Hello from Bend, Oregon

[Tricky03]

Hello everyone,

I'm a long time lurker here and finally decided to join. I'm a huge chevy truck fan and have had multiple truck over the years. Everything from 1929 to 1998, full size to minitrucks, c10's, luvs, s10's, model A's...you get the picture.

I'm looking forward to sharing the stuff I may know with some of you and also learn as much as I can from many of you as well. This site has already helped me a ton with a few projects over the years.

Here's to many more years!
Keep on Truckin'

[WorkinLonghorn]

Welcome Tricky03. What are you running now-a-days? Any projects (with pictures preferred)?

[Tricky03]

Thanks WorkinLonghorn.

I've got a '98 c1500, SWB, 2wd w/ a 5.7 auto.
I'm about to install a Ride Tech 4/6 street grip kit.
I'm also going to install JBA ceramic coated headers, custom dual exhaust JET under drive pulleys, JET re-programmed ECU, K&N intake...
I'll see how it is after this is on the truck and go from there. This is my daily driver.

These pictures are from the dealership I bought the truck from. It's basically the same but I've added an extang soft tonneau, kenwood deck and a scan gauge II above the rearview mirror.

[WorkinLonghorn]

Nice truck. Bet it goes real good with that 5.7 in there. What was the HP rating that year?

[Tricky03]

Thanks!,
When I was looking for a truck to buy, I could find 4.3 trucks everywhere. Finding one with a 5.7 was tough for sure.
The 5.7 is rated at 255 hp @ 4600rpm. It goes great. Adding the intake, headers, pulleys, chip and dual exhaust should help it out a bit as well.
I'm hoping to save up some money and put an efi, 383 stroker in it. At that point, it should be somewhere in the 375 hp range. That's plenty for me. This will always be my daily driver to use for hauling and towing...

[Tricky03]

Hey WorkinLonghorn, what are you rolling around in?

[WorkinLonghorn]

Sounds like a plan. Dreaming of a 383 myself but this old 350 won't die.

Just driving the old junk in my signature. It was outstanding condition when I bought it in '97 but I had to put it to work and it's had a hard life. Best work truck I've had for sure.

[Tricky03]

Your truck is one of my favorite body styles. That's awesome you've had it so long! Glad to hear it's such a great work truck for ya!
Yeah, hard to spend the money when the ol 350 keeps running fine. Chevy knew what they were doing when they made that small block, for sure.

[WorkinLonghorn]

Yeah, last month it threw a fan belt (so no water pump) and it pegged the coolant temp. gauge before I noticed it. Blew up the radiator. Engine is fine!
For me, an extreme torque 383 would float my boat. I once had a torque 350 that pulled up to about 4500 and that was a joy to drive. But I've never had a modern 5.7 like yours to compare it to.

[Tricky03]

Dang man, glad you didn't blow the head gaskets or worse, crack the block! That's a tough ol engine but a 383 would be awesome!
I've has older 350's but they were cam'd, 4 barrel and headers. This 5.7 has it's fair share of umph but it's not like an older one. Once I get the mods, it'll be good to compare to an older motor.

[WorkinLonghorn]

If Oregon has smog testing, then I'll bet that would be a challenge. 1974 and before don't get tested here in Calif.

[Tricky03]

If we had smog testing here, I'd really be worried. All of that stuff is done West of the Cascades. Thank God I'm East of the Cascades, no smog checks here!

[WorkinLonghorn]

AH, Great! But I would keep the original stuff around in case some do-good-er politicians crack down. They did that once here if I recall and I had to hunt down the smog pump system for my last '69 GMC since it originally had one.

[Tricky03]

The way Bend is growing and the type of people moving here...I wouldn't be surprised to see smog regulations popping up. There are a TON of diesel truck "rolling coal" all over the place. Black clouds of smoke at every green light when they take off. I think those good ol boys would fight it pretty hard. I'll for sure keep everything if and when I do a swap...

[WorkinLonghorn]

We had help from Jay Leno to get the pre-1975 vehicles exempted. Before that I sent my trusty old '63 C-10 to the crusher because it wouldn't pass the test.

[Tricky03]

Nooo, that's sad to hear about your '63!
It's nice to have a celebrity like Jay to help get law made or reversed like that. We love our cars/trucks here in the US.

[1968k20]

Let me know if ou see any 73-87 blazers/trucks (good deals). I go to Bend on occasion! Thank you

[Tricky03]

I'll keep an eye out. The ones I see here are usually priced way higher than they're worth. Seems to be the way things are anymore...

[Tricky03]

After a long day and "suprise", 4" of snow...my buddy Eric and I lowered it. The RideTech kit is awesome. The quality and fit are great. Very well engineered too. I put the 215/75r15's on. We'll see if they rub or not.?.?.? I have to get an alignment done ASAP.

[1968k20]

That looks great!

[Super Dude]

Welcome from "the valley"

[Tricky03]

Thank you! I'm hoping to find a few shows or cruise ins to attend this Spring/Summer/Fall over there in the Valley. Maybe even North in Washington. Know of any?

[1968k20]

KoolApril Nigjts in Redding,ca

[Tricky03]

Thanks 1968k20.
I'll check it out.

Are there any shows in the PNW?

[Super Dude]

2 of the best in the Valley are Function 4 Junction in Junction City around June 1 and Graffitti Weekend in Roseburg weekend of July 14.