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88GMCtruck's 99 6.5L Towpig slow build.

Made the trip across the state loaded down, zero problems. Truck ran like a top. The more and more I drove it the better and better the turbo felt. The truck was like a locomotive, it just pulled right along. The larger hills (one is 4-5% for about 11 miles) and the mountain pass I managed 60MPH without pushing it, and even managed to beat a powerstroke towing a travel trailer up the hill, twice.

Overall the combination was about 15k. Truck ran great. Never saw above 195 on the temp gauge, even up hills. Had a ridiculous headwind, and after it was all said and done managed 11MPG.

All in all, I'm VERY happy with the ATT. I can't wait to tune it and put 4" on it.
 
Well, I made it back across the state unloaded. I haven't checked my mileage but I only used 1/3 of a tank on the 300 mile trip back.

Here are some of the shots going east to west.
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Woke up this morning to my odometer. If I had only noticed before moving the truck around the yard....
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Then tragedy struck.

I was backing into dad's garage to unload a motor with the chain hoist. Was watching dad in the pass mirror, and ended up hitting the driver's mirror. Instead of folding forward, it caught the very edge of the mirror housing, and the glass caught as well, tweaking it to the point of breaking the mirror. Lucky it is still usable.
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Then spent the day helping a friend move stuff. Tomorrow comes more loading of my stuff.
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Too bad about the mirror... is the housing OK? Just need a new chunk of glass?

Thanks for sharing and for the pics... looks like you had a nice drive!
 
Yeah, it's just the glass of the mirror thankfully. I'm thinking since it's an OE replacement style I can pick up glass for it fairly easily.
 
For your viewing pleasure, inside ride of the A-Team Turbo. This was rolling out of town, then up a 5% grade with an empty 6x12 U-Haul trailer. *My phone has a notification that says a curse word towards the end, just FYI*


Been very busy with the move. Decided that instead of tripping with the 99 only I'd get a U-Haul and tow with the 88 as well. The roomie drove the 99 and I drove the 88, simply because the 88 can be a difficult truck at times.
Starting to load the trailers. You'll notice later I switch trailers after figuring the U-Haul weighed more overall than the flat deck did.
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The 88 getting it's last tank of fuel in the Palouse.
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Not often you get to watch your own truck in your mirror
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Stopped for a break, snapped some picts.
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At the end of this trip, the 88 got 9 MPG and the 99 got 15MPG. So far the 99 has logged about 1,100 miles on the teardown and new turbo. Tomorrow I'm heading out camping with it and the trailer, then Monday making my last trip across the state and back to finish things up at the old place.
 
Those pics where you were stopped in a rest area sure look familiar. My memory has suddenly gone blank on the name, but it's ??? Coulee on 395 south of Ritzville. After the drive up 395 from Tri-city area it sure is a welcome sight.

Don
 
3500GMC said:
New beginnings. Wow that trailer behind the 88 is purdy... :)
Click to expand...
83GMCK2500 said:
Oh you have no idea...that trailer is his dad's baby. I am honestly surprised there isn't a set of forms to sign when you borrow it. :p
Click to expand...
Yeah, the trailer is quite ridiculous. He built it in the 70s with a stick welder in his carport. It originally was painted silver (to match his 75 silverado). In 02 he had a Ford F-150 that was dark blue, and the trailer was painted to match that, lowered 2" and received the 16" aluminum wheels, polished stainless tiedown bars, diamondplate step pads on the fenders, and stainless expansion metal in the tongue area to hold gas cans. In 2009 after buying his 09 GMC he once again re-painted it black (3 times because it didn't turn out "right") and converted the entire thing to LED. Whats not in the filter is the reading gull wing toolbox that is painted to match with aluminum rub strips that usually is on the front of the deck.

handcannon said:
Those pics where you were stopped in a rest area sure look familiar. My memory has suddenly gone blank on the name, but it's ??? Coulee on 395 south of Ritzville. After the drive up 395 from Tri-city area it sure is a welcome sight.

Don
Click to expand...
That is indeed HWY 395 at the HWY 26 interchange north of Tri-Cities. :D Good eye Don.
 
Well, I brought the last truck load of stuff back yesterday, The move is done.

Racked up about 2,200 miles on the towpig without a hiccup thus far. 5 trips total: 2 with truck and trailer loaded, 1 with the truck loaded and 2 return trips empty. I got 11MPG, 15MPG towing, 15MPG loaded w/o trailer, and 19+MPG on the empty trips.

Will be giving her an oil change in the next few days after that workout.
 
Well, I'm finally about settled into my house. As far as the truck goes, after the first trip I haven't had to add more coolant, and the oil level has stayed dead on at 8 quarts. Finally found the time to change the oil in the towpig. 2,300 miles after the sludge and the verdict....


















Everything appears to be working well. The oil was oil, no lumpy sludgy crap this time. I did take a sample to send in to be tested at a later date once my funds permit. I'm very glad now to see that things are better and it's seemingly going to be running for quite awhile longer.

In other news, all 3 trucks are able to fit in my new garage! Ok, not at the same time and they grey one has to pretty much touch the wall, but hey, I have workspace now.
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Next weekend I'm leaving for a little family vacation. The grey truck and trailer are heading to the sand dunes on the Oregon coast!
 
Nope, not this year. I'm going to camp and just spend time with the family.

Plus I can steal the jeep from dad.
 
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