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

[dieselolds]

The Amazon delivery guy delivered the driver side control arm earlier that I was waiting on.The bump stops from energy suspension also arrived.Hoping to have the driver side reassembled by tomorrow if all goes well.

 

[dieselolds]

I wonder, ten gallons of No.1 diesel in the 30 gallon tank, is that enough thinner to prevent gelling ?
View attachment 92191

Had it plugged in for about a week. Engine cranked slow, batteries seem weak, both lass than 2YO.
Put the battery charger on it and cranked the knob to 175 start mode. Didnt help much but I dont like using that mode.
Stepped the charge rate to 10amp and let it run. Got out the old hair dryer from the garage, and the heat gun and the magnetic oil pan oil heater.
Have all those run ing now for over an hour.
I’ll go out inna while and see what it does.

It’s pretty frigid where you are Marty.

 

[Will L.]

I wonder, ten gallons of No.1 diesel in the 30 gallon tank, is that enough thinner to prevent gelling ?
View attachment 92191

Had it plugged in for about a week. Engine cranked slow, batteries seem weak, both lass than 2YO.
Put the battery charger on it and cranked the knob to 175 start mode. Didnt help much but I dont like using that mode.
Stepped the charge rate to 10amp and let it run. Got out the old hair dryer from the garage, and the heat gun and the magnetic oil pan oil heater.
Have all those run ing now for over an hour.
I’ll go out inna while and see what it does.

Depends not just on temperature but how much moisture is in it.
Old (real) diesel fuel used to gel at specific temperatures. But the more moisture that is in suspension because of the corn alcohol in your area- that allows the water crystalline structure to begin earlier and the more there is the more direct temperature fluctuating there is so that drives it even higher.

So if you took a sample and measured exactly what percentage and at what temperature today… next week can be different because a lil more rain water might get into the gas station’s tank by then.

 

[MrMarty51]

Depends not just on temperature but how much moisture is in it.
Old (real) diesel fuel used to gel at specific temperatures. But the more moisture that is in suspension because of the corn alcohol in your area- that allows the water crystalline structure to begin earlier and the more there is the more direct temperature fluctuating there is so that drives it even higher.

So if you took a sample and measured exactly what percentage and at what temperature today… next week can be different because a lil more rain water might get into the gas station’s tank by then.

Fired up the truck. Was watching fuel pressure. It was bouncing between 11 and 14 PSI on both sides of the FFM.
Stepped the idle up to the 1300 PTO selection switch and put away the battery charger, magnetic oil pan heater and the two battery warming devices.
Went back out and fuel pressure is on 0 on both sides. Guess its gelling up. Aint going anywhere today.
Before My son gets off work, going to have Him help me to get the Oldsmobile into the shop, check out that block heater and install a new starter.
It’d sure be nice to be able to get a made in America starter for this little junker.

 

[jrsavoie]

Fired up the truck. Was watching fuel pressure. It was bouncing between 11 and 14 PSI on both sides of the FFM.
Stepped the idle up to the 1300 PTO selection switch and put away the battery charger, magnetic oil pan heater and the two battery warming devices.
Went back out and fuel pressure is on 0 on both sides. Guess its gelling up. Aint going anywhere today.
Before My son gets off work, going to have Him help me to get the Oldsmobile into the shop, check out that block heater and install a new starter.
It’d sure be nice to be able to get a made in America starter for this little junker.

Are there any good old rebuilders around?

 

[dieselolds]

The lower control arm is in along with the energy suspension bump stop.I have to say this control arm fit beautifully.Absolutely zero issues overall.One of the easiest I ever installed.No need to hammer anything in place.It fit like a glove.It just glided into position.

The only thing I had to change was the grease fitting that was supplied.I simply changed it out.The reason being was I could not make a complete left turn because the fitting was sticking out too much.Now there’s no interference.I put some rust check on the areas after it was assembled.Its the coat and protect product sold here in Canada.Its very similar to fluid film.

I didn’t mess with the bushings in the new control arm.I had prothane poly bushings here that would fit but I just decided to leave well enough alone.

 

[dieselolds]

At this point I’m pretty much at a stand still until the passenger side lower control arm arrives.So if any of you guys need lower control arms for the K series trucks look up the 95-05 Chevy Astro/gmc safari with the AWD application.They fit perfectly with no modification needed.

 

[ak diesel driver]

Pretty sure those are only used on the 1500 and light duty 2500

 

[Big T]

The lower control arm is in along with the energy suspension bump stop.I have to say this control arm fit beautifully.Absolutely zero issues overall.One of the easiest I ever installed.No need to hammer anything in place.It fit like a glove.It just glided into position.

The only thing I had to change was the grease fitting that was supplied.I simply changed it out.The reason being was I could not make a complete left turn because the fitting was sticking out too much.Now there’s no interference.I put some rust check on the areas after it was assembled.Its the coat and protect product sold here in Canada.Its very similar to fluid film.

I didn’t mess with the bushings in the new control arm.I had prothane poly bushings here that would fit but I just decided to leave well enough alone.

I’m going to talk to you about doing Energy Suspension bushings in the uppers.

 

[dieselolds]

Pretty sure those are only used on the 1500 and light duty 2500

You might be right but at least there is an option for us K1500 guys.

 

[dieselolds]

I’m going to talk to you about doing Energy Suspension bushings in the uppers.

 

[MrMarty51]

Truck is cranking slow. Like the batteries are low or else the starter is dragging.
I’ll have to charge the batteries then pull them, take them out to the GM dealer where I bought them and get them tested.
AC Delco batteries less than two YO. I hope that is the problem because I’d not like it very well if it is that new PM starter.
After it does start the voltage gauge climbs way up over the 14 volt range, a couple of notches above where the gauge usually sets so I am thinking one, or both of them batteries is bad.
Oh yeah, fuel pressure will go to the 9 PSI for a very short time then drop to 0.
At least it is running long enough to get it moved from the position in front of the garage door so I could get the Oldsmobile shoved into the working side of the building.

 

[dieselolds]

Truck is cranking slow. Like the batteries are low or else the starter is dragging.
I’ll have to charge the batteries then pull them, take them out to the GM dealer where I bought them and get them tested.
AC Delco batteries less than two YO. I hope that is the problem because I’d not like it very well if it is that new PM starter.
After it does start the voltage gauge climbs way up over the 14 volt range, a couple of notches above where the gauge usually sets so I am thinking one, or both of them batteries is bad.
Oh yeah, fuel pressure will go to the 9 PSI for a very short time then drop to 0.
At least it is running long enough to get it moved from the position in front of the garage door so I could get the Oldsmobile shoved into the working side of the building.

Are your battery cables in good shape?You might have already mentioned those at some point but figured I’d ask anyway.I find the acdelco cables I’ve bought from rockauto are superb for these trucks.

 

[dbrannon79]

the frigid cold can also kill a battery.

Lead Acid Battery Freezing Point Temperature vs State of Charge

A chart showing flooded lead acid battery freezing point temperature versus its state of charge.

modernsurvivalblog.com

 

[dbrannon79]

Finally got a chance to install some LED headlight bulbs in the 93 today. I had ventured out to the pick a part yard to get a couple of the newer style housings like my 95 has. pulled the 4 glass style bulbs out (one was busted by a rock) and installed the new used housings. got the bulbs installed and WOW what a difference!

this and I also noticed yesterday and today the 93 has been cranking slower. while I was doing the bulbs I connected my charger, it didn't take very long till the charger said both batteries were fully charged. cranked up the truck and it still seemed slow. Now I need to fester up some $$ for a power maser starter. Low compression (wore out engine) combined with slow cranking is not a good combo!

 

[MrMarty51]

Are your battery cables in good shape?You might have already mentioned those at some point but figured I’d ask anyway.I find the acdelco cables I’ve bought from rockauto are superb for these trucks.

Had a new top post cable system made up maybe a year or so ago.
Done this at the NAPA store.
No more side terminals.

 

[MrMarty51]

Stopped at the NAPA store this morning to pick up the starter for the Oldsmobile.
Apparently it got shipped on a pallet to a NAPA store, just not this store.
While in there I inquired, for anti gel suppliment, which one does Brush Truck repair use the most of.
Counter man replied, Stanadyne 1000. It was on the shelf. I took two bottles.
Had to come to the house to get the check book for a foot doc appt; get my hooves trimmed, and while here dumped about 6 OZ into the tank of my gelled up truck.
Probably aint doing it good until it warms enough that I can get some serious circulation going.
That summer blend fuel that was left over in my tank is really screwing things up over here.
I thought sure that 10 gals of No.1 atop the 20 gals of that No.2 summer blend would pull it through but nope.
Get some more miles on it and get another ten or so gals of 1 in there then it most likely will be time for summer blend again.
Need to get the batteries pulled and in where its warm, get them charged up and out to the GM Dealer and get them tested. I did use a yellow paint stick and wrote atop them the date of purchase so guess we shall figure that out at that time too. Seems its been about two years, but like everything else, time slips away and we dont realize how much time has passed us by until the warranty thats no longer in place has passed us by.

 

[dbrannon79]

I decided to swap batteries from the 95 into the 93 just to see if my slow cranking issue was batteries or the starter. was considering cannibalizing the powermaster from the 95 if I had to. pulled both batteries from the 93 and discovered both of the brass adapters I had on one of the batteries were corroded on the posts where it was hard to see. didn't see it till I had already pulled both batts out. went ahead and installed the two from the 95 (known good) and gave it a whirl.

seems to crank just fine now. removed the adapters from the 93's batteries and cleaned up the terminals, plan to take them by the auto parts house to have them tested. this way I will know for sure if it was just connections or my two junk-yard batteries are going south. I've had these two in the 93 for the better part of the year which I had paid about $50 each for from the pick a part yard. Hope they are still good and it was just connections. the two of them are only a couple year old from the dates on them.

the refurbished pair I got for the 95 a couple months ago are still going strong. only paid $120 for them both. Won't be too expensive if I have to go get another pair from that battery place. They even gave me warranty on them too! Makes better sense to me to do this route with the amount of driving I do.

 

[dbrannon79]

Still thinking I might cannibalize the powermaster starter and put it on the 93 just because it could really use the help. Then put the regular starter on the 95 just to keep it mobile. I haven't really driven it much lately with the cold weather. Heater doesn't get that warm. later on I can splurge for another powermaster for it. Tomorrow is supposed to be much nicer weather. we shall see.....

 

[dieselolds]

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.