Gastro Gnome - Eat Better Wherever

Big ol Burban?

FB Marketplace is a good tool when shopping for deals.
I disagree.

My ol burb is dying of rust cancer.

I been trying to find one to replace it.

The hipsters have destroyed that market.

I just want a plain jane truck to go hunting, and fishing in.
 
I disagree.

My ol burb is dying of rust cancer.

I been trying to find one to replace it.

The hipsters have destroyed that market.

I just want a plain jane truck to go hunting, and fishing in.
I looked for a couple years before I found one in NM. They are out there you just have to dig for them.
 
I disagree.

My ol burb is dying of rust cancer.

I been trying to find one to replace it.

The hipsters have destroyed that market.

I just want a plain jane truck to go hunting, and fishing in.
Look for a 1988 to 1998 Chevy/GMC. Great trucks. Reliable, cheap parts and nice looking. My 1988 GMC was the best truck I ever had. (Well, except for the 1971 I had) 387,000 great miles. mtmuley
 
I used a 94 GMC 2500 for a work pickup for 2 summers. 5.7 and a 5 speed manual. I loved that thing. A little bit gutless on heavier trailers, but it was a tank, and I bounced it down a lot of central Montana 2 tracks. If I found the same truck in decent shape and had the money to burn I’d love to buy one and build it into what I want.
 
Look for a 1988 to 1998 Chevy/GMC. Great trucks. Reliable, cheap parts and nice looking. My 1988 GMC was the best truck I ever had. (Well, except for the 1971 I had) 387,000 great miles. mtmuley
@shb

There is a guy in Muskegon, MI that goes by Mike Anytime on FB Marketplace. He runs a scrapyard in California and buys every truck in that category he can. He has them shipped here to be sold or dismantled.

He has a 1998 there now that is about the same shape as mine. Interior is rougher but absolutely zero rust. It has a pile of miles on it and leaked everywhere. But for someone wanting to do what I am doing it is a great start.
 
I used a 94 GMC 2500 for a work pickup for 2 summers. 5.7 and a 5 speed manual. I loved that thing. A little bit gutless on heavier trailers, but it was a tank, and I bounced it down a lot of central Montana 2 tracks. If I found the same truck in decent shape and had the money to burn I’d love to buy one and build it into what I want.
Love my 94
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Spent the morning painting the frame where the gas tank goes. After that tried getting the front put back together. Only made it about half way before I have to head for kids doctor appointments. The sheer amount of tools it takes to do front end work is impressive. Poor Chinese stud puller didn’t survive, for $8 bucks it’s not the end of the world.
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Spend the day on it. Got the front end done with all the new parts. Just waiting on new calipers, I couldn’t get the new seals into the old ones. So for 43 dollars it was just easier buying reman AC Delco ones.

Got the gas tank reinstalled and that fixed my low gas pressure problem.

Opened up the rear brakes to find out what was leaking. It had new brakes just before I bought it by the looks of it. The only thing I see it needed was a new wheel seal and some serious degreasing. Took the hot pressure washer to it and got it all cleaned up. I was quite the mess afterwards, had to get changed in the garage before the wife would let me in. Lol


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Down to working on the stuff I don’t want to do. I tried to tackle the A/C today and ran into a PIA.

I hoped it would be simple and I could just flush it and hook the new stuff up. Nope, on the first flush metal shavings came out along with tons of gunk. So a complete disassembly was ordered and the parts list grew.

The rear air was salvageable just need a new valve and drip funnel. The PIA was removing it to flush and get to the valve. It is conveniently hid behind a billion small screws and every flipping interior panel GM could muster. FFS. 🤦🏼

Hours later here is what I found.


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After another run to town and 2 more cans of flush, I got everything cleaned out. I had to order a new valve, there was no cleaning it. I also found the rear heater lines to be rotted and ready to blow. Luckily they are available and Amazon to the rescue.

Rockauto for a new condenser , dryer, and lines around the engine.

New orings everywhere and it should be better than it left the dealership. I am running a modern Sanderson pump instead of the plagued H6 it came with.

I am a certified 608/9 A/C tech that has never done it once in my career until today. You might say I’m a little rusty and gonna have to rely on a YouTube refresher when it’s time to charge it.
 
Man, I really hope you like it once you're all done! You've done a HELL of a lot of work!
 
Nice progress! You really need to draw a good vacuum on that system after replacing that many parts and flushing it. Would be money well spent to pay for an evac and charge. Solid 45 min evac would be advisable.
 
Nice progress! You really need to draw a good vacuum on that system after replacing that many parts and flushing it. Would be money well spent to pay for an evac and charge. Solid 45 min evac would be advisable.
That is likely what I will do. Essentially, everything is new except the two evaporator cores.
 
Man, I really hope you like it once you're all done! You've done a HELL of a lot of work!
I don’t have a choice. lol. Plus I’m no where near done. I’ve got all these ankle biters before I put the fenders back on.

I have that Colorado December mule deer hunt I wanted to take it on. But there is no way I will be done in time for that.

Looks like it won’t be traveling till next summer at this pace.
 

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