1986 Crew Cab

[ianb3]

So I have been cruising this site for a while, and I finally decided to join and get my project up. Last October I bought a 1986 C30 Silverado crew cab single wheel 2x4. The truck was a special order, I bought it from the original owners who were driving it back and forth from Oregon pulling a horse trailer. 92k original miles, they hadn't driven it for about 5 or 6 years. During that time it was sitting next to a barn. I surprisingly talked my parents into letting me buy it just a week after my 15 birthday. me and my dad drove it home without any problems, I learned to drive in that truck and I learned some basic auto repair. Then one night some time in January me and my dad were driving home from Kragen's when the transmission started slipping it caught for a few seconds, just long enough to get around the corner and then it was gone. So we borrowed a friends 64 El Camino to pull it up the hill to his garage where he helped me remove, and replace the transmission. The past year I've had some crazy moments, I learned the power of a 454 engine (accidental burnout) and some camping trips where it's power has been very useful. I've done a lot of work to that car the radiator, power steering hoses, rebuilt the carburetor, redid all the vacuum hoses, did the mufflers, tune-up and other things. To make a long story short I need advice on future modifications to the truck. I love the work people put into there trucks, and I have never seen so many crew cab square bodies. I'll post pictures as soon as possible, and I will need all the help I can get. One question, were their any extended cab versions like the fords from the 80's?

[ianb3]

So I have some late model Chevy tube style running boards and I'd like to mount them on my truck however I can't find a mounting kit that works and the mounts that are on it wont work, because of the saddle mounted dual gas tanks. Does anyone know of a mount kit or do I have to make mounts? Also has anyone ever seen the AC Delco ETR AM/FM/Cassette with a built in CB radio? I'm considering buying one but I want to know if it actually works if the guy is just BSing me, saw it at a yard sale and the guy never sold it, hes offering it to me for $60... if it works is it worth it? I know these have nothing to do with each other but the guy is hyper about the radio and my mom wants the running boards out of the backyard. Thanks in advance
-Ian

[str8axle55]

Welcome to the site. There is a picture thread of CC trucks to look at. There was never a factory built Xtra cab, but there was a run of coachbuilt one`s, they are rare. Probly have to fab mounts for the tube steps. If the radio and CB work, probly worth it, be a cool addition, I`ve never seen one. I did sell one for a Jeep for some good $$ on ebay though.

[Clyde65]

I worked at a GMC dealer in the mid 80's and there were probably 500 reg cab trucks to 1 xcab made and str8axle is right they were not factory built. They were built by conversion companies by cutting a long bed frame and adding the extra space for the cab. If you find one, be very anal about the metal work on it, some conv. companies were fly-by-night if you know what I mean.

[Your41Plague12]

The CB is a cool addition, I'm pretty sure my dad had one in his '78 K10 Silverado. I say go for it! I'd love one of these.

[N2TRUX]

Welcome to the forum ianb3. We like new members, and I love to see young guys like you learning to work on their trucks.

If you have some basic tools you should be able to build the brackets you need. Make a drawing and take measurements and build it from steel angle.

[ianb3]

Thanks, those conversions sound pretty funky. Well I guess I'll have to get to work drawing some ideas for mounts. So should the mount attach to the body like the flat aluminum running boards or to the frame? Here are some pictures I toke the day I bought it. Since then I haven't made many changes to the exterior, I added a Knight Rider Scanner , Rear spotlights and I changed the rims, it has also been thoroughly washed and waxed. The last pictures is the rims I bought, $100 with lug nuts and the guy delivered them, it was at 5:30 AM but still worth it.

[ianb3]

Oh also will I need a separate CB antenna, the guy says he has a converter to use the stock antenna, but i'd imagine a separate antenna would be better?

[ianb3]

Here are some more pictures. The last one is from a few weeks ago, what do you think of the rims?

[Your41Plague12]

For the CB always use a separate antenna. When you start mixing radio and CB stuff things can get weird with static and other issues can turn up as well. I'd just run some small black whips and call it a day. Take some pics once you get that radio in! I'd love to see one.

[Clyde65]

I like the rims guy, also please dont mount the antenna in the sheet metal, that is too nice a truck to have a hole drilled in the roof or fender.

[Your41Plague12]

Agreed, throw a toolbox in it and mount it to the sides of the toolbox. That's what I'll be doing when I get some whips.

[str8axle55]

Truck looks great, super clean. Wheels are cool, and I`m really digging the Kenwood stereo.

[ianb3]

Truck looks great, super clean. Wheels are cool, and I`m really digging the Kenwood stereo.

Haha thanks, yeah the stereo is okay I don't like the equalizer. It doesn't work it just causes interference. Also I only have one working speaker I just picked up a Rebuilt Master Cylinder so that's the project for this weekend. Can someone explain bench bleeding, I read the instructions but I still don't get it.

[str8axle55]

Basically, you mount the master in a vise, run the lines from the ports into the open master cyl. Fill with fluid and slowly work the piston back and forth, not so fast as you create bubbles. Do for a few min to get the fluid in the bores w/no air, then install in truck, and bleed system, starting @ furthest away from master. When bleeding the brakes, don`t let the master run dry, and don`t pump the pedal to fast. Good luck.

[ianb3]

Thanks for the advice, lot easier than I thought it would be and it stops much better than it ever has. Hahaha thanks again str8axle55.

[str8axle55]

No problem, glad to help. That`s why were here.

[ianb3]

So I finally got the radio. It's really cool the CB handset says GM Delco on it, and its all pretty clean. So now comes the installation.... looking at how the dash is setup I'd imagine I have to take off the gauge bezel and the dash pad. So I have tons of questions about how to install the new radio also I want to brighten the gauge lights. I've found a couple threads on that and it seems pretty clear. I needs wiring diagram and a guide to get the dashboard opened up. Thanks in advance, Ian