86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Figured I would finally post what I have been working on. The story goes that I bought my 86 GMC while on leave in 2009. It sat in my fathers garage for the next year until I could come back and get it. When I did get back, I did a mild build on it which included a Mcgaughy's 4/6 drop with big brakes, 20/22" Coy C5's, and a 5.3L/4L60E swap. I drove daily for a few months before getting deployed again and then it sat once at my fathers house. Fast forward to late 2012 and a separation from the Corps and it's build time! Attachment 1213707

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So for the second go around, I decided to run a Porterbuilt Mild dropmember front and rear. I built a cammed 6.0 LQ9, Performabuilt Stage 2 trans, 3.73 gears with eaton tru trac. I figured I would post some of the issues I have run into as well, mainly steering linkage and headers.

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Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

A few build pictures
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Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

More build, 6.0L, raised bed floor with liner.
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Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Fabbed ECM mount. Headers are Hedman Muscle rod. I had to notch the dropmember to get the correct angles for the steering. The drivers side header has the front tube rerouted to clear the joints.
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Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Looks sick , will nice to see more of it

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Love it!

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

sweet build bro!

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Thanks guys! Really appreciate your comments

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Nice, I have the same year Chevy. I'm looking to drop in an Eaton True Trac as well, let me know how easy it is to install and how you like it!

Semper Fi!!

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

I haven't had a chance to use it yet. The installation was pretty straight forward. I used a nitro gear rebuild kit and it's the stock 10 bolt. You will need a press for the bearings and an in/lb torque wrench.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

awesome build man im looking in to porterbuilt stuff now my self

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Thanks! Honestly, if I were to do it again, I would just go with the extreme version. It would be less fab and fitment issues.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

nice!

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

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Header modified to clear steering.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Headers looks good

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Looks good! I'd like to hear that beast.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Like the look of the setup, headers fit nice, should be a real nice ride.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Great looking build so far.Good job modifying the headers to bit.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

As soon as I can get the exhaust hooked back up, I'll get a video of it running.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

I sent you a PM, and was wondering if you could get a picture and maybe some info on how you modified the inner frame support for the steering shaft clearance? I'm at that point and it would be a great help.

Thanks, Wade

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

I'm at a crossroads right now and need opinions. Should I shave and repaint the firewall? Or, make a panel to resemble the a/c heater and put some undercoating back to look kinds stock?

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Depends on the look your going for. I've redone so many things I've lost count. Thinking I'd be happy with it and not dough what I really wanted to do in the first place. If you like the look of a smooth newly painted firewall, do it now, or you'll be redoin it later. It's gonna be super nice either way!

Wade

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

If it works for you I would smooth it, looks so much better.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

That is what I was leaning toward. I'd hate to pull the front end off to do it later. Thanks guys.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

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New gauges. Dakota Digital VHX silver w/ red

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Be extra nice to see the gauges lit up I bet.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

I haven't been able to get much done lately, I've been dealing with a broken ankle. Anyways, I did find a bunch of pictures from the first build of my 86!Attachment 1253977

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Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

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This is how the truck looked when I first bought it.
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Easily twice the truck now than the before pic, which was still nice.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Do you have any pics of you raising the bed floor? Or closer up pics of the mounts??

Truck looks amazing.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Thanks Mud Man. Tinydb84, I can get you some pictures of the bed floor. It was pretty simple. The floor unbolts from the sides and bulkhead, then there are several spot welds at the front. I measured how high I needed to raise which was 7 1/2", and welded in a support at the front of the bed (tailgate side). I welded the floor to the sides instead of bolting it back in, but you can always just drill more holes and run bolts. As for the tubs, I cut 1/4" off the inside that mounts to the bed side. This makes it fit flush with the bed sides, then bolted it back to the bed floor. Seam sealed and raptor lined.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Thank you for all the detail. I have seen pics of people doing it but haven't got any details.

I am leaning towards welding it. Did you do a series of tacks or beads? I don't want to tack 20 feet of metal but don't want to warp anything.

More pics would be awesome.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

I plug welded where the bolts used to be. It's pretty thick metal so no worry about warping. I did bolt it back to the bulkhead tho. Then I made some spacers to mount the bed. I will take some pictures tomorrow.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Awesome man. I appreciate it!

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

I used self tapping screws to hold in place when I welded. I need to coat the underside. The yellow stuff on the bed is pollenAttachment 1254836

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Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Thank man! Helps a lot. Doesnt look as much work as I thought it was going to be.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

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Got some work done today. Cut off the pinch weld and made a firewall filler panel. 16ga steel, rolled on my beefed up harbor freight bead roller.

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

awesome build! in the picture in post #25, do you have air gauges mounted in the upper part of the dash? what size are they?

Re: 86 GMC, Porterbuilt Mild front and rear
 

Thanks! The gauges are 2" dual needle. I cut a piece of aluminum plate to fit the opening were the a/c vent was.