Edgar: The adventures and ramblings of a high mileage 1992 Chevy K1500 RCSB

[TwinDuro]

I was talking to my buddy today about trucks and about Edger. He told me how his favorite work truck of a long career was a 1997 K2500 with the 5.7 Vortec that he drove as a Sheriff’s deputy for years patrolling the dunes. He got it with 140k hard ex-USFS miles on it and it was used by him hard every day for another 50k miles and then used by a few more people before it was finally retired at 250k’ish after off-roading, towing and high-speed chases bumping into the speed limiter at 100 mph for long periods (back when they did that kind of stuff). This truck was used, abused, put away wet and never failed though years of hard service... that’s why I love these trucks; they’re definetly underappreciated. Here’s a photo of my buddies old work truck:

 

[vargsmetal]

Hey @vargsmetal! Thanks! I appreciate your kind words it and I did get super lucky on finding this particular truck. There's a bit of work ahead, but it's all worth it to me and I'm looking forward to some adventures this summer!

Also, I've enjoyed the heck out of your thread on your '90 K1500 and have gained a lot of knowledge and inspiration following it. Considering how relatively stock your '90 is suspension-wise, it's awesome to see where you guys have taken it on all of your adventures (great photos by the way!) and I love the photos of it flexed out on the trails! I'm looking forward to seeing your new build on your '91 RCSB progress and am glad to hear your '90 is sticking around as a daily/backup. I can relate to the newer 4Runner as well, great rigs! A friend had a 2017 TRD Off Road version that I borrowed on several occasions and it was always hard to hand back the keys...

Thanks for the advice on the front axle actuator (and from @nitro_rat as well). It's good to know what the trail-fix for the actuator is and I'll definitely ditch it in favor of the slug or the cable, just need to make up my mind. Also, I never noticed in the thread on your '90, but did it come with a G80 or did you put a locker in the rear axle or is it still an open diff? Just curious.




Great to know on the rear springs am glad I went that route. I often haul pallets of bagged concrete and lots of sheets of plywood and drywall, so I didn't want to go too light, but also didn't want it riding like a buckboard.

My truck came with open diffs and that's the way I've been running it. A rear locker was always in the plans, but now that I'm building the 91 I probably won't bother with it. Picking the right lines, good spotting, stacking rocks, etc has always got it through. But I always go with other vehicles so a winch or a tow is always right there. If I was going alone, I would definitely have a winch and lockers.

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[TwinDuro]

Thanks @vargsmetal, good to know! ?

 

[TwinDuro]

Now that’s a pile of parts! Looks like I ought to stop dickin’ around and keep ‘er movin’!

 

[TwinDuro]

Nothing too exciting except for another thousand miles... she still runs great!

 

[TwinDuro]

Spotted an uncommon, crew cab, short bed K2500 in the drive-thru today...



With that said, the most uncommon GMT400 I’ve ever spoted was this Centurion K1500 a few years back. You don’t see one of these everyday!




With crew-cab 1/2 ton, short (and shorter) bed full size pickups being one of the most popular configurations today, it’s almost hard to believe that there was a time not that long ago when the only way to get that was to custom order it!

 

[tdferrero]

Spotted an uncommon, crew cab, short bed K2500 in the drive-thru today...

View attachment 583779

With that said, the most uncommon GMT400 I’ve ever spoted was this Centurion K1500 a few years back. You don’t see one of these everyday!


View attachment 583829

With crew-cab 1/2 ton, short (and shorter) bed full size pickups being one of the most popular configurations today, it’s almost hard to believe that there was a time not that long ago when the only way to get that was to custom order it!

I would do some pretty questionable things for a Centurion. But that crew cab sure does look good. I was oddly enough just thinking about how few 4-doors I see.

 

[TwinDuro]

I would do some pretty questionable things for a Centurion. But that crew cab sure does look good. I was oddly enough just thinking about how few 4-doors I see.

You and I both... I spent some time in Baja riding around in a 4 door Centurion C-350 (One Ton) Diesel Bronco that was pretty darn cool as well.

Yeah, you really don't see too many 4fourdoor GMT400s. Here in Washington state, when I do see them, they are usually 2WD, long-bed work trucks.

Even though I sometimes wish I had the room and seating capacity of an extended-cab short bed K1500, I love the turning radius on Edger. With the 117.5" wheelbase, it's pretty tight for a full size. You can almost turn it around in a standard two lane residential street from curb to curb.

 

[TwinDuro]

So, while I'm busy knocking out some other work/house/family projects that need to get done before I dig into Edger, I'm getting the parts lined up as you all can see. I ordered up a set of the United Packard/Delphi silicone wire set as they look good and are reasonably priced (thanks for the advice @nitro_rat ), United brass-terminal distributor cap and rotor, standard AC Delco plugs and have a MSD TBI coil sitting around to try out (will keep the original Delco unit in the spares box). Also have a bunch of little stuff coming from Rock Auto, new motor and transmission mounts, shackle bushings, rear brake parts, axle/pinion seals etc. etc. Also have a new Delphi O2 sensor and coolant temp sensor on the way.

So the one thing that I've been hemming and hawing about is the oil cooler lines to the radiator. When I first got the truck, the factory oil-filter housing was leaking like a sieve, so I resealed it and installed new oil line quick connects as plastic inserts in the factory ones fell apart.






New factory style oil lines are available, but I've heard they're leak prone (I'd believe it!) and after the cost of both lines and a new set of quick connects, I'm getting awfully close into the territory of replacing everything with good quality AN fittings (I like good quality hose and push-lock fittings with Oetiker clamps) which I'm a fan of from my racing days. Plus I'm not a fan of the factory quick-connects. They seem like a failure point waiting to happen (especially the intake manifold coolant/heater hose one, that's getting replaced with a standard fitting for sure).

For those that have been down this road, what did you do? Eliminate the oil cooler lines all together? Make up your own lines? Bypass the in-radiator oil cooler for an auxiliary unit? I'm all ears!

Also, I've been considering replacing the original catalytic converter (bolt in) with a bypass pipe to see if it improves mileage any. There's no emissions testing in my area (they eliminated it last year) so I'm not worried about that and just figured at almost 275k, the original cat probably isn't working at full efficiency (neither is the rest of the truck, ha ha) but figured I'd see if all you folks who are knowledgeable about it have any suggestions.

I've learned a ton from you folks and always appreciate the good advice!

 

[nitro_rat]

The most common fix is to delete the cooler altogether. This also solves the problem of the leaky adapter base. I have had lines made at a local hose and fitting supplier (Axxion) that work nice. They also do a great job on trans cooler lines and custom AC lines. They can weld up custom fittings too...

AN is another solution but I prefer the push lock stuff now days...

 

[vargsmetal]

The aftermarket replacement lines are junk. Only option to me is converting to AN or having a hydraulic shop make some good ones. I deleted the oil cooler the first time I put my 1990 together when I bought it. I drove it with the 350 quite awhile, and the one time I had the oil analyzed they reported no issues.

That included a lot of hauling, and towing a 5k trailer around. I used a standard straight down sbc oil filter adapter and the Delco PF454 filter to clear the front driveshaft.

The same generation 350 that was in my 87 V20 didn't come with a cooler. And my 5.3L doesn't have a cooler. I'm not saying oil coolers aren't necessary, but in a light duty truck application I don't see the need.

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[TwinDuro]

Thanks a ton @nitro_rat and @vargsmetal, that points me in the right direction! I think for the moment, with the new much-wider/larger rad install (going to the 34" wide HD cooling unit from the 28") I'll just delete the oil cooler for now and change the filter adapter/filter as mentioned. Looks like Melling PN: MFA350 should do the trick along with the PF454 filter @vargsmetal mentioned.



Great to hear that you guys still have some good local shops that do custom lines as well! I have a great local shop that does custom fluid lines of all types nearby (Williams Oil Filter Service Co. in Tacoma, WA) so if I decide add the lines back at some point, I'll be sure to shop local. I always like working with local shops when I can because the service and support is almost always 2nd to none.

 

[BritKLR]

I can’t believed I missed this thread.......I love me some K body’s! I still have two...95 and 97 and wish I still had my 96 Red Z-71 Shortbed K1500......keep doing what your doing!

 

[TwinDuro]

I can’t believed I missed this thread.......I love me some K body’s! I still have two...95 and 97 and wish I still had my 96 Red Z-71 Shortbed K1500......keep doing what your doing!

Thanks for the kind words BritKLR and I'll keep 'er movin'! Right now I'm in rebuild, repair and service" mode but look forward to showing you all some of my favorite spots with ol' Edger here on the west side of Mt. Rainier this summer.

 

[BritKLR]

Thanks for the kind words BritKLR and I'll keep 'er movin'! Right now I'm in rebuild, repair and service" mode but look forward to showing you all some of my favorite spots with ol' Edger here on the west side of Mt. Rainier this summer.

I’m envious of a Chevy SB K body 4wd manual! Seems like a perfect, simple and reliable expo truck! My 97 K2500 is a GMC and has been the most trusty truck. Our 95 is a converted 4wd Tiger camper and it has taken us some incredible adventures.