IN-PROGRESS: Well the factory 10 bolt had a problem with a cracked main cap.The factory rearend just plain sucks. Rather than finding the same piece of garbage weak 10 bolt GM put in these trucks and decided to run a 9 INCH Ford Differential. Got it out of a lincoln car but of course spent a whole day cutting off the brackets off the axle. Since the suspension needed to be built almost from scratch, i said what the heck and got some 2 inch lowering spindles for the front and shackles and hangers for the rear. Doing a 2/4 drop. Didn't want to drop it to the ground but figured with a caddy front end it would look better. Besides it would make things easier for my girlfriend to get in and out of the truck.
For A long time, I had always wanted to own a 1990-1993 Limited Edition 454SS Chevrolet Pickup with the 454 CI V8 or a GMC Syclone. But as a student, I could only afford to purchase a nice but not impressive GMC 1500 Sierra SL truck with the bare minimum of options. After having the truck for quite a while, it has evolved to be something that is clean, powerful, yet practical. Although in 1996, there was a semi sport GMC Sierra GT that was available with the Vortec 350, I thought I'd start from scratch and build something that General Motors should have done as a 2nd runner up to the discontinued legendary AWD GMC Syclone and Typhoon Turbocharged 4.3L trucks. And the engine to do it with would be the GEN II 1992-1997 LT1 Platform as is it one of the engines that brought back affordable emissions legal performance in the 90's.
Specs:
1993 GMC 1500 Sierra SL
Factory Trim consisted of the following:
AC, Power door Locks, and power windows delete.
4.3 Liter V6 Throttle Body Fuel Injection
4l60-E Automatic Transmission
Final Axle Ratio 3.42:1 Peg Leg open differential (GONE)
Tires P235 75R16 Uniroyals on 15X7 Factory Steel black Wheels
Once a utility truck with no frills or extras. Perfect overall platform for a cheap build.
Refinement:
Upgraded the Engine back in 1998
1996 Corvette LT1 350 Cu In
T56 from a 1997 Firebird Formula
1994 Camaro Exhaust Manifolds. Headers leak too much.
3" Exhaust Y pipe
Dual 3" Monalithic Catalytic Converters
Bargain Find - Dynomax catback exhaust.
LT4 Conversion Package Heads, intake, cam. used the cam for something else.
New cheap proform Chrome Valve Covers, since the plastic corvette ones are too expensive. Had to do some modification to them to clear the rocker arms.
Comp Cams Xtreme Energy Camshaft 266HR-14 LSA 114* Duration 266/276* Lobe lift 0.333" intake 0.344" exhaust (Relatively Mild to maintain useable torque curve of engine for towing)
Did not want the LT4 Hot cam since it would have been a little too radical for any useable low end grunt. The Stock LT4 cam would have been a little too mild.
1.6 Ratio roller rockers (Factory style LT4 Kit)
LT4 Valve Spring Kit (Replace worn stock) Titanium retainers
LT4 Knock Module and Reflashed PCM and ScanMaster.
Oversized 1 ton Radiator with engine oil cooler.
Smaller Chevy Caprice CS-120 Alternator to reduce parasitic drag on engine.
1LE AC Delete Pulley again to reduce parasitic drag on engine.
Rearend 10 bolt 8.5" 3.73:1 Auburn Limited Slip Differential. Yes, this POS finally Died.
NOW Ford 9" rearend with Disc Brakes. Upgraded to 4:11 Gear Ratio Traction lock Differential.
1989 Pontiac Trans Am Bucket Seats. Out of my other ride, The seats are still well suited for a truck.
16X8 Aluminum Wheels with a factory appearing Uniroyal p255/70R16 tires.
1999-2000 Cadillac Escalade Front end and New Paint Job. Deleted factory Emblems since I wanted a cleaner look.
Yes as you can guess, this truck is a sleeper. Don't care to buy a new truck since I've had this one a long, long time as it has some sentimental value.
