C30 Camper Special Owner Needs Advice.

[Big-Sexy907]

The truck is a 1979 GMC C30 Camper Special with the 454. I was thinking about getting a set of affordable headers, and reworking the exhaust a bit since what's currently on the truck is a little rusty. My question to you kind folks is, Will removing the A.I.R. injection system have any negative effect on the truck. (It's currently at 40K original miles). Does anyone have suggestions on headers? I was considering a set of Hooker long tubes and having them ceramic coated.

Since I'm going to be diving into the truck I was going to do a basic tune up and get it running a little better and rework the dual exhaust that came with the truck.

[jimbonice]

It won't hurt to remove it to my knowledge. My '77 did not come with the pump but if it just the one that pumps air into the exhaust manifolds, you'll gain some power by not having the parasitic loss if you bypass the pump.
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[Big-Sexy907]

Thats exactly what it is. I'm thinking if I can remove the exhaust manifolds, whats the point of having it on there.

Any other opinions? Has anyone else removed the system and replaced it with headers?

I'm also searching for some replacement parts such as:

Rear tailgate lights (the five or so that mount across the back of the tailgate).
Front OEM bumper
Rear Bumper (I was thinking of getting something a little smaller, any suggestions on a c10 replacement?
Power steering cooler lines, mine apparently have been split a couple times and a feeble attempt at repairs using tubing unions is causing some leaks.



I love this truck, it's just hard finding parts that fit right.

[donut]

Can't help you on the replacement parts, got to source a tailgate for mine. I removed the smog pumps, cleaned up the engine compartment a bunch. (my '86 had 2 pumps)
Used an inexpensive set of longtubes for the exhaust, just tied in to the factory dual pipes.

[Big-Sexy907]

Thanks for the reply donut. Do you happen to know which headers you used? I'm hoping I can find a decent set for cheap.

Also, Did your '86 have the A.I.R. system, and how did you go about removing it? Was there anything to plug?

[Eyegore]

Post some pics of your rig

[Big-Sexy907]

There it is. I'm thinking I'd like to update the wheels to 19.5's after getting some of the exterior repaired.

And can someone please tell me what kind of trailer hitch is welded to this thing!?!

[Dsquared]

the lights on the tailgate are sold by truck lite part # 1506. you will have to find a dealer for truck lite. be carefull with the exhaust manifold bolts,they are bad about breaking off on the 454

[donut]

Originally Posted by Big-Sexy907

Thanks for the reply donut. Do you happen to know which headers you used? I'm hoping I can find a decent set for cheap.

Also, Did your '86 have the A.I.R. system, and how did you go about removing it? Was there anything to plug?

Headers- I believe were the cheap, painted, Summit branded. (abt 130.00 set)
Drivers side was angled up under the truck, I no longer have a torch to heat and bend to straighten, but a couple of adapter fittings, cocked a little, to tie in to the existing exhaust worked for now. Exhaust will eventually have to be replaced (smashed factory piping).

AIR setup- I don't recall having to plug anything, it all went. My vacuum lines all had to be replaced, in addition to an exhaust leak, that's why it all went. I was going to keep the manifolds, but i couldn't get to the exhaust bolts with the air tubes in the way, and they all galled when I tried to remove them. Manifolds were stainless and abt. 95.00 ea to replace. It was far cheaper to junk the factory setup...
I did have to source a new belt for the alternator, as 1 of the pumps were driven off that belt.

For anyone that says "get manifolds from a junkyard", If you can find them, good luck in not galling them up removing them. I no longer have the old ones, hopefully this will stop the errant PM from someone looking for some.

[Big-Sexy907]

Originally Posted by Dsquared

the lights on the tailgate are sold by truck lite part # 1506. you will have to find a dealer for truck lite. be carefull with the exhaust manifold bolts,they are bad about breaking off on the 454

Awesome! Thanks for the help. I have a vendor close by that I can get some replacements.

Originally Posted by donut

For anyone that says "get manifolds from a junkyard", If you can find them, good luck in not galling them up removing them. I no longer have the old ones, hopefully this will stop the errant PM from someone looking for some.

Do you mean the tubing that goes from the A.I.R. pump to the exhaust manifolds? Is this an item that people are actively searching for? To me it seems to clutter up the engine bay so I'd rather remove it since we don't have emissions inspections in the area.

As far as the headers go, I'll pick up the first thing I can find that fits the C30. I have a friend that can ceramic coat them for me.

[bilfman]

I recently did mine, it is a 79 with a 454. I used flowmaster headers, they were cheap, fit was ok, I had to do a heat and dimple to clear the front driveshaft, but if yours isn't a 4x4 no worries there. There were no issues dumping the smog fit manifolds. Just ripped that s#$t off and bolted up the headers. I made my own 2 1/2" exhaust with cherry bombs and dumped them just in front of the rear wheels. I also welded in a x over tube on the exhaust. Total cost for the complete system was under $300.

[Big-Sexy907]

Thanks for the reply, I found a set of headers that look decent enough to use.

Flowtech 11530FLT Black Standard Headers

and possibly a cam

Competition Cams 11-205-3 High Energy268H-10

[96twodoor]

Thats a good looking truck big-sexy ,Be sure to make a build thread on here so we can see your progress.As for a bumper I would use a suburban or sport bumper like this one. I bought the bumper from LMC and the brackets from 73-87chevytrucks.com

you might have an issuer with that massive hitch lol .
You might try ebay for those tailgate lights also . I bought a set awhile back for 86 dually from there but I cant seem to find it again.

[Big-Sexy907]

96, thanks for the reply. I like how sleek that rear bumper is, I may have to go with one of those for sure. As for the hitch, it'll be removed and a proper hitch will be installed shortly.

I'm still torn on wether or not to lower it. I think I may get a set of 2.5" coil spacers for the front to level it out, then measure the clearance for a set of 22.5 semi wheels.

That's an amazing truck you have there. I wish I could get my hands on one of those and trade my bagged 1990 for it.

[donut]

Originally Posted by Big-Sexy907

Do you mean the tubing that goes from the A.I.R. pump to the exhaust manifolds? Is this an item that people are actively searching for? To me it seems to clutter up the engine bay so I'd rather remove it since we don't have emissions inspections in the area.

Not the tubing, my manifolds were stainless, so them. Where the fittings for the AIR tubes entered the manifold, it tore all the threads out.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by Big-Sexy907

The truck is a 1979 GMC C30 Camper Special with the 454. I was thinking about getting a set of affordable headers, and reworking the exhaust a bit since what's currently on the truck is a little rusty. My question to you kind folks is, Will removing the A.I.R. injection system have any negative effect on the truck. (It's currently at 40K original miles). Does anyone have suggestions on headers? I was considering a set of Hooker long tubes and having them ceramic coated.

Since I'm going to be diving into the truck I was going to do a basic tune up and get it running a little better and rework the dual exhaust that came with the truck.

Sounds very similar to my 79 (Bonanza 30 Camper Special) also with a 454. I removed the smog pump on mine and installed headers years ago (stuck all the stock parts in a box). Did a dual 3" exhaust at the same time. That along with an Edelbrock Performer intake, recurved distributor and tweaked carb really wakes the truck up.

[Big-Sexy907]

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

Sounds very similar to my 79 (Bonanza 30 Camper Special) also with a 454. I removed the smog pump on mine and installed headers years ago (stuck all the stock parts in a box). Did a dual 3" exhaust at the same time. That along with an Edelbrock Performer intake, recurved distributor and tweaked carb really wakes the truck up.

Firebird,

Thanks for the reply. I was considering going with a new intake, carb, cam, and distributor. My only problem is I'm having a hard time deciding on which parts to purchase. I made my mind up on the headers, and hopefully that reduces the strange 'ticking' that I hear under loaded acceleration but not at idle or reving at idle. The cam, intake, and carb are still up in the air.

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by Big-Sexy907

Firebird,

Thanks for the reply. I was considering going with a new intake, carb, cam, and distributor. My only problem is I'm having a hard time deciding on which parts to purchase. I made my mind up on the headers, and hopefully that reduces the strange 'ticking' that I hear under loaded acceleration but not at idle or reving at idle. The cam, intake, and carb are still up in the air.

Kept the cam and intake tame, since I was only looking for low end towing power and didn't care to spin the motor past 5500 anyway. So I went with the Edelbrock Performer camshaft and Performer intake package. Right at .500 lift and dur @ .050 is somewhere in the 220 range. Very mild and idles baby smooth, makes alot of grunt. Used the original 750 cfm Quadrajet rejetted and tweaked for the combo.
Made enough power to go 14.70's with a 5500 lbs. race weight, so it was hauling the mail for a big ole' truck. About what all the performance cars coming from the big 3 in the late 80's were doing at the time, and that really wasn't the goal, but the package works well together.

I left it this way for years, pulled anything I wanted and got 14 mpg empty, I was happy. Then the engine spun a bearing last year so I figured it was time. Pulled the whole thing and dropped a GM crate 502 in there.

[Big-Sexy907]

I'm not looking for a huge increase in power, just something that gets it sounding a little more throaty than it is at present. Plus I have this strange 'ticking' sound under acceleration that I can't seem to figure out. It doesn't tick at idle, or under revs, just driving under load. Completely strange really.

[Big-Sexy907]

Alright fellas, the truck has the typical GM "Tick Under Acceleration" and I'm getting pretty annoyed with it. Does anyone have suggestions on where I should look for the problem? I found a replacement passenger side Dually fender and will be slowly working on replacing that, now I just need to find a way to lift this sucker 3" so I can run some 22.5" Alcoas.
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[mrolds88]

I'm thinking exhaust leak/cracked manifold for your tick.

[Duncan and son]

Have you done anything with your wheels yet? If you upgrade I would be interested in the ones that are on the truck now.
Thanks Paul

[meatwagon83]

thats a good looking truck, dont ruin it by lowering it!

[Big-Sexy907]

Paul, I doubt you want to pay shipping from Alaska.

I'm not lowering, I'm lifting.
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[meatwagon83]

thank god, mines lowered, i bought it that way, im raisin that ish back up! i would love to go a couple inches higher than stock