1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

thought id make a thread of my truck rebuild. i have basically made a thread for it on car domain but id like to hear comments an get help if possible =]





1st off anyone know a good way to post multiple images fast?

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

http://i47.tinypic.com/312binn.jpg

pic of it when i got it after the snow was gone.

http://i50.tinypic.com/353cn55.jpg

chrome was peeling on grill so...
http://i49.tinypic.com/iokmte.jpg
peeled the top an bottom chrome off and painted it gloss black..
http://i49.tinypic.com/2poqx53.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/15kmtk.jpg
bolted new body parts on from donor truck. which was my friends 93 gmc v6 5spd 2wd reg cab shorty.

post more of the picks. but is there a faster way? i used tinypic an uploaded 1by1

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

more pics.

jus some painting to make it all one color again
http://i48.tinypic.com/282ds7t.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/2mgvc5k.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/9tpkdd.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/91jbb7.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/m4l21.jpg

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

more pix.

pulled out the motor
http://i50.tinypic.com/1z1be4h.jpg
cleaned up the motor for paint =]
http://i46.tinypic.com/2dka976.jpg
doesn't look clean i know..

http://i46.tinypic.com/14loln7.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/6zq4nq.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/rj4ieo.jpg
sunlight made the paint look metallic

and motor is back in
http://i46.tinypic.com/2vlpttu.jpg

rattle can lined the inner bedsides and bumpers..
http://i45.tinypic.com/1gkx37.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/2h3txu0.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/o5azv7.jpg

her current state
http://i48.tinypic.com/1qsdh5.jpg

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

got these for freeee =] same rims as my current ones but paintable and same tires the the 1/2ton load range instead of 3/4ton witch is currently on it
http://i48.tinypic.com/qnwoyh.jpg
they are all going to be black like this
http://i46.tinypic.com/6ivaqv.jpg

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

ok so now that i got the jist of the progress pics up.

the vbelt will bolt right on its has a flat belt and a vbelt i just dont know how to tighten the vbelt that goes from the bottom pulley to the power steering wen the a/c is on it another vbelt wraps around it an the power steering to the bottom pulley so as of now im confused till i go check it at the junkyard again

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

so no comments on my thread with is kinda saddening. well i got the pulley system an have started to strip the paint off everything to make everything nice and clean. i have already bought shorty headers awhile back =] shouldnt be too long before shes up and running, still needs full exhaust done, tune up, new belts, run all new front brake lines, and put new door bushings in, passenger side is fine but driver side top of the door has a terrible gap an allows rain and snow onto my seat =/ ill take pics of the engine after i got everything painted and bolted on

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

Hmm, somhow I missed this one.
I like what youve done to your engine, I alwasy thought that panting the engine black was GM's only mistake on these trucks.
But did I see that you painted the area where the water pump seals to the engine? would that affect how the pump seals down to the block?

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

thanks i definitely like the orange way better. yea i did paint where it seals but i scratched it off with a knife before putting the pump on

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

http://i42.tinypic.com/k0t5b6.jpg
took this pic yesterday its not current tho. i removed the water outlet cause it was oxidized very badly so got a new one and a new thermostat, the new outlet is cast iron.. didnt really like that fact. other than that only thing left on the motor to do is fabricate 2 spacers to mount my power steering pump properly. probly going to do the front brake lines in a day or so then alls left is my dual exhaust =]

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

Cool, looks good! :metal:

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

looking sharp!

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

thanks. ill get a new pic up here 2maro. went to start on doing the brake lines an pulled the wheels off the front an everything was in bad shape so i had to go buy new everything including what i needed already: rotors, calipers, brake pads, flex lines, line 3way junction, 2 different length lines, new front shocks they were completely toast, new shock bolts and nuts, p/s pump belt, 02sensor, and antifreeze. so it all costed me like 320-340 =/ i hadn't planed on needing the calipers or rotors so that was more money out of my pocket =/. anyways i got the shocks on 2day an cleaned up and painted the front spindles. i will hope fully get the calipers an rotors on 2maro and start finishing running the lines

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

forgot to take a pic 2day. painted my calipers red an put the rotors calipers brake pads and flex lines on. got to buy 3 lines 2maro to finish the job then all i need is exhaust

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

after awile and after i have other things done to my truck after im driving it i want to do an 8 lug sas and any info would be greatly appreciated especially how to run the steering. thanks

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

probably wont do an sas ill just buy me a square body for offroad use =]

anyways. i got me a bull bar at an auction said it was from a 95 chevy/gmc. went to mock it up to my truck and there's like i 3in gap on each side of the frame so im like ok.... wtf? i managed to find the original parts decal on it an searched the part number to find out its for a 94-01 dodge ram you can imagine my disappointment. so now im goin to have to fab my own brackets to make it fit and pic of how the right bullbar fits on an 88-98 truck would be helpful, id like to know the mounting points it should have.

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

oh well huh? That what welders are for, Make anything fit.
SAS is not too bad. The kits are about 500 bucks and all you got to do is source axles and springs. They are actually pretty easy to make if you capable. Just a matter of spring mounts.

You gonna leave those fender flares white? They would look black or sprayed with that spray can bedliner.

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

yea only problem being i dont have my own welder. im going to try getting one later on cause i will definitely need it.
id really like to do the sas it would be really kool but with all the money it will cost to do it how i want i mite as well buy a whole square body truck an keep this one a reasonable daily driver but still capable of decent off-roading.

as for the flares I have thought about painting or lining them black but im not decided on if i want to or not. it looks really nice how it is

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

Oh by the way, that motor looks good. Too bad its all but impossible to keep them that clean. I had a friend that worked for my uncle and every few months he would pull the engine out of his Nova just to clean it. A bit excessive for a daily driver but it looked good.

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

yeah i know ha which really sucks. im gna stay out of the mud for maybe a week after shes on the road but thats probably a lie haha it'll probably be a day and ill be like hells yea lets go mudding haha

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

nice truck i am still in the primer process with mine.

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

I gave up on mud. Before I got my pickup I had this sweet little 93 Isuzu Amigo 4x4. It was like brand new when I got it. First thing I did was put a 3in lift and some mudders. The thing was a beast at the mud pit cuz it was so light. I ruined that thing. The mud made it junk. I should've taken care of that thing. So I've decided no muddin til I get somethin to play with. The only time my truck will get dirty is for hunting, fishing, and camping. 4x4 will be just to keep from gettin stuck or gettin unstuck. This things got to last. Thinkin about getting an old trooper or something cheap to cut up and get dirty. Always wanted an Bronco II: Cut the top off, take off the doors, big tires and get dirty.

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

Awesome truck, the motor looks great and the trucks in great shape. a sas is easy from other people have said. im looking at putting a dana 44 6 lug in mine with the 14 bolt sf i have. it'll handle 35-37 pretty easy

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

thanks i just saw yours on another forum looks sweet. love your flares. where did you get them?
i have the 14bolt rear in mine too

i want to do the sas really bad but if its too difficult for me i mite just save for a square body as a last resort. i really want to put the dana 44 up front to but then you got to change t-cases also an make a bracket for that. if you do yours send me pics and any need to know info :metal: thanks.

if i get it sas'd, awhile after i have it done ill probably switch to a dana 60 front and dana 70 rear

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

thanks. got any pics of her?

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

well as of now i need to get a new line ran from the front to rear, i have all the solid lines and splicers but may need a new rear rubber line if i cant get the old hardline out of it which i don't think ill be able to so going to need that probably then bleed the brakes and drop it off at the exhaust shop to finally get my true duals =D

my brackets i need to fab for my brush guard are still in construction on hold =/ wish i hadn't got jipd an had the bar for the chevys but as i may have mentioned before it turned out to be for the 94-01 dodge rams.

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

so i had all my brake lines in, had a few leak issues fixed them or so i thought and pushed the brakes again to find out it was leaking fluid on the 3/16th line for the front out of the aluminum block, took it out an put it back in twice and it still didn't fix so figure owell ill figure it out after i get my exhaust done. tightened the line back in and completely stripped out the block. luckily we brought my buddys old truck back to the house to start tearing it apart and scrap what isn't any good or useful. so i just unbolted the whole brake assembly of it and onto my truck. got a new 3/16th line just to make sure the other line wouldn't mess up the threads and also had to get a splicer for the 1/4line, for some reason the spot where the rear lone goes in had a larger thread diameter so that's all fixed. going to drop her off at the exhaust shop this Saturday an get my true duals finally done!!!! the all i have to do is license it wen i get my check on Monday! =D so excited to get her back on the road lol i never really drove it far yet

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

Sweet. I can't get away with duals on my 88' here in California due to smog laws. The smog tech can visually fail the truck. My 86' Suburban came with true duals and no cats from the factory and it's really easy to tuck everything above the frame rails for wheelin'. The 86' sub is my trail rig and the 88' pick up is my street queen.

Post up a pic of the exhaust work when done. Good luck with your build.:metal:

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

that really sucks. i have heard alot bout smog laws out there. that's one reason why i will definitely not be moving to cali lol.
thats cool. im thinking about gettin a k2500 square body after im driving this daily or a k5 blazer.

thanks and will do. hopefully itll be done this monday and ill pick it up tuesday:metal:

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

this is what she looked like before i loaded her up and off to the shop for my exhaust to be done.
http://i42.tinypic.com/sxnkeb.jpg

ill get pics up of the exhaust later this week when i get her back. hopefully he does a really good job.

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

so i stopped by the shop and he let me check out the truck as it was being finished up and it looks really good to me. ill be picking her up tomorrow and ill try getting pics asap

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

so the exhaust is done. but motors running terrible. a bolt had broken off on the intake an its now causing a bad seal so need to take it out and put a new one in and if the motors still running rough probably going to have to adjust the timing also.

pics.
http://i42.tinypic.com/jgrvk6.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/1zgb7mu.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/4r5bg5.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/11sz5zc.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/2u60k2g.jpg

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

Looks good, wait till you hit your shin on the tips :lol:

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

Is there a body lift on the bed? Seems like the lines don't line up from the front of the bed to the back of the cab?

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

yea they stick out a bit but not to far

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

there is no body lift. im assuming the rear cab bushings are shot. the body lines not matching up bothers me alot ha

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

Yeah, it would bother me too. Would it be hard to shim or even get new bushings for the cab? I've never done any sort of body lift or re-bushing to a vehicle (it would be cool to get pics and techniques on it if you did it ;) ).

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

it shouldn't be to hard. getting the bolts out its probably the worst part as they are probably rusted bad. you can buy bushing where ever like lmc. im considering getting a 3in. body lift so i probably wont fix it, ill just wait to put the body lift on.

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

That motor came out real nice good luck in the future looks good tho keep up the good work man

Re: 1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc
 

thanks. wish it would stay that way without me having to baby the truck ha.
im waiting on fixing a problem then license it n get a welder an possibly start putting in new panels.