85straight
New member
Well Ive been lurking and learning A LOT from this community since I got my truck about 2 years ago. Bought the truck for a good deal (in my part of the country anyway) and have been slooooowly putting effort into her (her name is Betsy haha). Started with a pretty solid platform when i bought it, all stock minus back seats, 165k on the clock, tires i drove home on were made in 87!
If most haven't figured out from my name , truck is a 1985, dlx model, 22re, manual.
Main goal for the truck is to have a extremely reliable, comfortable, semi capable truck for long camping trips and mild wheeling with my wife and son,who were expecting late Nov
Sorry for the ramble, heres some pics
Pic of the day after I brought her home
Few months ago
Some more ramble haha:
list of whats been done since ive had it:
New tires 31x10.50r15 BFG All terrains
-New assembled head from engnbuilder w/ new 261 cam
-New high flow cat, flowmaster
-New muffler and piping throughout, flowmaster super 44
-New throttle cable
-New plugs,wires, and dist cap and rotor
-New front calipers, rotors, pads
-New rear master brake cylinders, shoes, drums
-New front and rear shocks(cheapy kyb)
-New draglink kit
-New custom suspension seats(PRP racing)
-Gutted old carpet, cleaned the hell out of the floor panels and painted with some rustoleum, and installed all new carpet throughout
-Took out all old plastic snap-in tabs for tailgate and interior panels (couldnt stand the rattle on dirt roads, and every time you remove them, they break)
and installed A LOT of threadserts
Now, since lately it hasnt been my daily, i can begin to make some more progress before my son is born.
Things needing to be done in the near future:
-New steering box and idler arm(steering is all over the place, sometimes downright scary)
-Get all springs re-arched and install new bushings( advice on brand of bushing would be appreciated, ive seen a few people install greasable bushings, is it worth the extra cost?)
-New windshield and fix some rust around the edges:lightsaber: (finding a cost effective rubber trim is becoming a PITA, advice?)
-New door weatherstripping on both sides
-New rear main seal, clutch kit, and slave cylinder
-New oil pan gasket, looks like bottom of timing chain cover is starting to leak too(PO had timing chain kit and head gasket done about 3k before i got it)
Now the fun list of things i plan within the next year:
-New rear bumper with swing-out
-OME 2" lift kit
-Fresh 22re, not built much, just headers (if i wanted some real power id swap something worth it, i enjoy my 25mpg)
-Sr5 gauges(no tach and gauges just plain sucks)
-High amp alternator and dual battery isolator setup
-Some 12v outlets in cargo area
-HAM radio for emergencys
-Door panels(havent figured out if i want to "customize" some 2nd gen or keep up the search for 1st gen panels with door pockets AND immaculate condition:lmao: )
Couple questions,
1)any advice on the leaf bushings, standard poly would be ok, or go with a greasable type, preferred brand?
2)High amp alternator and dual battery overkill? (intention with truck is to be veeery isolated in the wilderness,most likely without any else in our group to help )
3)Experiencing the famed no start issue from time to time, but it looks as though it just may be a very corroded connection, tried cleaning it up, still looks like s@#t. Can i crimp on a new "pigtail" , are they available to buy? If that doesnt do the trick ill be following kidv's write up for it( excellent by the way)
4)Any advice for windshield stripping, dealer seems to only place to find BLACK rubber, and they sell piece by piece, way too expensive IMO
Soooooo, sorry for the long read, but hey, im here to stay, so i thought a proper introduction is due :hello: :cheers:
If most haven't figured out from my name , truck is a 1985, dlx model, 22re, manual.
Main goal for the truck is to have a extremely reliable, comfortable, semi capable truck for long camping trips and mild wheeling with my wife and son,who were expecting late Nov
Sorry for the ramble, heres some pics
Pic of the day after I brought her home
Few months ago
Some more ramble haha:
list of whats been done since ive had it:
New tires 31x10.50r15 BFG All terrains
-New assembled head from engnbuilder w/ new 261 cam
-New high flow cat, flowmaster
-New muffler and piping throughout, flowmaster super 44
-New throttle cable
-New plugs,wires, and dist cap and rotor
-New front calipers, rotors, pads
-New rear master brake cylinders, shoes, drums
-New front and rear shocks(cheapy kyb)
-New draglink kit
-New custom suspension seats(PRP racing)
-Gutted old carpet, cleaned the hell out of the floor panels and painted with some rustoleum, and installed all new carpet throughout
-Took out all old plastic snap-in tabs for tailgate and interior panels (couldnt stand the rattle on dirt roads, and every time you remove them, they break)
and installed A LOT of threadserts
Now, since lately it hasnt been my daily, i can begin to make some more progress before my son is born.
Things needing to be done in the near future:
-New steering box and idler arm(steering is all over the place, sometimes downright scary)
-Get all springs re-arched and install new bushings( advice on brand of bushing would be appreciated, ive seen a few people install greasable bushings, is it worth the extra cost?)
-New windshield and fix some rust around the edges:lightsaber: (finding a cost effective rubber trim is becoming a PITA, advice?)
-New door weatherstripping on both sides
-New rear main seal, clutch kit, and slave cylinder
-New oil pan gasket, looks like bottom of timing chain cover is starting to leak too(PO had timing chain kit and head gasket done about 3k before i got it)
Now the fun list of things i plan within the next year:
-New rear bumper with swing-out
-OME 2" lift kit
-Fresh 22re, not built much, just headers (if i wanted some real power id swap something worth it, i enjoy my 25mpg)
-Sr5 gauges(no tach and gauges just plain sucks)
-High amp alternator and dual battery isolator setup
-Some 12v outlets in cargo area
-HAM radio for emergencys
-Door panels(havent figured out if i want to "customize" some 2nd gen or keep up the search for 1st gen panels with door pockets AND immaculate condition:lmao: )
Couple questions,
1)any advice on the leaf bushings, standard poly would be ok, or go with a greasable type, preferred brand?
2)High amp alternator and dual battery overkill? (intention with truck is to be veeery isolated in the wilderness,most likely without any else in our group to help )
3)Experiencing the famed no start issue from time to time, but it looks as though it just may be a very corroded connection, tried cleaning it up, still looks like s@#t. Can i crimp on a new "pigtail" , are they available to buy? If that doesnt do the trick ill be following kidv's write up for it( excellent by the way)
4)Any advice for windshield stripping, dealer seems to only place to find BLACK rubber, and they sell piece by piece, way too expensive IMO
Soooooo, sorry for the long read, but hey, im here to stay, so i thought a proper introduction is due :hello: :cheers:
What kind of radio you thinking of installing?
arty:
