'89 Stepside "Way Cool Jr."

stutaeng · Feb 24, 2022

Erik the Awful said:
I was talking with a coworker on Tuesday and mentioned that I'd taken some of the Cadillac to scrap and steel prices were up to $100/ton for tin.

He replied, "I need to take that old truck to scrap. I got an old '88 Chevy one-ton with no engine or transmission. I need to haul it off."

"Wait, what? Tell me more. Is the body okay?"

"The body's good. The back glass is out, but intact. I sold the 454 years ago, but I can't remember if I have the transmission. If I remember right, I'll have to use the tractor to load it because the rear end is locked up. It's a single rear wheel axle."

Long story short, he needs to borrow my door-installation tool for another project, and I might be acquiring the truck. It all remains to be seen because the weather is nasty this week. This kind of rolls into another issue. While I built Way Cool Jr to be a light-duty tow pig, I really could use a heavy-duty tow pig for long hauls with the race team. If this happens, WCJr will be getting a 5/7 drop and some serious weight reduction. The 3500 would get some serious comfort, sound deadening, and a 350 built for torque and fuel economy.

It's a slow day at work, so I'm already brain-storming it out. The transmission will be an issue. As much as I think the 4L60 is under-rated, it's not the transmission of choice for towing, nor is the NV3500 in my shop, but I want an overdrive gear for the highway. I like 97Centurion's 6L80 swap, but at $2000, I'm hoping for a much more budget-oriented option. A Gear Vendors overdrive is about $3000. I haven't seen an NV4500 at Pull-A-Part, and I'd prefer an auto for a tow pig.

We'll see how this works out. If I end up with the truck, I'll start another build thread for it, and WCJr's conversion to an autocross truck will happen on this thread.

Well, that's a shocker! LOL.

Is the 88 also a GMT 400? Just slap a TH400. Didn't you have one from your Cadillac?

Or a 4L80e if you want overdrive.

In reality, you likely won't use it enough to justify something fancy transmission, if it's a second truck dedicated for hauling. At least that's my experience having a 1500 for light duty use like picking up a shower door, a few sheets of plywood and grocery shopping. My 3500 is delegated for picking up 20' sticks of angle iron, a yard of flex base, 25 sheets of 5/8 4x8x12 sheetrock and stuff like that. The high payload and 8' bed is a real blessing.

Dubs · Feb 24, 2022

Erik the Awful said:
I was talking with a coworker on Tuesday and mentioned that I'd taken some of the Cadillac to scrap and steel prices were up to $100/ton for tin.

He replied, "I need to take that old truck to scrap. I got an old '88 Chevy one-ton with no engine or transmission. I need to haul it off."

"Wait, what? Tell me more. Is the body okay?"

"The body's good. The back glass is out, but intact. I sold the 454 years ago, but I can't remember if I have the transmission. If I remember right, I'll have to use the tractor to load it because the rear end is locked up. It's a single rear wheel axle."

Long story short, he needs to borrow my door-installation tool for another project, and I might be acquiring the truck. It all remains to be seen because the weather is nasty this week. This kind of rolls into another issue. While I built Way Cool Jr to be a light-duty tow pig, I really could use a heavy-duty tow pig for long hauls with the race team. If this happens, WCJr will be getting a 5/7 drop and some serious weight reduction. The 3500 would get some serious comfort, sound deadening, and a 350 built for torque and fuel economy.

It's a slow day at work, so I'm already brain-storming it out. The transmission will be an issue. As much as I think the 4L60 is under-rated, it's not the transmission of choice for towing, nor is the NV3500 in my shop, but I want an overdrive gear for the highway. I like 97Centurion's 6L80 swap, but at $2000, I'm hoping for a much more budget-oriented option. A Gear Vendors overdrive is about $3000. I haven't seen an NV4500 at Pull-A-Part, and I'd prefer an auto for a tow pig.

We'll see how this works out. If I end up with the truck, I'll start another build thread for it, and WCJr's conversion to an autocross truck will happen on this thread.

Awesome man, I hope you get it.

MrPink · Feb 24, 2022

Erik the Awful said:
I was talking with a coworker on Tuesday and mentioned that I'd taken some of the Cadillac to scrap and steel prices were up to $100/ton for tin.

He replied, "I need to take that old truck to scrap. I got an old '88 Chevy one-ton with no engine or transmission. I need to haul it off."

"Wait, what? Tell me more. Is the body okay?"

"The body's good. The back glass is out, but intact. I sold the 454 years ago, but I can't remember if I have the transmission. If I remember right, I'll have to use the tractor to load it because the rear end is locked up. It's a single rear wheel axle."

Long story short, he needs to borrow my door-installation tool for another project, and I might be acquiring the truck. It all remains to be seen because the weather is nasty this week. This kind of rolls into another issue. While I built Way Cool Jr to be a light-duty tow pig, I really could use a heavy-duty tow pig for long hauls with the race team. If this happens, WCJr will be getting a 5/7 drop and some serious weight reduction. The 3500 would get some serious comfort, sound deadening, and a 350 built for torque and fuel economy.

It's a slow day at work, so I'm already brain-storming it out. The transmission will be an issue. As much as I think the 4L60 is under-rated, it's not the transmission of choice for towing, nor is the NV3500 in my shop, but I want an overdrive gear for the highway. I like 97Centurion's 6L80 swap, but at $2000, I'm hoping for a much more budget-oriented option. A Gear Vendors overdrive is about $3000. I haven't seen an NV4500 at Pull-A-Part, and I'd prefer an auto for a tow pig.

We'll see how this works out. If I end up with the truck, I'll start another build thread for it, and WCJr's conversion to an autocross truck will happen on this thread.

4L80E for sure. I do love the 6L80E in my Suburban though it's quite good.

Erik the Awful · Feb 24, 2022

stutaeng said:
Is the 88 also a GMT 400? Just slap a TH400. Didn't you have one from your Cadillac?

Doing a little research, if it's a standard or extended cab, it should be a GMT400. If it's a crew cab it will be a squarebody.

Caddies use the BOP bellhousing, and the TH400 from the Caddy has a 14" Caddy-specific tail instead of the 9" long tail. Also, I definitely want overdrive. A 4L80E is a consideration, but if I have a choice between a 4L80E and a 6L80E for a similar price, I'll go with the 6-speed. Either way I'd need a stand-alone controller and a way to split the TPS signal.

stutaeng said:
In reality, you likely won't use it enough to justify something fancy transmission, if it's a second truck dedicated for hauling.

If it works out, I do plan on doing some long-distance hauling with it. It'll be worth a transmission swap, especially since it may not come with one.

stutaeng · Feb 24, 2022

Erik the Awful said:
Doing a little research, if it's a standard or extended cab, it should be a GMT400. If it's a crew cab it will be a squarebody.

Caddies use the BOP bellhousing, and the TH400 from the Caddy has a 14" Caddy-specific tail instead of the 9" long tail. Also, I definitely want overdrive. A 4L80E is a consideration, but if I have a choice between a 4L80E and a 6L80E for a similar price, I'll go with the 6-speed. Either way I'd need a stand-alone controller and a way to split the TPS signal.

If it works out, I do plan on doing some long-distance hauling with it. It'll be worth a transmission swap, especially since it may not come with one.

Ok, I see. I debated on the 4L vs 6L when I was looking for our Express passenger family hauler last year. I was looking for low miles rig and bought a like-new van with 5k miles. It has the 6L transmission.

I've watched a few rebuild videos and the 6L certainly have some issues that weren't on the 4L. Converter failure and internal piston cracking and leaking are not uncommon on those units. When the converter fails it sends metallic particles through the fluid passages and wipes out the stator, which is integrated into the bell housing! They also have an internal ECU that's not serviceable. And the basic overhaul kits are around $1500, without including the bell housing, computer or converter. So from a durability/reliability/rebuilding standpoint, they can get expensive.

Probably should stick with heavier version of the two if you do go that route for long distance hauling. A friend from church had his transmission go out on his 2500HD work truck. It was close to 300k and worked pretty hard as any typical work truck. His company paid for the rebuild at the dealership...at a whopping $7k!

Edit: In spite of this, those transmissions are still supposed to be good, compared the current offerings...

Erik the Awful · Mar 2, 2022

We were in the office yesterday, and as soon as my co-worker saw me he asked when I was going to come get the pickup. It looks like this is happening. All he's asking in return is use of my door tool - his son needs to replace a door and he's not looking forward to it.

The truck is a GMT400 RCLB 1-ton. The back glass popped out years ago, but is intact. The interior will need replacing. The engine and transmission are long gone, and the rear end is locked up. One of my other co-workers can't believe I'm serious about the truck. "That's a lot of work."

Yes, it is, but I've already done this once. My current plan is to swap the interior out of WCJr into the 1-ton. The motor in WCJr is pretty stout, but it's a torque motor, so it'll probably get swapped over as well. The 700R4 isn't enough, so I'll probably chat up @97Centurion about his 6L80 swap.

Once the 1-ton is reliable I'll work on building a new motor for WCJr, and throwing a 5/7 drop on it.

Anyways, that's the idea floating around in my head.

I'm starting a short stretch of Reserve duty this week, and today another co-worker stopped by. We chatted and he mentioned he has a 3/4 ton frame, suspension, axles, and engine laying around that he needs to get rid of.

Did I mention that I love Oklahoma?

I told him I was interested in the motor, and if the rear axle being locked up is more than just a brake problem, I might be interested in the axle. I also recommended he get involved in the forum and advertise the frame for y'all northern guys.

Erik the Awful · Apr 3, 2022

My Reserve unit is having Family Day at the end of the month, and they're likely having a little "car show" as part of it. I put the Jaggernaut on display a few years back, and as janky as it is, it was well received. Right now it's engine is on a stand, so I think I'll take WCJr instead. Plus, I don't have to trailer WCJr.

To Do:
Scrape the tint off the rear window
Rework the driver's door
- Remove tint
- Replace the outer window seal
- Fix the door striker
- Re-align the door with a jack and a 2x4 again
Re-spray the bedliner
Install and wire the center console
Install a stereo
Build an O2 sensor extension and install the new O2 sensor (Bosch 17212, fits a gas-motored 2007-2014 Dodge 2500 or 3500)
Wash it
Vacuum the interior
Clean the wheels better
Remove the old adhesive remnants from the body that held on the wind deflectors and fiberglass rockers.

The body's still ugly, but if I can knock out those things, it will show so much better.

Erik the Awful · Apr 7, 2022

I've been working on removing the adhesive remnants this week. I bought one of these: www.amazon.com/dp/B07L1BVQB7

You must be registered for see images attach

It's working great, but it's almost down to a nub, so I ordered two more from Amazon. At $12 a piece, they're not a bargain, but they do work. The downside is that I can only do about ten minutes a day, and then my recently-repaired shoulder starts aching. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll be done.

You must be registered for see images attach

Amazon says the bedliner spray should arrive Saturday, and I'll be able to touch up the bed. My goal for Saturday is to get to Pull-A-Part and buy a bunch of crap for Roscoe, but if I have time, I'd like to get Way Cool Jr's driver door in shape.

Alternatively, I'd like to install the center console, finally. Doing so would allow me to move the seats and clean the tint off the rear window.

The Kenwood KMM-BT328U is sitting here under my desk, and I want to thank @slovcan and @Wh4t3v3rs for recommending it, as well as @Frank Enstein, @AK49BWL, @DerekTheGreat, @618 Syndicate, @OB1214, and @Eveready for their input. I'm going to have to engineer a rear support for it, but installing it is also a goal for this weekend.

Eveready · Apr 8, 2022

Erik the Awful said:
I'm going to have to engineer a rear support for it, but installing it is also a goal for this weekend.

Its been a while since I installed mine but I don't remember using a rear support. I used a single DIN install "can" and just screwed it on at the front. I don't think I did anything else. I expect others who have done it since I have will likely chime in if a rear support is needed.

DerekTheGreat · Apr 8, 2022

Cool looking truck, I like those wheels. Whomever put them on there got the offset right.

'89 Stepside "Way Cool Jr."

stutaeng

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Dubs

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MrPink

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Erik the Awful

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stutaeng

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Erik the Awful

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Erik the Awful

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Erik the Awful

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Eveready

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DerekTheGreat

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