DieselSlug
Well-Known Member
Great job on the truck! As usual pictures are awesome. Love seeing the places you go.
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88GMCtruck's 98 Silverado Towpig Build: "Black Fox"
- Thread starter 88gmctruck
- Start date
88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
Yeahhhhh It was a tough decision but was a smart decision overall. It frees up space and money plus allows me to focus on the 88 more.Sorry to see the 02 go! I know you got that from your grandparents as well.
Surprised nobody was interested in the reason I had an unloaded trailer behind my truck......
Yup. 1998 K2500 Suburban. Black with grey interior. 454/4L80E/14FF w/ 4.10s & G80. The guy thought the motor was on it's way out, and wasn't sure what was wrong. Ran (Terribly) and the inside was pretty dirty. 285k on the clock. $700 though. Loaded it up and drug it the 2.5 hours home.
After my assessment of it, I plug in the Flashscan V2 and see what I can see - running super rich on bank 2. MAF, plugs, wires, distributor are all basically brand new. So, toss the MAF from another truck on it, runs better but still weird. Decided to check ignition system since it all looked recently touched - distributor cap was loose, and 3 spark plugs weren't plugged in properly.... Now it runs just fine.... G80 works too!
That being said, I bought this for parts. Lots of parts. I could clean it up and flip it, but it's exactly the year/colors and config I've been looking for. Thus far it's going to be helping out 4-6 GMT400 vehicles. The short list of things it will go to
The entire front 1/3 of interior sans the fabrics (dash/door panels/wiring/etc), all engine wiring, intake, injection and accessory parts and basically all of the underhood except the long block are going to be used on my 88. The driver's door and passenger fender are going on my dually as they have better paint. The long block will be used for 83GMCK2500's 96 that has over 300k on it, the transmission will be rebuilt for another friend's truck that is getting due for a 4L80E.... Might also swap axles into another truck to upgrade from 3.73s to 4.10s....
BIGR
Lucky To Be Here
Oh yea, another project begins, nice.
88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
YAY MOAR THINGS
Decided it was time after many days thinking about it, that some more stereo upgrades were in order. most of this is just wiring stuff which isn't very exciting, so here are the highlights.
First off was a sub. Without building something custom, my options are limited. I didn't want to take the factory jack tools and tray out, so that leaves under the rear seat. I found a matched 8" Pioneer shallow mount that fits under the seat no problem. Amp fits right next to it.
Part of my stereo system uses a GPS antenna, so I did what I did with my Sirius antenna in the 88 and hid it under a cab light.
And, the stereo installed. I purchased the Pioneer SPH-DA120 AppRadio 4. It's a capacitive touch screen with Apple CarPlay. It doesn't have an optical drive (I haven't used mine in years anyway). Basically my goal was to add handsfree integration, AUX inputs, and a backup camera and this fit the bill. I installed it with a Metra 95-3003G double din install kit. This kit isn't the full bezel, it is a trim plate that snaps over your existing bezel (which you trim). It looks good for what it is, although in my case it is temporary as I will be modifying my Escalade bezel at a later date.
Decided it was time after many days thinking about it, that some more stereo upgrades were in order. most of this is just wiring stuff which isn't very exciting, so here are the highlights.
First off was a sub. Without building something custom, my options are limited. I didn't want to take the factory jack tools and tray out, so that leaves under the rear seat. I found a matched 8" Pioneer shallow mount that fits under the seat no problem. Amp fits right next to it.
Part of my stereo system uses a GPS antenna, so I did what I did with my Sirius antenna in the 88 and hid it under a cab light.
And, the stereo installed. I purchased the Pioneer SPH-DA120 AppRadio 4. It's a capacitive touch screen with Apple CarPlay. It doesn't have an optical drive (I haven't used mine in years anyway). Basically my goal was to add handsfree integration, AUX inputs, and a backup camera and this fit the bill. I installed it with a Metra 95-3003G double din install kit. This kit isn't the full bezel, it is a trim plate that snaps over your existing bezel (which you trim). It looks good for what it is, although in my case it is temporary as I will be modifying my Escalade bezel at a later date.
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88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
Just some eye candy from the other day while I had the truck at work.
Also, got my rear view camera installed, it works really well. I like having the view on the freeway and will be great for hooking the trailer up.
Also, got my rear view camera installed, it works really well. I like having the view on the freeway and will be great for hooking the trailer up.
Ed HD
Formerly: Dad's 05 LLY
Awesome.
88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
Thanks guys.
Went down to the wreckers quick to see what they had, and to try and find a non-broken Escalade bezel to replace mine (it's cracked and missing a tab, although still works ok). Ended up finding this woodgrain steering wheel in a conversion van, matches the trim pretty well although it's a shade lighter. Not sure how long it'll stay but I think it helps tie the interior together a little bit.
After getting that in, I just couldn't stand not having the Escalade trim on the dash bezel. I originally didn't want to cut mine up for the double din so I used the OEM bezel first (since I have 3 of them floating around somehow)... well since I found one to modify for later I cut up the one with the crack for the time being. So much better.
That is about it for now. I have another box coming UPS with some more goodies for the dually soon.
Went down to the wreckers quick to see what they had, and to try and find a non-broken Escalade bezel to replace mine (it's cracked and missing a tab, although still works ok). Ended up finding this woodgrain steering wheel in a conversion van, matches the trim pretty well although it's a shade lighter. Not sure how long it'll stay but I think it helps tie the interior together a little bit.
After getting that in, I just couldn't stand not having the Escalade trim on the dash bezel. I originally didn't want to cut mine up for the double din so I used the OEM bezel first (since I have 3 of them floating around somehow)... well since I found one to modify for later I cut up the one with the crack for the time being. So much better.
That is about it for now. I have another box coming UPS with some more goodies for the dually soon.
88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
Thanks!
88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
Well, I put this on earlier this week, but I got a heck of a deal on an exhaust kit - Brand new Gibson Side Swept cat-back for $240 shipped. It's not exactly what I was planning for exhaust but at that price I couldn't say no.
OEM vs Gibson
A much better flowing muffler, and larger mandrel bent tailpipe. It's just slightly louder than stock, with a good tone from 1,200-2,500 or so. I would have went a little louder but it's also nice having a truck that isn't like the gates of hell opening up, particularly since I tend to show up to camp spots late at night.
One day I'll end up with headers.... One day.
OEM vs Gibson
A much better flowing muffler, and larger mandrel bent tailpipe. It's just slightly louder than stock, with a good tone from 1,200-2,500 or so. I would have went a little louder but it's also nice having a truck that isn't like the gates of hell opening up, particularly since I tend to show up to camp spots late at night.
One day I'll end up with headers.... One day.
DieselSlug
Well-Known Member
Great Job! Truck gets better every mod!
88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
Yeah it's massive, there is a reason people call them trashcan mufflers.
----------------------
Scored off craigslist, picked up these grey buckets for $150.
Now to decide if the truck will get these, or the 60/40 bench that I pulled from the dually.
88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
Wow it's been awhile! Had quite the busy holiday season, of course right in the middle of it I started hearing a whining sound while driving... A couple hundred miles later it was WAY louder than it should be. So, time to diagnose...
After all the transmission problems, I'm pretty in tune to figuring out sounds. So first was the easy test - is this trans, transfercase, driveline or rear end... Shift the transfercase in neutral and "drive" the trans. There is no other way to describe this other than watching the video.
So, very obvious that the transfercase has something wrong with it. Pulled the fill plug to check fluid, yup, plenty. Color though..... oh no.
Due to the holidays, the cold temps outside, I decided to just buy a transfercase.... That turned into a disaster in itself. My truck is a K3500. And for those who aren't familiar... K3500 trucks use a Borg Warner Transfercase with a PTO provision and fixed front and rear yolks. Sounds straight forward right? Nope.
GM used 3 BW cases in these trucks. BW1370, BW4401, and BW4470. My truck has a BW4401. It's a predecessor of a BW1370 (they actually share a ton of parts, and half of the case even says 1370 on it). They used the BW4470 in Chassis Cab trucks which were rated at 12,000 GVW. There is also a heavier version of the BW4401, for crewcab longbed trucks outfitted with RPO 9D6 (11,000 GVW). Both the BW4401 9D6 and the BW4470 use a 1.5" wide chain and gears as opposed to the 1.25", and the BW4470 has a fixed oil pump housing plate which the others do not have. To make it even more confusing up front there are flange (early) and fixed yolk (late) outputs, and in the rear there are slip yolk outputs for early regular cabs, and fixed yolks for the rest.
Oh, did I mention this transfercase has an electromagnetic front driveline synchronizer that is tied into the front actuator? Yup. And because of this it uses a different 4wd harness than the rest of the NP241 trucks and has a firewall mounted relay to control it.
Basically, this was 2 weeks worth of research, and a couple junkyard trips. The cases are like, $1,200 for a rebuilt one, and run $600 or so for a used one, if you can find one locally. They are just simply not common. I thought I had one at a junkyard locally, ended up spending about 4 hours looking through tons of transfercases only to find an early flange front output style, and they couldn't locate the correct one. Another yard had one, and Devin (@83GMCK2500) went to look at it for me, but it turned out to be a BW4470 (at this time I didn't fully know the differences between them). The fixed oil pump plate added about 1" to the length, so with those measurements I determined I did have enough slip yolk useable to swap that larger case in my truck, so home it came.
BW4470 VS BW4401
I haven't gotten into it yet, but here is the case out of the truck, in neutral.... Something got fried in there.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, as much of a PITA it is to pull the transfercase in this (they are about 2x as heavy as a NP241), it was a bit of a blessing in disguise/potential nightmare. Upon myself inspecting things, I found the nut on 5th gear had backed off on my NV4500 and the gear was only 1/2 engaged... Mind you this only has 6,000 miles on it from brand new.......
I tapped the gear back on, installed the spacer, the OEM spring washer (which was not installed by the trans shop), and a replacement nut with loctite.
Been working fine since.
Another little upgrade, Devin gave me a front receiver he scored at the junkyard.
After all the transmission problems, I'm pretty in tune to figuring out sounds. So first was the easy test - is this trans, transfercase, driveline or rear end... Shift the transfercase in neutral and "drive" the trans. There is no other way to describe this other than watching the video.
So, very obvious that the transfercase has something wrong with it. Pulled the fill plug to check fluid, yup, plenty. Color though..... oh no.
Due to the holidays, the cold temps outside, I decided to just buy a transfercase.... That turned into a disaster in itself. My truck is a K3500. And for those who aren't familiar... K3500 trucks use a Borg Warner Transfercase with a PTO provision and fixed front and rear yolks. Sounds straight forward right? Nope.
GM used 3 BW cases in these trucks. BW1370, BW4401, and BW4470. My truck has a BW4401. It's a predecessor of a BW1370 (they actually share a ton of parts, and half of the case even says 1370 on it). They used the BW4470 in Chassis Cab trucks which were rated at 12,000 GVW. There is also a heavier version of the BW4401, for crewcab longbed trucks outfitted with RPO 9D6 (11,000 GVW). Both the BW4401 9D6 and the BW4470 use a 1.5" wide chain and gears as opposed to the 1.25", and the BW4470 has a fixed oil pump housing plate which the others do not have. To make it even more confusing up front there are flange (early) and fixed yolk (late) outputs, and in the rear there are slip yolk outputs for early regular cabs, and fixed yolks for the rest.
Oh, did I mention this transfercase has an electromagnetic front driveline synchronizer that is tied into the front actuator? Yup. And because of this it uses a different 4wd harness than the rest of the NP241 trucks and has a firewall mounted relay to control it.
Basically, this was 2 weeks worth of research, and a couple junkyard trips. The cases are like, $1,200 for a rebuilt one, and run $600 or so for a used one, if you can find one locally. They are just simply not common. I thought I had one at a junkyard locally, ended up spending about 4 hours looking through tons of transfercases only to find an early flange front output style, and they couldn't locate the correct one. Another yard had one, and Devin (@83GMCK2500) went to look at it for me, but it turned out to be a BW4470 (at this time I didn't fully know the differences between them). The fixed oil pump plate added about 1" to the length, so with those measurements I determined I did have enough slip yolk useable to swap that larger case in my truck, so home it came.
BW4470 VS BW4401
I haven't gotten into it yet, but here is the case out of the truck, in neutral.... Something got fried in there.
Oh, and I forgot to mention, as much of a PITA it is to pull the transfercase in this (they are about 2x as heavy as a NP241), it was a bit of a blessing in disguise/potential nightmare. Upon myself inspecting things, I found the nut on 5th gear had backed off on my NV4500 and the gear was only 1/2 engaged... Mind you this only has 6,000 miles on it from brand new.......
I tapped the gear back on, installed the spacer, the OEM spring washer (which was not installed by the trans shop), and a replacement nut with loctite.
Been working fine since.
Another little upgrade, Devin gave me a front receiver he scored at the junkyard.
DieselSlug
Well-Known Member
Thank you for sharing your research. I'm sure this will eventually help someone else also. Glad your back behind the wheel!
GM Guy
Manual Trans. 2WD Enthusiast
sounds like I need to keep a better eye out for BW cases.. only one I got came out of a 93 K3500 SRW ECLB.
tanman_2006
Just a farm kid...
Sounds like I need to go get both of mine out of the scrap pile! My gosh!
88gmctruck
02GMCtruck
If they are working definitely save them.