio in the glove box OE sticker.

[Tech_Ed88]

Yea, It has all of that. Thats all it was used for, and will still be used for. I just upgraded to a new trailer. the 2007 27ft jayco should weigh as much or less than the old 20 ft 1988 model.

Just want to make sure it will be able to do it with a little bigger tire.

The truck pulled the camper for 20 years, but only a few miles a few times......
whats not sexy about a trailer hitch? HA

[dan76]

Repaint or powder coat rims stock color, keep the chrome rings, and depending on the rear axle ratio, go one size up in tires. However get tires with a higher load rating. Skip the cowl induction hood but consider a bed topper. I like to secure items in the bed with a lockable bed cap when towing a trailer. I didn't want to load the trailer with items (cooler/tools/spares/grill/charcoal) requiring unloading for comfort breaks or short stops.

Use your spare cash to update the cab sound system, do a full tune up, and/or replace shocks.

[snc4life]

255/70's are right around 29 inches im pretty sure 235/75s are aswell the 255's are just a little wider should'nt affect anything im sure there is better tires for towing but im a raised white letter tire guy lol

[MTCK]

Yeah just make sure the tires will handle the load. I agree with a tonneau or shell as well for the same reasons stated above. 1200 lb dry load on the rear axle 700 lbs tongue weight, 100 lbs for your shell and 500 lbs of fuel gear and cargo... You could easily be 2500 lbs on the axle. This is a way rough guess but that is within the realm of what a passenger car tire like that will take.

[longbedrick]

give the ole' girl a tune-up and a new set of shoes. besides, nothing looks better than money in the bank

[Tech_Ed88]

Wow.. this forum is great for getting information... and quick too!
I appreciate it guys...

[Tech_Ed88]

Originally Posted by longbedrick

give the ole' girl a tune-up and a new set of shoes. besides, nothing looks better than money in the bank

Yea, but my bank account is her spending money.
I sold off some other hobby stuff.... so this is monopoly money to me...
just changing hobbies.

[willett]

POSI!!!!
and trani cooler
and big block

[Tech_Ed88]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Towing 7k on the rear hitch? For starters reciever hitch if it doesn't have one, transmission cooler, trailer brake controller, good tune up, check the brakes wheel bearings etc. Not very sexy but if you want it to tow....

edit: and if you really want to spend some bucks put a set of 3.73 gears or 4.10's in it if you have an OD - great towing upgrade. Can probably find your stock axle ratio in the glove box OE sticker.

I have a 700r4, so It does have overdrive. I will look at the gearing. I am not sure what's in it now, but it seems to pull the moutain fine. about 40-45 up hill towing.


I do have an issue with the rear brakes to work out. They grab and or squeel like mad for the first few times you use them.
I've taken it to two different shops, they said the shoes are fine, drums just had dust in them.
It didn't fix it at all.
It feels like your using the emergency brake ......
I think they probably need surfaced, or adjusted. drives me insane.

[Tech_Ed88]

Well, .......... I'm a little concerned now.
I had an old family friend who has pulled a trailer for many years come visit me....
he said that the old chevy might not have enough power to pull a 7000 lb trailer.....up the mountain....

Before I sink a lot into this.... does anyone have any idea what you can get away with with pulling with a chevy 1/2 ton and a 350?

[GmtGmt]

i would find a 454 big block just to be on the safe side i woundt want this to happen

YouTube- The Little Car That Could

I think your 350 should be good enough

[MTCK]

Power isn't your problem. Many a 350 have been in a one ton or medium duty truck with combined weights in the 20k lbs range. The real concern is can you control it and stop it. Does the trailer have electric brakes? Do you have a brake controller? Do you have a load distributing hitch for it. What class receiver hitch do you have? What axle gears do you have? What load range are your tires? What transmission do you have? 700R4 or TH350 or 4 speed manual?

[Tech_Ed88]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Power isn't your problem. Many a 350 have been in a one ton or medium duty truck with combined weights in the 20k lbs range. The real concern is can you control it and stop it. Does the trailer have electric brakes? Do you have a brake controller? Do you have a load distributing hitch for it. What class receiver hitch do you have? What axle gears do you have? What load range are your tires? What transmission do you have? 700R4 or TH350 or 4 speed manual?

I have a chevy 350 with a 700R4 transmission.
I will double check on the rear axle gears, but I think it's 3.73
I have trailer brakes with a brake controller
I have a transmission cooler
I have a class three hitch
I have weigh distribution bars
I am buying new tires..... will check load range

So.... I should be good ......

[MTCK]

Right on I think you may be in business. I can't recall but does a 700R4 lock up in drive? I think so. You could probably get away with 3.73's and run in drive instead of OD, or if the $$$ is still burning a hole go for 4.10's. If you're taller than 3.73 right now I would definitely address that. I think you are probably right on the limit of what is a good idea but don't get in a hurry and you're probably fine. I can't recall what the limit is on a class III hitch but I'm sure you're near the limit there too. Have fun!

edit: One more thing you might consider is some air spring helpers. Mock it all up with full fuel and some gear and see how it sits. A light front end is no fun.

[gb1286]

I would recommend a RV cam and new lifters, an aluminum intake andd carb, and dont forget an upgrade on the brakes...and yes tires would be a nice improvement.

[nlped]

^^^His is most likely Fuel Injected...right?

I have tugged a bunch of stuff around with my '87 GMC without any issues. I would say you should replace those tires though.

Oooohhhh, and get Bob (aka Glock35ipsc ) to get started on you a 5.3 or 6.0/ 4l80e swap

[Tech_Ed88]

When you guys are suggesting upgrading brakes, do you mean just have the stock brakes in good mechanical working condition, or is there an upgrade that you are suggesting?

It is fuel injected.

As far as suggesting replacing the tires... I will, But since I'm only towing it 20 miles 4 times a summer, I think a quality tire should suffice right?

I want to put the BF Goodrich T/A's on.... 255/70/R15

[Tech_Ed88]

I don't know where to find the code for the rear gear ratio....

glove box has the vin and a series of codes..... gibberish

[Pyrotechnic]

A short bed ? I've seen some crew cab trucks pulling these trailers down the highway and even with the stability of the long wheel base, the trailer and truck still get blown around a little on a windy day.

I cannot imagine using a regular cab short bed for this purpose.

What I'd do is take that $2,000, save a little more on top of that, and find a 73-87 crew cab dually with a 454. THEN you will not have to worry about getting blown off the road, rolling backwards down hills, or blowing up drivetrain parts all the time.

Another tip, if you are running your half ton loaded all the time you will want to run LT type truck tires. They are meant stay together while being heavily loaded. A 31x10.5x15 is an LT tire for example.

[Tech_Ed88]

It's got sentimental value..... not much else.

I have looked around at some sites for chevy powertrain setups....and found that the 87 model that came with a 350 and a 700R4 only had the 3.08 rear end...

Guess I'll look for an early 12 bolt with 4.10 or at least 3.73

[Tech_Ed88]

Well, I found the RPO codes..... IT does have 3.08's

I guess the search is on...

I found an 89 1500 12bolt GM with 3.73 gears complete with brakes and lines. I need a brake job anyway......

Is the 88-9? a direct swap or swap with minor mods?
should I stick with the 73-87.....
Thinking that the bolt pattern is the same...
Shock mounts?
leaf mounts?
drive shaft u joints?