The Cali nostalgia project.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

SasquatchOnDeck

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 18, 2021
Messages
55
Reaction score
73
Location
West By God Virginia
Backstory: First truck was my grandpa's 1988 GMC C2500 (pictured, red) that i drove through high school, got stuck a lot, cleaned up well with the intent of restoring, got me through my first year in the Navy to and from South Carolina, then was parked, and is now rusting in peace. An intermittent electrical issue sometimes prevents fire depending on god knows what (has been troubleshot extensively) and has rusted fatally.
5 years later, in SoCal, i decided i was ready for a new project when i found an 89 K3500, dually, ext cab, 454/TH400. (the rest of the pics, blue)
It's mostly unmolested, down to the factory tape player. It has an aftermarket seat, and underneath is the first generation of GE brand car phone. Warranty book proves i'm the second owner, With the gentleman who sold to me named with a delivery date of 18 September 1989, 36 miles on dash. It now reads 129,000. Truck has VERY light surface rust on some of the frame, but most of it still has the original paint underneath. However, i believe based on the underside of the hood that it was resprayed (poorly) from that ugly greenish blue. There's a tiny dent in the driver fender, and when the light hits it right, it makes it look ten times worse than it is.
It's missing 5 lug nuts which has been a fiasco, tried some from other 1 ton OBSs at a junkyard, no juice, turns out its a Dana (70?) axle with 5/8 fine threads studs.
Had to replace a leaking radiator, worst part was running the trans lines, last set was cross threaded and didn't seal.
Installed a tach, Going to have to drive this thing Cali > WVa in the spring of 2022 with my worldly possessions in tow. Without AC as i've learned, it has the old, apparently illegal to recharge R12 system.
The endgame: Next year after deployment and return to civilan life, i'll have time to see the plan through. I'll be switching to single wheel, and maybe 4 inches of lift, and 36s or 37s, maybe HMMWV tires. A flatbed, with wood stakesides. Brush guard at minimum, maybe a beefier bumper, but nothing too obnoxious. The cab hatbill thing from red will come over, most hate them, but it was grandpa's touch. Possibly a post 94 AC swap, but first, the heater core. The hose coming off the radiator is capped off so i'm assuming it's leaking.
All in all, for it's age, this truck is in great shape inside and out, underneath included. Not a bad start for a project.
 

Attachments

  • 170332118_747536142595097_913926710472336201_n.jpg
    170332118_747536142595097_913926710472336201_n.jpg
    365.6 KB · Views: 29
  • 208451037_832366267403301_8792858300589570811_n.jpg
    208451037_832366267403301_8792858300589570811_n.jpg
    190.5 KB · Views: 29
  • 216699207_2589816421313074_9067145007093932374_n.jpg
    216699207_2589816421313074_9067145007093932374_n.jpg
    301 KB · Views: 29

SasquatchOnDeck

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 18, 2021
Messages
55
Reaction score
73
Location
West By God Virginia
Swapped the "super futurey ultra green space lights" dash to blue, had done it red in the other truck. Fits well. Same with the front plate, that was a high school project years ago, it's 1/4'' steel CNCd, been colormatched to every vehicle i've had.
Was at the junkyard looking to dissect a parking brake pedal to fix mine, and found an 8 lug tahoe with those same American Racing AR26s, couldn't believe it. One was laying in the back seat mint condition, and two took a little cleanup, but these will be the first step in the SRW process.
Probably wont do anything else big until after deployment, the cross country drive will come next, Spring of 2022. After that the teardown will start, and this will get serious.
 

Attachments

  • 209579026_542415216997550_9209724150807209852_n.jpg
    209579026_542415216997550_9209724150807209852_n.jpg
    47.8 KB · Views: 17
  • 216976425_175072244677382_2409377868728705940_n.jpg
    216976425_175072244677382_2409377868728705940_n.jpg
    145.9 KB · Views: 17
  • 217394183_4124813180964514_8683662215957707667_n.jpg
    217394183_4124813180964514_8683662215957707667_n.jpg
    117.1 KB · Views: 17

Erik the Awful

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2019
Messages
7,610
Reaction score
15,518
Location
Choctaw, OK
It's not illegal to recharge an R-12 system, you just can't find R-12 any more. It is perfectly legal to convert it over to R-134a. Screw the conversion fittings onto the old R-12 lines and work like normal. I'm sure someone else can chime in with the correct oil to run that won't turn to gunk when mixed with the new stuff, but it's been years since I dealt with an R-12 system.
 

PlayingWithTBI

2022 Truck of the Year
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
9,550
Reaction score
14,672
Location
Tonopah, AZ
Screw the conversion fittings onto the old R-12 lines and work like normal. I'm sure someone else can chime in with the correct oil to run that won't turn to gunk when mixed with the new stuff
The best way to do it is flush the entire system, replace the accumulator, orifice tube, and some folks replace the condenser too.

If you want to do it on the cheap, use an ester oil not PAG. The ester oil is compatible with R12 and R134a.
 

Erik the Awful

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 9, 2019
Messages
7,610
Reaction score
15,518
Location
Choctaw, OK
Doh! Sorry. I don't always pay attention to which section of the forum I'm in. It looks like a heck of a score for a daily driver/tow pig. Who converted it to the composite headlights?
 

SasquatchOnDeck

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 18, 2021
Messages
55
Reaction score
73
Location
West By God Virginia
Doh! Sorry. I don't always pay attention to which section of the forum I'm in. It looks like a heck of a score for a daily driver/tow pig. Who converted it to the composite headlights?
Original owner, I'm switching back ASAP... Kinda. I bought 4 LED pods the shape and size of the original sealed beams, going for this look but went rectangular, same height, just wider to fill out the empty space better than this one did.
You must be registered for see images attach
 

SasquatchOnDeck

OBS Enthusiast
Joined
Mar 18, 2021
Messages
55
Reaction score
73
Location
West By God Virginia
Big Girl is all packed up and ready to ship, but as i'd imagine, they're having trouble finding a carrier whos willing to A) Haul a CCLB Dually, and B) Go to West Virginia - fingers crossed.
Got back from deployment earlier this month to two busted windows and 2500$ worth of my posessions, which i had moved out of my apartment before deployment (power tools, clothes, boots, hand tools, etc) ravaged by the homeless of San Diego. On a military base. in a fenced in lot. Wild. Can't wait to leave.
In less than two weeks, I'll be entirely done with the Navy after six and a half years, and headed home, hopefully with this beast.
 

Attachments

  • 277029282_1556790811360465_7905654128861034003_n.jpg
    277029282_1556790811360465_7905654128861034003_n.jpg
    363.8 KB · Views: 12
  • F260 Chev P-U 1of6.jpg
    F260 Chev P-U 1of6.jpg
    211.4 KB · Views: 12
  • F260 Chev P-U 2of6.jpg
    F260 Chev P-U 2of6.jpg
    311.6 KB · Views: 12

BNielsen

I'm Awesome
Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
2,632
Reaction score
4,070
Location
North Carolina
Big Girl is all packed up and ready to ship, but as i'd imagine, they're having trouble finding a carrier whos willing to A) Haul a CCLB Dually, and B) Go to West Virginia - fingers crossed.
Got back from deployment earlier this month to two busted windows and 2500$ worth of my posessions, which i had moved out of my apartment before deployment (power tools, clothes, boots, hand tools, etc) ravaged by the homeless of San Diego. On a military base. in a fenced in lot. Wild. Can't wait to leave.
In less than two weeks, I'll be entirely done with the Navy after six and a half years, and headed home, hopefully with this beast.

Damn dude; that's a tough break.
My fiance doesn't understand despite never being there why I have such distain for Cali (well, California cities to be precise)
Looks like a damn good score! Truth be told, if I had a rig that clean and that original I don't know that I could bring myself to any serious modification!
Looking forward to seeing the progress, and I'll take those Alcoas off your hands to speed up the SRW swap process!
 
Top