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What did you do with your GMT400 today...or yesterday....

dieselolds said:
This evening I decided to give these Volkswagen brake shields a go and mount them to my 96 Chevy truck.I’m pretty sure I can make these work by drilling and tapping three holes in the steering knuckle.It may need a slight trim here and there but I don’t mind doing that.These are from Amazon and were $48 delivered for the pair which I think is a good price.It’ll be a few weeks before I can mount these but I’ll let everyone know how things go overall.If these work out I’ll buy another set for my 96 gmc truck.
Click to expand...
LOL your turning that Chevy into a hybrid
 
I installed the new PM starter on My truck.
The weather was still warm. Before starting the truck I had it overnight on the progressive battery charger.
When I started the truck, it didnt sound like it was cranking as fast as the old starter on the old engine.
I’m wondering if one Or both of the batteries had started failing back then and this bitter cold just knocked the 💩 out of it, or them.
When I get home the batteries is coming out and into the garage to warm.
I’ll have them on the progressive charger over night.

OKAY.
I had all that typed but got a call and had to work so didnt get the post button punched.
I got offa work and just didnt feel like going any farther.
Tomorrow I will get them batteries pulled and inside, put them on the chargers and hope the Chevy dealer is still open.
If not there is always Monday.
I think about, when I get off if work then I’m going to get this bah blah blah blah and I get home and just feel like nit going any farther.
 
Batteries are in the garage, caps removed, cells are all iced over.
Remove the blanket wraps and get some heat going on them.
Old hair dryer and heat gun on low and at a distance.
Looks like they already are thawing. Five minutes ago almost all the cells was iced over. Now its just one on each battery.

IMG_1914.jpeg

IMG_1913.jpeg
 
Last edited:
How time flies when were having phun.
Batteries was installed new 08/2021 and are 78 month batteries.
Almost seven years old. Probably wont get much warranty on these critters but I cant risk a low voltage situation destroying another IP driver module.
One piece atta time and maybe by mid June this truck will be prepared for the journey to Ohio.
 
IDK if they are 78 month batteries. The tag says 30 month free replacement.
Guess I’ll find out when I get to the Chevy dealer.
Had the heat going on the batteries until just now. Chargers still going. They have drizzled down to less than 2 amps.
I got a battery hydrometer and the multi meter. See how they are. I could put My tester on them but probably let them do that at the chevy garage. See if they draw off the surface charge before testing.
 
Nope, 78 is just part of the series.
Okay, i did test the batteries.
Battery1: 13.63 Volts on volt meter.
After test: 12.24 Volts on volt meter.
Before test.
IMG_1916.jpeg

After test

IMG_1918.jpeg

Battery2:
13.20 Volts after test 12.65 volts on vokt meter.
Before test

IMG_1919.jpeg

After test.
IMG_1920.jpeg

And so it appears that these two batteries should be just fine for quite some time.
BUT WAIT A MINIT ! ! ! !
Got out the hydrometer. Battery 1 was showing very good with the float in the mid to upper green, UNTIL i got to the last cell.
They hydrometer float would not even budge, even slightly shaking the unit.
Battery No.2: Hydrometer float failed float on the first cell, the rest of the cells all floated the float very nicely until the last cell, then the float again failed to float on that cell.
Batteries are going back to the dealer. I called, they have two in stock. I told the parts man to dig out two of them and I will come out and exchange.
So, with that, and I have been saying all along, just because a battery seems to be good through the various testing procedures, then, get out the hydrometer and see whats really going on.
The end. 😹😹😹😹
 
dieselolds said:
This evening I decided to give these Volkswagen brake shields a go and mount them to my 96 Chevy truck.I’m pretty sure I can make these work by drilling and tapping three holes in the steering knuckle.It may need a slight trim here and there but I don’t mind doing that.These are from Amazon and were $48 delivered for the pair which I think is a good price.It’ll be a few weeks before I can mount these but I’ll let everyone know how things go overall.If these work out I’ll buy another set for my 96 gmc truck.
Click to expand...
If ya can -do a write up: before pics, part number/ link, show pics of modifications and after pics. Put the thread in brake section. Sounds like something others might want to do.
 
Yup- they would have worked for a bit then within a month or so been down for the count. Getting the dealership to honor the warranty- thats the real trick sometimes.

Advantage AGM- not gonna freeze the acid in gel form. High heat they cant boil off the fines like liquid acid batteries either. My next set will be the Odyssey unless there is an absolute smokin deal on regular batteries at the time.
 
MrMarty51 said:
Nope, 78 is just part of the series.
Okay, i did test the batteries.
Battery1: 13.63 Volts on volt meter.
After test: 12.24 Volts on volt meter.
Before test.
View attachment 92256

After test

View attachment 92257

Battery2:
13.20 Volts after test 12.65 volts on vokt meter.
Before test

View attachment 92258

After test.
View attachment 92259

And so it appears that these two batteries should be just fine for quite some time.
BUT WAIT A MINIT ! ! ! !
Got out the hydrometer. Battery 1 was showing very good with the float in the mid to upper green, UNTIL i got to the last cell.
They hydrometer float would not even budge, even slightly shaking the unit.
Battery No.2: Hydrometer float failed float on the first cell, the rest of the cells all floated the float very nicely until the last cell, then the float again failed to float on that cell.
Batteries are going back to the dealer. I called, they have two in stock. I told the parts man to dig out two of them and I will come out and exchange.
So, with that, and I have been saying all along, just because a battery seems to be good through the various testing procedures, then, get out the hydrometer and see whats really going on.
The end. 😹😹😹😹
Click to expand...
I'd test the new batteries when picking them up. I've rejected a lot of batteries.

One time, at Rural King, it resulted in them rejecting a whole pallet of batteries.
 
Will L. said:
Yup- they would have worked for a bit then within a month or so been down for the count. Getting the dealership to honor the warranty- thats the real trick sometimes.

Advantage AGM- not gonna freeze the acid in gel form. High heat they cant boil off the fines like liquid acid batteries either. My next set will be the Odyssey unless there is an absolute smokin deal on regular batteries at the time.
Click to expand...
Too late. New batteries are in the holes.
One thing I forgot to do before installing the retainers.
How important is those foamy wore out battery wrap blankets thats around them.
Before I hook up the cables I’ll check back and if need I’ll pull the batteries and put the blankets back around them.
It does take some tape to hold them to the batteries.
 
Get you some heated blankets for them batteries. they can be wired in with the block heater. the cells freezing is what put the nail in the coffin. also get you a low amp maintainer to wire in too. I would setup a thermostat on the block heater and blankets later down the road, but those three things will keep you going for a long time to come.

the guy at that battery place I got my refurbished ones from told me right off the bat that I needed a low amp maintainer. even if I drive it every day, short trips will still kill them over time. they don't have time to recover between cranking sessions. I actually think this is what has brought the 93 to it's knees this week. on the 95, it started when I began letting it sit for weeks at a time between uses.
 
Well I just finished cannibalizing the powermaster off of the 95 and installing it on the 93. did a couple of test fires and it spins over like a top, no issues trying to crank up. :) I just need to put the old starter back on the 95 so it can be moved around.

Now I am debating on swapping rims and tires..... the 95 has 265-75 all-terrains that are well suited to handle the weight of the truck and then some. when I got the 93 going, I put a set of used open country highway tires on it (245-75) that are load rated for 2100lbs, they are good tires but are underrated for a 1 ton so I can't put any weight in it. truck weighs close to 8000lb empty! it drives perfectly fine with these tires on it, but wondering if I should swap them since the 95's tags are expired and I have not driven it in several weeks.

also wondering since the 95 needs steering work, it keeps eating the idler arm bracket for lunch, if these tires are whats causing it. I have not had to replace any steering components other than both the upper ball joints on the 93 since bringing it home. it has minor issues but that is all due to the slop in the steering box. compared to the 95 which is all over the road when there is a cross wind, the 93 drives like a Cadillac!
 
now I am gonna have to check my speedo and see how far it's off. I will do that maybe tomorrow, removing and installing 8 wheels plus two wheel spacers I'm wore out! the 93 had 2" spacers behind those factory rims so the center caps would fit over the axle hubs. eventually I will get the correct center caps for them and not need those spacers. I also think I have another set of factory steel rims but need the center caps and beauty rings to make them a full set. I would like both trucks to have their factory look. I also need to find some side steps for the 93 too. Wife's gonna be complaining about climbing in LOL
 
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