grummy
Junior Member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2024
- Posts
- 13
- Reaction score
- 30
- Location
- Midwest
- First Name
- Chris
- Truck Year
- 1983
- Truck Model
- C1500
- Engine Size
- 305
In August, I picked up a 1983 GMC C1500 w/ 305 (H-ESC), 700r4 and 273:1 ratio. Story was it had been parked in a shed for many years with little use by second owner who passed prior to his 90th birthday. Oil change sticker indicated that it moved 400 miles since early 2019, and was told by family they used it for a dump run now and then. The truck appeared to be an unmolested original. After a few months of work, she goes down the road really well. Real happy. Under the hood, it appears to have every vacuum line intact, Air cleaner tubes, etc correct, ESC is working, 700r4 shifts proper. I find that the original vacuum routing label is missing, because it did have radiator support replaced due to a light front right crash (Reight Fender, inner Fender obviously replaced). No big deal.
I thought I would order a carb kit to have ready for spring. Carb # is 17056202. Surprise to me!, looks like carb has been replaced with a 1976 era carb. Unfortunately, I can not find that exact carb number, though I find ones close.... 6208 for a 1976 Buick Lesabre (I think). Not sure I should even order a kit just yet. I have no indication that it originally had an "electronic controlled" carb as there are no spare plugs/wires anywhere. Rock Auto shows the replacement as an M4ME.
Well, the QUESTION really is >>> if I were to take this to a Carb rebuild fellow, what should I tell him to get it to be rebuilt with proper jetting for this 1983? I've done a few 60 mile loops with the truck so far and seem to get about 13mpg max. No cruise, just a steady pedal. I realize the EPA figure claiming 20mpg for 1983 is wacko, but I'm thinking with the overdrive and 273 rear, it could do better than 13... perhaps 16 should be possible the way I drive it.
OR, should I attempt to find an M4ME for any specific reason ? Thanks in advance. I've often swapped Quads around just to make stuff run, but for the first time in my life, I'd like to do a quad right, or as right as possible.
I thought I would order a carb kit to have ready for spring. Carb # is 17056202. Surprise to me!, looks like carb has been replaced with a 1976 era carb. Unfortunately, I can not find that exact carb number, though I find ones close.... 6208 for a 1976 Buick Lesabre (I think). Not sure I should even order a kit just yet. I have no indication that it originally had an "electronic controlled" carb as there are no spare plugs/wires anywhere. Rock Auto shows the replacement as an M4ME.
Well, the QUESTION really is >>> if I were to take this to a Carb rebuild fellow, what should I tell him to get it to be rebuilt with proper jetting for this 1983? I've done a few 60 mile loops with the truck so far and seem to get about 13mpg max. No cruise, just a steady pedal. I realize the EPA figure claiming 20mpg for 1983 is wacko, but I'm thinking with the overdrive and 273 rear, it could do better than 13... perhaps 16 should be possible the way I drive it.
OR, should I attempt to find an M4ME for any specific reason ? Thanks in advance. I've often swapped Quads around just to make stuff run, but for the first time in my life, I'd like to do a quad right, or as right as possible.
