What have you done to your square lately??

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

PeteJr

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2021
Posts
1,001
Reaction score
3,671
Location
NW MS
First Name
Jim
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
GMC Sierra Classic 1500
Engine Size
350
Back from vacation and had to do a little test driving today. Just around the block but runs good. A few rattles here and.there but I'll find them.
You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
Looking good. One day at a time........
You need to come to the cruise in on Thursday nights at Silo Square.
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
4,042
Reaction score
6,634
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
Decided to experiment with Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W30.

We shall see if it lives up to the claims. Even if it does not, it will get me through the colder months. :Big Laugh:

Almost seems like it runs smoother but that may be in my head.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,970
Reaction score
12,220
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
Decided to experiment with Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W30.

We shall see if it lives up to the claims. Even if it does not, it will get me through the colder months. :Big Laugh:

Almost seems like it runs smoother but that may be in my head.
Colder months? Houston? lol.
 

Oldbear42

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2024
Posts
196
Reaction score
506
Location
Linden, Alberta, Canada
First Name
Shaine
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C20 LWB Scottsdale
Engine Size
350
I moved it off the lift and outside, as I want my daily drivers inside for the winter snow (coming today). It is mostly done. I still need to do the timing, install the "new" headers and exhaust, rattle-can paint the fenders and box, and...
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
4,042
Reaction score
6,634
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
Yeah that month and a half is brutal. Lol

Yeah, but it sux major azz when we have the frozen stuff and lose power for 3 and a half days a la 2021. Frozen pipes bite.

BUT...

Vehicles with 5W30 still start fairly easily. :dogpile:
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,970
Reaction score
12,220
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
Yeah, but it sux major azz when we have the frozen stuff and lose power for 3 and a half days a la 2021. Frozen pipes bite.

BUT...

Vehicles with 5W30 still start fairly easily. :dogpile:
Ok, 2021, sure. We were in Dallas during that mess. Driving around in a rental rwd BMW with all the electronics malfunctioning and only 3 wheels that turned, lol, looking for the only place open to get a hot meal for like 3 days straight. Good thing there wasn’t a single patch of pavement anywhere that wasn’t snow packed or solid ice or the 3 wheel skimobile with no traction control functioning would have been down for the count.
Aside from 100 year or greater weather events like you mentioned, I don’t follow the concept of lighter weight oil for sweater weather cold starts.
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
2,505
Reaction score
6,476
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
I run/ran 15-40 in all my engines, Dart, 76 (currently has VR1 20-50 in it), and the Cummins.

All have been driven in the winter and below freezing.

The Cummins and the 76 both have been used when below 0°. Just let things warm up before putting the tach into the ketchup and mustard.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
6,970
Reaction score
12,220
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
I run/ran 15-40 in all my engines, Dart, 76 (currently has VR1 20-50 in it), and the Cummins.

All have been driven in the winter and below freezing.

The Cummins and the 76 both have been used when below 0°. Just let things warm up before putting the tach into the ketchup and mustard.
You mean mustard and ketchup? Lol. Ketchup speed is reeeealy bad for a cold engine!
Same. I run 15-40 in most engines gas and diesel, year round although it doesn’t get real cold that often here on the wet side.
10s-20s is about the coldest occasionally.
Lighter weight is warranted in extreme cold though.
 

codfish

Drive a hybrid. I NEED your gas!!
Joined
Jun 9, 2022
Posts
195
Reaction score
580
Location
Newfoundland
First Name
gary
Truck Year
84
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Just spent the last hour and a half rust checking the square body.

Glad I put a couple drop sheets down first. Messy operation but well worth it. Looks like a greased pig underneath!
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,669
Reaction score
11,853
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
So last week, I needed to put new headers gaskets on (Again. I think it's cuz my whole exhaust is solid with no flex pipe, gonna make sure there's one in there next go 'round) and noticed I had a failing motor mount. It's probably been happening for a little while now and my AutoX runs a couple weeks ago did it in. So that got added to the to-do list...

You must be registered for see images attach


Then I put my header studs in with some fresh MLS gaskets

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,669
Reaction score
11,853
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
Drove it home Wednesday to start packing for Fall Revival and torqued the header nuts one more time now that they'd had a couple heat cycles. Just when I was cleaning up I realized that my Envoy PS pump/reservoir (plastic!) was sitting on the frame rail thanks to that collapsed mount o_O It normally sits ~3/8" or so above the rail...

You must be registered for see images attach


It was too late to do anything at that point and we were leaving at 6am to head for Charlotte/Denton, so we were running on hopes and dreams. Thankfully, we made it just fine and then Friday during the show, I started asking around for some wood from my other vendor friends to try to shove in the mount. This one ended up being too big :lol:

You must be registered for see images attach


But then we found a thick stake on the ground that was the perfect size. Crammed my crowbar in, beat it further in with a hammer and then used the hammer to wedge this down in. Didn't know if it would hold but it made it home just fine

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,439
Reaction score
5,581
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
So last week, I needed to put new headers gaskets on (Again. I think it's cuz my whole exhaust is solid with no flex pipe, gonna make sure there's one in there next go 'round) and noticed I had a failing motor mount. It's probably been happening for a little while now and my AutoX runs a couple weeks ago did it in. So that got added to the to-do list...

You must be registered for see images attach


Then I put my header studs in with some fresh MLS gaskets

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
huh... almost looks like it's melting the mount out. Weird.

I definitely recommend flex fittings, but that isn't likely to be the reason for the leak. I'd swap to the Remflex gaskets and never worry about it again. I've never had good luck with the MLS sealing with headers.
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,439
Reaction score
5,581
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
Drove it home Wednesday to start packing for Fall Revival and torqued the header nuts one more time now that they'd had a couple heat cycles. Just when I was cleaning up I realized that my Envoy PS pump/reservoir (plastic!) was sitting on the frame rail thanks to that collapsed mount o_O It normally sits ~3/8" or so above the rail...

You must be registered for see images attach


It was too late to do anything at that point and we were leaving at 6am to head for Charlotte/Denton, so we were running on hopes and dreams. Thankfully, we made it just fine and then Friday during the show, I started asking around for some wood from my other vendor friends to try to shove in the mount. This one ended up being too big :lol:

You must be registered for see images attach


But then we found a thick stake on the ground that was the perfect size. Crammed my crowbar in, beat it further in with a hammer and then used the hammer to wedge this down in. Didn't know if it would hold but it made it home just fine

You must be registered for see images attach
Why the weird trailblazer PS system instead of just the stock PS pump from the original motor? The pulley shaft(and pump as far as I can tell) are identical between my original K25 PS pump and the one on my 2011 Burb and the L9H donor motor I bought. They were all interchangeable.
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,669
Reaction score
11,853
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
huh... almost looks like it's melting the mount out. Weird.

I definitely recommend flex fittings, but that isn't likely to be the reason for the leak. I'd swap to the Remflex gaskets and never worry about it again. I've never had good luck with the MLS sealing with headers.
I actually had RemFlex's on there this last time and straight up had blown them out, like a chunk was missing. The flanges on these things may be warped at this point, I'll check them for flatness and maybe replace them when the motor comes out in the off season. I never had a problem when I originally built the truck with MLS gaskets, went 2.5yrs without changing gaskets but it had a flex coupler in that exhaust system. Idk if it's that or the mileage/heat finally warping them
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,157
Posts
950,564
Members
36,268
Latest member
JUKA
Top