Truckin Tuesday

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 10/15/2013 at 15:31 • Filed to: None

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Who knows a lot about early GMT trucks. Im thinking about getting !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as a work vehicle at a cabin. It will spend a lot of time putting in boats on a sandy beach or hauling crap to the dump.

Nibbles > HammerheadFistpunch 10/15/2013 at 15:35

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They're stout haulers. The 305 and 350 are both ubiquitous, and the 700R4 trans (most likely what it's equipped with) is basically just a TH350 with some electronic helpers. It's one of the last trucks that was, to put it simply, just a truck.

Rust, steering column woes and a slightly weak front suspension are the only real issues I've encountered. The weak suspension can be solved by installing urethane bushings everywhere. Steering column retaining bolts (under the dash) tend to come loose and, if equipped, the tilt mechanism will eat itself with years of abuse.

offroadkarter > HammerheadFistpunch 10/15/2013 at 15:39

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The TBI's are anemic, I have a friend who converted his 88 k1500 to a TPI setup from a 3rd gen camaro.

ATX211 > Nibbles 10/15/2013 at 15:41

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I was about to say pretty close to the same thing.

I had a 95, almost identical, and put 130K on it in the first two years I had it. Then replaced the bushings with Urethane, and moved it out to my Uncle's place, and it is still in use out there as we speak...Probably getting close to 200K now on the 350.

HammerheadFistpunch > offroadkarter 10/15/2013 at 15:43

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Its at 6000 feet, so Performance is somewhat of an issue, but it will rarely do more than 40 mph, so not too much.

offroadkarter > HammerheadFistpunch 10/15/2013 at 16:07

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power with hauling things could be an issue. TBI in itself is just junk IMO. back in 86 ford switched to SEFI

HammerheadFistpunch > offroadkarter 10/15/2013 at 16:09

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we used to have an 88 suburban with, basically, the same engine. I'm not too worried about power, it reliability that concerns me, I don't really know carbs that well.

offroadkarter > HammerheadFistpunch 10/15/2013 at 16:13

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Well, TBI is essentially an EFI carb, so...

Hey, worst comes to worst, a TPI swap isn't exactly expensive