My 87 GMC Longbed

[fried_daddy]

Hello,

I just got a 1987 GMC R1500 longbed. Looking forward to working with it and restoring it to the glory days that it once had. This is a family truck and i'll be the third generation of the family to own the truck. The trip from south Georgia to North Carolina was the most pavement this truck has ever seen in it's life. One of the yard lizards even caught and held on for the whole ride. It currently has a non-running 4.3 v6 and a 3 speed transmission in it. I may mess around with it some just so I can get it driving but eventually I want this to be a daily driver.

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[78C10BigTen]

Welcome to GMSB

 

[fried_daddy]

Welcome to GMSB

Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: I have historically been a Ford person so everything GM is new to me. Only thing I know is taht the battery terminals are sideways. But that will definitely be changing.

 

[78C10BigTen]

Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: I have historically been a Ford person so everything GM is new to me. Only thing I know is taht the battery terminals are sideways. But that will definitely be changing.

I like a FEW fords.... mostly antique or ancient lol

 

[Old77]

 

[Charlie]

 

[WFO]

Welcome from the Texas Panhandle.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Welcome! Are you planning on keeping the engine/trans as is? I would recommend yes for just a little daily to go to the hardware store or ride your girlfriends around in. Nothing wrong with that. If it was a 250/292 I6, I’d strongly urge you to keep it, but the 4.3’s good, and the TBI is very simple and reliable once you get the bugs worked out that crop up from sitting so long. @Keith Seymore might agree with me here, too. Keith, ‘87 was the last year for the Saginaw three on the tree?

I’m the exact opposite. I’ve started working on my late dad’s ‘96 7.3 PSD F350, and it’s not completely like starting over, but it’s about as close as you can get.

 

[1973c10]

Welcome

 

[dvdswan]

Welcome to the site.

 

[K201979]

I own an old dentside but i hate fords. Lol. To each his own. Welcome from missouri!

 

[fried_daddy]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcomes!!

Welcome! Are you planning on keeping the engine/trans as is? I would recommend yes for just a little daily to go to the hardware store or ride your girlfriends around in. Nothing wrong with that. If it was a 250/292 I6, I’d strongly urge you to keep it, but the 4.3’s good, and the TBI is very simple and reliable once you get the bugs worked out that crop up from sitting so long. @Keith Seymore might agree with me here, too. Keith, ‘87 was the last year for the Saginaw three on the tree?

I’m the exact opposite. I’ve started working on my late dad’s ‘96 7.3 PSD F350, and it’s not completely like starting over, but it’s about as close as you can get.

So as far as the engine/trans. I was told by my relative that it overheated one day then it was parked in 2012. No more information than that. I'm going to mess around with it some to see if I can get it back running and check temps and go from there. It will be fun to diagnose, clean, and troubleshoot the TBI system. With the 3 speed auto, i would be really working the engine in 3rd gear on the highway. I don't think this truck has ever been driven on a highway. My daily commute is 31 miles one way and I want this to be a daily driver so i've been diving into info about LS swaps.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Hmm, a 700R4 swap might be in order then. If your ECM is the 7727 model, it’ll control the lockup, and you’ll be good to go. I don’t know, I’m not a fan of the Gen IIIs, but a lot of people are. I know to do it right, it’d be more involved compared to a 350 from a TBI truck/700R4 swap. You could swap injectors, and keep the TBI as is. Wouldn’t be hard, and you’d have more engine. The 4.3 might have two knock sensors, but if so, you’ll just have two knock sensors. I’m not positive on that, though. That’s a solid combo. Won’t kill you on the economy, won’t kill you on the swap, and it’ll have good highway manners.

 

[Hatchet54]

I freaking love that color scheme, welcome to the board

 

[Selo]

Welcome from up 68 in Stokesdale. Nice looking truck. If it does not have AC I can help you when you get to working on the heater. Just went through mine. At first I thought you meant you had a manual 3 speed. My 1984 is 250 I6 with 3 on the tree.

Selo