cttandy

iTrader: (12)

Got the new tires on. They are nice and wide, 11.5 inches. This thing is definitely going to need to be dropped down some. They look tiny under it. I know the torsion bars are cranked up on it from a PO. I am going to turn them back down and install some drop shackles in the back.






I am going to have to play with the air pressure in the tires some, but my initial thought is they ride really nice.

cttandy

iTrader: (12)

Well, I went out to replace the header gaskets. I noticed that the rear support bracket on the alternator wasn't where it should be. So after I finished up the header gasket, I investigated why. I found that there was only a bottom bolt in the alternator/power steering pump bracket.



I started tearing it all down. I pulled the upper fan shroud off, grabbed a piece of card board to protect the radiator while I drilled out bolt in the head. When I stepped back I noticed this.



That is ALL the bolts I have found missing through out working on this thing, including the bolts that were missing from the alt/PS bracket. I have never had the fan shroud off before, this is all stuff from whoever worked on it before me. Good news though, I also found some tools!

Since I got it all fixed, and it didn't cost me anything, I decided to celebrate

Cream corn, baked apples, baked beans, fried pickles, pork BBQ with sweet and spicy sauces, and some fruit tea to wash it all down.

cttandy

iTrader: (12)

Gave candying my tails a shot today. I am going to have to get some better taillights. Mine were pretty beat up.




Here is one of my legendary crappy night pics

cttandy

iTrader: (12)

Better pictures of my tails

cttandy

iTrader: (12)

OK, how about some rough numbers. I have put nearly 3000 miles on the suburban in 3 weeks time.

My daily trips during the week have been about 175 miles, and I have put $25 in gas in it a day. Mid grade non-ethanol is usually $3.85.

$25/ $3.85 = 6.49 gallons

175 miles/ 6.49 gallons = 26.96MPG

Now realize, this is a very ROUGH number. I haven't run my truck completely out of gas, nor filled it up. I also, haven't kept dead on track of my mileage. Right around 155 miles round trip to the building I have been working in at night, and 22 miles round trip back and forth to my office. I don't think my truck is getting almost 27MPG, but I think I am very likely close to my target goal of 24-25MPG. This was all done with the drivers header gasket severely leaking in 3 places and the check engine light on, and running the cruise.

I am pretty happy!

offroadrider12

is the speedometer properly calibrated for those size tires?

cttandy

iTrader: (12)

Stock tire was P265/70R16 (nearly a 31) and it now has a p285/60r18 (31.5) GPS verified, within a half mile an hour at 70mph. I took my wife's car, my Dad's van, the old 5.9 Limited, my pickup when it was on stock tires, and the 87 diesel suburban on the same trip (2 very good customers in the same building) and the distance has been the same. The distance traveled was figured by that, which is why I said ROUGH estimate. I have been driving out to my office, then there, then home, nearly everyday for 3 weeks. Thank goodness that is almost done now!!!

I had also just got the truck on the road, with the replaced tach gauge cluster when I started this job. It had 218,300 then, and has 222,000 on it as of tonight.

Like I said, the ROUGH number figures to nearly 27MPG, but I in reality, I should be all over 23-25MPG. That's driving a house on wheels with the cruise set.

If this thing is getting 27MPG, I need to call guiness book of world records or something.

For the record, my wife's lincoln does this at 25MPG, Dad's mini-van at 21MPG, the 5.9 limited at 13.5MPG if you really babied it, the pickup at 20MPG or 17MPG with the topper, or roughly 7MPG topper and 35's if the conditions where perfect, and the diesel suburban at a whopping 32MPG.

offroadrider12

is it weird this is one of my favorite builds on PT.net?

cttandy

iTrader: (12)

THANKS


Right now I am trying to get my ducks in a row to start an engine build. Nothing exotic since this will be a work truck. It has a lower end knock that has started. I think I might have gotten someone else's problems with this truck.

Looking for a vortec 350 block. Punch it .030, stock rebuild but balanced. Stock or close to it roller cam. If I can scare up the money, maybe some different heads or just get stock heads loved on. Put it all back together with the parts I have now. Not looking for a high horsepower build, just some good bottom end grunt and some better then stock mileage.

offroadrider12

better than 27mpg....good luck. For the ultimate bottom end grunt stock swirl ports are where its at. You will lose low end with vortecs. Vortecs make great power across the band, but swirl ports have more low end. And may possibly yield better fuel mileage over the vortecs?

Here's a few cam specs I like from crower. I'd stick to a tiny cam if you want mileage.

Chevrolet - GM 350 LT1 - LT4
Performance level - Stock Replacement - Increased performance in stock LT1 engines.
INT/EXH - Dur @ .050” Lift: 204°/212° RR: 1.5/1.5 Gross Lift: .485”/.505” LSA: 114° RPM: Idle to 5000 Redline: 5500
SKU# 00560

Quick Overview
Chevrolet - 262, 267, 283, 302, 305, 307, 327, 350 & 400
Performance level - BeastINT/EXH - Dur @ .050” Lift: 200°/212° RR: 1.5/1.5 Gross Lift: .435”/.462” LSA: 112° RPM: 2000 to 4500 Redline: 5000
SKU# 00408S

Quick Overview
Chevrolet - 262, 267, 283, 302, 305, 307, 327, 350 & 400
Performance level 1 - High Lift - Smooth idle, daily usage for near stock engines.
INT/EXH - Dur @ .050” Lift: 204°/213° RR: 1.5/1.5 Gross Lift: .484”/.505” LSA: 110° RPM: 1700 to 5600 Redline: 6100
SKU# 00463LM

Quick Overview
Chevrolet - 262, 267, 283, 302, 305, 307, 327, 350 & 400
Performance level 2 - High Lift - Strong torque, good mid range
power.
INT/EXH - Dur @ .050” Lift: 209°/217° RR: 1.5/1.5 Gross Lift: .495”/.514” LSA: 110° RPM: 1800 to 5700 Redline: 6200
SKU# 00464LM