Smells like a Steak and Seats 35

Tagged and titled, and put 100 miles on Betty yesterday. Compared to the drive home when I picked her up, the rear axle was nearly dead silent after the bearing job. The Red Line 75-110 synthetic fluid probably helped, too. Compared to driving my Mercedes Diesel, it's quieter, and has waaaaay more throttle response. It's just a nice, relaxing highway cruiser.

The next step will be starting in on all the ticky-tacky stuff that separate a functional vehicle from something pleasant to drive. The electric back window was reluctant in it's function; bypassing the latch switch fixed this, and the window now goes up and down with alacrity. I tightened the driver's side mirror, so it no longer "self adjusts" when shutting the door. Something to pass as a radio (other than the homemade boombox I currently have wedged between the seats, plugged into the cigarette lighter) would be nice, too.

God I love box-body 'burbs. So Jelly right now.

In reply to Bobzilla:

It's pretty fricking awesome. I don't care what anyone says about "only" 180 hp. It gets up and goes, thank you very much, and I swear the GM engineers made the TBI sound just like a quadrajet at W.O.T. I love it. I can't wait to do the TBI mods to it.

Picked up these sweet aluminum running boards cheap from a guy about 30 minutes north of me...very near to where I snagged the pile of Rally wheels. These trucks just look right with these boards.

Sorry, I hate running boards. I love your truck though!

Running boards were also a requirement for the 5-foot-two Mrs. VCH to aid with getting baby VCH into and out of the 'Burban.

Love it!

This was mine, on 37s, 4" lift and 14 bolt locked rear. Should have kept it.

[URL=http://s514.photobucket.com/user/plugsonpump324/media/Car%20Stuff/Garage/Burb%20Side_zpsk67oa0et.jpg.html][/URL]

Decided to down size;

[URL=http://s514.photobucket.com/user/plugsonpump324/media/Car%20Stuff/Garage/cleananddiscard702.jpg.html][/URL]

Sorta tough to tell from the pics, but nothing concerning stands out. The best thing for keeping the Gov Lock alive, is knowing that it's weak. You are halfway there. All that is necessary after that is driving with finesse. Hammering down, is NOT a recommended technique.

Automotorist wrote: Sorta tough to tell from the pics, but nothing concerning stands out. The best thing for keeping the Gov Lock alive, is knowing that it's weak. You are halfway there. All that is necessary after that is driving with finesse. Hammering down, is NOT a recommended technique.

Thanks for the compliment! I love that green Blazer, looks business.

After validating that the added base BTDC timing fixed the WOT stumble issue, I have yet to put my foot down while driving the truck- it just doesn't need it. The other day, forward progress was impeded while heading up a grassy hill in the back yard, one back wheel started to spin and I gave it just enough gas to engage the Gov Lock. And it worked! The rear locked, and the truck climbed the hill- without engaging 4WD.

The next projects I have planned are installing a remote-keyfob door lock and fixing the loose steering column. It has the tilt wheel, and there's a good bit of slop in it.

volvoclearinghouse wrote: The next projects I have planned are installing a remote-keyfob door lock and fixing the loose steering column. It has the tilt wheel, and there's a good bit of slop in it.

Buy a pivot pin pusher and a pivot pin puller before you begin.

In reply to tuna55:

Aye, yes, I saw that in the shop manual. Looks like I may need to pull the whole column? GM seems to have changed the column design a few times, and of course I have the uber-complex one with tilt and cruise control and what not. At least there's no air bag.

volvoclearinghouse wrote: In reply to tuna55: Aye, yes, I saw that in the shop manual. Looks like I may need to pull the whole column? GM seems to have changed the column design a few times, and of course I have the uber-complex one with tilt and cruise control and what not. At least there's no air bag.

I've only watched the procedure. I've never even owned a GM with tilt wheel. I do know that it is nontrivial, and that the proper tools really help.

Fixed the back window this weekend. The regulator assembly was worn out- one of the little nylon roller wheels that engaged the bottom of the window was missing and one was loose. I was going to simply replace the rollers, but decided to spring for a whole new regulator, figuring the gears and spring were both worn as well.

After some adjustment, the new regulator works great. I also fixed the keyswitch on the tailgate so that now operates the window as well. Got it all back together, and then went and hauled 60 boards home from the lumber store for the garden project Sunday.

Oh, TunaDad can probably lend tools for that job. He sold a number of them, I would guess that he he retained a few.

In reply to tuna55:

You mean the tilt wheel job? How much do the tools run?

E-mailed...

Black Betty towed her first Amazon last night.

This wagon was at the home of famous GRM'er Andrew "Not Andy" Nelson. It need some things (like, a drivetrain) but will make a nice addition to my hoarding fetish for old Volvos. I put the Sub in 'D' and she towed like the the wagon wasn't even back there. Even at 65, the engine didn't seem to be screaming, despite being locked out of OD. The torque converter does still seem to lock up in D, though, which is nice.

On the way home, the odometer hit this:

Sweet, glad to hear you got it :) I knew you couldn't resist. And yeah, I'd imagine you wouldn't feel a car on a dolly back there. I dont even feel it behind the Marauder (although I suspect I'll feel the F250 this weekend) I hauled some fairly heavy stuff behind my 'burbans and they never cared.

When's the Amazon thread going up? That thing looks mint.

The Amazon needs help. It has rust in the driver's floor and needs a drivetrain. Tuna55 is egging me into doing an Ecotec swap, which sounds very tasty.

JThw8 wrote: Sweet, glad to hear you got it :) I knew you couldn't resist. And yeah, I'd imagine you wouldn't feel a car on a dolly back there. I dont even feel it behind the Marauder (although I suspect I'll feel the F250 this weekend) I hauled some fairly heavy stuff behind my 'burbans and they never cared.

Yeah, I'll be curious to see how well the Panther does towing that beast of a p'up. Maybe you should tow the Marauder home with the truck. ;-) I actually did something similar...about 10 years ago I went down to Raleigh and bought my old Dodge W250 Cummins...towed a car hauler down with a Colorado, bought the Dodge, hitched the trailer to the Dodge, and towed the Colorado home.

volvoclearinghouse wrote:

JThw8 wrote: Sweet, glad to hear you got it :) I knew you couldn't resist. And yeah, I'd imagine you wouldn't feel a car on a dolly back there. I dont even feel it behind the Marauder (although I suspect I'll feel the F250 this weekend) I hauled some fairly heavy stuff behind my 'burbans and they never cared.

Yeah, I'll be curious to see how well the Panther does towing that beast of a p'up. Maybe you should tow the Marauder home with the truck. ;-) I actually did something similar...about 10 years ago I went down to Raleigh and bought my old Dodge W250 Cummins...towed a car hauler down with a Colorado, bought the Dodge, hitched the trailer to the Dodge, and towed the Colorado home.

The truck needs some going through before it hits the road so that's a no go or I'd just get a ride up there. Its all nice flat towing, no big hills or anything so I don't anticipate a problem.

This past weekend my folks came to visit, and the 5 of us went over to some friends' house for Thanksgiving. Naturally, we piled into the Suburban. Katie drove, and I rode- first time I'd ridden in Black Betty in some time...

Me: "It seems....loud in here. Is this normal?" Katie: "Yeah, it always sounds like this."

On the way home, I drove...

Katie: "Wow, it is loud in here!"

Near as I can figure, the exhaust developed a pretty good leak, which was more noticeable in the passenger seat. Last Sunday morning when we got up to go to Mass, I started Betty and noticed water vapor/exhaust coming from the bottom of the truck.

Black Betty's going to need an exhaust.

Check the donuts, it might just need donuts.

In reply to Kenny_McCormic:

When we bought the truck I checked and someone had kindof cludged an exhaust together. There's booger welds on the muffler and the pipe rattles on the trans crossmember. So this is a good time to just make it all right. Pretty sure it's leaking out somewhere right before the muffler, too.

The plan is to do the "Ultimate TBI mods" exhaust crossover piece, then a full single 2-1/2" or 3" exhaust.

Damn I want one of these.