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Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
I spent a lot of time and a little whiskey trying to figure out the best course of action. Rebuild/replace? Rebuild...replace...? I've done quite a bit of work on this truck, as well as the other things that have been done. Rebuilt rear axle with new differential, clutch, rear main seal, engine oil cooler lines...so much more, I have a folder of receipts over 1/2" thick. I could've got everything sheetmetal and plastic needed from local wrecking yards for cheap, bought new radiator, fan clutch, etc. The problem was paint. Paint = $$$. The damn thing is red, red is the devil to match, would blend across most of the adjacent panels. The doors still have gaping holes in them from old mirrors, so if I paint it I should get new doors. Would basically end up painting whole truck. $,$$$...f***. So, the hunt was on for color matched parts. That shade of red was used '94 to '96. Hit up craigslist, search all of the local yards for trucks/suvs in that year. Nada, zip, zero, zilch. Next step, build a list of parts, got prices, estimate paint, total = f***ed. The big question to answer became, get a whole truck for around the value of f***ed? Back to CL...after a few misses I went and looked at a truck with a good friend of mine. I came home with this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psaycpwxyn.jpg 1997 GMC Sierra SLT K1500. Recently replaced motor, rebuilt trans. The person I bought it from...special. I don't think I will be able to adequately describe him using publicly appropriate words, leaving it at that. |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
I did quite a bit of work in the evenings, prepping the two vehicles while leaving them complete enough to drive. Prep work consisting mostly of interior disassembly and front end disassembly. Then it was time, cab + front end swap.
Sufficed to say, I have some damned good friends. On a Friday evening two trucks drove into the garage (one at a time) and Sunday evening the flatbed drove out. 2.5 days, 4 of us, complete cab swap. The green cab was cut for clutch, NV-4500, BW-4401; received the dash wiring from my dash, my front seats, my carpet. Drives In http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psw48a38xs.jpg Strip Interior http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psunov4d86.jpg Chains to furthest (from center) seat bolts, engine hoist. Didn't actually get a pic of red cab coming off, but repeated for green. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psi2sqqsjt.jpg Voila http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pslqdf8bcp.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Roll out the flatbed, drive in the donor.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps1xrlw3eg.jpg Lift http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psb4x0rdns.jpg Roll http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psjel2crvg.jpg Bring in for surgery http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pshmn642j0.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
You all can guess how this feels, looking at these two in this state.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps3uld4tke.jpg If no one has spotted it yet, I am building a truck that GM never did... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psumutgrb0.jpg Got big stick? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psako4b6m5.jpg Boo-yah! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psffdu2khm.jpg Coming together... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pscgcayayr.jpg Interior http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psg77a7mwz.jpg GREEN LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER THAN RED! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psqj60iuyj.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Got parts?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psf1vzlrik.jpg Took the '97 to a wrecking yard, got a couple Benjamins out of it. The engine and trans went to another friend, picture a bagged '70 C10 as the recipient. Pecked away at various little things on the flatbed in the evenings for a couple weeks (to this day, still not done.) and then one weekend I decided to clean up the outside. Clay bar, rubbing compound, polish, wax. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pszsbtxgyk.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps1tjpji4f.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psofryeumj.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Prior to the accident, I accomplished one of the tasks I've had on the back burner. BRAKE UPGRADE! Anyone watch that Alaska Off-Road Warriors show? The lower 48 team? I've had the pleasure of talking with both of them on multiple occasions. Carl owns/runs Jantz Engineering near where I used to live & work, I had him machine the upper and lower ball joint tapers in a set of GMT-800 knuckles for me to the correct diameter for the -400 ball joints. During the brake upgrade I installed new upper and lower ball joints, lower control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, and sway bar end links.
Good-bye... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psmga65csb.jpg Hello http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psoug6dlzj.jpg Coming together http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pssdbylusx.jpg So much bigger http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psfesay7hk.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
The one thing I didn't do with the brake upgrade was flush the brake fluid, I just topped it off and bled the fronts. A friend has a power bleeder and needed to do his soon so I held off. With the power bleeder you clamp a plate onto the top of the MC, pressurize to 12-15 psi and go around opening bleeders. It has a reservoir of fluid itself so it maintains a level in the MC so you're (ideally) not introducing air into the system. I siphoned the old fluid out of mine first so I could clean the reservoir, it was nasty.
Before http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psdtval6ra.jpg After http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps2kw7egtk.jpg As I worked my way around under the truck I was shocked at the lack of fluid flow. With the requisite 15 psi in the power bleeder I completely removed the bleeder from the right rear wheel cylinder and poked around with a probe looking for blockage. Nothing encountered so I put the bleeder back in, left it cracked, had David depress the brake...VOILA! I had fluid. I couple cycles of standard bleeding with the power bleeder and it started flowing well. Repeat procedure for the left rear, resulted in good flow. Fronts flowed well when I opened their bleeders. Truck stops very well now. The brake upgrade was a noticeable improvement, the new fluid helped as well. |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Thus far in 2015 the flatbed got a brake upgrade, an E24 swap, DOT 4 brake fluid, various other little things then it was time for another big ticket item. Rubber. I have had a set of OEM steel wheels in storage that had been blasted and powder coated "speedboat aluminum w/clear". I may have a picture a page or two back of them when we picked them up. Here they are now.
Tires and wheels meeting for the first time, looks like it will go well. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psjb3phd3m.jpg I think they'll get along well together. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pskidhrgnc.jpg Closeup of the match. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pscwzx7xd4.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psoxatveh5.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Cooper ST MAXX in LT255/85R16. To adequately fit them I needed to crank the front up a touch, install a rear block and run spacers in the rear.
Quick trip to a wrecking yard secured me some GMT-800 blocks, they're about 1.75". http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psmxsbm4rl.jpg New ubolts http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps76u8kwoy.jpg The WORST DAMNED DESIGNED PART ON THESE TRUCKS http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pshc0tjylv.jpg I'm tenacious http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psbabqhz7l.jpg High zinc primer http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psax4kzjbx.jpg No assembled pics, I was jonesing to get the new shoes on. |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Rear coming together
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psr4vmuy6e.jpg One side done http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psgxzpetkr.jpg Couple close-ups http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psrtu4ppuv.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psfmdnfmi7.jpg Flatbed clearance http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps4kjeitza.jpg Done, picture taken at work later in the week http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psnpmpokw5.jpg Washed it again, now with cab lights again! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps40mpzv3l.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Random work photos.
Catching some air http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps3zf2ic3p.jpg Load of sound wall panels to go to jobsite http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psxukgkn0p.jpg Load of pumps returning from jobsite http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps2m4yf6kx.jpg Last weekend I moved an S10 crew cab cab for a friend. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psd5vdly41.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Love the look of your GMC. Makes me want one!
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Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
awesome job on both setups, the initial, and the rebuild! i've been looking for a big block 3/4 or 1-ton for our tow pig. the flatbed you have on there is built not too far from where i live in KS. my wife's cousin actually works for bradford built.
great job and thanks for sharing! |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
Been wondering where this build went. Sorry t got wrecked but I actually think the green looks better. Great job and how long did the body swap take?
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Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
I love this truck!
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Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
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I see you still have the 97+dash in. Gonna keep it and get a cubby hole or swap back to the 96 dash? Where'd you get your spacers for the rear? I see they are hub centric, are they steel or aluminum? Nice work by the way. |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
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I put the cubby into the dash. Motorsport tech for the steel spacers, very very well machined. The gmt-400 ones aren't listed on their site, called and provided measurements. Thank you. |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
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Attachment 1445830 |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
my 96 ext cab has no 3rd door. probably would have been happy with it if it had 3. instead, picked up a 93 crew cab. the 93 will be the one i fix hen i sell the p96 to fund it.
your truck looks real good. nv4500 is on my list also. |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
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Another option is to flip the u-bolts Get a set of these plates http://diy4x.com/product.php?product...cat=250&page=4 And round u-bolts http://diy4x.com/product.php?product...=&bestseller=Y |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
very nice build. i recently picked up a 1999 k3500 ccdrw 4x4, 454, auto. im hoping it turns out as nice as yours.
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Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
you need to be closer to me. wow, what a build.
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Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
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Nothing much as of late to report, just these. February 3, 2016 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psfw5bgdcs.jpg February 20, 2016 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pstwwsghbz.jpg March 3, 2016 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psbq33w96j.jpg March 17, 2016 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps7vcfykhc.jpg |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
denali/escalade cluster?
putting the miles on, nothing wrong with driving it! |
Re: 1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500
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Just about every other day is a fill-up and ~250 miles on the trip. |
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