Fun on a budget- My 96 Sierra 2500 454

[99xcss4]

what ever the reason was at least it was corrected with the gmt400 suburbans being able to have a 3/4 4x4 and a big block it is to bad they took the manuals away though

 

[454C2500Longbed]

If everything works out, it'll go in something from the 50s. It's a '74 engine, currently a 472 but I have the 500 crank. Dad wouldn't buy the pistons till he had the machine work done, and it never got that far. After we got that truck apart, and were still fixing things, and finding more stuff to fix, we moved our parts store, built our building, and my brother came along. And I was in high school.
Then in the late 80s the parts business tanked and we had way less funds to do anything with, plus we lost several of the sources for parts.

I like that idea! Kinda almost have to put it back in a Cadillac or in a Buick, though it sure could be cool in a 58 Impala. Got any ideas at the moment, or just whatever falls at your feet? 74 was a rough year, but that motor will haul when you're done for sure. Unfortunate that it kinda dissipated, but sure is the way life goes. Sounds like you've had some cool experiences though.

 

[99xcss4]

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[HotWheelsBurban]

I like that idea! Kinda almost have to put it back in a Cadillac or in a Buick, though it sure could be cool in a 58 Impala. Got any ideas at the moment, or just whatever falls at your feet? 74 was a rough year, but that motor will haul when you're done for sure. Unfortunate that it kinda dissipated, but sure is the way life goes. Sounds like you've had some cool experiences though.

It ran pretty good as I remember. In '74 Cadillac had HEI so it has that. The truck I want to put it in, is very similar to one a good buddy of mine had back in the '70s in Austin, and he liked vintage Cadillacs and drove a few when he could afford to. So it will be a tribute to him and my dad.

 

[454C2500Longbed]

It ran pretty good as I remember. In '74 Cadillac had HEI so it has that. The truck I want to put it in, is very similar to one a good buddy of mine had back in the '70s in Austin, and he liked vintage Cadillacs and drove a few when he could afford to. So it will be a tribute to him and my dad.

Oh good, can't beat an HEI. Sounds like a good story waiting to be told! What truck are you planning on?

 

[454C2500Longbed]

Well, no new pictures today. Started pouring as soon as I got home and then I had to go to work. So we'll have to wait till the weekend so I can get some decent pictures.

 

[99xcss4]

Oh good, can't beat an HEI.

HEI coil in cap is so great that they even make hybrid ones now for ford and mopar

 

[454C2500Longbed]

HEI coil in cap is so great that they even make hybrid ones now for ford and mopar

Well that makes it too easy! Sure be nice on the Fords with the damn Duraspark box

 

[454C2500Longbed]

Got some pictures to show you guys where the truck is at at the moment. I should get the brush guard back on tonight once I get back home.

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Last picture shows the worst parts of the truck, really needs that fender and a different left front rim. That one is off of a 70's (judging by style) Chevy or Ford, not sure. But the center cap wouldn't go on because of slight differences in design. Some eagle eyed readers may notice the clamp on the right side holding the trim on, don't mind that, it's just holding the trim there until the glue cures.

 

[Amsterdamned96]

In Early December, I bought my first truck, this Sierra for $1800 with 177K on the odometer. It looked good in the pictures on marketplace, not quite as much when I went to look at it, but the rumble of the 454 made it impossible to resist. So here I am, making this truck as good as I can on the budget of a high schooler. Here's what the truck looked like when I brought it home. Took off the one running board and mounts the day after I took the pictures.

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I noticed it was dogwalking when I pulled it into the gas station right after buying it. Went home and discovered this amazingness.

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Welp, new leaf spring time. You may also notice that it used to have dual exhaust until the right pipe rusted off the muffler. Soo, ordered up a new leaf spring and exhaust kit, got a Cherry Bomb Salute (Magnaflow style) and 2.5 inch pipes out the back. It sounds much better and drives straighter now. Still drives crooked, I believe the front leaf spring hanger is bent, I'm having a guy with an alignment rack check the truck out. I replaced that rusty bumper and am cleaning up the brush guard a bit. I will take some better pictures once I get that all buttoned up.

Problem I'm battling right now is the well known hot start issue. It left me and my buddy stranded at Culver's, come back a few hours later and it started right up, but started stuttering while driving, then it got better, then it stuttered again. Soooo it's time for injectors, and then I'll need a tune, so I think I'll just bite the bullet and get JET DST and learn how to tune my truck. It needs more power anyway. It'll get a moderate cam at some point down the road, EGR delete, headers, and whatever else I decide it needs.

Big thing is paint! My grandpa used to be a body and paint man, and he said he would help me paint it in his driveway this summer, so I look forward to that, it'll make the truck look so much better. Wheels will also be blasted and painted black, the trim rings shined, and I have center caps off a Chevy to put on, so I'll get some GMC stick on logos to put on in place of the Chevy ones. It looks like I'll need body mounts in the future, but I don't really feel like doing them at the moment. I will replace the rusty fender as soon as I can get a clean one. Also need to get the one piece of trim to put back on. Oh, and it's getting a new windshield when I get the rear end alignment checked out.

If anyone has any ideas or input, please let me know! I love to learn anything about these trucks that you guys have to offer.

Try an ultrasonic cleaner (if you can borrow one) and wear & tear kit for your injector issues, if you can salvage them you may save a hundred bucks or so.
You might need a breadboard and lab power supply to do the cleaning properly (to get the right signal for opening/closing).
Often jeweler’s or people that deal in valuable second-hand trinkets will have one.
Best of luck, I’m doing my build similarly and will begin posting again in months to come.