Yall told me I forgot the link to the 3 wire cheap car radio with the speakers built in 😅. Here she is - This is what I use in my beaters: amzn.to/40TDq2d
Worth noting Luke the module should have some white greese on it between the bottom of the unit and it contact point . Also if you crank them without spark they can load up backfire when spark is restored and there goes your fancy muffler . Ask me how i know :-)
Luke, So glad you got back into the videos. I know its a pain to do but my golly we all just like them so much. It's like having a conversation with an old car buddy. Your new place is perfect for you both. Horse Pens and 4 car garage with extra sheds and barn. Amazing. You take care and thank you again for coming back. The world needs what you bring. Dennis in Virginia.
The roof got crushed by John's hoop shed that collapsed. I wouldn't try and open the tail gate unless you're prepared to do some body work to get it back on lol. I owned that truck for about 6 months, was going to use it to plow my driveway, but ended up selling the house. I didn't get to do anything to it, but the mouse was probably from my house! It sat in my back yard for that 6 months.
I enjoy making them when I have time - and it is indeed nice that my wife doesn't get bent out of shape about me always buying, selling, and wrenching. Everyone needs a hobby I suppose, lol
Someone i know has an 86 Suburban with the same back door. You have to roll the rear window down before it will open and I believe the latch handle is on the inside once the glass is down. As I recall there should be a button in the front somewhere to operate the rear glass but I do remember the key slot in the back door also will raise and lower the glass assuming it all still works
You have more patience than me. the second I saw the inside of that HEI I'd instantly replace the whole unit. I have a name for her, she's half in the ground already, so she's 'The Subterranean'
I worked at Standard in the early 80’s and got the original laser trimmer purchased to manufacture GM ignition modules to work. That was when the parts were manufactured in Long Island City, NY. The components were comparable in quality to NAPA products. The products are now manufactured internationally who knows where the quality is now.
Luke your wife is gorgeous! Don't let her think anything else. Glad to have you back and showing us your wisdom in your inimitable style. Keep up the good work.
I changed the distributor cap once on a GM vehicle of my brother. I didn’t see the ground strap. It looked like a miniature lightning bolt shooting from the coil to a bracket on the engine. Distributor was in front.Yes I am a Ford guy too.
Uncle Luke! Its always good to see a new video of yours! I actually dig the information you share regarding carb tuning. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I been a subscriber since the 4spd Maverick videos and you and your wife lived in the trailer Park. by the way my furnace went out and I refer back to your last video turned out to be a similar problem. fixed it by refering back to your video Thank you for that! Have a great Thanksgiving!
I'm glad you were able to fix it - nothing like a furnace not running when it's sub 32 freeze pipe weather. A long time indeed, it's something how time flies isn't it - i was just looking back the other day on some of those videos and noticed how my wife and I both look much younger. Have a happy Thanksgiving as well, and thanks for being here 🙂
Hey Luke... you have the best... most informative videos on u -tube. I just started watching you and I've already learned alot. Especially about the ignition timing and distributor stuff. Please keep the videos coming... ! Especially enjoying the FORDS. GALAXIE TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL. WOW. APPRECIATE ALL THE INTELLIGENT ADVICE AND THE TOM -FOOLERY. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Years ago I occasionally drove an employer owned 1987 2500 Suburban with the optional 350 cubic inch seven-cylinder engine, two speed automatic transmission and the weight saving zip tie battery tie-down. It also had an early fitness app that would send you out to take a walk carrying as gas can….
Glad you got it running, but we all know that Chevrolet really means Cheap Heap Every Valve Rattles Oil Leaks Every Time. 😁 Actually, the square body Chevy's had really good engines, transmissions, and drive axles, but the bodies rusted horribly.
I did the same on my summer daily. Grandpas 1980 Chevy big 10. I put a new cap on because it was worn beyond worn. Somehow it ran without the ground strap which I forgot to transfer. Must have grounded through something else somehow. It ran for a couple hundred miles before letting go at the farm I work at when I was changing a tire on the cultivator. Real convenient! There went 3 hours of my time figuring it out. I carry an ignition module and coil with me everywhere behind the seat. It ended up killing the old coil and I had to put the ground strap back and a cheap standard coil and it fired up like nothing happened. I keep another cheap standard coil behind the seat for when that one dies. I ended up leaving the standard module in it for a while until it started causing some really weird issues at certain rpms. I put the original back in and its been running fantastic ever since. That was my only break down in the truck since I got it running and driving after it sat in the bush for 25 years with small trees growing into it. I love watching your channel Luke keep it coming.
Putting together a 65 Ranchero as my winter beater. First old ford. Mostly have 1950s gm and Chryslers. But I needed a "truck". I plan to use all of the tips and tricks I've learned from you to dial in the little 302. Thankyou for the education and entertainment. I appreciate it. - Kory from Vance Alabama.
More likely to run into same situation than super tuning anything. Great to see how someone would attack this. What a useful steed. Such a classic chariot. A few more tweaks everything will be too notch. Cheers 🍻
If your ever in the position of not having thermal paste use some of the tube never seize . It is thermal paste , I've even had to use it for a computer main fan on the processor. I was taught that by a friend that has a PC repair shop. Try it I'll guarantee it will work. And the edit here was to answer Kevin's question for ya... it's to tell the vehicle "good job and make me proud."...does it work 80% of the time but we do it anyways. Edit number 2... roll the back window down to open the back door...lol
@jewllake I was always a big fan of a 3rd Gen, however I will say I was pretty disappointed when my 02 Grand Prix walked one at test and tune. Bad part was my Prix wasn't supercharged and the IROC had exhaust and drag radials. Oh well. I still like them.
A quick way to test the module . Flip the dist. Cap out of the way and turn the key on . Then hold a soldering gun as close as you can to the module as you can . Every time you pull the trigger you should get a rapid clicking noise , if not the module is bad . As long as the dist. has power . I don't know if all soldering guns work , I use an old weller .
Yep, My problem with the SBC is the rear distributor versus the Ford Windsor with it's fun to play with front distributor. The one thing though with the SBC is that the rear sump oil pan makes it easier clearing the front end gear on some custom car engine swaps. This is the reason so many of the chrome bolt old Ford Roadster crew drop in Small Block Chevys. To my Dad this was sacreligious who ran a 49 Merc flathead in his 32 Ford Hiboy Roadster.
Looks like the people are not the only ones that loves a good salt shaker 😂 Sorry I live in Texas? I'm 64. I have never seen a mechanical advance that sick with cancer 🙏 And to me what was funnier is the fact that it started immediately after you but put the pickup monster back in it and threw the new one away. Great video
You are right about getting bad parts back in the '70s I drove my dad 605 GMC and it quit running I switched the tanks and it still wouldn't run I switch the tanks and it still would run pull the fuel pump out went and got a fuel pump put it in and still wouldn't run pulled that fuel pump out did this three times before I finally got a good fuel pump. Also bought spark plugs for my V8 pulled a spark plug out no threads on one of the spark plugs.
13:41 I’m an Olds guy. Got a 403 in my rat rod. I was just finishing up putting the drivers side header back on when my friends showed up. Had some refreshments. Guys talked me into doing a burn out. Engine was cold, no power, could not spin the tires. Guys were making fun of the low power 403. Then I realized the ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE BANK had no plug wires hooked up. After I plugged them back in I vaporized my rear tires. Ford guy said “no way that thing ran on 4 cylinders, my 400 won’t start if 2 are unhooked”
That suburban brings back alot of memories. We had a 1987 Suburban 1/2 ton 4×4. First year EFI. Those tailgates operated with the key. You turn the round key a certain way and the electric window rolled down, then the tailgate handle is on the inside at the top of the gate. Made that way since you can't open thr gate anyway with the window up. Good luck if the electric window won't work. You'll probably get to crawl your tall self into the rear cargo space and pull gate panel to fix it.😂 Love the old Chevy!
you can't beat those old Chevy 'square bodys',my plow is an '84 single wheel k30 with a 9ft Western,4 speed manual. solid front axle beasts! '88 was a sad year for Chevy with the IFS in the 1/2 and 3/4 tons.
Roll window down with door key or switch on dash near the ash tray. Then it opens like a normal tale gate on pickup truck handle on the inside. Great video. Love the content you're putting out
The only ignition trouble that nobody on TH-cam has and i had growing up around square bodies and having them on and off throughout my life (58 years) is the rotors cracking and grounding down through it, we as a family always carry one in the glove box and some times two in case ones junk out of the box. Started when the only time my dad had gone to the neighborhood old country garage and they couldn’t figure it out until they called a cousin who had a Chevy swapped ignition parts till his wouldn’t start. Blessings brother
Summer project idea for this rig: Convert it into a crew cab pickup since the roof is bashed and the rear wheel arches are toast. Any body part that is rusted out on that rig is reproduced by at least two companies that I can think of right now.
Plow Warning! You need the blade height levelers or your going to dig in to everything. They are typically uhmw skids on spring loaded pins. You can see the guides are empty.
If you can find one cheap I reckon a skid steer (tracked if you can swing it) would probably be ideal for your property. Attachments for hay bales and a shovel for clearing snow and grading paths would set you up pretty well. Very much enjoying your videos and good luck with winter.
So I had a similar deal with my Square body Hei, I had done a tune up and had accidentally left the ground lug thing in the old cap (which I threw away), truck ran fine however for a good while until it shut down going down the road. When I pulled the cap the carbon conductor going from the coil through the cap was completely burned up gone. I ended up taking the spring out of a ball point pin and it got me 2 miles to the parts store. Will NEVER forget that ground lug again 😂
Absolutely was not driven there. Probably towed or rolled off of a trailer. I helped a guy work on an old late 60s GMC 4x4 that was parked in a hedge row because it just would not start. It was parked so long the mice had gotten to it. Had no spark at all. Even after installing and gapping new points - no spark. Known good coil - no spark. What a head scratcher. After more discussion and thinking, we wondered if the distributor was no longer grounding through the distributor shaft to the engine. We added our own ground wire and the brightest sweetest blue spark you ever saw started popping on the spark plug. There are parts replacers and then there are people who fundamentally understand how an ignition works and you can use this knowledge to make sure any ignition system conforms to necessary standards to function. I don't think I would have caught this missing ground strap unless I had a known good dizzy to compare to. Thanks for another great video! I'll be checking this on my 1973 barndoor squarebody suburban I inherited from my grandfather. From your neighbor by where the Vice Grip was invented here in Nebraska - well done! - and thanks for sharing!
I forgot the ground strap on my squarebody during a cap replacement and it did run a couple hundred miles. It let go at a very inconvenient time and took me 3 hours to figure out. It ended up killing the coil. I agree should not be possible I wouldn't believe it myself if I had not experienced it.
Sweet man those trucks are rare, I spent from age 13 to 17 tracking one down that I could afford and got a loaded 100% complete big glass 305 4 speed 4x4 1961 gmc k-1000 long bed fleet side truck for $1,000 outta Colorado just this spring. Yes it runs but I am tracking down a steering box as mine has worn through the bushings in it and worn the case away too. It used to be a Forrest service truck
Totally agree with you about the distributor placement on GM engines. Especially if the truck has a lift on it. Good thing the old trucks have enough room under the hood that you can just crawl in there and reach stuff
All of the years of having an HEI I always wondered why the ground was bolted the coil and not engine ground. Well this teaches me something. I always thought it should go to ground. I am wondering now if that is why everyone always has coil explode on their HEI during power tour. Those caps never come with that strap.
Tell Ms. McGee that she is a great person to put up with your innuendos. Be careful TH289 about those children comments as it has been said before women can or can not make it happen. 😅😅😅
Yup, I’ve installed brand new electrical parts that don’t work. A mechanic friend of mine restores old mustangs for a living. He spoke to manufacturers that are contracting out the manufacture of parts to China. Because it’s cheaper to make overseas, even with shipping, than in the US. He said they don’t care if 10% fail. They just replace them for free….if you take the time to return them. They don’t even care if they lose a customer. They make that much profit with Chinese made parts. It’s just the business model these days. Sad.
The modules in the distributor are supposed to have some lithium grease between them and the housing for heat transfer and the rotor looks like it could be carbon tracked. My suggestion is to replace the rotor, put some white lithium grease under the module and clean up and lube the mechanical advance. I think that would help you.
Hey if it saves from using a shovel or a push snow blower then its worth it, put a 4 wheel set of chains on it now before the snow starts & and make sure cab heater is working as it should. working in a warm cab makes for better and more enjoyable experience 😋 this is optional mount a descent LED light bar on the roof just in case you need to plow snow at night
Make sure the heater and heater fan works and the blend door puts the heat on the wind shield. Wipers already work, nice having some lights that are higher than the blade as well. Off road only you can get a big light bar from Harbour Freight and mount it on the roof.
I was thinking that "if we've learned anything, it's that old small block Chevy's are actually pretty darn good motors, trucks aren't so bad either." :)
You have to lower the back glass to open the tailgate. The key in the back lock will lower it or the button on the dash. Then you have to use the tailgate latch on the inside.
These Suburbans are pretty neat. I grew up on these years of Suburbans. My dad drove one for work. A 91 2wd. That thing was notorious for eating transmissions. 😊
One thing I have to say about standard brand products. I've had really good luck overall with their products as long as they did NOT come from eBay. Every eBay standard brand part I ever bought did not work or did not last no matter what the application was other than a couple sets of ignition points.
Excellent Video Luke :) also those truck are built like tanks a friend of family mine had 1990 GMC with 350 V8 , Turbo 700SR4 Speed Automatic transmission with shift, 4×4 was 25 series one had 411 rear end gears , daul exhaust plus 1 ton suspension , daul fuel tanks, also chrome diamond mirrors with Heater for Winter months, all power options and sun roof even tow hitch! Colors 2 tone dark grey & silver body with red stripe package and interior red and black ! Was super truck for long time and travel lots kms ! No problem even Winter months for owners even guy 1 st used for go to Roads Department Highway & Works doing snowplow with International dump trucks and he was boss to on last 12 year's in business! I talk on his CB radio equipment in truck for years till Retirement in 1998! Then his wife used for her work job at school too ! They sold to my cousin Derek in 2005 then he sold it in 2009! I rode in to and like performance did too!
When i was a young chap, we would slide the hand back and tuck the hair under the hat backwards. Now a days I see a lot of people wear it more like Luke. Nothing wrong with either. I am just being an old man shouting at clouds.
The nice thing with a plow truck, as the panels rot off you kick them off and the truck gets lighter! I had friends who IH Scouts for plow trucks and after 3 or 4 seasons they were down to floor pans and a cafeteria seat!😆
Repaint! Not show quality, but enough to hold off the surface rust from getting worse, especially if it is destined to live outside. This one is a keeper.
I'm with you on the distributor location. I've had quite a few GM products over the years and I absolutely hated it whenever I need to fool with the distributor.
Uncle Luke showing some love to a Chevy here on TH-cam... Awesome !! I love it ! Great video Bud... Thank you !! P.S. - Mrs. Thunder seems like an awesome girl... So down to earth :)
Yall told me I forgot the link to the 3 wire cheap car radio with the speakers built in 😅. Here she is -
This is what I use in my beaters: amzn.to/40TDq2d
There's one in Alaska with a wood stove in the back.
I was able to find it and bought one for an 85 K10 I inherited from my brother that I'm trying to make reliable. 👍🏽
I'm going to get one for my lawn tractor, tired of having ear buds fall out and chomped up and this way I can hear around me still
@@SadPuppySoupget some good earbuds fella. Try some raycons junk yard digs usually have a discount for them as sponsor them
Worth noting Luke the module should have some white greese on it between the bottom of the unit and it contact point . Also if you crank them without spark they can load up backfire when spark is restored and there goes your fancy muffler . Ask me how i know :-)
Your wife is a real peach. I get a kick out of her every time she's on.
I agree. I’m a fan of Mrs Thunder
She seems crabby at times... lol.
@@hankroberts-mi3ydshe's just camera shy man giver a break
Luke, So glad you got back into the videos. I know its a pain to do but my golly we all just like them so much. It's like having a conversation with an old car buddy. Your new place is perfect for you both. Horse Pens and 4 car garage with extra sheds and barn. Amazing. You take care and thank you again for coming back. The world needs what you bring. Dennis in Virginia.
Well said!
Blue streak breaker points are the bomb.
I second that sentiment. Always enjoy Luke.
@@gravfielddrive surprising number of NOS Blue Streak ignition parts on eBay, sometimes at good prices.
The roof got crushed by John's hoop shed that collapsed. I wouldn't try and open the tail gate unless you're prepared to do some body work to get it back on lol. I owned that truck for about 6 months, was going to use it to plow my driveway, but ended up selling the house. I didn't get to do anything to it, but the mouse was probably from my house! It sat in my back yard for that 6 months.
Luke, thanks for taking the time to make these videos and thanks to your wife for enabling you.
I enjoy making them when I have time - and it is indeed nice that my wife doesn't get bent out of shape about me always buying, selling, and wrenching.
Everyone needs a hobby I suppose, lol
"is it on fire? For God sakes!" 😅 A line uttered by many.
Glad to see that you dug into the problem and didn't swap the entire distributor immediately. Learn something every day
I knew you could get it running Luke! Nice free snow pusher
That thing seems to run real well. That was very nice of John. Hope it gets you thru the winter
Extremely nice, probably going to save me where last year was nothing short of miserable. A city boy learning the hard way for sure
Going to be a hard winter. Nov 21 heavy snow already in Chicago.
Someone i know has an 86 Suburban with the same back door. You have to roll the rear window down before it will open and I believe the latch handle is on the inside once the glass is down. As I recall there should be a button in the front somewhere to operate the rear glass but I do remember the key slot in the back door also will raise and lower the glass assuming it all still works
You have more patience than me. the second I saw the inside of that HEI I'd instantly replace the whole unit. I have a name for her, she's half in the ground already, so she's 'The Subterranean'
Luke, you are lucky to have such a great wife.
He knows!
"Your car is uglier than I am!" I appreciate the American Graffiti quote
I got that Carol vibe, too. 😂 But Milner had nothing on ol' Luke here!
three seats. a party plow.
Or, to support some little Thunderhead289 car seats back there....just say'n Luke! 😊
I worked at Standard in the early 80’s and got the original laser trimmer purchased to manufacture GM ignition modules to work. That was when the parts were manufactured in Long Island City, NY. The components were comparable in quality to NAPA products. The products are now manufactured internationally who knows where the quality is now.
Standard blue streak caps and rotors are domestic still. Or ones I've seen in recent years are
Luke your wife is gorgeous! Don't let her think anything else. Glad to have you back and showing us your wisdom in your inimitable style. Keep up the good work.
4:19 ) don't know why this exchange made me laugh as hard as it did
"that's not helping at all"
followed by a perfectly cut "oh"...
🤣
Well I guess one Chevy won’t make me stop watching especially since it was free. 😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 me tooooooo!!
I changed the distributor cap once on a GM vehicle of my brother. I didn’t see the ground strap. It looked like a miniature lightning bolt shooting from the coil to a bracket on the engine. Distributor was in front.Yes I am a Ford guy too.
Uncle Luke! Its always good to see a new video of yours! I actually dig the information you share regarding carb tuning. Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I been a subscriber since the 4spd Maverick videos and you and your wife lived in the trailer Park. by the way my furnace went out and I refer back to your last video turned out to be a similar problem. fixed it by refering back to your video Thank you for that! Have a great Thanksgiving!
I'm glad you were able to fix it - nothing like a furnace not running when it's sub 32 freeze pipe weather.
A long time indeed, it's something how time flies isn't it - i was just looking back the other day on some of those videos and noticed how my wife and I both look much younger.
Have a happy Thanksgiving as well, and thanks for being here 🙂
This confirms it! Everyone is a mechanic! (previous coil installer)
Hey Luke... you have the best... most informative videos on u -tube. I just started watching you and I've already learned alot. Especially about the ignition timing and distributor stuff. Please keep the videos coming... ! Especially enjoying the FORDS. GALAXIE TURNED OUT BEAUTIFUL. WOW. APPRECIATE ALL THE INTELLIGENT ADVICE AND THE TOM -FOOLERY. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
🙂 welcome to the channel
Im a ford man but I love Old Chevy as well
Years ago I occasionally drove an employer owned 1987 2500 Suburban with the optional 350 cubic inch seven-cylinder engine, two speed automatic transmission and the weight saving zip tie battery tie-down. It also had an early fitness app that would send you out to take a walk carrying as gas can….
Glad you got it running, but we all know that Chevrolet really means Cheap Heap Every Valve Rattles Oil Leaks Every Time. 😁
Actually, the square body Chevy's had really good engines, transmissions, and drive axles, but the bodies rusted horribly.
I love my 88 Burb. I'm still looking for those running boards and a back ladder for my barn doors.
I did the same on my summer daily. Grandpas 1980 Chevy big 10. I put a new cap on because it was worn beyond worn. Somehow it ran without the ground strap which I forgot to transfer. Must have grounded through something else somehow. It ran for a couple hundred miles before letting go at the farm I work at when I was changing a tire on the cultivator. Real convenient! There went 3 hours of my time figuring it out. I carry an ignition module and coil with me everywhere behind the seat. It ended up killing the old coil and I had to put the ground strap back and a cheap standard coil and it fired up like nothing happened. I keep another cheap standard coil behind the seat for when that one dies. I ended up leaving the standard module in it for a while until it started causing some really weird issues at certain rpms. I put the original back in and its been running fantastic ever since. That was my only break down in the truck since I got it running and driving after it sat in the bush for 25 years with small trees growing into it.
I love watching your channel Luke keep it coming.
Putting together a 65 Ranchero as my winter beater. First old ford. Mostly have 1950s gm and Chryslers. But I needed a "truck". I plan to use all of the tips and tricks I've learned from you to dial in the little 302. Thankyou for the education and entertainment. I appreciate it. - Kory from Vance Alabama.
If anyone can get it going it's you Ol mate Luke! 😊 Cheers!!!
More likely to run into same situation than super tuning anything. Great to see how someone would attack this. What a useful steed. Such a classic chariot. A few more tweaks everything will be too notch. Cheers 🍻
If your ever in the position of not having thermal paste use some of the tube never seize . It is thermal paste , I've even had to use it for a computer main fan on the processor. I was taught that by a friend that has a PC repair shop. Try it I'll guarantee it will work. And the edit here was to answer Kevin's question for ya... it's to tell the vehicle "good job and make me proud."...does it work 80% of the time but we do it anyways.
Edit number 2... roll the back window down to open the back door...lol
Nice of the guy to donate that to you. Good things happen to good people 👍
"Those reluctor pickup coils never go bad". Except it happened to me once. It was a long 7 mile walk back home that day...😁
5:19 missing the ground strap that goes from the coil to the connector in the cap😂
this is what I thought. I haven't worked on one of these HEI units since I sold my 85 IROC back in 2004
@jewllake I was always a big fan of a 3rd Gen, however I will say I was pretty disappointed when my 02 Grand Prix walked one at test and tune. Bad part was my Prix wasn't supercharged and the IROC had exhaust and drag radials. Oh well. I still like them.
A quick way to test the module . Flip the dist. Cap out of the way and turn the key on . Then hold a soldering gun as close as you can to the module as you can . Every time you pull the trigger you should get a rapid clicking noise , if not the module is bad . As long as the dist. has power . I don't know if all soldering guns work , I use an old weller .
Yep, My problem with the SBC is the rear distributor versus the Ford Windsor with it's fun to play with front distributor. The one thing though with the SBC is that the rear sump oil pan makes it easier clearing the front end gear on some custom car engine swaps. This is the reason so many of the chrome bolt old Ford Roadster crew drop in Small Block Chevys. To my Dad this was sacreligious who ran a 49 Merc flathead in his 32 Ford Hiboy Roadster.
Looks like the people are not the only ones that loves a good salt shaker 😂 Sorry I live in Texas? I'm 64. I have never seen a mechanical advance that sick with cancer 🙏 And to me what was funnier is the fact that it started immediately after you but put the pickup monster back in it and threw the new one away. Great video
Oops! It's modular not monster
Since it was free anything you spend on it is infinitely more than it cost in percentage terms. Nice job, good vid.
The old chevy's only need 3 things to run...
1: Spark
2: Fuel
3: Compression
The bodies on those always rust bad, but they are tough rigs as far as running gear. I've had a few, they're awesome toys!
You are right about getting bad parts back in the '70s I drove my dad 605 GMC and it quit running I switched the tanks and it still wouldn't run I switch the tanks and it still would run pull the fuel pump out went and got a fuel pump put it in and still wouldn't run pulled that fuel pump out did this three times before I finally got a good fuel pump. Also bought spark plugs for my V8 pulled a spark plug out no threads on one of the spark plugs.
Looks like you might need a set of plow lights
13:41 I’m an Olds guy. Got a 403 in my rat rod. I was just finishing up putting the drivers side header back on when my friends showed up. Had some refreshments. Guys talked me into doing a burn out. Engine was cold, no power, could not spin the tires. Guys were making fun of the low power 403. Then I realized the ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE BANK had no plug wires hooked up. After I plugged them back in I vaporized my rear tires. Ford guy said “no way that thing ran on 4 cylinders, my 400 won’t start if 2 are unhooked”
That steering wheel brought back memories of a '79 Chevy van my family had when I was a kid. 🙂
That suburban brings back alot of memories. We had a 1987 Suburban 1/2 ton 4×4. First year EFI. Those tailgates operated with the key. You turn the round key a certain way and the electric window rolled down, then the tailgate handle is on the inside at the top of the gate. Made that way since you can't open thr gate anyway with the window up. Good luck if the electric window won't work. You'll probably get to crawl your tall self into the rear cargo space and pull gate panel to fix it.😂 Love the old Chevy!
Just another prime example of why I love this channel
you can't beat those old Chevy 'square bodys',my plow is an '84 single wheel k30 with a 9ft Western,4 speed manual. solid front axle beasts! '88 was a sad year for Chevy with the IFS in the 1/2 and 3/4 tons.
Your wife is a cool lady.
Indeed!
Roll window down with door key or switch on dash near the ash tray. Then it opens like a normal tale gate on pickup truck handle on the inside. Great video. Love the content you're putting out
The only ignition trouble that nobody on TH-cam has and i had growing up around square bodies and having them on and off throughout my life (58 years) is the rotors cracking and grounding down through it, we as a family always carry one in the glove box and some times two in case ones junk out of the box. Started when the only time my dad had gone to the neighborhood old country garage and they couldn’t figure it out until they called a cousin who had a Chevy swapped ignition parts till his wouldn’t start. Blessings brother
Summer project idea for this rig: Convert it into a crew cab pickup since the roof is bashed and the rear wheel arches are toast. Any body part that is rusted out on that rig is reproduced by at least two companies that I can think of right now.
I'm a Ford Fanboy too. The General did make some good units too.... but I also feel like I'm outside of my element whilst working on them.
To open the back the window has to go down. My pops had one of these for a couple years, used it exactly as you said to haul around the kids lol.
Plow Warning!
You need the blade height levelers or your going to dig in to everything. They are typically uhmw skids on spring loaded pins. You can see the guides are empty.
"skid shoe assembly"
Sweet snow plough, a truck & utility all in one..
Nothing more irritating than buying something you think is going to make your pile run (or run better) but reveals itself as a dud! Great vid!
If you can find one cheap I reckon a skid steer (tracked if you can swing it) would probably be ideal for your property. Attachments for hay bales and a shovel for clearing snow and grading paths would set you up pretty well. Very much enjoying your videos and good luck with winter.
It's nice to see the truck trucking again.
Greetings from Woodward. Now that you have a snow rig, we wont get a dusting this winter, you know how that goes!
Happy holidays in the 515! (Or 641)
I have a 1981 GMC truck I am looking to get back on the road nice to see I am not the only one that likes Ford's and chevys
So I had a similar deal with my Square body Hei, I had done a tune up and had accidentally left the ground lug thing in the old cap (which I threw away), truck ran fine however for a good while until it shut down going down the road. When I pulled the cap the carbon conductor going from the coil through the cap was completely burned up gone. I ended up taking the spring out of a ball point pin and it got me 2 miles to the parts store. Will NEVER forget that ground lug again 😂
Absolutely was not driven there. Probably towed or rolled off of a trailer. I helped a guy work on an old late 60s GMC 4x4 that was parked in a hedge row because it just would not start. It was parked so long the mice had gotten to it. Had no spark at all. Even after installing and gapping new points - no spark. Known good coil - no spark. What a head scratcher. After more discussion and thinking, we wondered if the distributor was no longer grounding through the distributor shaft to the engine. We added our own ground wire and the brightest sweetest blue spark you ever saw started popping on the spark plug. There are parts replacers and then there are people who fundamentally understand how an ignition works and you can use this knowledge to make sure any ignition system conforms to necessary standards to function. I don't think I would have caught this missing ground strap unless I had a known good dizzy to compare to. Thanks for another great video! I'll be checking this on my 1973 barndoor squarebody suburban I inherited from my grandfather. From your neighbor by where the Vice Grip was invented here in Nebraska - well done! - and thanks for sharing!
I forgot the ground strap on my squarebody during a cap replacement and it did run a couple hundred miles. It let go at a very inconvenient time and took me 3 hours to figure out. It ended up killing the coil. I agree should not be possible I wouldn't believe it myself if I had not experienced it.
Sweet man those trucks are rare, I spent from age 13 to 17 tracking one down that I could afford and got a loaded 100% complete big glass 305 4 speed 4x4 1961 gmc k-1000 long bed fleet side truck for $1,000 outta Colorado just this spring. Yes it runs but I am tracking down a steering box as mine has worn through the bushings in it and worn the case away too.
It used to be a Forrest service truck
I don't like to tell a lady she is wrong, but, she absolutely ain't ugly.
Totally agree with you about the distributor placement on GM engines. Especially if the truck has a lift on it. Good thing the old trucks have enough room under the hood that you can just crawl in there and reach stuff
Wow, I had always thought that Standard were decent quality parts. Now I know better, thanks.
I've gotten to where I'll buy Wells parts if possible. Standard has fallen behind Dorman.
Love all the content lately! Been seriously considering one of your dial back timing lights👍🏻
All of the years of having an HEI I always wondered why the ground was bolted the coil and not engine ground. Well this teaches me something. I always thought it should go to ground. I am wondering now if that is why everyone always has coil explode on their HEI during power tour. Those caps never come with that strap.
Nice acquisition brother.
Bought a K10 in 1986 and I'm still driving it today!
I have found several wires to the pole piece broke from vacuum advance. Advancing timing and have freed up several weight shafts.
Tell Ms. McGee that she is a great person to put up with your innuendos. Be careful TH289 about those children comments as it has been said before women can or can not make it happen. 😅😅😅
Yup, I’ve installed brand new electrical parts that don’t work. A mechanic friend of mine restores old mustangs for a living. He spoke to manufacturers that are contracting out the manufacture of parts to China. Because it’s cheaper to make overseas, even with shipping, than in the US. He said they don’t care if 10% fail. They just replace them for free….if you take the time to return them. They don’t even care if they lose a customer. They make that much profit with Chinese made parts. It’s just the business model these days. Sad.
On the kids thing. I made it to 39 before the first one but they are best thing I ever did. Uncle to Dad is a big step but you have the boot for it.
The modules in the distributor are supposed to have some lithium grease between them and the housing for heat transfer and the rotor looks like it could be carbon tracked. My suggestion is to replace the rotor, put some white lithium grease under the module and clean up and lube the mechanical advance. I think that would help you.
Hey if it saves from using a shovel or a push snow blower then its worth it, put a 4 wheel set of chains on it now before the snow starts & and make sure cab heater is working as it should. working in a warm cab makes for better and more enjoyable experience 😋 this is optional mount a descent LED light bar on the roof just in case you need to plow snow at night
This was a fun episode, comparing your wife to a Suburban was a hoot. Looks like you got a deal, keep ‘er going!
Awesome vid man. I love old burbs. Theres just somethin about em
Make sure the heater and heater fan works and the blend door puts the heat on the wind shield. Wipers already work, nice having some lights that are higher than the blade as well. Off road only you can get a big light bar from Harbour Freight and mount it on the roof.
As a GM fan rest assured that one thing we agree on is that it's a pain that GM decided to put the distributor in the rear.
I was thinking that "if we've learned anything, it's that old small block Chevy's are actually pretty darn good motors, trucks aren't so bad either." :)
You have to lower the back glass to open the tailgate. The key in the back lock will lower it or the button on the dash. Then you have to use the tailgate latch on the inside.
No school snowdays when you have one of these.
Agreed it’s good to have you back making videos. I like your variety. Fords. Vws , chevys, farm equipment. Keep up the great work.
These Suburbans are pretty neat. I grew up on these years of Suburbans. My dad drove one for work. A 91 2wd. That thing was notorious for eating transmissions. 😊
This is great to see. I'd love to have an older Chevy in this style body and dash. My only experience with square bodies is my current 1990 S10 truck.
Luke says "oh look we're almost out of gas" and then immediately takes it out for a drive to see if the gauge is accurate or not? 😂🤣😅
One thing I have to say about standard brand products. I've had really good luck overall with their products as long as they did NOT come from eBay. Every eBay standard brand part I ever bought did not work or did not last no matter what the application was other than a couple sets of ignition points.
I've bought parts like that myself it's frustrating great work you're doing
Don't forget to make sure the heater works, you'll be needing it when plowing.
Excellent Video Luke :) also those truck are built like tanks a friend of family mine had 1990 GMC with 350 V8 , Turbo 700SR4 Speed Automatic transmission with shift, 4×4 was 25 series one had 411 rear end gears , daul exhaust plus 1 ton suspension , daul fuel tanks, also chrome diamond mirrors with Heater for Winter months, all power options and sun roof even tow hitch! Colors 2 tone dark grey & silver body with red stripe package and interior red and black ! Was super truck for long time and travel lots kms ! No problem even Winter months for owners even guy 1 st used for go to Roads Department Highway & Works doing snowplow with International dump trucks and he was boss to on last 12 year's in business! I talk on his CB radio equipment in truck for years till Retirement in 1998! Then his wife used for her work job at school too ! They sold to my cousin Derek in 2005 then he sold it in 2009! I rode in to and like performance did too!
When i was a young chap, we would slide the hand back and tuck the hair under the hat backwards. Now a days I see a lot of people wear it more like Luke. Nothing wrong with either. I am just being an old man shouting at clouds.
nice save with the wifey, you might have been sleeping outside if you got that wrong 🤣
The nice thing with a plow truck, as the panels rot off you kick them off and the truck gets lighter! I had friends who IH Scouts for plow trucks and after 3 or 4 seasons they were down to floor pans and a cafeteria seat!😆
Repaint! Not show quality, but enough to hold off the surface rust from getting worse, especially if it is destined to live outside. This one is a keeper.
This sounds like my experience HEI swapping my AMC 258 😄
That little ground strap caused me so much grief....
I’m baffled how it drove itself on the trailer.
I'm with you on the distributor location. I've had quite a few GM products over the years and I absolutely hated it whenever I need to fool with the distributor.
There are front mount distributor setups available for the engines
Yes, Chevy Suburban 4 x 4 plow truck. Plus the ultimate tail gating ride and or makeshift school bus. Better than a Swiss Army knife.
Always an interesting experience with Luke (and Emily)... such a nice couple.
Uncle Luke showing some love to a Chevy here on TH-cam... Awesome !! I love it ! Great video Bud... Thank you !! P.S. - Mrs. Thunder seems like an awesome girl... So down to earth :)