1986 GMC S-15

Andrew_S

Observer
Been out picking a few times,
52150018556_e6f7efc52b_c.jpg


Couldn't ask for better conditions, some absolute swamp donkeys.
52150507550_f901f75ed2_c.jpg


Filling that freezer back up
52150018531_582f516152_c.jpg


Picked up a new tool,
52150256874_23eacc63ee_c.jpg


Canadian No15 drill, probably from the 30's-50's. Literally pulled this out of a horse stable (horses in it) from an old barn in the boonies.
52149002247_68078b06aa_c.jpg


Took off for a couple of nights
52161699073_71a6c5aa04_c.jpg


Hooked into 20 or so of these beautiful brook trout the first night,
52160675482_a2fa4d64e4_c.jpg


They were all coming up puking tons of bugs and worms, hungry hippos
52161695663_ef9ebcf5f0_c.jpg


We were joking why we even brought food, picked some morels all around the campsite, grabbed a couple puffballs on the side of the road on the drive up and the main course was brookies.
52161698601_8cd0d9896a_c.jpg


Hard to beat fresh mushrooms fried over a fire in butter w/ salt.
52161698481_a270068121_c.jpg


Loaded up the next morning and took off for the fire zone.
52161698456_07b8da66b7_c.jpg
 

Andrew_S

Observer
On route we stopped at a few of our hunt camps, found this guy chilling. Lots of toads in the mountains but not a lot of tree frogs.
52161693816_0a24fb35f1_c.jpg


Hit the jackpot of puffballs on the way,
52161928769_8280aff7f8_c.jpg


Quite a few of the roads in the burn zone are a complete waste of time trying to clear right now. Literally 50km's of this lays ahead (foreshadowing)
52162178125_4ccb9f5dfc_c.jpg


Checking out a new lake for us, caught a couple of small rainbows from shore.
52161692443_bb82295793_c.jpg


another beautiful lake called "beautiful lake"
52162185980_89ae0555e7_c.jpg


Hit some honey holes along the way,
52162186450_91544acf91_c.jpg


52161698646_8cfd695324_c.jpg


52161935204_dcbf192a78_c.jpg


After an hour or so of picking we decided enough for the day, drying them out in the sun for a bit on the rear hatch.
52161697546_5da83c0200_c.jpg


What's for dinner? mushrooms, because there are thousands of them only steps from the camp.
52161696113_640f14703d_c.jpg


52160672272_764caec0dc_c.jpg


Getting creative without a proper rack to dry these morels
52161690736_b816c7da2f_c.jpg


The scenery in the fire areas is so dramatic
52162181915_846417a7d3_c.jpg


Spotted this blonde muley bedded in the rain.
52161699173_656f0533f6_c.jpg


Might just be our luck but every time we stop at this particular spot (twice now) it's always pouring rain.
52162181850_efcf2a20a9_c.jpg


Took a photo 2 years ago identical to this one, except now everything on the hillside is burnt.
52161692608_39484ae423_c.jpg


Came across this snowmobile cabin that survived the fire by maybe 20-30'. I can't help but feel someone must have been guarding this structure.
52161698586_f19e8ca514_c.jpg


52162186495_f057bc4589_c.jpg
 

Andrew_S

Observer
I made the mistake of saying, "oh blue sky, lets go for a paddle" the fair weather didn't last long.
52161699243_5fcbd71ace_c.jpg


On our way home approx 15km's from asphalt road we decided to bypass a "road closed due to falling debris hazards" sign. This was a mistake...
52160675692_1eab354134_c.jpg


I thought we might be able to push through and cut a few trees.
52162181945_3bd65a37c2_c.jpg


After 2 hours we made it roughly 5km. I literally resorted to walking the road with the chain saw and cutting/clearing trees while kicking huge rock/boulders off the road.
52161928749_83d25913d8_c.jpg


Our spirits were low and then we hit this nice little mud slide. At 2-3' thick and chocked full of large sharp rock, it was a stop point for us.
This resulted in a 2 1/2 detour back the way we came and an additional 100kmish of bush roads. Thankful we had the fuel to do it.
52161696198_85594fb7bf_c.jpg


We made a point to leave an additional note on the sign "Seriously road closed, we made it 5km, good luck."
At least we went home with some treasures, likely 50lbs + of morels in the bed of the truck.
52161928399_0c2a5595aa_c.jpg


We've got one more weekend before the wife leaves for a month. After that I have some fairly lofty goals in mind while she is away.
 

Andrew_S

Observer
^^^ LOL
I would love to know when it happened because I didn't notice it in the ride at all.

Started on the repairs, started on the pinion seal and quickly spiralled.
52175609253_8dd2276906_c.jpg


Driveshaft had a tiny amount of slop, pulled it out and the rear u-joint felt a bit crusty.
52175858684_a2375b4871_c.jpg


Oh yup, that'll do it...
52175667153_80fa8cecb9_c.jpg


The front joint had minor play, not nearly as bad as the rears. Can't believe how tight the driveshaft was considering the condition of these needle bearings.
52175668311_3701b5d7db_c.jpg


Atleast the driveshaft is straight.
52175667073_96956aa880_c.jpg


Replaced the pinion yoke with a better used one. My old one had some pretty deep groves in it.
52174636532_7b9c010536_c.jpg


same thing with the slip yoke, the old one (rear of the photo) was super pitted and eating seals.
52175858544_3fc224d873_c.jpg


Ready to go back together with some nice SKF u-joints.
52175858619_50480a8535_c.jpg


20 mins later and I still have to bang in the pinion seal.
52175609338_9dc3ee36d5_c.jpg


Cleaned out the rear rims at the same time, can't imagine these were terribly well balanced
52176091345_96d951bc5a_c.jpg


Diff topped up, t-case topped up and a sip for the trans as well.
52175609921_bbcca7a32c_c.jpg


Test drive and it's mint again. Wife wanted to go logging, would love to see some other campers stack 4-500lbs of wood like this.
52175916519_ea3a416d85_c.jpg


Pulled the front tires and greased the front end this evening. I've got to stop looking at this thing, every time I do something else is broken.
This is the 6th CV in 3 years? Garbage parts. I'm hard on stuff but this is stupid. All the more motivation to finish collecting parts for the axle swap.
52178526118_40d1c93305_c.jpg
 

Andrew_S

Observer
New tools thursday.

Pretty well everything I need to set up the diffs aside from a press.
52185822174_dc2bceeb9e_c.jpg


Transfer punches sure are a nice tool to have.
52184549962_5fb6893bf3_c.jpg


Just like that 5x4.5 to 5x4.75 bolt pattern on the 8.8 axles, only need the final drill size now.
52185822164_dd4520c457_c.jpg


One more big piece of the puzzle for the solid axle swap. Rustys long arm kit for an XJ. There was no way I could justify the new price of this kit plus shipping, duties & taxes. It was over 2k. I picked this up used for 1/4 of the price. After a quick sandblast, some paint and some new bushings, it'll be mint.
52186056905_838375953f_c.jpg


The list of parts remaining is getting much smaller.
 

ITTOG

Well-known member
Why haven't I thought of new tool Thursday. I normally just do new beer Thursday. Which is good but I generally like tools more.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk
 

Andrew_S

Observer
New beer day happens on every day that ends in "y"!

Back at it, Cv replaced w/ difficulties.
52193675277_925e88bc60_c.jpg


Helped a buddy fix his pathfinder, towed here with a no start condition.
52207339740_880a31a8cc_c.jpg


Muffler rotted out and then puked hot air on the rear harness.
52207339730_e6bc7c8a59_c.jpg


Melted down the rear harness into a nice blob and popped the fuel pump fuse...
52206865303_ff8007f5fc_c.jpg


Split the harness, taped it up. New muffler, battery & fuses. He's back o the road.
The shop he took it to said the only way to repair was to split the body from the frame....
52195172915_97f220b018_c.jpg



Started tearing into the long arm set up,
52194945439_b42f8c33ee_c.jpg


Bushing were shot
52193675142_56365fdfdf_c.jpg


Lots of new parts have been flooding in to keep progress going.
52194685226_827ef41763_c.jpg


Mocking up the fuel tank
52194701298_026c945151_c.jpg


New pads and rotors for the 4runner.
52193676027_a5bc566553_c.jpg


Axles drilled for the 5x4.75 bolt pattern
52194682011_9a0454fce1_c.jpg


Old/New to me drill press is a champ.
52193675287_c3e7f56ba0_c.jpg


52195172955_1e575215ae_c.jpg


Mocking up the rears. Need to cut down the aluminum spacers to center the caliper, but this 9" kit works mint on the 8.8.
52195173515_5220ee310a_c.jpg
 

Andrew_S

Observer
Fronts with new SKF X-Tracker hubs
52194681201_64300710a2_c.jpg


Out for a Sunday drive
52195176715_f47487d1c1_c.jpg


Almost a roller
52193676007_b5c367f048_c.jpg


Started mocking up the 8.8 rear for the '86
52194944639_4df95bbe7c_c.jpg


52195173520_3000b371b5_c.jpg


Time to start setting up the ARB w/ 4.88s
52194701143_7953c63876_c.jpg


Remote battery mount for the '84
52194681011_b04ffcd043_c.jpg


Before
52205280123_3c9a302fa5_c.jpg


After
52205762660_a684f12149_c.jpg


Helping a buddy fix the breaks on his '49 panel
52206833726_43ebf22189_c.jpg


Bonus* 70lbs of jalapeno cheddar moose smokies.
52205261141_b7ccddc2d6_c.jpg
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,527
Messages
2,875,540
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top