truck talk

[machinist@large]

but still it rolls over every time it you have 100000 miles on it

It wasn't until somewhere in the mid "90's" that the Big Three started installing odometers that went over 99,999.9 miles. Just because they are required to install unit's that go to 10x that distance today doesn't make the older units inherently inferior.....

 

[cumminsbayou4x4]

It wasn't until somewhere in the mid "90's" that the Big Three started installing odometers that went over 99,999.9 miles. Just because they are required to install unit's that go to 10x that distance today doesn't make the older units inherently inferior.....

i didn't mean that i just meant you just meant it more then likely doesn't have 70000

 

[FatCat]

In my experience with diesels I have found it to be a big money game. I'm not afraid to throw down my cash but it will be your only hobby! Heck, i couldnt afford it as my one hobby. You can tie up insane money in a diesel truck. If your working on limited funds I'd definately go for a gasser. That chevy truck for $800 is your baby. Those are getting hard to find in my area. Lots of these are starting to see restorations. I don't care if it has 70,000, 170,000, or 270,000 if the frame is solid I'd go for it. Small block chevy, turbo 350, how could you go wrong. You can replace about anything on those trucks fairly cheap. They made a ton of them. Check out LMC truck for any replacement parts you would want to buy new. Interior etc. The small block chevy has been in service since the 1960's. It's very well tested and stupid reliable. At the end of the day we'd all like to be Rollin coal but you must figure out if that's really what you need. Fast trucks are cool but fast cars are faster. Gotta pick where you spend your money. Impressive toy but id rather have a descent pickup with a few cool toys towing along behind it. Also driving like an ******* in the street will only get you in trouble. I don't like the idea of a toy that gets me tickets if I want to have a little fun. It becomes a cool but not very useful toy. If your doing severe duty towing I wouldn't buy anything but a diesel. This is the only reason I would have one. I'd also be ready to start changing transmissions and everything else you manage to twist apart in the diesel world. At least if you drive like I did at your age! Lol

 

[fowler]

For running off road and in the country its deisel
Good torque and excellent reliability
(Toyota 1hz all the way)

But in town id prefer petrol
Higher and faster reving
And tend to be quicker without feeling like u are going to Shred the drive line or tryes
Like

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

You saw it had a new torque converter? was the flex plate off or something? thats an internal part

 

[Bluethunder3320]

the cover underneath the flywheel was off, and the torque converter looked new, but who knows really i guess. he has the cover, apparently its a stronger aftermarket one.

he says the truck was a farm truck most of its life, then the past few years it was someones off roader. it had a 4 inch rough country lift that he took off and put on his other truck, a 1979 chevy 2500.

now that ive been thinking more, i might actually get it.

what id do:

-cab swap
-maybe bed swap, or fix up the old. (even has a plastic liner, he says rare)
-new dash and interior carpet
-4" lift
-35 inch tires and chrome rims
-red paint job
-maybe some off roading lights, but nothing crazy
-new front bumper (or fix it)

 

[fowler]

Or was it a new housing?

I'd be taking a good look at every part of this truck
Don't forget the unexpected issues with the current truck

Don't trust a freinds word on these things
I'm sure he knows if the truck is a dud u are less Likly to chase him down then an unknown person
Its best to watch a friend struggle with money then argue with one over money
Gets messy real quick

It sounds god
If it has a solid frame and good running gear
Shame it's auto but u can't be picky (lol)

I'd also be quoting a new or reman body and all the parts to refit it
No good buying the truck if it costs u $12'000 to fix it up

 

[Bluethunder3320]

ill be in class with him all year, and hes been a pretty good friend, hes not trying to screw me. he said hes not trying to sell it. its just that i told him i might be looking for a truck, and he said hed sell me his.
.....
I FIXED THE SUSPENSION. took all day, ground off all the rivets, bolted in the new piece, and got it back on all 4's!

 

[fowler]

still have a good look at it
he may have just missed some things or not be aware that one certain thing was actually an issue

good to see the current one up and running
feels good when u get somthing stuffed to run properly

 

[Bluethunder3320]

yeah i think im going to look at his truck again, take some pics, and think more. id have to save up for it, too, just spent all my money on shock towers....

but his truck is actually driveable as it is.

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

just remember those old 350s get terrible mileage. I'd be lucky to get 14mpg out of my 89 gmc with a 350 tbi/auto. bulletproof tho, 200k still going strong.

 

[machinist@large]

just remember those old 350s get terrible mileage. I'd be lucky to get 14mpg out of my 89 gmc with a 350 tbi/auto. bulletproof tho, 200k still going strong.

You're 100% correct; but it wasn't just GM. Every OEM got crappy mileage compared to today. There are many reasons for it; one of the big one's was how to meet emissions. You have to remember that these older vehicles, if they had computerized engine control at all, might have had an electronically adjusted carburator. That's right, carburetor.

Before EFI, with it's high speed data feedback capabilities to keep an eye on what was going on inside the combustion chamber, one of the easiest ways to control emissions was to keep combustion temp's down. One of the easiest ways to do that was to run the engine on the rich side. There's a whole lot more to it, and I know that I'm probably never going to understand more that the general outline of the topic.

One of the great things about the Chevy small block is that, despite all the changes to cylinder heads, intakes, exhaust, carb or EFI, is that the Block didn't change much for over 30+years. That means a lot of great upgrades can be found in the salvage yard for a lot less money than brand new.

That particular truck is not the end of the road for design; but it has the potential to be a great starting point for whatever direction you might want to go in.

Did I mention that the 350/350 combo is one of the easiest, least expensive to upgrade to make serious power to ever hit the streets?

 

[devino246]

You're 100% correct; but it wasn't just GM. Every OEM got crappy mileage compared to today. There are many reasons for it; one of the big one's was how to meet emissions. You have to remember that these older vehicles, if they had computerized engine control at all, might have had an electronically adjusted carburator. That's right, carburetor.

Before EFI, with it's high speed data feedback capabilities to keep an eye on what was going on inside the combustion chamber, one of the easiest ways to control emissions was to keep combustion temp's down. One of the easiest ways to do that was to run the engine on the rich side. There's a whole lot more to it, and I know that I'm probably never going to understand more that the general outline of the topic.

Actually, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) was (and still is) used to decrease combustion temps during cruise and part throttle. It runs a small amount of exhaust back into the cylinders to lower combustion temps.

There are several reasons why older vehicles get bad fuel economy.

1) Poor aerodynamics. Many older cars resemble washing machines in the wind tunnel.

2) Transmissions with fewer gears. Three-speed transmissions were the most common. Overdrive transmissions were few and far between. This meant longer throws, and higher highway RPM.

3) Restrictive emissions requirements. Engineers were forced to reduce emissions by any means possible. Unfortunately, this usually lowered MPG. Valvetrain timing and lift was a big part of this.

4) They didn't have all the computerized drafting, modeling, and testing hardware and software that we have now. Certain aspects of design were trial and error.

 

[machinist@large]

Actually, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) was (and still is) used to decrease combustion temps during cruise and part throttle. It runs a small amount of exhaust back into the cylinders to lower combustion temps.

There are several reasons why older vehicles get bad fuel economy.

1) Poor aerodynamics. Many older cars resemble washing machines in the wind tunnel.

2) Transmissions with fewer gears. Three-speed transmissions were the most common. Overdrive transmissions were few and far between. This meant longer throws, and higher highway RPM.

3) Restrictive emissions requirements. Engineers were forced to reduce emissions by any means possible. Unfortunately, this usually lowered MPG. Valvetrain timing and lift was a big part of this.

4) They didn't have all the computerized drafting, modeling, and testing hardware and software that we have now. Certain aspects of design were trial and error.

You list some very valid reasons; it doesn't change what I said one bit. When I in high school in the mid 80's, the cheap cars were from the early~mid 70's. Emissions crap galore. We had full auto shop classes because you wanted to learn how to get rid of that crap and make your car run. As a loose rule, ditching the emissions hardware on the outside of the engine and slapping a new carburetor on it would net you around ~20% better milage with much improved drivability and power. And a lot of old engines, while they had EGR, it wasn't valve controlled; just ported thru the exhaust side of the heads back to the intake. The only time you had to think about it was if you replaced the intake; they'd ask which style you wanted at the parts store. The stock manifolds usually coked shut anyways, self eliminating themselves. All this without touching the internals.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

im said to get 13~17 mpg's right now, so around the same.

it has overdrive, and even though its automatic he says its a really good transmission, id have to ask him what it was again so i could look it up....

 

[Blazkowiez]

Id like to look at the pictures, however you've got a project truck. Can you sell yours and make it a reasonable trade? Why work on two trucks at the same time at your age? It seems like you'll just be losing money.

 

[crazzywolfie]

im said to get 13~17 mpg's right now, so around the same.

that is pretty good for a 4x4 truck on such a big tire. my 2wd 81 5.2 with 3 speed auto averages 10mpg but it has a carb that is way too large to be running on a truck . if i could afford swapping to standard i would. it would probably nearly double my gas mileage.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

why wouldnt bigger tires get better gas mileage though? the engine is turning slower.

 

[devino246]

why wouldnt bigger tires get better gas mileage though? the engine is turning slower.

Engine RPM and fuel economy have relatively little to do with each other.

 

[devino246]

You list some very valid reasons; it doesn't change what I said one bit. When I in high school in the mid 80's, the cheap cars were from the early~mid 70's. Emissions crap galore. We had full auto shop classes because you wanted to learn how to get rid of that crap and make your car run. As a loose rule, ditching the emissions hardware on the outside of the engine and slapping a new carburetor on it would net you around ~20% better milage with much improved drivability and power. And a lot of old engines, while they had EGR, it wasn't valve controlled; just ported thru the exhaust side of the heads back to the intake. The only time you had to think about it was if you replaced the intake; they'd ask which style you wanted at the parts store. The stock manifolds usually coked shut anyways, self eliminating themselves. All this without touching the internals.

20% is a bit of a leap for cars. Trucks, maybe.

EGR without EGR valve? That would lead to horrible drivability and performance issues.