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

[dbrannon79]

the belt tool arrived yesterday afternoon and I was able to get it installed right before the rain started. That tool went into the glove box for safe keeping! Note to self: NEVER buy a ford again......

while I was hanging under the hood I noticed the high side hose from the condenser covered in a film of oil dirt and florescent dye. An apparent leak happening, on top of that it's a line with odd fittings too. so I'm sure I will get told "Fix my AC" very soon HAHA as the summer time approaches.

 

[Big T]

I put Michelin’s Cross Climate 2’s on the T-Reg last summer. Love ‘em and they are 3 Peak snow rated. So, on those rare but traumatic times Texas does get a snow storm, you can maneuver to a safe place to watch the other drivers go for it. Been there, done that as I put them back on in February and we’re still getting snow here.
Good on the dirt and in the mud too. View attachment 80640View attachment 80641View attachment 80642

Are those unidirectional tires?

 

[Paveltolz]

That tread pattern looks like it would be dam good for water and flooding streets! I may just save up and look into a set. now that I finally got my wife's car back on the road after waiting on that special tool to stretch the belt. LOL shes a happy camper again.

My wife’s golf is getting a set when these wear out. In the meantime, I continue to swap snow tires on and off every year. Anyone want a set of 19x8.5 Tacora (OEM) wheels for a Touareg with 5 seasons of used Blizzaks on ‘em?

Currently Hyper Dipped (plasticoat) Gloss Black

@BigT, yes, unidirectional. Pointy ends first.

 

[Big T]

Well my son’s ‘94 Suburban K2500 that I’ve been doing all the work on, is now mine. He wasn’t using it as he has a 2017 F250 diesel and the ‘73 Bronco while his wife has a BMW plug in hybrid SUV. So he signed over the pink. It’s gonna go up to Montana and will be registered up there. Needs new tires to make that trip, but don’t know the timing.

Will work on the transfer case rebuild this weekend and hopefully get that in the truck. I have the GMT 800 rear axle all set up for install, but will probably replace the brake calipers, disks and pads before installing.

 

[MrMarty51]

Well my son’s ‘94 Suburban K2500 that I’ve been doing all the work on, is now mine. He wasn’t using it as he has a 2017 F250 diesel and the ‘73 Bronco while his wife has a BMW plug in hybrid SUV. So he signed over the pink. It’s gonna go up to Montana and will be registered up there. Needs new tires to make that trip, but don’t know the timing.

Will work on the transfer case rebuild this weekend and hopefully get that in the truck. I have the GMT 800 rear axle all set up for install, but will probably replace the brake calipers, disks and pads before installing.

This is good. Whats the plans for it ?

 

[Big T]

This is good. Whats the plans for it ?

Use it up in Montana.

 

[Paveltolz]

Well my son’s ‘94 Suburban K2500 that I’ve been doing all the work on, is now mine. He wasn’t using it as he has a 2017 F250 diesel and the ‘73 Bronco while his wife has a BMW plug in hybrid SUV. So he signed over the pink. It’s gonna go up to Montana and will be registered up there. Needs new tires to make that trip, but don’t know the timing.

Will work on the transfer case rebuild this weekend and hopefully get that in the truck. I have the GMT 800 rear axle all set up for install, but will probably replace the brake calipers, disks and pads before installing.

That’s great news. Hated to see it wasn’t getting exercised and you do good work, We will need to get together with the 6.5’s. I got basement doors hung, trim installed, baseboards…chores done so I got a hall pass for a few days. Currently in Spokane and will link up with mine this afternoon. I’ll be dropping down I-15 from I-90 Monday or Tuesday on the return trip but I know you’re currently working in CA so I’ll wave in the general direction of the house. Hope all is well with the Frau. Next time.

 

[Big T]

That’s great news. Hated to see it wasn’t getting exercised and you do good work, We will need to get together with the 6.5’s. I got basement doors hung, trim installed, baseboards…chores done so I got a hall pass for a few days. Currently in Spokane and will link up with mine this afternoon. I’ll be dropping down I-15 from I-90 Monday or Tuesday on the return trip but I know you’re currently working in CA so I’ll wave in the general direction of the house. Hope all is well with the Frau. Next time.
View attachment 80659

Well my son is busy making a good living work/business and being an actively involved parent with his kids. That left little time to be troubleshooting and wrenching on the needy 6.5, so that fell in my lap.

As noted, he has the 2017 F250 diesel 4WD crew cab which has been very reliable to date and he runs the fuel through his business. When he does have free time, he’s off with the kids and the toy hauler camping in the desert. In fact he’ll be out at Sand Hollow, Utah for Easter Week.

I totally understand his frustration with the needy 6.5, but it will not be a primary vehicle for me. So I can risk having it down to extend its life. The damn thing is running so well now that it should go to 400K miles.

We also have the engine from the 1995 wreck still sitting in the crate. That had about 185K miles on it and it was a strong runner. I would do some modest work such as installing gapless rings and NEW PLASTIC VALVE ROCKER RETAINER BUTTONS. I should be able to keep these trucks going for the remainder of my life.

 

[Paveltolz]

Drove my truck for the first time in almost 2 years. Engine refreshed, new heads, main bearings, injectors and cam designed for low end / towing grunt. Starts great, idles snooty, accelerates with pep and no noticeable smoke. Need a bigger cab to contain the smile. Long story on the ‘fuel system redone’ thread.

 

[J_dude]

I have the GMT 800 rear axle all set up for install, but will probably replace the brake calipers, disks and pads before installing.

GMT 800? What is all required for that swap?

 

[Big T]

GMT 800? What is all required for that swap?

There’s a thread here on this. Need to cut and weld on new leaf spring perches and snubber perches, as the GMT 400 frame is narrower. These were done long ago, but it has sat in my yard with son having no motivation to do the project. Final part is I’m told you need to use the yoke from the GMT 400.

 

[J_dude]

There’s a thread here on this. Need to cut and weld on new leaf spring perches and snubber perches, as the GMT 400 frame is narrower. These were done long ago, but it has sat in my yard with son having no motivation to do the project. Final part is I’m told you need to use the yoke from the GMT 400.

Oh okay, a little more involved then. Too bad, I need to find a rear diff for this thing one day...

 

[dbrannon79]

Oh okay, a little more involved then. Too bad, I need to find a rear diff for this thing one day...

which rear diff do you have? these things are fully rebuildable and for the most part easily serviceable with a couple of precision tools that can be had fairly inexpensive other than access to a hydraulic press for some things. if there is a shop nearby and you bring the part and the new bearing like on the pinion they usually will press it on for you for a small fee or a 12 pack!

 

[J_dude]

which rear diff do you have? these things are fully rebuildable and for the most part easily serviceable with a couple of precision tools that can be had fairly inexpensive other than access to a hydraulic press for some things. if there is a shop nearby and you bring the part and the new bearing like on the pinion they usually will press it on for you for a small fee or a 12 pack!

Needle bearings in the spider gears have been missing for some time, I found bits of them on the magnet. Lots of slop in the gears as a result lol. I figured since I want to throw this small lift kit that’s been laying around in it one day anyway I might as well just swap the diff while I have the u-bolts off.

 

[J_dude]

Oh I guess I didn’t answer which rear end it has lol. 14 bolt, think it’s 3.73 gears

 

[dbrannon79]

Not sure how plentiful pick a part yards are in your area, but you might be able to find a complete diff or be able to scavenge all the parts needed. a lot of these diff's in the 3/4 to 1 ton variety came with lockers in them like mine did. a simple swapping of the pumpkin guts and just shimming and setting up the ring and pinion would have your diff back up and strong once again.

I had scored a dually diff from our local pick a part yard and paid around $350 including fees for the yard workers to pull it for me. Gave him a good tip too since he went out and found it and we chatted over the phone several times, I just showed up and had him load it like a curb side service all I was after was a few parts and figured I'd get the whole thing for the price.

 

[Paveltolz]

Replaced the set screw (8-32) on the AutoMeter Cobalt Pyrometer probe. The set screw had backed out and disappeared who knows when. Sunday, the probe worked itself out a few miles north of Pasco WA. Tried to source a new one but, all hardware stores were closed for Easter Sunday. Using a scrap from an old Isspro sender still in the bed, I wired the probe in place and continued the homeward journey. Of course, I bought four set screws in sizes 6-32, 8-32, 10-24 and 10-32 cause I didn’t want to make six trips to Ace Hardware.
Other stuff. Reinstalled the Tow Hooks, Restored the headlights from faded yellow to clear again. Since my Anzo LED tail lights had lost brake and signal illumination on the driver’s side, I pulled my old OEM units out of storage for the drive home. They aren’t as bright but, they worked. I ordered a newer set of OEM style tail lights and tested them and, well, no. not so much. Worse than the old units. Can’t see the brake lights or turn signals with direct sunlight on ‘em so they’re going back to O’Reilly. Pulled a set of LED units I removed from the corps of the Suburban and they’ll do fine

 

[MrMarty51]

Replaced the set screw (8-32) on the AutoMeter Cobalt Pyrometer probe. The set screw had backed out and disappeared who knows when. Sunday, the probe worked itself out a few miles north of Pasco WA. Tried to source a new one but, all hardware stores were closed for Easter Sunday. Using a scrap from an old Isspro sender still in the bed, I wired the probe in place and continued the homeward journey. Of course, I bought four set screws in sizes 6-32, 8-32, 10-24 and 10-32 cause I didn’t want to make six trips to Ace Hardware.
Other stuff. Reinstalled the Tow Hooks, Restored the headlights from faded yellow to clear again. Since my Anzo LED tail lights had lost brake and signal illumination on the driver’s side, I pulled my old OEM units out of storage for the drive home. They aren’t as bright but, they worked. I ordered a newer set of OEM style tail lights and tested them and, well, no. not so much. Worse than the old units. Can’t see the brake lights or turn signals with direct sunlight on ‘em so they’re going back to O’Reilly. Pulled a set of LED units I removed from the corps of the Suburban and they’ll do fine

Dismantle them tail lights, inside, tweak on the contacts. Put them back together and see what they do.
I just cant quite remember what I did to a LS tail lamp I had that had failed in a short time. They are fixable then they continue working.
Might have been something to do with internal ground probes or some such.

 

[dbrannon79]

Well folks. The saga continues…. My rig is down until further notice

This evening I proceeded to replace the steering idler arm bracket with the one I had shimmed up and made good again. While I was under there I kept staring at the pulley and noticed “ gee it’s clean and has a shiny ring on it” …. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks and I said holy !!

And no it’s not the belt made in Argentina...




The HB has given up the ghost. If i had not been under there today, I'd have never had seen this until possibly until it was too late. the back side is up against the timing cover but has not been making any noise nor have I noticed any vibrations.

good thing the Jetta is up and running. now I have to put some funds aside and see if I can afford a fluidamper. if not I'm not sure there is any other alternative other than the aftermarket junk out there.

 

[Big T]

Well folks. The saga continues…. My rig is down until further notice

This evening I proceeded to replace the steering idler arm bracket with the one I had shimmed up and made good again. While I was under there I kept staring at the pulley and noticed “ gee it’s clean and has a shiny ring on it” …. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks and I said holy !!

And no it’s not the belt made in Argentina...

View attachment 80794
View attachment 80793

The HB has given up the ghost. If i had not been under there today, I'd have never had seen this until possibly until it was too late. the back side is up against the timing cover but has not been making any noise nor have I noticed any vibrations.

good thing the Jetta is up and running. now I have to put some funds aside and see if I can afford a fluidamper. if not I'm not sure there is any other alternative other than the aftermarket junk out there.

So the outer ring of the HB has detached?