Project Gallopin' Gerdy

[Chevypoor]

Just bought a 95 GMC 2500 8 lug vin F Turbo 4x4 truck. What a day - rain then drizzle - then nothing -then drizzle...

Never hauled a fullsize gmt 400 4x4 on the flat bed and well the front wheels did not want to fit between the trailer wheel wells. One backhoe and a chain and some high flying antics up and over she goes. Wished I had thought to snap a picture but I forgot in the heat of the moment. So that is partially how the truck got its name after the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Gallopin Gerdy.

The story on the truck is the guy bought it in 04 ran it for about 4 years with farm tags and then she started missing, blowing white smoke, and digesting coolant. Blown head gasket... truck sat then was sold to a friend to do a gas conversion Ran out of money and the current owner bought it back a year ago. Other than a few cut wires and a couple of missing parts - mainly radiator, it survived its attempted conversion unscathed. The po did not realize the motor has been replaced and the tranny has been rebuilt at some point before 04. Truck currently has 273K. The PMD was missing and he did not even no what I was talking about!


Planning on taking the heads off soon to fix/ diagnose the head gasket issues. Then it may get some parts from my 95 Chevy while it goes on a 3/4 ton 2wd frame. Hopefully it will be up and running before Thanksgiving.

 

[3500GMC]

Looks good! My kind of truck. Glad you're keeping her an oil burner.

 

[DieselSlug]

Thats the kind of truck i need to find to swap my mechanicals over too. How is the body/frame? My favorite year is 95', newer interior but still OBD-1.

 

[Ed HD]

Looks good!

 

[Chevypoor]

DieselSlug
How is the body/frame? My favorite year is 95', newer interior but still OBD-1

The frame is straight and rust free. The body has virtually zero rust that I can find. The 95s are my favorite as well. Simple early computer control (obd 1) and a great interior. The best part is no passenger air bag.... the passenger side "doghouse" that houses the air bag is rather awkward in my opinion.

Dad's 05 LLY
Looks good!

3500GMC
Looks good

Thanks guys!

3500GMC
Glad you're keeping her an oil burner.

I used to be a gas motor junky. Once you have gone over to the oily side there is no going back :thumbsup:

 

[btfarm]

That's a really nice rig.

Sent from my SCH-I535 now Free

 

[Chevypoor]

Well I found the miss and a few holes in the "story" from the looks of the rocker arms and pushrods the motor has been sitting a long while. Even the oil filter is rusty! The inspection went out in 04. The intake was also full of oil but I suspect the turbo was was shot. It makes a squeak/ clank when you spin the impeller and it appears to be original. Everything else appears to be in good order and the block is a 929 that appears to be bored forty over. Looks like a some gaskets, some borrowed parts ( from the 95 chevy ), and one A-Team turbo and she will be good to go! :thumbsup:

 

[Chevypoor]

I forgot to mention alot of cleanup!!!!

 

[3500GMC]

Wow that's crusty. That #2 cylinder looks pretty toasty.

 

[Chevypoor]

It does not quite look as bad as the pics. I think it should come clean with a scotchbrite pad and some Marvel Mystery oil. The rockers and the pushrods I am thinking are too far gone. I am still going to hit them with the wire wheel on the bench grinder..... fingers crossed the rust buffs off.

 

[tanman_2006]

Yuck, I wonder if my 94 looks that bad. Its been sitting since 05.

 

[Chevypoor]

So far everything is cleaning up great. The rusty cylinder came clean with my fingers and some Marvel Mystery oil. The rocker arms buffed up fine. Installed a new timing chain I had left over from another 6.5 project. Ordered parts and now I am waiting.... the worst part!

 

[Chevypoor]

Picked up a new IP from the local Standadyne Dealer on Wednesday and got that installed. Most of the parts have come in but still waiting on a few. Thanks Leroy, the folks at Walking J, the folks at Kennedy diesel, Summit, and Rock Auto for the quick delivery on the parts. Hopefully if the rest of the parts come in I can get her up and running shortly. Planning on an all weekend truck thrash session this weekend....

 

[Chevypoor]

Almost all the parts are in. Still waiting on the A-team turbo and the Heath crossover pipe.

Parts on: New Standadyne IP
Kennedy Diesel high pop injectors
New timing chain
New 2000 GM water pump (the one in Heaths cooling kit) from Rock Auto
New pushrods and from Summit Racing
New valve stem seals from Napa and Rock Auto
New Fel-Pro head gaskets and head bolts from Rock Auto
New Delphi glow plug controller from Rock Auto
Still to go: PMD relocator and #9 resistor from Leroy Diesel
Oil cooler lines from Leroy Diesel
A-Team turbo and blanket from Walking J
AC Delco 60gs from Summit Racing
Homemade Feed the Beast with Summit Racing an fittings and braided steel hose
Autometer Pyro, Boost, and Tranny temp gauges from Summit Racing
Derale tranny pan from Summit Racing
D-Max fan and HD clutch from the 95 Chevy
Radiator from the 95 Chevy
Napa starter and batteries from 95 Chevy
Reflashed Heath chip from 95 Chevy
Part Still to be ordered: Walbro Pump and pre filter from Leroy Diesel

 

[3500GMC]

Add a coolant temp sensor to the list.

Things are lookin up..

 

[Chevypoor]

Been chipping away at the old girl this week and weekend. Got a few more parts on. Gave her bath yesterday afternoon. The wife is working on the gauges and she vacuumed and cleaned the interior last week. Will try to get a pic or two up later today. Inch by inch...

Parts on:
New Standadyne IP
Kennedy Diesel high pop injectors
New timing chain
New 2000 GM water pump (the one in Heaths cooling kit) from Rock Auto
New pushrods and from Summit Racing
New valve stem seals from Napa and Rock Auto
New Fel-Pro head gaskets and head bolts from Rock Auto
New Delphi glow plug controller from Rock Auto
Oil cooler lines from Leroy Diesel on the block still need to hook to the cooler
A-Team turbo on from Walking J
AC Delco 60gs from Summit Racing
Starter from 93 6.2 diesel parts truck
New Radiator from Rock Auto
OPS extension from Leroy Diesel

Still to go:
PMD relocator and #9 resistor from Leroy Diesel
A-Team turbo blanket from Walking J
Homemade Feed the Beast with Summit Racing an fittings and braided steel hose
Autometer Pyro, Boost, and Tranny temp gauges from Summit Racing
Derale tranny pan from Summit Racing
D-Max fan and HD clutch from the 95 Chevy
Napa batteries from 95 Chevy
New Heath chip
New Heath 2.5" Crossover pipe
New Diamond Eye turbo back exhaust from Summit Racing
Walbro Pump and pre filter from Leroy Diesel
Boost Bolt from Leroy Diesel

 

[Chevypoor]

Got further than I thought today. Our dog got hit by a car on Halloween night..... damn @#$%^^&* did not even stop. By then time we realized he had gotten out and then when we found him must have been an hour or so after he got hit. Took him to the emergency vet that night. He dislocated his left hip and tore his right knee. It has been fun taking care of 90lb dog that cant walk... we are thankful he is still with us though.
Still to go:
PMD relocator and #9 resistor from Leroy Diesel
A-Team turbo blanket from Walking J
Homemade Feed the Beast with Summit Racing an fittings and braided steel hose
Autometer Pyro, Boost, and Tranny temp gauges from Summit Racing - just need to connect the sensors
Derale tranny pan from Summit Racing
D-Max fan and HD clutch from the 95 Chevy
Napa batteries from 95 Chevy
New Heath chip
New Heath 2.5" Crossover pipe
New Diamond Eye turbo back exhaust from Summit Racing
Walbro Pump and pre filter from Leroy Diesel

 

[Burning oil]

Looks good. The good thing about buying one that needs all that work is you get to start fresh and build it like you want with all the good stuff.

 

[3500GMC]

Gonna be a nice rig. :thumbsup:

 

[Ed HD]

Shaping up!

Sorry to hear about your pup. Glad he survived, hope he gets fixed up soon.