1986 GMC S-15

1stDeuce

Explorer
Thanks for keeping us up to date!! Everythign looks great. I have about zero faith in any newer aftermarket CV boot. They're all made of cheap rubber of some sort that cracks after it's a year or so old. Hard to find a CV brand that uses good boots anymore. :(

Word to the wise on that XJ setup... That style link system turns the OE 4 link into a swingarm setup of sorts by mounting the upper control link to the lower instead of back to the frame. This type of arrangement is known for ripping the pass UCA bracket off a D30 axle, particularly on vehicles that see a lot of articulation, like rock crawling. This is because any time you articulate the front suspension, the two links being at differnt angles is trying to twist the axle tube. If you have nice soft bushings at all the axle mount locations, it can work, but it's still tough on bushings and brackets... DO NOT replace those rubber bushings with Poly, or with any sort of "joint" or you WILL rip the pass side UCA bracket off the axle fairly quickly. A heavier bracket is not the answer, the answer is keeping soft bushings, or going back to true 4-link...

For what you are doing, I can see the attraction of that setup, just be sure to keep softer bushings in the axle and all the links that attach to the axle. They only place you can run a stiffer bushing is where the lower link connects to the frame.
Good luck!!!
 

Andrew_S

Observer
Thanks for keeping us up to date!! Everythign looks great. I have about zero faith in any newer aftermarket CV boot. They're all made of cheap rubber of some sort that cracks after it's a year or so old. Hard to find a CV brand that uses good boots anymore. :(

Word to the wise on that XJ setup... That style link system turns the OE 4 link into a swingarm setup of sorts by mounting the upper control link to the lower instead of back to the frame. This type of arrangement is known for ripping the pass UCA bracket off a D30 axle, particularly on vehicles that see a lot of articulation, like rock crawling. This is because any time you articulate the front suspension, the two links being at differnt angles is trying to twist the axle tube. If you have nice soft bushings at all the axle mount locations, it can work, but it's still tough on bushings and brackets... DO NOT replace those rubber bushings with Poly, or with any sort of "joint" or you WILL rip the pass side UCA bracket off the axle fairly quickly. A heavier bracket is not the answer, the answer is keeping soft bushings, or going back to true 4-link...

For what you are doing, I can see the attraction of that setup, just be sure to keep softer bushings in the axle and all the links that attach to the axle. They only place you can run a stiffer bushing is where the lower link connects to the frame.
Good luck!!!


Apparently they make a cv boot treatment spray to prolong the life but I rather just replace them and ********** about it haha.

I hear you on the radius arm set up. If I was building something for do any serious offroading/articulation I would go with a 3 link. This is just the easy road. The axle is getting trussed and will bind/ruin bushings before it ever does any damage to the axle. The axle side will remain clevite bushings, just new ones. The frame side is getting the upgraded flex joints over the acme threads that it came with.
Appreciate the input & suggestions.

Got everything painted it up nicely.
52261709886_8ef3d3dd32_c.jpg


52262415990_9cc1a8a53d_c.jpg


52260749357_cc035eed79_c.jpg


Made up some plates to get the D30 to work with the case spreader
52260738502_fa152960e6_c.jpg


Picked up the heads from the machine shop, took them back again because they failed leak-down testing... Failed again, and now they are at another machine shop for analysis.
52261931151_3f7f87d0ba_c.jpg


Just getting back from another great 6 day trip. Here are some pics:
52261709841_846c4f4718_c.jpg


Adams lake
52262416095_8eba8aa270_c.jpg


Spent 2 nights on tumtum lake
52262416145_9677090780_c.jpg


We've both taken on heavier work loads/stress levels at work and this was a much needed break for both of us.
52261978449_23b6875960_c.jpg


52261726588_b87984966e_c.jpg


We were picking blue berries near camp when I ran into a bear about 60m away and had a handful of berries... Luckily it wasn't hungry,
52261943273_c625c5bc6d_c.jpg


Camp set up
52261980949_d2d59898bb_c.jpg
 

Andrew_S

Observer
Morning coffee taking in the view
52261726598_db202b31da_c.jpg


Exploring the lake
52261978279_82cbdd91e8_c.jpg


Beautiful lake with water that changed colours in different areas of sediment clouds
52260959577_a4af7798cc_c.jpg


Paddled through this great looking wetland at the north end
52261712951_06515c30f6_c.jpg


52262193590_0cd6f85cda_c.jpg


Went for a swim on this beautiful sandbar at the mouth of the river
52260748727_4af09464e0_c.jpg


Explored some of the mature forest
52261709996_01287fcece_c.jpg


Last night on tumtum,
52261723388_5c165bbd95_c.jpg


We quickly found out there was only one way in and out of this lake
52262206640_598ebd3da7_c.jpg


Spotted another bear on our ride out
52261719556_3ddb435061_c.jpg


Next stop, Adams lake east side.
52260742027_2af8e9f8c5_c.jpg
 

Andrew_S

Observer
This little green toad hung out in this dowel hole the entire time we stayed here.
52262415465_3a2573d66a_c.jpg


Fishing Adams,
52261719541_5cb6b58dc2_c.jpg


No luck but a beauty evening
52262206265_2f0b6cee98_c.jpg


Exploring Momich provincial park again. We were here 2 years ago a few weeks before it completely burnt.
52261943078_7c50feb819_c.jpg


Paddling the creek into Momich
52261723473_7ee40fae85_c.jpg


One of the nicest small lake beaches
52261984559_445f42bba2_c.jpg


Picking berries in albas park
52260742132_d530eb129b_c.jpg


Next stop Shuswap Seymour arm,
52262206605_0415b5b6b1_c.jpg


Moose steaks and mash potatoes for dinner on the beach.
52260738572_ac1b25e42f_c.jpg


Next morning views from camp
52261721233_d66fb8e379_c.jpg


Albas falls
52262199330_55435dd81b_c.jpg


Breakfast views
52261721263_0b0d61821d_c.jpg


Harvested some Combs tooth for dinner
52260736302_e585393176_c.jpg


Onyx falls to cool down
52261727073_91e81bb8ea_c.jpg


Finished the trip with a swim in Fintry creek
52261978589_c32b8e5e01_c.jpg


52261978594_242754687c_c.jpg


Very memorableand relaxing trip. Can't wait for the next one.
 

goldtooth

Member
We were near there in mid July. We drove from Bella Coola to Revelstoke and spent some time around Sicamous as well. Love it up there!
nate
 

1stDeuce

Explorer
Wife and I went to Iceland in June this year, and we'll be going again in 2024. In 2023, we'll be coming up to your back yard and hanging out for a couple of weeks, also in June. A bit early, but we escape the month of gnats that plague this place every June.

Thanks so much for keeping this thread up and taking us along on your travels! You and your wife are truly inspirations to so many of us!! From the outside looking in, it certainly appears that you are living the dream!!
 

Andrew_S

Observer
You're doing it right man. Freezer full of game meat, lots of nature, cool chick, and cool trucks.
I was literally going to say the exact same thing. Andrew you are living the dream dude.
Thanks, can't really complain about much over here.

We were near there in mid July. We drove from Bella Coola to Revelstoke and spent some time around Sicamous as well. Love it up there!
nate
Nice! That must have been an awesome trip. Bella Coola is on our list for the future.

Wife and I went to Iceland in June this year, and we'll be going again in 2024. In 2023, we'll be coming up to your back yard and hanging out for a couple of weeks, also in June. A bit early, but we escape the month of gnats that plague this place every June.

Thanks so much for keeping this thread up and taking us along on your travels! You and your wife are truly inspirations to so many of us!! From the outside looking in, it certainly appears that you are living the dream!!
Wow nice. I would love to do that trip. We haven't been overseas for 3 years now.
Thanks, living the dream sporadically. Life seems to be a bit to heavily loaded on work lately.
Looking forward to hunting season.

Looks like a few great trips! Glad you enjoyed them!
Thanks, super nice to get away and shut off the phone/emails for a bit.

Been tinkering in the garage,
52304549541_2b741c81b8_c.jpg


Started getting the rear tank set up finalized
52305073360_d5eb98b3e2_c.jpg


52305050918_f46d903731_c.jpg


52305029803_cbee266706_c.jpg


Need to finish up the front mount but it's coming along.
52305029813_4e217a88c9_c.jpg


We took off for another 3 night trip towards Greenbush lake. It's roughly 60km down a gravel road, one way in and out.
Around 50k we were greeted by this fire on the other side of the valley.
52303866862_1749e9f9ee_c.jpg


Making the most of the 1st night, evening paddle.
52305028893_f7c6b5740f_c.jpg


Nice campsite, small and right on the lake.
52305079019_01e201c2cc_c.jpg


It's a stunning lake.
52303841772_86edef1bf4_c.jpg


Rainbows were jumping everywhere but we weren't having much luck.
52303844937_235edc5471_c.jpg


We paddled to the inlet and enjoyed a beautiful swim on this stunning sandbar
52303845037_c3cbb80fd2_c.jpg


52304549591_41160aa6ff_c.jpg
 

Andrew_S

Observer
Went for a quick drive into the hills
52305029723_2265674520_c.jpg


Couldn't help but notice this puddle full of tadpoles.
52305074324_2cbde9d7c3_c.jpg


This was up around 1650m elevation. These poor guys were going to be dried out if they didn't get some rain soon.
52305084185_b7cc19edb3_c.jpg


We hiked up to mirror lake.
52305084100_578b24d4ab_c.jpg


This was either alpine or sub-alpine, been meaning to google the difference. Beautiful terrain either way.
52305015538_598cbb0dea_c.jpg


Quick dip for both of us in this chilly lake
52303845882_b751b68cae_c.jpg


52303831097_309af1d858_c.jpg


52304585636_b0075eae52_c.jpg


The outlet was really pretty.
52303831257_0d6ed82f10_c.jpg


Nearly sprinting back to the truck to escape the bugs...
You can see that same fire in the background.
52305015473_058e020d55_c.jpg


Greenbush lake has roughly 5 spots. We stayed 3 nights and upgraded our spot every night haha.
This was definitely the cream of the crop. Picnic table, water access and a creek for white noise.
52304585141_ce4d93b6b6_c.jpg


Full fire ban at the moment. This chuck box is one of the best upgrades we've added to the program, second only to the camper.
52303866907_425f3e679e_c.jpg


Out for a morning paddle before breakfast.
52304559586_235f97ee06_c.jpg


Pretty tough to beat this.
52305072615_6c82ce5f5e_c.jpg


Even caught dinner.
52303866872_9987247700_c.jpg


This big spruce grouse decided to hitch a ride with us. If only it was this easy in October....
52303866882_a09b865c3a_c.jpg


One last stop on the way home for a swim.
52305108845_e3f9f4aa39_c.jpg


and some shiny new parts when we got home. Just need to scrounge up some bushings for the axle ends.
52304560076_c5d43da647_c.jpg
 

YetiX

Active member
I've been meaning to ask, how do you guys deal with the bugs? You seem to always camp next to rivers or lakes, so I have to imagine the mozzies are out in force.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,533
Messages
2,875,610
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top