1996 GMC K3500 DRW, Extended Cab, Flatbed, 454, NV-4500... DAILY DRIVER

[83GMCK2500]

As the title states:

1996 GMC Sierra Extended Cab 4x4 3500 Dual Rear Wheel - 196,### miles (NOW 251,###)
Vortec 454
New Venture 4500 5-speed manual transmission
Borg Warner 4401 floor shift transfer case (with this tcase and transmission combo the truck has 3 PTO provisions)
FACTORY 4.56 gears w/G80 in the rear
Chrome wheels that have been painted black
Dark Hunt Club Red Metallic exterior paint
Light smoke gray cloth interior, 60/40 split bench with lumbar on both sides.
One atrocious analog radio that wasn't even connected, the pigtail had been hacked off.

Pictures from the day we looked at it and brought it home. Year should be 2011 from the camera, forgot that it had been reset.

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[83GMCK2500]

*** This text written back in 2011***

Last Friday night, 88GMCtruck, and I dissected a GMT400 cross body harness. Instead of swapping the harnesses directly, we decided it would be easier to build a mirror harness (since it requires additional wires anyway) and just splice it in with the existing truck's harness. We also pre-built some additional harnesses for the overhead console, autodim mirror, compass/temp, and steering wheel audio controls. Here is the pictures of that sticky tape and wire mess.

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After getting down to Dayton, we tore into the truck. An hour later he and I created this:

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Installing the mirror harness

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And the mirrors

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Leftovers from the westcoasters. Does not want.

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Getting the stereo plug wired up, as well as the audio controls and overhead compass/temp unit, and putting the dash back together.

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[83GMCK2500]

***This text also continued from 2011.***

Installing the OH console

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Pulled the seats, wired the truck for the power/heated Denali seats

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Cleaning up a bit of underhood wiring

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Grille & bumper removal. Wired in the temp sensor for the OH console, replaced the corner lights with OEM amber ones, and installed a new TD bumper.

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How we left it last weekend.

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Just as a summary, here is what 88GMCtruck, my father and myself collectively accomplished this past weekend.

- Removed entire dash, door panels, seats and carpet for cleaning
- Wired in mirror harness (truck had west coast mirrors) with power/heated/clearance/signal mirrors. Use factory rear defrost HVAC controls for the heated mirrors
- Installed OH console with compass and temp computer
- Modified map lights to function as dome lights
- Wired in stereo plug (was missing) and installed Delco CD stereo
- Pre-wiring for autodim mirror
- Pre-wiring for steering wheel audio controls
- Pre-wiring for power heated seats
- Cleaned up PO's past wiring endeavors (lots of misc crap that was shoddily done)
- Fixed battery cables
- Fixed wiper washers
- Installed new diesel bumper
- Installed OEM amber corners


And in the upcoming weeks, we will be going back, once more parts are sourced and time allows. Here is the future plans.
- Wire in lighting for bradford flatbed
- Wire 7-way trailer plug
- 4-high headlights
- Fog lights in bumper
- Denali leather seats and grey pickup center console
- Kodiak door handles
- Stainless trim rings & GMC center caps.

 

[83GMCK2500]

*** FFWD to February 2014 ***

After daily driving this for a few years and using it for a work truck, ownership passes to me from my Dad. He has a 2011 LML Dually with <2,000 mi on it, decided to start driving it...

In the years since 88GMCtruck, myself, and my Dad tinkered on it, regular maintenance and routine work has been performed on the truck. Most recently:

NV-4500 input shaft seal (was weeping)
Slave/throw-out combo (worked, but while you're in there...)
Clutch Master (worked, but with rest of new clutch parts why skip this?)
Clutch kit (disc was down to the rivets, at the last of the material before damaging flywheel)
Pilot bearing (was donezo, when trans was pulled back the rollers fell out, did not scar input shaft)
Flywheel surfaced (goes without saying)
Rear main seal (wasn't leaking, but "if you're that close to it, replace it")

Previously:
Engine oil cooler lines
Power steering/hydroboost lines
Fuel system components: that I know of, injectors (upgraded, unsure of what with), FPR, filter, pump, pretty much all the recommended goodies
6x Michelin LT235/85R-16E

Waiting:
0411 PCM (when I figure out if I want to cam it, and what the new injectors are)
Driving lights in the bumper
Fog lights in the valence
Weathertech front mats (arrived in the mail today)
Freshly powder coated Kodiak handles (yeah, they're still waiting to go on)
Various other things, I've got parts ev-er-y-where...just ask 88GMCtruck

Also, a month ago my Dad had a set of factory steelies powder coated in "Speedboat Aluminum w/Clear" and those are waiting to go on. Additionally the lug rings were powder coated black.

This last weekend I swapped out to 88-89 headlight assemblies with LMC lenses and 4,300k HIDs, and started swapping interior lighting to LED. Blue for back lighting, green and amber for indicators, cool white for entry lighting. Also, replaced those awful parking lights with OEM ones.

 

[MYT HI]

Nice looking truck. I feel like u know this thread form somewhere else. 67-72chevytrucks?


Sent from underneath my truck

 

[83GMCK2500]

Nice looking truck. I feel like u know this thread form somewhere else. 67-72chevytrucks?


Sent from underneath my truck

Yep! Decided to introduce myself and my daily driver over here. Did some copying and pasting, because who want's to retype that... HAH, I did copy it from my thread on TheTruckStop to 67-72, come to think of it.

 

[Montana_k3500]

Great truck. looks like you have done a lot of things I want to do to update mine.

 

[JScott23]

That things sweet... i wish i could dig up a excuse to buy something like that..... SRW's for me...

 

[SCOTTYINWV]

So you and Dave both have my dream truck... no fair!

 

[skylark]

Can you post some current pictures? I wouldn't mind seeing the flat bed.