1986 GMC S-15

[Oscar Mike Gulf Yankee]

Great build thread now you'll have a new '87 S 15! BTW, nice cabin!

 

[1stDeuce]

Thanks for keeping us up to date!! Everythign looks great. I have about zero faith in any newer aftermarket CV boot. They're all made of cheap rubber of some sort that cracks after it's a year or so old. Hard to find a CV brand that uses good boots anymore.

Word to the wise on that XJ setup... That style link system turns the OE 4 link into a swingarm setup of sorts by mounting the upper control link to the lower instead of back to the frame. This type of arrangement is known for ripping the pass UCA bracket off a D30 axle, particularly on vehicles that see a lot of articulation, like rock crawling. This is because any time you articulate the front suspension, the two links being at differnt angles is trying to twist the axle tube. If you have nice soft bushings at all the axle mount locations, it can work, but it's still tough on bushings and brackets... DO NOT replace those rubber bushings with Poly, or with any sort of "joint" or you WILL rip the pass side UCA bracket off the axle fairly quickly. A heavier bracket is not the answer, the answer is keeping soft bushings, or going back to true 4-link...

For what you are doing, I can see the attraction of that setup, just be sure to keep softer bushings in the axle and all the links that attach to the axle. They only place you can run a stiffer bushing is where the lower link connects to the frame.
Good luck!!!

 

[Andrew_S]

Thanks for keeping us up to date!! Everythign looks great. I have about zero faith in any newer aftermarket CV boot. They're all made of cheap rubber of some sort that cracks after it's a year or so old. Hard to find a CV brand that uses good boots anymore.

Word to the wise on that XJ setup... That style link system turns the OE 4 link into a swingarm setup of sorts by mounting the upper control link to the lower instead of back to the frame. This type of arrangement is known for ripping the pass UCA bracket off a D30 axle, particularly on vehicles that see a lot of articulation, like rock crawling. This is because any time you articulate the front suspension, the two links being at differnt angles is trying to twist the axle tube. If you have nice soft bushings at all the axle mount locations, it can work, but it's still tough on bushings and brackets... DO NOT replace those rubber bushings with Poly, or with any sort of "joint" or you WILL rip the pass side UCA bracket off the axle fairly quickly. A heavier bracket is not the answer, the answer is keeping soft bushings, or going back to true 4-link...

For what you are doing, I can see the attraction of that setup, just be sure to keep softer bushings in the axle and all the links that attach to the axle. They only place you can run a stiffer bushing is where the lower link connects to the frame.
Good luck!!!

Apparently they make a cv boot treatment spray to prolong the life but I rather just replace them and ********** about it haha.

I hear you on the radius arm set up. If I was building something for do any serious offroading/articulation I would go with a 3 link. This is just the easy road. The axle is getting trussed and will bind/ruin bushings before it ever does any damage to the axle. The axle side will remain clevite bushings, just new ones. The frame side is getting the upgraded flex joints over the acme threads that it came with.
Appreciate the input & suggestions.

Got everything painted it up nicely.

Made up some plates to get the D30 to work with the case spreader

Picked up the heads from the machine shop, took them back again because they failed leak-down testing... Failed again, and now they are at another machine shop for analysis.

Just getting back from another great 6 day trip. Here are some pics:

Adams lake

Spent 2 nights on tumtum lake

We've both taken on heavier work loads/stress levels at work and this was a much needed break for both of us.

We were picking blue berries near camp when I ran into a bear about 60m away and had a handful of berries... Luckily it wasn't hungry,

Camp set up

 

[Andrew_S]

Morning coffee taking in the view

Exploring the lake

Beautiful lake with water that changed colours in different areas of sediment clouds

Paddled through this great looking wetland at the north end

Went for a swim on this beautiful sandbar at the mouth of the river

Explored some of the mature forest

Last night on tumtum,

We quickly found out there was only one way in and out of this lake

Spotted another bear on our ride out

Next stop, Adams lake east side.

 

[Andrew_S]

This little green toad hung out in this dowel hole the entire time we stayed here.

Fishing Adams,

No luck but a beauty evening

Exploring Momich provincial park again. We were here 2 years ago a few weeks before it completely burnt.

Paddling the creek into Momich

One of the nicest small lake beaches

Picking berries in albas park

Next stop Shuswap Seymour arm,

Moose steaks and mash potatoes for dinner on the beach.

Next morning views from camp

Albas falls

Breakfast views

Harvested some Combs tooth for dinner

Onyx falls to cool down

Finished the trip with a swim in Fintry creek

Very memorableand relaxing trip. Can't wait for the next one.

 

[impala1964]

You're doing it right man. Freezer full of game meat, lots of nature, cool chick, and cool trucks.

 

[YetiX]

You're doing it right man. Freezer full of game meat, lots of nature, cool chick, and cool trucks.

I was literally going to say the exact same thing. Andrew you are living the dream dude.

 

[goldtooth]

We were near there in mid July. We drove from Bella Coola to Revelstoke and spent some time around Sicamous as well. Love it up there!
nate

 

[1stDeuce]

Wife and I went to Iceland in June this year, and we'll be going again in 2024. In 2023, we'll be coming up to your back yard and hanging out for a couple of weeks, also in June. A bit early, but we escape the month of gnats that plague this place every June.

Thanks so much for keeping this thread up and taking us along on your travels! You and your wife are truly inspirations to so many of us!! From the outside looking in, it certainly appears that you are living the dream!!

 

[Todd780]

Looks like a few great trips! Glad you enjoyed them!

 

[Andrew_S]

You're doing it right man. Freezer full of game meat, lots of nature, cool chick, and cool trucks.

I was literally going to say the exact same thing. Andrew you are living the dream dude.

Thanks, can't really complain about much over here.

We were near there in mid July. We drove from Bella Coola to Revelstoke and spent some time around Sicamous as well. Love it up there!
nate

Nice! That must have been an awesome trip. Bella Coola is on our list for the future.

Wife and I went to Iceland in June this year, and we'll be going again in 2024. In 2023, we'll be coming up to your back yard and hanging out for a couple of weeks, also in June. A bit early, but we escape the month of gnats that plague this place every June.

Thanks so much for keeping this thread up and taking us along on your travels! You and your wife are truly inspirations to so many of us!! From the outside looking in, it certainly appears that you are living the dream!!

Wow nice. I would love to do that trip. We haven't been overseas for 3 years now.
Thanks, living the dream sporadically. Life seems to be a bit to heavily loaded on work lately.
Looking forward to hunting season.

Looks like a few great trips! Glad you enjoyed them!

Thanks, super nice to get away and shut off the phone/emails for a bit.

Been tinkering in the garage,

Started getting the rear tank set up finalized

Need to finish up the front mount but it's coming along.

We took off for another 3 night trip towards Greenbush lake. It's roughly 60km down a gravel road, one way in and out.
Around 50k we were greeted by this fire on the other side of the valley.

Making the most of the 1st night, evening paddle.

Nice campsite, small and right on the lake.

It's a stunning lake.

Rainbows were jumping everywhere but we weren't having much luck.

We paddled to the inlet and enjoyed a beautiful swim on this stunning sandbar

 

[Andrew_S]

Went for a quick drive into the hills

Couldn't help but notice this puddle full of tadpoles.

This was up around 1650m elevation. These poor guys were going to be dried out if they didn't get some rain soon.

We hiked up to mirror lake.

This was either alpine or sub-alpine, been meaning to google the difference. Beautiful terrain either way.

Quick dip for both of us in this chilly lake

The outlet was really pretty.

Nearly sprinting back to the truck to escape the bugs...
You can see that same fire in the background.

Greenbush lake has roughly 5 spots. We stayed 3 nights and upgraded our spot every night haha.
This was definitely the cream of the crop. Picnic table, water access and a creek for white noise.

Full fire ban at the moment. This chuck box is one of the best upgrades we've added to the program, second only to the camper.

Out for a morning paddle before breakfast.

Pretty tough to beat this.

Even caught dinner.

This big spruce grouse decided to hitch a ride with us. If only it was this easy in October....

One last stop on the way home for a swim.

and some shiny new parts when we got home. Just need to scrounge up some bushings for the axle ends.

 

[YetiX]

I've been meaning to ask, how do you guys deal with the bugs? You seem to always camp next to rivers or lakes, so I have to imagine the mozzies are out in force.

 

[xleratin]

I was looking for the spruce grouse in that picture for way longer than I care to admit!

 

[Dougnuts]

I was looking for the spruce grouse in that picture for way longer than I care to admit!

Me too!