My 1995 K1500 Project

The oil filter is a Fram I got at Wal-mart.

Am I missing something about the torque converter bolts? Figured I could just turn the engine to get to each one as needed?

That's what you do..... Use a bar and turn the engine by hand from one bolt to the next.....

I dont think your exhaust is legal lol

i was just busting your balls.. gm torque converters only have 3 bolts that go in them.. your flex plate has 6.. get it.. lol.. i dunno.. i was a little tipsy at the time.

Depends on the motor Joe. Every GM diesel I have seen has 6 bolts (or more) between the converter and the flywheel.

007jimmy wrote:

i was just busting your balls.. gm torque converters only have 3 bolts that go in them.. your flex plate has 6.. get it.. lol.. i dunno.. i was a little tipsy at the time.

I thought so...

The torque converter on my 350 TBI for my 57 Chevy Panel Van has 3 mounting bolts, but there's 3 more available positions on the fly wheel = 6.
just my $0.02

Looking good Aaron!! Hey question though? What are you doing with the 30 spline input shaft from your Tcase? I got an awesome idea the other day and I need a 30 spline input shaft so I can make my own NP241 to NP241 doubler!! lol Might work might now but I'm gonna try it! So if you want to get rid of that input shaft let me know I'll give it a good home!!

FaselZ71 wrote:

Looking good Aaron!! Hey question though? What are you doing with the 30 spline input shaft from your Tcase? I got an awesome idea the other day and I need a 30 spline input shaft so I can make my own NP241 to NP241 doubler!! lol Might work might now but I'm gonna try it! So if you want to get rid of that input shaft let me know I'll give it a good home!!

It's actually a 32 spline shaft. After I get it changed and verify everything fits right, it'll be available.

While waiting for the transfer case shaft, I cleaned more on the interior. Removed the bench and took up the rubber mat to check the floorboard. Only a few quarter size blisters in the paint, mostly just mud and debris. There was enough mud under the door sill plates to plant a garden... Got all that cleaned up and washed the mat, and reinstalled everything.

Here's a shot all cleaned up with before installing the bench:



The next day the input shaft came in and I got the transfer case reassembled. Everything went together like cake, and I used Permatex Ultra Black gasket maker on all the surfaces. After it was all assembled I shifted it through all ranges and spun the shaft just to make sure everything worked, and it did!

Input Shaft:



All assembled and no extra parts :



Also got my B&M Truck Megashifter ordered from Jegs, looking forward to receiving it!

Making progress...

Great thread!! Where did you get that nifty trans jack??

AaronK1500 wrote:

While waiting for the transfer case shaft, I cleaned more on the interior. Removed the bench and took up the rubber mat to check the floorboard. Only a few quarter size blisters in the paint, mostly just mud and debris. There was enough mud under the door sill plates to plant a garden... Got all that cleaned up and washed the mat, and reinstalled everything.

Here's a shot all cleaned up with before installing the bench:



The next day the input shaft came in and I got the transfer case reassembled. Everything went together like cake, and I used Permatex Ultra Black gasket maker on all the surfaces. After it was all assembled I shifted it through all ranges and spun the shaft just to make sure everything worked, and it did!

Input Shaft:



All assembled and no extra parts :



Also got my B&M Truck Megashifter ordered from Jegs, looking forward to receiving it!

Making progress...

I borrowed the trans jack from a buddy at work. Similar ones can be found at Harbor Freight or Sears.

harbor freight FTW!!

Well after much boring technical detail - Now for some cool stuff . Got the B&M Megashifter installed today!

I had to fab up a steel plate to cover the original shifter hole, it also serves as a front mount for the B&M. The holes are for the cable and the reverse light wires.



Then mounted it to the floor with pop rivets around the outside:



Shifter bolted down. (I was working alone and had to run the nuts up from under the floor pan, and fortunately there was enough friction that the bolt heads didn't turn... )





Got the shift cable and wires all connected, there was a park / neutral safety switch, and a backup light switch. Then put the console cover on, had to cut 2 1/2" off the bottom of the cover for it to fit against the floor mat, and used the scrap plastic to cover the rest of the old hole:



Sweet



Next will be the cooler...

now i miss my pro stick

Very cool and great looking install Aaron!

Well its been a few weeks, and in that time I have got a new radiator installed, bought cooler lines, and this week I just picked up a used transmission. It's a 700R4 out of a 1991 Astro van that had 64,000 miles. I have cleaned and de-greased the outside of the case, and brought it inside and pumped out the fluid. I will be disassembling it to install the 4WD output shaft, and while I'm in there I'll inspect the sun shell and any other failure prone parts.

As I got it:


After two hours and a whole can of Engine Brite:




Brought it in to the workbench and used a small 12V pump through the dipstick hole to pump out the pan:


Will be removing the pan and digging in deeper this weekend!

Aaron

i dunno if you knew this already but while replacing the output shaft it would be a good time to rebuild you trans, get new clutches and plates, a beefier sun shell and a better band.. if you were to just put all your old stuff back in it you would probley with it soon after if not right off the bat.. i dunno how many miles where on that trans but if it was close or over 100k its not gonna like fresh tranny fluid at all.. been through it a few times with junkyard trannies that i threw in for other people.

I've had good luck replacing 3-4 quarts of fluid....driving for several months....then change it.


By adding some new fluid, but not ALL new fluid, you restore some cleaning/lubing ability the old fluid slowly lost, without "shocking" the system. After several months, the entire trans. has been cleaned pretty good, and at that point you can just R&R the fluid and have no worries.

darn ya got that thing clean! i get in trouble at car washes for washin em in the bed of my truck. lookin like your gettin closer! keep it up.

Tore down the tranny today and got the 2WD output shaft removed. Had to remove the 3-4 servo, governor, pump, front input drum, sun gear and snapring, and the output shaft dropped right out.

The pan was very clean:


Valve body:


Prying out the pump:


Face of Input drum behind pump:


Had a bit of a hassle getting the band to release from the drum to remove it, but I finally got it off the pin with some pliers. Sure was better than removing the entire valve body



The just removed the sun gear and snapring and the output shaft fell out the back:





The new 4WD output shaft is supposed to arrive Tuesday, and also the transfer case adapter. Looks like I may finally be able to drive this thing in the next few weeks

Aaron

thats good! i can barely get a manual back together let alone an auto. good luck!

Got the 700R4 installed last Saturday! After working on it all last week getting the output shaft changed, it was finally ready to install:



Transfer case adapter & shaft:



My buddy from work came over Saturday and we got 'er done!

In place and ready to raise up :



Got the transfer case mounted:



Dipstick - This was never here before? Where do I put the clutch fluid???



In its new home:





Now to get the cooler lines shaped, routed and connected, the rear U-joint replaced (it was dry and rusted), add fluid and hope!

Aaron

Coming along very nicely Aaron, thanks for the pics and the update!

Well as you may have read I've got her back on the road, so I needed a muffler - Ordered a 3" Dynomax exhaust from Jegs, and installed it last Thursday before test driving around town.

Re-installed the crossover section of the Y-pipe and used a "bandage" kit over the cut areas:




This truck had its original exhaust replaced at some time, and the original flange off the converter was long gone. So I had to improvise and cut and clamp onto the welded pipe stub that I had using a 3" to 3" connector and lots of muffler glue:



The mid-pipe hanger was still original, and was good for locating things.
Mounted up the muffler and had to guess its proper orientation having never seen a stock one:



I had to fabricate tailpipe hangers since the original ones were long gone:




Now it's just begging for a nice chrome tip...



It's turning into a nice ride!

Aaron