1989 C2500 Build "White Lightning"

[bsn1989]

Hey everyone,

Here is my 1989 C2500 build. I have had the truck for quite some time so I will start with what pics and information I have and go from there!

 

[bsn1989]

This is what she looked like the day I picked her up!

1989 C2500 Cheyenne package
5.0 TBI and a 5LM60 with just under 148000 miles

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[bsn1989]

Shortly after getting it home, I stripped off the pizza pan hub caps and removed the spare tire carrier, spare tire, trailer hitch and added some ugly HID headlights(have since removed the)

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[bsn1989]

Mind you, most of these pics are 2+ years old at this point, slowly coming up to present day!

 

[bsn1989]

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I drove the truck around with the 5.0 for a while. It was a complete wimp and I had a 388 cubic inch small block ready for it when the 5.0 failed or I had an excuse to pull the motor/trans.

I bought new leafsprings and installed 2" drop shackles on the rear along with some long tube headers and and exhaust that I fabbed up.

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[bsn1989]

More pics of the drop shackles and exhaust setup

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[bsn1989]

The idea with the truck with going with the smaller leaf pack was to lower it and remove some weight. As this build progresses you will see how much weight this truck removed and how much quicker it became. My goal is a lowered street truck that is quick and can still on occasion haul some lumber and what-not.

 

[bsn1989]

Pulled the drain plug on the trans and discovered a sea creature of metal on the plug. Also only 3/4ths of a quart of trans fluid came out with it as well.

Put in two quarts of Pennzoil Synchromesh fluid. The truck still shifts just fine to this day.

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Removed the rear diff cover to learn what the gear ratio is on the 14 bolt semi float axle. Turns out it was 3.42 gears and an open differential. A coat of paint on the cover and some new fluid and it was bolted back together.

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[bsn1989]

My 388 cubic inch engine was at my parents place that used to be in my Firebird.

Specs of the engine were at the time of this photo was

350 010 block bored .060 over and zero decked
Hypereutectic pistons with two valve reliefs
Stock connecting rods resized with ARP rod bolts
Eagle cast steel crankshaft with 3.750" stroke
Lunati 60103 camshaft and lifter set
882 heads with screw in rocker studs, 1.6 roller rockers and heavy porting
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold
Holley 750 Double Pumper carburetor


Loaded it into the truck with the old reliable skid steer!

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[bsn1989]

And it is a good thing I brought the engine two hours home when I did. Not more than a week later, while driving, the throwout bearing starting making a horrible squealing sound with the clutch pedal pressed down.

Pulling the engine, didn't take a whole lot of time either to be honest and I was able to do it by myself as well.

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Here is what was left of the throwout bearing when the transmission was separated from the engine.

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