the stopgap GMT400: a drivabeater thread

Looking forward to being your crack dealer - check that - performance parts supplier for this build.

In reply to Patrick :

After everything with insurance is worked out, I decided from keeping the truck or not, and the snow melt I'll have to bring your dad's new wood lathe up there and work out some negotiations

Sorry to hear about the migraines. I hope the lawyer is able to help you get this settled. I think this truck will look awesome as a fleetside. Are you planning to paint this one black?

In reply to tedroach :

Every truck I've owned since I graduated college has been black. If this one stays it will also be black. Nothing looks better than black on a vehicle

I kinda dig the stepside just because I don't see many around, but a fleetside is definitely more useful for truck stuff. 

This fall I did a corvette servo in the 700r4 in my truck and it really improved the transmissions character. The same can be done for the 4l60e; it's about a 30 minute job that doesn't spill much trans fluid and costs about $40 bucks. Possibly the best $40 I spent on the truck. I got mine here . 

I'll be watching this one to see how it turns out. Sucks about the Elco but hopefully this eases the pain some. 

Yup it has 2 inch lowering springs up front and 2 inch drop spindles.  In the back it has a c notch and a flip kit.  The kit came with new no name drop shocks.

Awesome.  Never had a truck that low.

And i need to look at the servo mod. Never played with automatic transmissions beyond fluid and filter other than to replace broken ones. Anything other than service, and possibly a servo/stop leaks/cooler?

With it being an electronic trans does that mean that there is a grm method for Flappy paddles?

I knew a guy back in 01-02 that built his own flappy paddle box for a 4t60e in a grand prix.  I’d assume it’s probably easy with some pea sized microprocessor now.  

In reply to Dusterbd13 :

I also never have fussed about with trannys much, it was super easy. Literally a huge ring clip/circlip and you pry it out with a screwdriver and a plyers and it's done. In my truck I didn't have to drop the trans, and I doubt you would on this rig either. I haven't heard of much else necessary for them at moderate to stock power levels.

Flappy paddles would be fun- where there's a will there's a way, I know people make kits to do it so I'm sure someone clever could figure out what's involved with making it happen.  

In reply to pimpm3 :

Cool thanks for the details! (And hope you knew that wasn't a dig at all, I just remembered you saying you ruined it. Now I understand what you meant - I assumed it meant you permanently messed something up, not just made it less capable of doing truck things.)

The truck sure looks cool that low.

I must have missed the story....  what happened to the el Camino???

In reply to jfryjfry

got the driver's door pushed in roughly 14 in by girl that was texting and driving and T-boned me

Willing to take the camaro wheels in trade for stuff you need if you don’t plan to use them

In reply to Patrick :

Definitely haven't gotten that far yet.

Any decision on what we talked about yesterday

Dbd13, love this (while looking at my '91 ext cab 3/5drop 5.7l 5 spd fleetside).....any chance of getting the bullet out of dab2.0???

The thought crossed my mind. However at Motors getting pretty tired in there. There's really no sense in it except as a rebuild candidate or spare parts. Neither of which I have the space for. When I go to build another El Camino I will have Patrick find me a 4.8 LS

dibs on the old shortblock for rebuild fodder! No... seriously. I need one to start a motor build

Bob the REAL oil guy. said:

dibs on the old shortblock for rebuild fodder! No... seriously. I need one to start a motor build

Seriously have tried to give one away before.  It’s here if you want it, sitting on a pallet underneath a semi trailer.  Roller cam 350 tbi longblock with intake.  It had a hole in oil pan and got rod knock, I bought it as “runs great no noises” then spent the time putting it in my car and mysteriously the guy i bought it from changed his number and didn’t work at the shop he had me pick it up at anymore when i started it and heard knocking.  Cost is same as cubic inches - free fiddy.  Dad will load it with tractor.

This is true.  I've seen it. 

In other news, tools, spares, and a light overnight bag are packed. Jeremy is doing a nut and bolt check for me tonight, and i have money burning a hole in my pocket. Is it Friday yet?

Also: is there any reason why I couldn't use cheap ebay airbags, homemade brackets, and some sort of compressor and tank for onboard air/load assistance? Anyone done this?

In reply to Patrick :

I may have to take you up on it. Roller cam motor makes it easy to choose which way to go with the cam. 

In reply to Bob the REAL oil guy. :

I almost did. You should.  

I put in a 1000lb coil helper spring on mine to adjust the ride height. My 40 year old springs ain't got much spring left. These bolt to the axle and fits in the c-notch around the bumpstop.

These be the ones

I ran similar on the s10. It works, but I'm wanting to try something more..... elegant.