88GMCtruck's never ending 88 GMC build thread

[88gmctruck]

Welp, trying to get this project rolling, going to start out doing some of the things I can without tearing the truck down and rendering it unusable just yet. Particularly I don't want to rip the suburban apart till I can have the truck apart and ready, cause once I take things apart I have to store parts and it's a boat anchor to move.

Anyway, during all this, I was researching new tires, measuring offsets, looking into axle combinations between 6 and 8 lug... for the time being I settled on the PY0s and 8-lug. So I decided instead of tripping around the PY0s I would play around with them, did a bunch of measurements etc, and got out the stripper and have a little party.

Got the clearcoat off them and gave them a nice hand polish. Damn I love me some polished aluminum.

Now with the wheels ready to go, I figured new tires were a good idea, so I could pull the old wheels and tires off and craigslist them to re-coup some cash... Was doing my research and low and behold, they were on sale... Stay tuned!

 

[deejaaa]

here's some info i saved a long time ago:
LT225/75R16=Height 29.2975 W=8.865
LT235/85R16=Height 31.7403 W=9.259
LT265/75R16=Height 31.6615 W=10.441
LT215/85R16=Height 30.4795 W=8.471
7.50R16LT=Height 31.8 W=8.35 *
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Size Height/Width
305/65/16=31.6/12.0
345/65/16=33.7/13.6
245/70/16=29.5/9.6
255/70/16=30.1/10.0
305/70/16=32.8/12.0
225/75/16=29.3/8.9
245/75/16=30.5/9.6
265/75/16=31.6/10.4
285/75/16=32.8/11.2
295/75/16=33.3/11.6
315/75/16=34.5/12.3
215/85/16=30.4/8.5
235/85/16=31.7/9.3
255/85/16=33.1/10.0
265/85/16=33.7/10.4 *
305/85/16=36.4/12.0

 

[88gmctruck]

I went with the same size as it had before, 315/75R16. I WISH there was a tire close to this height that wasn't quite as wide, at least something that was mainstream, not military or made by interco....

--------------

Got all 4 shined up last night.

Then spent some time with the tire spoons scooping these bad boys on the wheels. I decided to get the Cooper Discoverer STT Pro in 315/75R16. Read a decent amount and they seem to have good reviews.

New tires VS old tires. The Mickey Thompson MTZs served me well. I managed to get about 55k miles out of them. I probably would have ran them a second time but I've started growing fond of coopers after running the Discoverer ST Maxx on the dually.

And, yes, they are on the truck. It was 10PM when I finished, so you'll have to wait for daylight picts :lol:

 

[Will L.]

Im sorry sir, but going to have to ask you to test them in the mud. Both for how well the rims clean off, and of coarse an unbiased traction opinion. Keep in mind, rooster tail of mud gets the standard 2 points per foot of height.

 

[btfarm]

PYOs looking great Dave

 

[88gmctruck]

Im sorry sir, but going to have to ask you to test them in the mud. Both for how well the rims clean off, and of coarse an unbiased traction opinion. Keep in mind, rooster tail of mud gets the standard 2 points per foot of height.

I need to try them out, yes. But I also have a hard time getting that perfect polished wheel dirty and that oh so clean amazing rubber stained.

PYOs looking great Dave

Thanks Mike!

 

[88gmctruck]

Alright, now that I'm done being an adult for the day, I managed to snap some picts before the sun went down.

Narrow wheels, tires under the fender, and a slightly different design makes it look much taller. I'm pleased.

 

[Will L.]

Looks good. Nice to see real wheels and tires. Getting tired of seeing a rubber band stretched around a two and a half foot rim.

 

[Ed HD]

Dude, that looks awesome. It's funny how I like PY0's on everything except the trucks they came on. LOL.

 

[tanman_2006]

Since Cooper casts the tires for Mickey Thompson I'd say the only difference is tread block design and the Cooper's are plenty aggressive.

 

[88gmctruck]

Looks good. Nice to see real wheels and tires. Getting tired of seeing a rubber band stretched around a two and a half foot rim.

I agree. I like having my vehicles practical.

Dude, that looks awesome. It's funny how I like PY0's on everything except the trucks they came on. LOL.

HAHA pretty much. I think they really look nice on the older bodystyle trucks.

Since Cooper casts the tires for Mickey Thompson I'd say the only difference is tread block design and the Cooper's are plenty aggressive.

I was unaware they cast them, not surprising though.

 

[DieselSlug]

Looks great! I am also a fan of Cooper tires as almost every set have been (Purchased a set of Duratrac knockoffs for the Wifes Jeep and have been pleased too).

 

[88gmctruck]

I've been super busy as spring & summer hit. It's the time of the year I camp, do home improvements and work on projects.

Prior to tearing into the truck I had two major tasks I needed to complete: I needs more places to put parts, so I built a 10x20 shed from 99% recycled lumber (including the plywood). It's fully powered and now full of truck parts...

The second major task was taking the parts rig apart.

She was dismantled and boxed up.

And then sent away for scrap.

Since the parts storage shed is built and the suburban is parted out, I started ordering parts for the 88...

 

[88gmctruck]

I've been super busy as spring & summer hit. It's the time of the year I camp, do home improvements and work on projects.

Prior to tearing into the truck I had two major tasks I needed to complete: I needs more places to put parts, so I built a 10x20 shed from 99% recycled lumber (including the plywood). It's fully powered and now full of truck parts...

The second major task was taking the parts rig apart.

She was dismantled and boxed up.

And then sent away for scrap.

Since the parts storage shed is built and the suburban is parted out, I started ordering parts for the 88...

 

[88gmctruck]

It's been awhile!

Been collecting my parts, coming up with my plan.... etc etc. I put off starting anything this winter... it was just too cold in my garage without heat and too wet outside to do much.

Now things are turning around and I started with a bit of motivation.
I robbed the wheels off it... Put on some rollers

The PY0s were too narrow for the 315/75R16. And the only wheel I could have ever ran to keep the offset how I wanted it with 8-lug axles. So, I took them wheels and donated them to the 97 K1500 6.5L Suburban that adorns the driveway.

And parked it back on the sidelines.... waiting

You might be wondering what the plan is, since I ditched the PY0s... well, I'm going back to the truck's 6-lug roots. I picked up a full set of Procomp 069 wheels in 16x8 polished... Took me forever to pick the wheels I wanted... with the offset, size, and hole to diameter ratio I liked. Mounted them up in the garage and used balancing media

Finished product with my stainless caps and socket lugs.

Having these beauties sitting in the garage, and the truck sitting on tiny tires is motivation enough to get this party started. Next step is to find a rear 14SF axle...

 

[btfarm]

Love the look of those ProComps

 

[Will L.]

Oohh!!

 

[88gmctruck]

Pressure washed it off and pulled it into the garage.... It's begun.

Started with pulling the bed, and will continue on stripping it down from there.

Setup some bins for fasteners, will help in the process

So, since many people keep asking WHAT the plan is with it.... here is a basic outline.

Stripping the truck down to a frame, clean, paint, etc. New springs, shocks, mounts... Possibly a SYE. New rear axle. Then comes vortec MPFI and all underhood accessories, a 0411 PCM. More cleaning and painting.

A bunch of wiring will be happening for lights and such as well. I'm sure that will be time consuming...

Interior will be grey, 98 dash, two tone z71 tahoe heated leather seats, double din... the works.

Then paint/Bodywork.

 

[88gmctruck]

Since the forums aren't the easiest to update, I have been more regular and active on a couple Facebook GMT400 groups, and even more active on Instagram @88gmctruck... But, here is the update. I've been busy.

Got the front clip blown off.




Then got everything disconnected from the cab and pulled the seats out.



Then used the engine hoist and the help of a friend to remove the cab and set it aside. (yes the receiver is in the back of the cab to balance it out!)







First time the cab and bed have ever been off this truck.



Started with a good pressure washing of the frame. Need to get all the gunk off it.

 

[88gmctruck]

I also made a couple junkyard trips... Found a factory 3-piece slider window in good shape.




And picked up the new rear axle - 14SF from a 95 K2500, 6 Lug, 3.73s (will be re-geared) and a G80.



I've had a few people ask why I'm going from 8-lug back to 6-lug... Well, the primary reason is the 8-lug Dana 44 hubs set the wheels out 1-1/4" wider on each side, so 2.5" of more track width. Combined with the backspace offerings of 8-lug based wheels, I'm sitting at 4-5" wider up front, which honestly I didn't care for. The only wheel I could find that kept me where I wanted was the PY0s I had previously, and they are just simply too narrow and the ONLY option that kept the tires where I wanted them. So back to 6-lug I go. I'm not really towing with this, wont really be wheeling the crap out of it, etc. so the difference between the 14FF and 14SF is negligible IMO. Plus, this wheel/tire combo with these caps is just simply bitchin' IMO.



Once I was done screwing around admiring my tires, I spent 3 different sessions in the driveway blasting my frame with glass bead. It was dusty, messy, annoying, yet oddly satisfying.

Day 1 - Engine cradle and outside





Day 2 - inside and crossmembers






Day 3 - Had to lift to get the underside!