Well let’s get down to the mechanical work that needs to be done.
The visit to the shop I use here where I live was yesterday, and I got a new list. Some has to be done within a month for insurance purpose’s. I’ll list those three first. Some can wait a bit. Here’s the list:
New tires. No surprise but needed badly
Steering pump and Pittman arm. That’s my loosey goosey steering.
Wheel alignment. Also part of the problem.
Left CV axle. For sure.
Rear shocks.
Right front axle seal.
Rear differential cover seal leaking
Left rear wheel has missing stud.
Two codes show up.. Evap leak & key in ignition.
Battery is weak.
Some of these things I will do, like the rear shocks. One thing not covered in the list is the hard shift from 1’s to 2’nd gear. Very common for these transmissions, and fixable by a transmission shop. Meanwhile I got the new LED flasher installed, and the the bug / hood protector too.
Look’n spiffy.. A week from now the Avalanche is scheduled for four new tires, and the next day for the steering fix and wheel alignment. Then we’ll see how nice it drives.
# 1 Can get crossed off the list.
New tires are on and the driving experience just got better. Still wanders all over but that is next. Defiantly a quieter and smoother ride.
This are the same brand of tires I had on the 2009 Avalanche. All season all terrain. Now #2 is the steering.. New power steering pump and some other parts… plus a wheel alignment, and now we have no more wandering Avalanche . And we passed the safety inspection. So I’m now driving it. And that’s a good thing because as if on cue the Buick has a failed alternator. And it’s going to take a week to fix.
December 2024:
Alrighty Early this month was another visit to the shop and we can cross more off the list.. # 2, 3, 7 and 9 all fixed. Also some wiring in the steering column. No more check engine light. We don’t need number 6 on the list. And it’s driving great. So much so that I’ll take it to Edmonton just before Christmas. The CV axle can wait till spring.
Got to fix the rust hole in the rear panel.. and the flaked off paint on the passenger front door. Oops no “before” photo.. but it’s in the video. Trust me the paint was flaking off just above the rubber side moulding. Only the front door. Right down to the primer.
Not no more ! The great thing about a plain white vehicle, easy to match the paint. And here’s the last body fix.
Can you tell where I painted ? No ! Only half way up the lower panel.. Yes the match is that good. No more rust. Now for round three of the hatch cables. They still keep braking apart. This time I got some steel cable and some real cable crimps,
And yes this made for a much stronger cable. I even put some heat shrink on the steel cable.
There ! take that.. Dare you to break.. If you do I have lots of pop rivets and cable.
Today I got the chance to go parts shopping and I got the tools & jack, plus a new end for the tube where the handle goes in the bumper. With lock but no keys.
These things are in excellent condition. I put the jack away under the right rear seat. The other tools I used to “try” to lower the spare tire.. Got it down about 6 inches and hit a stuck part.. So there’s some work to do.. The bumper cap needed a good cleaning and it needs to be installed.
As for putting that locking cap back.. No I don’t have the key and it’s not needed. So let’s figure out the lowering of the spare shall we… Well that was fun.. NOT! Five hours later I got the tire down. After years of cranking the spare up under the back of trucks, some brainy engineer thought we needed a safety catch. Just in case the cable broke. Ya right.. That happens all the time… NOT! The cable mechanism to lower the spare works great.. It’s not seized up nor is the cable rusty. But the safety catch was seized.. Sure glad I’m doing this now, in the shop, with all my tools. There’s no way you can do this on the side of the road. I’m fixing that dumb idea.. I have a grinder !
Here’s what my spare looks like. Good tire and still holds air, just a ugly looking rim. Let’s make it look better. Just some black rust paint is good enough.
There! Now I won’t be embarrassed to use this spare. But hopefully I will never need it. I took the whole spare tire holder mechanism out too so I could make it not look so rusty.
And fix that safety latch for good.. Here it is and it no longer has a hook / catch.
It was seized up so bad that no amount of lubricant was going to fix it.. PLUS it’s riveted together. The winch part still works as it should. Most likely because it’s well protected from the elements. I’ll grease the cable lightly before winding it back in. Should be able to put this all back where it was…just better looking. Done and everything worked great. And with that..I believe I’ve got a lot done now. But really never say that. There’s all ways more. Yup.. still some mechanical fixes. And in time new tires. I have a new hood bug deflector on order. That will cover up the paint chips and road rash. I have to change the flashing relay for a LED one. Change the cabin air filters. And lastly get an inspection done for me and the insurance folks. This will tell me how to move forward with the mechanical stuff. So time for a new page..
And now with the back end to the bench we have a few things to do.
The tailgate makes a nice work place…
Remember the list !
Remove the seats now that I have the proper tool.
Clean the carpets. New floor mats are coming.
Paint the trailer hitch. Can’t have it rusty.
Repair drivers side rear hatch cable.
Fix leaking gaskets on the box covers
Ok don’t get upset, but I skipped to #4 on the list. And I decided to replace both. This is what I’m talking about. And we are looking at the driver’s side. In the above photo I have them both open beyond where they would with the cables. The cables hold the hatches just beyond 90 degrees.
I’m not aware of these being a part you can just buy. So I’ll will be making my own. Mine may not look as scookum as the factory ones.. But then again those broke ! The passenger side is so close to breaking I may as well make two sets.
And those hinges are rusty. Nope can’t have that .. As you can see these are riveted on, so not easy to replace. I may use small bolts, or pop rivets just don’t make them tight. And the pop rivet idea works.
Yup that’s electrical wire and crimp fittings. I’m cleaning the hinges and painting them too. So skip back to #1 on the list. Drivers seat ! Came out easy with the right tools. And I’m $1.75 richer. I wonder what I’ll find under the passenger seat ? A quarter ! Now I have two bucks !
Not near as bad as it could be.. This should clean up real easy.
Yes it sure did ! Once it’s dry I’ll put the passenger seat back. The drivers seat will have to wait. Number one and number two are done. Well my fix for the side hatches did not work. The crimp on the wire was not strong enough.. So I’m making new ones with a stronger crimp and better wire. And I’m waiting for some pop rivets to arrive tomorrow. In the meantime I’ll remove the bottom seat cover. I was pleased to see the heater pad to be in perfect condition.
I’ve watched the videos on how to install these covers.. so I should have no problems. Oh my new floor mats came yesterday. The carpets are dry today so here they are.
The rear mats even cover the hump! That great…
The front’s are very basic but do the job of protecting most of the carpet. Sorry about jumping around from one thing to another. However I’m waiting for things to come, dry… and that’s how I work anyway. Passenger seat is back in, and it’s never going to look this clean again.
But I will try. There’s still a few things on the list, and I’m finding more… but let’s not rush into it. One more thing I did take the tailgate handle apart ( I know how ). Cleaned and lubricated and it works great. There’s protection product that blackens the plastics on the rear parts. It’s a nice contrast with the white.
I’ve got two days till the seat cover comes so I’ll work on the hitch and the spare tire mechanism. And the (hopefully) final assembly of the side hatches. Also paint the bottom of the doors.
Yeah! This time it works, and looks close to factory.. , So far so good.. Much stronger than my first attempt. As for the spare tire lowering mechanism… I’ll need the tools from an auto wrecker to make that work. That means today is hitch painting day. Done ! And paint the bottom of the doors too. It’s taking a while to work through the list.. Meanwhile the hitch is all painted up nice, and I use some undercoat spray on other bits under the rear.
Yes it does not look new that’s for sure.. But it’s got rust sealer under the paint.. should do well.
And with this photo you can see I’ve installed the new seat cover. Was not hard to do.. And that’s the list all done, except for some bodywork. That’s next .. So here’s a new video.
With all washing done outside now it’s time to welcome the Avalanche into the garage.
What’s going on with the grill… Well that’s me changing the messed up flat black Chevy bow tie back to gold. Sorry it was bugging me. No I’m not sorry…
That looks bad, and if your going to shine up the rest of the front …well we need to fix that.
More to my liking!
I’m doing other things too. While we are up front I changed the daytime running lights and the turn signals to nice bright LED’s When they arrive the fog lights will be LED’s too. And there will be more to change in the interior. I also tested the trailer plug , and it shocked me by working 100% correctly. Today I got my new key fobs, 4×4 buttons, and new LED door lights, Now it’s time to rid the Avalanche of the parasite called a “remote start”. Of coarse it’s not working, and of coarse it’s causing problems. This means the driver’s seat may have to be removed. Two reasons for that… easier to work under the dash, and I need to replace the leather seat bottom. And wouldn’t ya know it.. there is special bolts holding the seat.
What the heck kind of nut is that! I’ve ordered the right sockets. Due to arrive in a few days. In the meantime I will work under the dash with the seats in. So I took the dash apart.. only takes me a few seconds because I’ve done this many times. Now I can find that problem black box.. AANNDD Found it !
And it’s 5 lbs of wires.. Looked up the wiring diagram for it to make sure I have all the connections.. Now your going bye bye.
And this is what I think of aftermarket remote starters. That’s the round file !
And With that done.. I was able to program one of the new Chevy key fobs I just got.. WE ARE GOOD ! While I have the dash apart I’m going to do some cleaning and change the older brake controller for the new ” Primus IQ” trailer brake controller. I have now done a good cleaning of the interior, except for the driver’s seat and the carpets. I have a week to do those things. Here’s a new video #2..
I’m finished with the front of the Avalanche for now, so today I’ll turn it around and back it in. There’s a bit of work to do on that end of things. Here’s my list..
Remove the seats now that I have the proper tool.
Clean the carpets. New floor mats are coming.
Paint the trailer hitch. Can’t have it rusty.
Repair drivers side rear hatch cable.
Fix leaking gaskets on the box covers
And of coarse install the new seat cover when it comes. One last photo before I turn the truck around.
All spiffed up except for the front of the hood. Let’s start a new page for that list.
I’ve lost count of how many Avalanches I’ve had over the years !
What ! Ok I’m told this is number seven.. What can I say… I love’m !
I have a post about those many many Avalanches .. HERE
All I have for now is the photos from the ad.. and the Avalanche is still in Edmonton because it needs a left front hub replaced before a long trip. I’m in no hurry, and will pick it up when I get a ride up there.
It looks good in these photos.. And the body is way better than others I’ve seen, the interior is also very good. However we need a bit of mechanical work. Oh .. runs and drives, the motor and transmission also seem fine..
I’ll start with the positive stuff first. This one is a Z71 off road package with the 17 inch wheels. The model is a ” LT ” which is the deluxe model of that year. As you can see leather heated memory seats, Bose 6 CD stereo, Power folding mirrors, Trailer towing package, Auto climate control, Steering wheel controls and all the usual stuff that Avalanches have. And as an added bonus this one has the 4:10 rear end gears for better towing. Roof rack and the owners manual is in the glove box too!
Ok enough of that… Now for the BAD ! The driver’s seat has a tear in the usual place.. They always do. But that is an easy fix, and it’s cosmetic..
Let’s see where to start.. Right away I need a new left front wheel hub, and possibly CV boots on that side too. The muffler is rusted out and the tail pipe is missing.. Too loud for me ! The check engine light is on… Told it is the O2 censer? We will see. The rear diff is wet from a leak.. The windshield has a big crack.. ( Alberta ! ). Someone installed an after market remote start piece of crap.. and of coarse it does not work and the cause of the locking not working.. I suspect the AC needs work too. The battery is old but okay for now. Needs a good cleaning too… But that’s just fussy old me .
The Avalanche went to a shop my daughter uses for an inspection of what’s up.. what’s wrong , what’s needed…. Here’s the quote.
“Hello Rob, here is a list of items we found during the inspection you can let me know if you would like an estimate for any of it. WINDSHIELD CRACKED, STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTRE , TRUCK WANDERS, POOR SHIFT QUALITY, PASS SIDE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT OUT, DRIVERS FOG LIGHT NOT WORKING, CODES FOR KNOCK SENSOR, EVAP VENT SOLENOID, AC REFRIGERANT PRESSURE SENSOR, MODE SWITCH CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION AND KEY IN IGNITION CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION ( there’s that f@%&g remote start), FRONT LEFT WHEEL HUB, MAY HAVE DAMAGE DUE TO OVER HEATING AND SEIZED CALIPER, Needs TIRES LT265/70/17 Thank you Alish.”
I corrected some spelling and added the comma’s. Well I knew of all these things but question the caliper. No mention of three of the things I was told by the fella selling the Avalanche. And they are.. The missing exhaust system, and the cracked CV boots. And the wet Differential ? Sooo The Avalanche is going to the muffler shop in Edmonton and they will also replace the hub. Not going to fix anything else for now just want to get it home..
Sure enough they found the caliper to be damaged, so got that replaced and new brake pads. Driver’s side axle boot is split , but I’ll fix that. It’s funny no one is mentioning the rear differential ? The Truck should be good now to drive back home safely. So I’m taking the bus to Edmonton this weekend and do just that. And that worked out good. Got all the fixes done quickly and at a very reasonable cost. Drove the Avalanche the three and a half hours home without any issues. The steering is still a little loose. Or an alignment is needed, and I think the front axles are protesting. But the truck was WAAAAYYY quieter and the cruise control worked perfectly. I could be hearing and feeling the 8 year old tires.
We are home !
And I’m taking inventory of the things I found inside.. The manuals, inspection sheets from 2021, key fobs, the proper antenna and a pair of RV mirror extenders.
I thought I’d better make sure the mid-gate works. Sure enough the cover that covers this gap and folds with the mid gate has come off it’s mounting, and there’s what seams like 19 years worth of dirt too.
So there is certainly some cleaning to do… I’ll start tomorrow. Mostly the interior and the motor bay.. I thought of a way to fix the broken mounting ears on the cover.
This is some kinda moulded fibre something ? And these hold the whole thing in place.. I’ve seen this before. They brake if you jam something up front and it catches the lip. Here’s my fix. …
Pop rivets ! and a custom metal ear. After the cargo area was clean and dry, I re-installed the cover.. Speaking of cleaning… How’s this..
That looks like a rust stain.. Nope it’s from heat ! And that’s what you get for not replacing the tail pipe from the muffler back. Good thing the rubber mat is not damaged. As I clean I’m realizing that the body and all the “avalanche” bits and pieces are in very good condition. No dents.. All the covers and cubbyholes work the way they should. While I had the pressure washer out I cleaned the door frames. Also treated some rust spots.
Looks great ! Original white paint by the way. Someone liked those “Bose” speaker emblems a lot.. They just had to have them. The interior will get it’s turn for cleaning in the garage soon. But the motor is next while it’s outside. Darn I forgot the “before” photo.. But anyway here’s the after.
It wasn’t super bad.. mostly dusty. Just as long as I feel better. I took the two headlights into the garage for a good polishing. And then I used a ceramic coating on them.. Yup they are better too.
Now the turn and DRL’s look not as good. Oh well… One more thing too do while I have room in the garage.. Clean and treat the box covers. Found a good product for fixing the faded grey.
Supposed to last a year.. We will see.. But it really did remove many years of fading. And now they look new and so does the other plastics !
Looks like it’s wet.. But it’s not. So with the messy stuff done, it’s time for the Avalanche to visit the garage… But first here’s a new Video I made..
Now that the truck is running great and reliable to go anywhere , it’s time to get the trailer wiring done. Today I made space in the garage. Plans are:
Repaint the hitch with rust paint.
Install new 7 and 4 pin plugs.
Run the wire for the back up camera.
Push the dents out of the rear bumper.
I have all the parts I need so let’s get to it !
Here’s what I have so far.. There is more on the way. I’m going to replace more than just the lever on the steering column. The high beam part of the switch is not working .. New one coming and a new cam for the turn cancel too. Above I have a new trailer plug 7 and 4 pin combo, and the adapter. New digital brake controller. Back up camera with a screen. Key less locking kit. New headlight switch. And the new multi function lever.
Gramps in in the garage ready for all this work to be done. I have to run the power wire and the camera wire to the front first. Here’s the test for that.
Very handy for both backing up and hooking up trailers. It won’t be automatic when in reverse, I’ll have a switch on the dash. Same thing for the 12 volt power to the trailer plug. I want control over these things. Here’s a short video of the progress…
I realized that the wires to the back of the truck needed to start at the front. So I started taking the steering column apart and the dash too. I’m still waiting for a few parts and added to the order today. While I have the dash apart, I’m changing the lights to LED’s. Polished the lens today and now that looks so much better. Progress has been slow on the truck.. But I got back to it.. Have all the parts I needed and it’s time to get the steering column back working. I decided not to pursue the locking system at this time. That involves removing a door panel… Nope I hate doing those. Here’s what I’ve done so far:
New parts in the steering column DONE. Horn fixed too.
Cleaned and polished dash parts.
Installed back up monitor and wires going to the back.
Running a power wire to the back , with switch.
Installed new brake control.
The monitor fits nicely here.. works great..
Just need to get the truck up higher so I can run the power and the camera wire. A jack and jack stands work good. Wasn’t too hard.. And I got the wiring mess at the back done. We now have a nice trailer system. With a camera !
I do need to paint that hitch though.. One more thing left to do .. The old ash tray is getting a makeover. With a new 12 volt plug and two USB ports for charging stuff.
This will be handy, just need to install this back in it’s place. I’ve tested all the wiring and it’s all good. I’m hitting the road in a few days …so the truck will get a good test. We are good and ready for the road trip.
And what a road trip ! I didn’t get far and the transmission started to act up. Not serious things at first… So carried on. Just geared down on the mountain passes and that worked fine. The overdrive ( 4th gear) was slipping and jumping around on even the slightest hill. So I put some magic (no slip) in the trany thinking that may work. Nope ! On the way home after going over the third and highest pass It started to get a knocking sound at slow speeds. And the oil pressure gauge was going up and down.. I was determined to get home so I put up with that.. And I did make it home.. Turns out that noise is coming from the motor… and it’s bad news. We suspect it to be a rod bearing.. Not fixable given how long I drove with this happening. So Gramps needs a new motor ! YIKES ! So I could throw more money at the truck … Lots of money and still have other things to fix.. Or cut my losses and sell Gramps as is.. I’m choosing the latter. The final determination of the problem is the oil pump. It was failing off and on and that lack of oil damaged one of the connecting rod bearings on the crank shaft. This would have damaged the crank as well. Still drive able but with a bit of noise. I got it across town and drove it onto the semi truck trailer that was taking it to it’s new home way up north.
Gramps does not need much. I’m driving the truck just the way it is.. BUT there are some stuff to do. The first thing is to make an appointment with my shop to have a look for problems and to adjust the idle. Also I will get them to do a wheel alignment. There’s sure to be a list. One of the biggest things for me is the paint. It’s missing in a lot of places, and that could mean rust will happen. I really like the blue factory paint. It makes me happy like the blue colour of my ATV. So it’s a keeper for when that happens.
I’m not sure about the black lower part.. But it does look good.
June 4 2024
Today I picked up a nice canopy from a nice person for Gramps. I had to drive a few hours to get it.. That was the most I’ve driven the truck..
White is a good fit and so is this canopy. It will stay on for the summer. After that 4 hr drive I now know more about the truck, so I have a list of things needing attention. As well as the inspection, here’s my thoughts: Wheel alignment.. wanders on the road more than it should. Rough idling… The motor feels like it stumbles at idle. Cruise Control.. Yup it’s should be working. A/C .. yup that could be handy.. I believe a recharge will fix that. Fan speed... medium speed is not working. Will have to see what’s up there. Replace Multi Function Switch… Got a new one.. And it may fix the cruise.. Horn ! Needs fixing. Dash & Cluster…I have a new headlight switch to install and all the bezel needs a good cleaning. Also I will replace any bulbs that are out. That’s enough for now..
Update: Now that the truck has had it’s assessment we know the answers. A few surprises, but overall good news. Got a list from the mechanic and the costs. Adds up to just under $2000. So the plan is to have some stuff done now and some later. Here’s whats getting fixed first.
Rear Brakes. The shoes are bad and both brake cylinders leak as well as a leak in the line that crosses the rear axle.
Spark Plugs & Distributor Cap. I suspected this could be the cause of the rough idle. A good thing to do anyway.
Oil Pressure Sender. The gauge goes up and down. So let’s make sure this is not the issue.
Fuel Filter. It’s old so let’s just do this while on the hoist.
Wheel Alignment. There was some wandering and pulling on the steering …this should fix that.
Oil Change & Air Filter. Want this done anyway.
Here’s what is getting fixed along with those things.
Intake Manifold Gasket. Possible leak of the coolant here. The motor will be happy.
Power Steering Pump. Leaking and this may help the steering problems too.
So we will see how this works out… Now there is a few more things that need attention. The shocks are older. And of coarse there are a few electrical things to fix.. I will gladly do those. That’s my thing ! So by the end of summer I should have a reliable good running and driving truck. Ready for the cosmetic stuff.
July 24 2024.
We are home from our camping now and the truck spent 3 weeks at the shop having all the stuff on the list done. Including the intake and power steering. Runs great and now I have confidence in it for some long trips. I have ordered the parts for trailer towing electrical. including a new brake controller. I’ll fix all that in August. I took the left taillight out to see what colour wire did what. And the mud and dust was thick on the back of the light and the cavity.
Should have taken a before photo… But this is what it looks like now after a good cleaning. I also need access on the left side for power to the canopy light. While I have the taillights on my table …why not make them pretty again. They are faded and oxidized. So I tried a new product.
And it worked wonders on those taillights… check them out.. Again some “before” photos would have been nice.
I like clean and shiny things… So next is the trailer wiring and I’m thinking a new page for that.
And what I mean is cleaning the interior. Looks to me like no one has done that for thirty years. The first thing I cleaned was the doors and the dash. I still need to use the Bissel on the door fuzzy parts.
This is a huge improvement.. trust me on that. My cleaner is quite powerful so I have to remind myself to be careful. I didn’t mean to but I erased the symbols on the light switch.
Don’t ask what that toggle switch is for cause I don’t know… YET. But now that there are no seats in the way…
It would be easier to get under the dash to find that remote start crap. Yes I removed the seats …Easy to clean the carpet and the seats this way. And let this be the “before” photo. Oh and now that we have easy access I was curious about the tool box.
Sure Nuff.. There’s all the dusty tools like they’ve never been touched.. Amazing ! I also found 4 quarters in the door pocket.. There’s a buck towards some new parts. Dusty seams to be the theme here. The motor and area is not greasy but very dusty.
Really dusty ! Today I dropped my 10 mm wrench down inside the door. So I had to remove the door panel to get it. Dusty everywhere. And if that’s the worst, then we are good. Here’s two photos after I cleaned the carpet and the seats.
The back seat is quite nice now..
Don’t mind those wires.. They are leftovers from removing the command start system. I did not get any fobs for that.. So this mess goes in the garbage.
Those wires are the 12 volt hot , the 12 volt acc and the ground. As soon as I put the battery back I’ll test to confirm that.. Maybe could use them somewhere. Next is a under the hood bath.
And here’s a “after” photo. quite the improvement. I have one small thing that needs attention. The battery terminal clamps. They are old and rusty, and well just wrong. I fix ! And that is all the cleaning for now.
It seamed there was no way I was going to deal with the Jeeps.. I tried selling the 95 with no luck. And now my Son is moving away. So I put both up for sale this spring, Two for one. Not a lot of interest in two broken Jeeps. Till this guy made me an offer. Trade the two for his 1996 1 ton diesel dually truck. My first reaction was no.. but then I thought if I don’t like the truck I have only one thing to sell not two. And he was willing to deliver the truck and take away the two Jeeps in one go. So I said ok let’s do it.
And this is what he used ! A three vehicle hauler. The truck runs and drives … and the Jeeps made it on to the trailer. Bye Bye Jeeps. Here’s a short video..
Well what I did not say in the video was my indecision about whether or not I would keep it. So after driving it around for a few days ( which the truck did willingly) I got to know how I felt. And got to know more about the condition of the truck.
This is where the concerns are. Under the hood. Let’s talk about that. I did take the truck to the mechanic for an overall mechanical assessment. And this is the low down.. The motor is the only problem on the truck. And that is no surprise given it’s age. Leaking oil and coolant, and blow by in the crankcase. All signs of a somewhat wore out motor. It’s starts fine and runs good, but things are near end of life. And for me I want reliability. Also to fix all the leaks would be costly, mechanic’s opinion not worth it. Now if you add to that the condition of the body, badly rusted rockers and doors. Well it’s just a money pit for me. Plus It’s loud, rough ride… generally a beast ! I’ve put it up for sale. Just not the truck for me. Update ! After many weeks I have finally sold the Diesel 1 ton. Now I can put my efforts toward this nice truck…
This is the truck for me …
Yes same colour… Let me introduce to you the 1993 Chevy OBS 1500, 350 V8, auto 2wd. I’m calling it “Gramps”. Because that’s who drove it since new. Only 200,000 kms on the ODO ! Rare for Alberta. It was passed on to the 19 year old kid who wanted a car not a “gram pa” truck. It popped up on my radar as I was seeing what a good price for the 1 ton would be. And your not going to believe this but the young fella was coming to Drumheller to look at a car he wanted. Well… Here’s chance to see the truck and if it’s as good as claimed and in the pictures, I’ll make a deal. I did ! And here is a quick Video :
Yes the paint is bad… always in those years. Only one rusted part on the right rear rocker. Everything works except the A/C and drives great. In fact my Son and I are using it for dump runs and for him to drive while his truck is in the shop. This post will continue about this truck and the plans for it. Needs a good cleaning and I will get an inspection done as well.
The rear end of the truck. Most of the things wrong are cosmetic. Like the Chevrolet panel. Where you see brown is the dirt stuck to the leftover adhesive when the stick on letters fall off. The hitch is not the factory one It’s better I never checked but I bet those license plate lights work. The latch works ! and still has the bezel trim.
This is common on these trucks. If that chrome hasn’t started to peel off yet …it will soon. Like I said mostly cosmetic. Mechanically.. needs a wheel alignment, new plugs and new filters. I’m sure I’ll find more but that’s where we are. In the meantime I am collecting things for improving Gramps. The new mirrors I ordered for the 1 ton will now go on Gramps.
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I have installed these before on the 94 K2500 I had years back. They are not power, but they pull out to be extended for trailer towing. A very popular after market item and reasonable price too. Also I have new lenses and LED bulbs for the dome light. Oh and a set of window visors for an extra cab that will be nice to have. Allows the windows to be open a bit without the worry of rain getting in. And now I liberated these floor mats from the 1 ton.
I just cleaned them up. The ones from Gramps can replace these.
Ok I got Gramps back from my son.. I took it to the car wash and gave the box a good blast. I also washed in the wheel wells. It’s now in the garage ready for some serious cleaning.. New post for that.
But work is starting early on the dash and things around it. This has to be done to install the new window hinges. There is nuts on the back of the lower hinge bolts, behind the dash !
For a day I’ll be cleaning the dust & dirt. I have to admit that this work will be easier without stuff in the way. The steering wheel will have to come off so I can get the metal dash back out.
As you can see it’s got some rust and needs a paint job. I made a video about the process .
As I take things apart I’m testing , poking and prodding. I’ve ordered up a few new things like 4×6 speakers. Way easier to install those while the dash is apart. The same goes for new LED lighting for the gauges. But first is that cleaning… Badly needed !
Let’s make this the before photo. Yup it’s dirty..
And the after… less dirty Checked a lot of the wiring and found no issues. Lubricated the three heater cables. Cleaned the contacts & plugs. Plus I mounted the new hinges. I needed to understand where the grounds were, the illumination wires and stereo wires.
I like the new allan head bolts. Used locking nuts and washers so I won’t have to worry. Also started the painting on the dash backing plate.
And then I found a new set of speakers in one of my bins. So I guess I’m going with four speakers ! Nothing wrong with that. I ordered an interesting stereo for the Jeep.
Car audio is mostly the same these days, all digital. no cd’s, no cassettes. This one I liked because it has a clock and the temperature. AM / FM , USB and SD card. What more do we need these days. It’s good that the wiring is in place behind the dash for rear speakers for a four speaker system. The factory “Jeep’ stereo did too but only used two, The Jeep stereo has seen better times.
Past due for the upgrade. So onward I go with some extra wiring. Easy to do now rather than later. I ran the speaker wires to the back, and made up two LED courtesy lights for under each side of the dash. I’m using the blank place where the rear window wiper and defrost switches would be. And installing these !
Thinking ahead here.. The horn is my OOGAA horn that I’ve used on my ATV in parades. What the heck .. why not. I have a pair of small LED light bars for when I build a new bumper. And of coarse a winch at some point too. All pre-wired now, but the OOGAA horn is installed.
It’s like this spot on top of the fender was made for it. And now the new window is on the Jeep too.
As soon as some more bits and pieces arrive I can finish the dash. It’s looking good so far.. The repaint is nice and the new speakers too !
The dash is complete now.. Everything went back together properly with only the frustration of using the Phillips head screws !
New stereo fits like it was always there. Same goes for my new switches where there was a blank spot.
New and improved night time lighting for all the gauges. And now it’s time to button the roof back up and sell the 95 Jeep. This Jeep will go to the shop and have a few things done. All done for now.. It will be months before I get back to the Jeep.
Change of the plan:
Just a little bit.. I need to work on the Ponoka Trailer and sell it to help with the costs involved with the 92 jeep. The 95 is not selling. So the 92 is parked out side for the winter. Any work will wait for now. I did find a way to insure it so I can transfer and plate it. And this is without it passing an inspection. That was great news. I can now take all the time I want to get this jeep back on the road. It’s tucked up beside the house for the winter. Plans are going to change by spring .. you know it.
And it worked wonders on those taillights… check them out.. Again some “before” photos would have been nice.
I like clean and shiny things… So next is the trailer wiring and I’m thinking a new page for that.
