Beginner 4x4er

[71GMCer]

Hey all,

Im just gettin my truck on the road beginning of june and i want it to get me through some deep mud/sand/snow and then also be a fairly good daily driver

What would you guys recommend for a Lift/engine mods/ tires etc.
I was thinking of a 4'' lift with a new carb and intake manifold.

Here she is (either she has a body lift or the big wheels just make it ride abit higher, never really could tell)


Thanks all!
Matt

[Eturnit3]

Got any pics of the underside? Inside?

[Gregs71]

How much of a daily driver would it be( are you commuting to work, running a round town, any highway miles daily and how many).

I wouldn't have any problem with a nice 4" lift for an around town daily driver.

Just remember as a daily driver the higher it goes the more climbing you'll be doing several times a day.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Sweet looking truck buddy. More info on the truck like what motor and tranny you got? Do you know what gears you have in it currently? You can't beat a 4" lift and some nice 35" Mud-terrain tires really nice combo for sure

[71GMCer]

Ok...heres the stats..

-350ci motor
-not sure what kinda tranny it has
-Np 205 TF
-Not sure what gears

Basically it will just be getting to school and back for now (and work after school)
then on the weekends it will be a offroader. Its not really planned as a work truck.

Anyway i could tell what kinda tranny i have?

Matt

[71GMCer]

oh and a pic of the engine

[pokerflatoutcast]

nice truck bud! there's no body lift on that truck. i would do a 4 in spring lift and edelbrock 600 man choke and highrise jet it down and put the offroad kit in it for 23 bucks. that q-jet was gr8 for inclines and rough stuff, but they wear out. i had the throttle shafts redone, and its a waste of money. the performer is so much better! Even saw a little better gas mileage. still only 11 though. got mine from summit.

[Yukon Jack]

Nice truck! Auto or manual?

[71GMCer]

Its a 4 speed manual and pokerflatoutcast what is the offroad kit?

Matt

[Yukon Jack]

That should be an SM465 tranny, unless it's been swapped - a good strong tranny.

[71GMCer]

oh ya neat! Thanks Yukon Jack....It was a very wierd tranny to get used too! You cant shift down to first unless your FULLY stopped...and even then 1st is useless because its so low so i just start in second

[propanemudtruck]

Most people refer to 1st as creeper gear and usually start with 2nd. But you can pull down a house with it!

[71GMCer]

Yea...i learned that haha...it was quite embarassing getting into the truck for the first time and driving it (Knowing already how to drive standard) Thought you could shift down to 1st but eventually learned....What would first be used for? Towing and being stuck etc? lol

[pokerflatoutcast]

the offroad kit is just a tapered needle and seat that you change out of the carb that it came with. they have a spring inside them that keeps contact while bouncing around. only takes a few minutes to do. otherwise the truck will run like crap. It also works well on inclines.

[nikwho]

Man, I think your truck looks great just as it sits! But, like said above, a 4" lift with 35's would look good, and still be functional and practical. Pokerflatoutcast, thanks for the tip! Im putting a 600 cfm edlebrock on my truck and never knew about the offroad kit for the carb!

[70 beast]

how "deep" are you thinking for offroading? there are alot of upgrades you can do to make it a capable wheeler/DD (suspension, engine/tranny/tcases/axles/gears tires and wheels).

one area i would focus on if it were my truck would definitely be axles. if you plan on running big tires and take it through some "deep" terrain, then beefier axles would definitely be a positive change.

[bigbadchev72]

Here is mine on 6" and 35s. rides awesome and looks great.




I would recomend just having your Quadrajet rebuilt by someone that knows quadrajets. They are an awesome carb, they have small primaries to give you decent milage and huge secondaries for when you want the power. My buddy had a 600 edelbrock avs That he loved, after riding in the truck I had him swap on my quadrajet, He sold the edelbrock and got a quadrajet, you just cant beat the reliability and performance.

[bigbadchev72]

Just to save you from an engine fire, I would take that plastic piece of crap filter off there and install a metal one, Or put the plastic one behind your seat on the suction side of the fuel pump.

I was on my way to a wheeling/camping trip and the truck kept sputtering at 60mph, I pulled over and saw my filter was plugged up and swollen to about twice its size. That would have been a bad day!

[72lb4x4]

Regarding the low 1st in the trans, someone once told me that it is/was a so farmers could let the truck idle along in the fields while walking and loading/unloading or whatever.

I have no idea if its true...

[71GMCer]

Alright thanks all! i have some ideas now

Bigbad chevy did you have to do any lengthening of the driveshaft with your lift and what filter are you talking about?

and 70 beast..im only thinkin about a few feet "deep" I wanna have fun but at the same time not beat the crap outta my baby

[Davetopay]

Just for reference....I have a 70 K1500 with a 350. 882 heads, performer intake still using the stock q-jet carb. I can get about 15mpg on the highway if I keep it to about 60 mph. Keep in mind that s with 3.08 gears and 31 inch tires. I wouldn't worry about lifting it just yet. These trucks are surprisingly capable in stock form. If you do lift it, I'd go for a new set of 4 " springs in front, and a shackle flip kit in back. That's got LOTS of flex and doesn't get outta hand for climbing in and out. Just remember.....if you get to tall, girls won't want to climb in and out. Just tall enough and you get to help them.

[bigbadchev72]

The plastic see through fuel filter on the front passenger side of your engine, thats just asking for trouble.

I am running a th400/208 transmission out of a mid 80s truck, so Im not sure about driveline mods.

Do you know what gear ratio you are running and what size tires are you planning on?

I am got 15mpg the last wheeling trip I went on in my blazer, Running a 350, rv cam, performer intake and quadrajet, I have 4.56 gears and 38" tires. The milage was confirmed by our tahoe following.

and remember, fat chicks cant jump, so go big

[71GMCer]

Originally Posted by bigbadchev72

and remember, fat chicks cant jump, so go big

hell ya!

Im thinkin of just stickin with the wheels i have on there now and then puttin a 5'' lift on there (thats my plan as of now) because i dont really plan on goin in any mud deeper then the bumper on my truck as it is now.

I dont want to have that silly Big lift, small wheels look if you know what im talkin about

Matt