1998 k2500 light duty off-roading

[twils3]

This is my 1998 k2500 8600gvw truck I have recently bought from a friend. I’ve done a handful of work to it so far to get it road ready. When I bought the truck the odometer and speedometer didn’t work as well as shifting issues, the trucks front end was some messed up did ball joints, tie rods , shocks on all four corners, drivers side wheel bearing. Had to replace a messing fuel tank strap and after all the the radiator started leaking so replaced that and the hoses and oiler cooler lines as well.

Future plans will be a new set of tires and some better quality shocks. Add some “overlanding” typical camping pieces likely a bed rack and roof top tent. And always looking for suggestions to add!

Unfortunately photos to this point have been limited as I’m mostly fixing this stuff when I’m right frustrated about doing it!

 

[twils3]

More to the story of the start of this build, the shifting issue and speedometer I replaced the speed sensor on the transformer case and the transmission. Neither worked, so replaced the ECM and fixed all my issues. Once all that was done started to use the truck for daily driving, then one day she started to get hot so I checked under the hood and found my heater core to engine block hose which then blew apart all over me.

Thats where I am now with the truck as I’ve used the rest of the summer to salmon fish instead!

 

[twils3]

Decided while I’m still away at sea for work I’d machine up a spindle for a swing out rear tire carrier that may be in the plans when I start to repair the loggers box on the truck.

 

[GrimsterGMC]

Decided while I’m still away at sea for work I’d machine up a spindle for a swing out rear tire carrier that may be in the plans when I start to repair the loggers box on the truck.

That is a well designed, and nicely machined, piece of work there. I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with next. I am also geared toward an "Overlander" type truck but are limited by the need to use it as my work truck as well, so creativity is the name of the game.

 

[RichLo]

Welcome! nice progress so far!

 

[twils3]

Back home now, started to tackle the rotten fitting from engine to heater core hose. It mostly crumbled apart was able to die grind most of it away and then re tap the 1/2 npt port in the lower intake manifold. Got the new much heavier steel fitting in and seems to be all working well now.
Now for deer hunting season. Hopefully no more hick ups for a month !

 

[twils3]

With the Salmon fishing season coming to a end and Deer hunting season for my finished as my work schedule wont away for any more hunting i wont need this truck for a while so ill be starting back doing some maintance and hopefully some upgrades and rust repair on the truck.

over the last little while i did get some smal jobs done on the truck, I bought some new headlights off amazon as mine burnt out and i switched to a set of 5x7 H4/9003 buld conversion lights and put on a Very cheap and pretty useless set of driving lights from princessauto for 9.99

I also picked up a tepui roof top tent for i think a good deal at 650$ and i got a thule tracRac for 50$ i however ended up in a bad situation and broke the roof rack the first day out with it.
I also got a new android phone from a Iphone so my Photos are terrible now!

 

[twils3]

Photos of the tent and headlights.

 

[twils3]

Also decided to do a lazy rim repaint, tired it on the rear wheels but now to cold to do the front wheels.

Now that I’m all caught up on the truck related work and am waiting for brake parts to come in the front calibers and rotors are pretty tired and one seems to seize here and there, the rear brakes seem to make a whole lot of noise when backing up so I’ve just been ignoring these issues till now. Thinking of doing a master cylinder upgrade to the gmt800 one seems pretty straightforward

 

[twils3]

After crawling around under my truck and getting tired of the terrible ride quality i found a cracked leaf spring both springs are riding on the over loads, and each leaf is wearing into the spring above it so tomorrow the truck is going into the shop in the town im in for work atm. 1200 cdn for new springs installed not what i want to be spending the money on but itll do. I'll be going for a 5+1 spring rated at 2200 to a 4+1 rated at 2200 hopefully this helps the ride.

Along with the new leaf springs i found blown out rear cab mounts, luckily got a "good" set from a buddy will install those next week when i pull the loggers box of the truck and start cleaning the frame and rebuilding the box up.