Thanks guys !

[DannyK]

I've been lurking for a couple of weeks and have found much useful info to help me fix up the '94 K1500 Z71 Ext cab I recently purchased. Its my 3rd Chevy truck (if you don't count El Caminos). I missed my '91 K1500 which I had traded in on a brand new 2000 Silverado, so I looked for another to use as a tow-vehicle for my ski-boat (a Chevy powered Donzi). I found the '94 on Craigslist for cheap because it barely ran. Its otherwise in decent shape. It could use a paintjob, but has zero rust and little body or interior problems. First thing I did was change the oil and filter, poor truck had been neglected! I've replaced the leaking intake gasket, dist cap, rotor, plugs and wires. After finally finding the timing disconnect wire, she runs TONS better. Today I'm replacing the Oxygen sensor and both temperature sensors. Hopefully the running rich problem will be solved and the dash gauge might work. It has exhaust leaks and a cracked exhaust manifold, so headers and a complete new exhaust system are next. Thanks for all the info I've already found on your board ! P.S. What headers do you think are best (for the money)? I'm thinking long tube ceramic coated like the Hedman 69840. I may have to weld in an Ox sensor somewhere though. No biggie. -Just edited 03/07/11 to add some before pics of the day I got it home. the bike is how I got there to buy it. It ran like crap , but I got it cheap and it had new BFG TKOs ! The red wiper arms had to go immediately and a grille was quickly ordered while I dug into a full tune-up,oil/filter change, diagnosing and sorting through any problems.

[dishow]

welcome to the board! cant help on the headers.last time i had a set was in 95.plain old heddman headers.always had probs with 02 senser,but might have been machanics error.

[loudnlifted88]

i picked up a set of ceramic coated shortys off ebay for 125 shipped and i love them there installed on a 94 GMC sierra ext cab z71 with the 350. heres some pics

heres the link to http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...ht_4007wt_1167

[bpeters5814]

Originally Posted by loudnlifted88

i picked up a set of ceramic coated shortys off ebay for 125 shipped and i love them there installed on a 94 GMC sierra ext cab z71 with the 350. heres some pics

heres the link to http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...ht_4007wt_1167

Not trying to thread jack, but I was looking at those same headers. Have you had any problems? Were they easy to install? I want headers, but don't want to give an arm and a leg.

[loudnlifted88]

i love them they havent given me any problems i only had to get a plug to fill the o2 sensor but no problems at all they work great. i purchased my own bolts and my i got felpro gaskets for them

[DannyK]

Thanks for the welcome, I'll get some pics up soon. Its looking a lot better than when I bought it. I've replaced the grille and a broken marker light, some duct tape "window seals" etc. Today, I replaced the leaking exhaust manifold donuts and put in a new Oxy sensor and both temp sensors. I got the temp guage working too. Those shorty headers look good, but I think I'll go long tube since I want to replace the whole system anyway and it'd be easier for me to weld up the rest coming straight out of the long tube collectors.. Summit has the ceramic coated Hedman's with a thick 3/8" flange for $325. Is there any performance difference between long and short headers? Is one better for torque ? I better do brake rotors and pads first though (next week), stopping is kinda important !Haha.... Oh, my Lab climbed under the truck today to see what I was doing, I need to train him to fetch tools !

[DannyK]

Wait, 125 bucks ? Hmm...I'm reconsidering !

[bpeters5814]

Originally Posted by DannyK

Wait, 125 bucks ? Hmm...I'm reconsidering !

It's just tempting enough to almost do it, isn't it?

[DannyK]

Well I just ordered Edelbrock headers,Y pipe, muffler, pipe and tips ! Summit has a sale on the headers (coated shortys with Y pipe included). I've got clamps, hangers and an Air-raid TBI spacer on the way too. I realized I don't have clearance for the long-tube straight back plan due to the gas tank, front driveshaft and transfer case, so the shortys and "Y" pipe over to the passenger side (with Oxy sensor) to a stainless flex connector, then an Edelbrock chambered 2 1/2 single in/ double 2 1/2 out muffler and 2 pipes out the same side just ahead of the right rear wheel is the new plan. And, YES, I will be doing the brakes this week while waiting for the exhaust parts. New rotors and pads, plus a fluid flush and fill. This old truck is getting happier ! P.S. Having trouble posting pics. Looks like they have to be hosted and my usual host seemed infected........who you guys using ?

[loudnlifted88]

i just use the website click on manage attachments under where it says submit reply and then click choose file when the new window opens up and search your computer for them. and make sure you hit upload

[DannyK]

Thanks LoundNlifted, I'll give it a try..... Seems to work ! These are "before" pics. The first is from the CraigsList ad I bought it from and the next is after limping it home. I rode my bike there to buy it, loaded the bike in a gulley and drove back. the next is the busted grille and marker light etc. Poor truck was neglected.

[ChevLoRay]

from down the road a bit. I'm with you on the truck thing, but don't mention (shhhhh, el caminos...shhhh). There are people who will not like it.

Truck looks like a very good starting point. You'll find a lotta help on here.

[Boog]

['94 K1500 Extended Cab Z-71 4x4 350 TBI/4L60E....and assorted other vehicles. ]

Assorted other vehicles indeed. I believe I see a VW Thing in the garage. Welcome aboard.

[DannyK]

Here's a pic of the new grille/marker lights/wiper arms/tow hooks/tag etc and the boat this truck will be the tow rig for. The girl/boat pic is just to keep me motivated. HaHa. The Edelbrock headers and exhaust parts should be here by next weekend. This morning I bought new rotors and pads plus a couple of sensor pigtails hoping to cure trouble code issues and rough running at start/idle. I understand the first two codes (33 and 43), but what the hey is code 83 ? My list doesn't go that high, I did a few searches and came up with TCC/ Torque converter solenoid? What solenoid? (It seems to shift fine)

[DannyK]

Thanks LoRay and Boog, yeah that's a '74 VW Acapulco Thing. 1 of 1200 made. I have several other VWs too, but if I shouldn't mention ElCaminos, then Rancheros and VWs aren't gonna be very popular around here for sure ! Hah ! (P.S. The boat is Chevy powered !)

[DannyK]

Summit just called and I am NOT impressed with them. They did not have the headers available nor a suitable equivalent. The guy wanted me to pay another 100 bucks more for "Summit Brand" (definitely not Edelbrock quality) headers and when I asked him who actually makes them he said "I dunno really". The rest of my $689 order was for the exhaust system I had spent hours researching, planning and finding part numbers for and obviously useless without the headers. They already charged my card, a practice I do not care for. Reputable companies do not charge your card until they actually ship the order ! The guy wasn't understanding, did not offer me any solutions or options, let alone a discount on another brand and he wasn't even nice about it, so EFF them ! I canceled the entire order and will be buying my parts elsewhere from now on.

[bpeters5814]

That really sucks, dude. I've never had problems with Summit, but JC Whitney has been a pain in my butt. Give Jegs a shot. I've had good luck with them.

P.S. - Is that your wife in the boat? Nicely done, if so.

[DannyK]

I ordered some Flowtech Afterburner headers (ceramic coated), Afterburner "Y" Pipe (with Oxy fitting) and Afterburner chambered muffler (3" in/ double 2 1/2 out) today. I did NOT order them from Summit ! BTW, the truck is running much better with a new pigtail on the Knock Sensor. I still have to figure out the low vacuum issue and whatever code 83 is.

[DannyK]

I found my Code 33 problem. I had hooked up the MAP sensor hose wrong when I replaced the intake gaskets. D'oh ! Repacing the pigtail helped too since 6" of insulation was fried off all 3 wires. It now runs smooth and even idles, the check engine light is finally off for the first time since I bought the truck ! Gonna do the front brakes tomororrow and am eagerly awaiting the headers and exhaust components to arrive.

[DannyK]

This "thread" was meant to be a one post thank you for all the info I've found on this forum, but it looks like it may become a semi-build/fixin up thread. Anyone know how I can change the thread title ? UPS just brought me my new motor stand for the junkyard 5.7 Vortec I'm gonna build as a spare and the chambered muff for the current motor. Still waiting on the headers to get here, but its warm enough outside to do those new rotors and pads today. BTW, this ol truck is running SO much better, I punched it to get into traffic yesterday and it burned rubber ! Whoa, a couple weeks ago it barely ran !

[DannyK]

Well since I ragged on one supplier, I'll say something positive. JEG'S got here QUICK and without any hassles. Lots of stuff for next week, but today I'm going canoeing !

[DannyK]

Finally got around to the brakes today. Still no headers, FedEx is blaming the earthquake in Japan. Really ?

[bpeters5814]

FedEx... buh.

I ordered some running boards from J.C. Whitney the 23rd of Feb. They were in Grand Island (20 miles from my house) the 26th. The 27th, they were shipped to Kansas City. March 3rd, they were shipped to Des Moines. They showed up at my house last Friday. I never got a good explanation.

[DannyK]

Originally Posted by bpeters5814

FedEx... buh.

I ordered some running boards from J.C. Whitney the 23rd of Feb. They were in Grand Island (20 miles from my house) the 26th. The 27th, they were shipped to Kansas City. March 3rd, they were shipped to Des Moines. They showed up at my house last Friday. I never got a good explanation.

Weird huh ? I recently received the 2nd of two boxes (same order) from Harbor Freight. 1st box got here in just a few days. The 2nd box traveled from Ca. to Texas (150 miles away) and then to the East coast before coming back to Arkansas. Took 2 weeks ! And J.C. Whitney ? I'll never forgive them. In the late 70s they declared bankruptcy, yet continued taking peoples orders and money without EVER shipping the orders. No refunds either-bankruptcy protection. That's how they recovered from bankruptcy, by screwing all their customers ! ...anyway,STILL no headers! I ordered the Flowtechs from Performance Parts.com believing what the site said "in stock". No they weren't. They, days later, ordered them from Flowtech. I ordered the muffler direct from Flowtech and had it in 3 days ! But still no headers !

[bpeters5814]

Originally Posted by DannyK

Weird huh ? I recently received the 2nd of two boxes (same order) from Harbor Freight. 1st box got here in just a few days. The 2nd box traveled from Ca. to Texas (150 miles away) and then to the East coast before coming back to Arkansas. Took 2 weeks ! And J.C. Whitney ? I'll never forgive them. In the late 70s they declared bankruptcy, yet continued taking peoples orders and money without EVER shipping the orders. No refunds either-bankruptcy protection. That's how they recovered from bankruptcy, by screwing all their customers ! ...anyway,STILL no headers! I ordered the Flowtechs from Performance Parts.com believing what the site said "in stock". No they weren't. They, days later, ordered them from Flowtech. I ordered the muffler direct from Flowtech and had it in 3 days ! But still no headers !

That sucks. It's one reason I hate internet shopping, but really, what can you do? We have one 4x4 shop around anymore, and really no speed shops or anything like that. All we've got are the big box auto parts stores, and I don't exactly trust the people that work at those.