What have you done to your square lately??

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Grit dog

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Todd
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1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
When I bought this truck it had a bit of a stinkbug stance. Over the winter it got new rear leaf springs which didn't help the situation.
Tonight I finished putting some longer shackles to help reduce the gap in the rear wheel wells and level the truck out.
The shackles on the truck were 3-1/2 inches which I question if they were the correct length. The new shackles are 6-5/8" centre to centre.
This resulted in a 1-1/4" drop at the wheel wells and 1-7/8" drop at the trailer hitch.
Not a huge difference in measurement but that little change really looks better to me.
I have a set of the heavier 454 front coils sitting on the shelf that I need to get on at some point. I figure it will be pretty level at that point.
Before and after pics.
Beautiful truck!!! Wow!
JMO, but raising the front with heavier springs is not what that truck needs. Unless you’re going for the lifted 2wd look.
 

Grit dog

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Thanks for the pics- lots of people have posted favorably about this conversion, so I’m going to do that too. I don’t plan on driving too much at night but it seems just better (and safer). While I’m at it, I’m going to finally get around to changing to a new battery style so the terminals are reversed. That way, if I ever get hit hard in the front end, the battery positive terminal won’t dead short on the radiator core/headlight support.
I did the headlight relay kit on the 86 but I bought the cheap Scamazon version for like $30. Do not recommend. It is a pos. After swapping all the pins in the plugs around because they were pinned to the wrong locations. It sure as hell doesn’t make the lights brighter and has some stray voltage that makes the hi beams glow a little when the lows are on. I think it’s the 99cent relays that came with the kit.
I’d stick with a known supplier like LMC if you don’t wanna roll yer own.
I really need to swap relays with quality ones. I think the wiring is fine.
 

mxer147

83 K20, 350 vortec, 465, 208, 14/10, 4.10, 33s
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k20
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350
Citristrip the tailgate supports, another round still to go.

Surprised to see some factory orange, was that common practice during production?

These look galvanized under the seven coats of paint and primer, I assumed these didn’t get painted?
 

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JamesSam

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Sam
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1987
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Silverado V10
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5.7 L 350 v8
Driving it lately almost everyday to go do something or be somewhere. Just got my GM Service Manual from Classic Parts
You must be registered for see images attach
dropped on my front porch.
 

HotWheelsBurban

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1990
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R2500 Suburban
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350
Citristrip the tailgate supports, another round still to go.

Surprised to see some factory orange, was that common practice during production?

These look galvanized under the seven coats of paint and primer, I assumed these didn’t get painted?
Maybe so...the early style OBS ones I have, have the flaking paint too. Perhaps that galvanizing is why?
Paging @Keith Seymore ....
 

Mr Clean

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K10 Extra Cab w/ Proper SWB, & 85 K5 Blazer
Engine Size
454 BBC, & 383 Stroker
I power coated another wheel. I did this one in Polished aluminum. I wanted to see which I liked better. What do y'all think I should do the other wheels? Red or Polished aluminum?
 

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Grit dog

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Engine Size
454, 350
I power coated another wheel. I did this one in Polished aluminum. I wanted to see which I liked better. What do y'all think I should do the other wheels? Red or Polished aluminum?
Depends, what color is the truck?
I’m a sucker for unique looking wheels so…silver powder coat just looks like every other silver rally wheel imo.
 

squaredeal91

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5.9 Cummins 12 valve
I power coated another wheel. I did this one in Polished aluminum. I wanted to see which I liked better. What do y'all think I should do the other wheels? Red or Polished aluminum?
Im with grit on the what color is the truck lol. Im curious How you are powder coating these? In your oven? I was at hobo freight once and noticed a powder coating kit and was kinda curious if it was any good.
 

Mr Clean

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K10 Extra Cab w/ Proper SWB, & 85 K5 Blazer
Engine Size
454 BBC, & 383 Stroker
Im with grit on the what color is the truck lol. Im curious How you are powder coating these? In your oven? I was at hobo freight once and noticed a powder coating kit and was kinda curious if it was any good.
Yes I have a household oven out in my shop. I have no idea what color the Blazer is going to be. That's way in the future. I don't know how good the HF powder coating kit is. I bought my powder coating gun from Eastwood. Have had it for a few years now. It does a nice job.
 

Ricko1966

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kansas
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1975
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c20
Engine Size
350
Yes I have a household oven out in my shop. I have no idea what color the Blazer is going to be. That's way in the future. I don't know how good the HF powder coating kit is. I bought my powder coating gun from Eastwood. Have had it for a few years now. It does a nice job.
I was going to build a cinder block oven and use discarded household oven elements,for bigger stuff. Lost interest and never did it. Just throwing it out there as an idea for others
 

DoubleDingo

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1981
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81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s
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Carb'ed Vortec 350
I was going to build a cinder block oven and use discarded household oven elements,for bigger stuff. Lost interest and never did it. Just throwing it out there as an idea for others
I thought I was an outside of the box thinker. @Ricko1966 Sir, I tip my hat to you, you time and time again have ideas, not just ideas, but proven ideas for many different things. :happy160:
 

JamesSam

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Sam
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5.7 L 350 v8
Yes I have a household oven out in my shop. I have no idea what color the Blazer is going to be. That's way in the future. I don't know how good the HF powder coating kit is. I bought my powder coating gun from Eastwood. Have had it for a few years now. It does a nice job.
Silver
 

bucket

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350-454
I thought I was an outside of the box thinker. @Ricko1966 Sir, I tip my hat to you, you time and time again have ideas, not just ideas, but proven ideas for many different things. :happy160:

Agreed! @Ricko1966 has some pretty dang good ideas bouncing around in that noggin of his.
 

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