“Dale” the 1990 K1500 slow and steady build

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Arpowers

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Well I found this gem back in February on Facebook market place with a burnt up transmission. Little would I know it would be an epic find. After getting it home and digging through the glove box I found the original window sticker, owners manual and features tape. It was at that point I decided to full on restore it.

Step one was to get it road worthy again which is the process I’m still in. So here starts the list of what I’ve done so far and to eventually get to the point of a full frame off restoration. This will be my first so I’m sure the education is gonna cost me some money but hopefully it will be a journey I’ll never forget. Here’s some pictures from the day I brought it home.

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Arpowers

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The first thing to do was preserve the window sticker and all the original owners manuals, warranty info and service booklet. I found me a few must haves on eBay as well including an original 90s buds chevrolet dealership tag for the tailgate and a mint 1990 Chevy trucks brochure. I went ahead and had the window sticker professionally framed and it came out great!
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HotWheelsBurban

Gotta have 4 doors..... Rawhide, TOTY 2023!
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Wow! I bought the crew cab from the original owner's family and I got nothing but the owners manual. I probably have a '97 brochure somewhere though (we used to go to the new car show every year, and load up on brochures, till the local auto dealership association decided to raise the admission a bunch).
Looks like a nice truck and a good start for a restoration....
 

Arpowers

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Wow! I bought the crew cab from the original owner's family and I got nothing but the owners manual. I probably have a '97 brochure somewhere though (we used to go to the new car show every year, and load up on brochures, till the local auto dealership association decided to raise the admission a bunch).
Looks like a nice truck and a good start for a restoration....
I found all of this stashed in the glove box minus the brochure and decal. Was a really neat find because I don’t think anyone had touched it in 30 years. I’m half scared to even try the features tape to see if it works.
 

DerekTheGreat

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Don't. If anything, play a sacrificial tape through it first. Really nice looking truck and great find with the window sticker and all that. I've never bought a used car that came with one of those, I'm lucky if the owner's manual is even there.
 

Arpowers

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Don't. If anything, play a sacrificial tape through it first. Really nice looking truck and great find with the window sticker and all that. I've never bought a used car that came with one of those, I'm lucky if the owner's manual is even there.
Well the radio in the truck comes on but doesn’t play volume so that’s on the list to figure out. I am even worried about playing it in a different cassette player just because of the age and I don’t think it’s ever been used. Would be neat to hear it though. Definitely have to find a random tape to try in the truck once I figure out the volume issue.
 

DerekTheGreat

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It's the brainbox, needs to be replaced or gone through and lives just above and in front of the gas pedal. Just three 7mm bolts hold it in place. If you can, try and source one from a 1994 truck as GM upgraded the amplifier a bit, as evident by the larger heat sinks and such. Benefit is those play a bit better with aftermarket speakers and have slightly higher output. Judging from the window sticker, your truck has the base tape player without the equalizer. You will need to get a brainbox from another truck with that same type of tape deck.
 

Arpowers

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So an update on Dale:

As of 3/26/23

1. Transmission filter change and top offwith Lucas stop slip and atf. Trans cooler lines ran with earls fittings and Eaton push lock hose. No leaks, more expensive but no leaks. Tried using SS lines pre bent stainless steel lines and they leaked from the start at the transmission even with new brass fittings into the trans. Good luck getting stainless reflared. It did not work.
2. Adjusted timing. Was way off. Not knocking the kid that did the coil and distributor but wasn’t even close. Plugs and wires with acdelco.
3. New belt, tensioner, idler and power steering pump pulley. All acdelco except the ps pulley. Used Dorman, for the price good quality.
4. Exhaust from y pipe back, glass pack, stock dual tail pipes out the right side. Still need a section installed to bypass the original cat that was shot.
5. Installed new bulbs everywhere needed, tail light, interior, under hood, and high beam. Cleaned the interior and repaired the door panels the best I could with some jb weld and self tapping screws. These door panels are flimsy from the jump let alone being 33 years old. They’re fine for now. Fixed the dash bezel around the gauges. Typical headlight switch screws were busted off. Jb weld to the rescue again until they’re off back order from LMC truck.
6. New mirrors and outside window felt on both sides. Used LMC truck parts and both the mirrors and felt are pretty good quality for the price.

Still on the list to do:
Shocks, rear springs, tires, oil change, diff fluid changes, transfer case fluid change. I still have to find out why it will go into neutral while driving. Seems to do it in drive, 2 and 1 so I’m not 100% yet on why it’s doing that. Might hit up a transmission shop to have them diag and repair as that’s a little beyond me. The radio will not play any volume and the volume button will go down but not up. I can wiggle just right and sometimes it will go up but still no sound. Everything else lights up, the equalizer, time, station, etc. the hvac control also seems to stay once the keys off. Blinks fan speed often and doesn’t like to always cooperate so might need a new control head as well. The parking brake cables are gone and the pedal likes to fall down and the brake light comes on. Nothing major but I hate warning lights on. I’m sure I’ve missed a few things but it’s slowly coming together.
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