New GMT800 truck owner

Pighuntingpuppy · February 9, 2020

I have owned GM vehicles nearly all my life. I have bought and flipped many other vehicles if I thought I could make a decent profit. My main trucks is a 1988 GMT400 2WD. This beast has done tons of work and is nowhere close to what it was when I first got it. Currently I am in the process of a SAS swap on it. Once that is done, I am gonna change out the 700R4 to a NV4500 GM variant trans. This vehicle will no longer be a primary drive vehicle but a play toy for off roading and the occasional car show.

My daily for 3 years was a 1998 GMT400 WT with a nice weenie 4.3L in it mated to a 4L60E. It was a runt but a runt that performed very well. A recent trip to Las Vegas resulted me in losing the truck. It was stolen from a casino garage.

The heap I drive now, LOL.....is a 2004 Buick Park Avenue. It came cheap right after my truck was stolen. Its ugly, it was involved in a minor front end collision that popped the airbags and the dome lights will stay on forever when the fuse is plugged in. But regardless of the dome lights.....all the luxury amenities still function properly. Heated seats, power windows, rain sense wipers, even the premium sound system. Despite that though....its a tough runner. That 3.8L turns all day long happily. Its proven to an ugly reliable cheap heap.

When the weather is nice, I rather be on 2 wheels. So I ride my 2007 Yamaha Vmax. Last of the Gen 1s. The original muscle bike. All the early quirks worked out. Giving some of the R1s a run for their money in the stop light to stop light races.

The reason I signed up for this site.....I am still conflicted on what I want to do with this truck. I had a customer bring me a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD. Comes with the baby of engines, 6.0L VIN U. The 4L80E trans. The NP263 transfer case. Z82 extra capacity springs. 4.10 gears with the G80 locker. This customer had the vehicle sit for 18 months after it developed a misfire. During its vacation, mice moved in and made short work of the wiring harness in the underhood fuse panel. After a shit list of needed repairs, the customer decided that the truck was not worth the trouble to repair. Since it didnt run properly, I could not give a complete and accurate list of what was needed. He asked how much he thought he could get for it. Told him as it sat whole, probably around scrap weight. I offered him $500 for it. He agreed. I repaired 29 wires under there. This allowed the vehicle to bring back a plethora of functions including the 4WD, the throttle response, and charging system. Once the vehicle was running, it did indeed have a severe misfire. This misfire was due to the #6 spark plug porcelain being broken and covering the electrode. Plugs and wires took care of that. The throttle response issue though...extremely well known to the folks that drive these trucks on a regular basis. I had a bad TPS sensor on the throttle body. Replacing that made the truck more reliable. Instrument cluster had 7 gauges all completely spun around. RF wheel bearing was near the verge of falling off. Tail gate handle missing, attempted theft had the driver door handle and ignition lock cylinder damaged. Brakes are toasted all the way around, not one engine gasket holds oil. Oil cooler and trans cooler hoses....typically leaking. Driver door panel broken, leather seat torn, heated seats turn on and go off after a few seconds, blower motor housed a nest including hood insulation that is now attempting to clear itself from the HVAC unit and the interior was completely soda soaked. Like someone sat in every seating position with a can of Coke, shook it and then opened it. The center console cupholders....seriously had about an 1/8 inch of caramelized soda sitting in it.

5 hours it took to repair the wiring to get it to run. I still have no washer squirters or horn. Think there are more damaged wires somewhere.

5 hours detailing the interior.

2 hours putting new stepper motors and LED bulbs in the dash.

1 hour installing new RF wheel bearing

3 hours machining rotors and installing brake pads.

1 hour re-keying the ignition lock cylinder and repairing 1 key FOB. The other FOB doesnt work. Suspect its gone.

30 minutes installing the rear tail gate handle.

1 hour installing yellow fog lamps.

2 hours for installing spark plugs and wires.

1 hour installing new TPS sensor on throttle body.

Total cost so far with the cost of the truck included is $930.69 including a radio that is in transit. For that radio, I am installing a Onstar radio kit that will retain steering wheel controls. I am also installing a GPS tracking unit and a dual channel dash camera.

Up next on the list of things is front tires. Last replaced in 2010, they are toast. The rears were replaced in 2017. Next, upgraded exterior lights. All LED. After that, the interior will be addressed with the seat and inner door panel. The final deal will be the engine. It needs to be pulled and re-sealed. But if the engine is coming out....why shouldnt some toys be installed. Like a cam, injectors, maybe some better heads, bored, stroked and maybe if budgeted properly, a supercharger.

Because I flip vehicles so often, I know where the price points are. Currently, I took a $500 truck and brought the value back to $4000. Over 20 hours of work will definitely show. Getting the tires and interior back to par will bring the truck to $5000. These prices are "fair condition" prices. Once I get the truck where I want it with all the items and accessories done, I will move this truck into "great condition" and the pricing will be $6800-$9800. If the engine goes supercharged, Add a few more thousand to the price.

I stated I am conflicted with this truck. Its a great truck. Plenty of potential. Definitely a decent tow pig. I have always gravitated towards standard cab long beds. Due to my work, I needed my long bed. Standard cab means no one wants to bum rides off of you. This truck is an extended cab short bed. Complete opposite of what I need. But being what it is....I am torn if I want to keep it or pitch it. No matter what I want to do with it....I wont sell it now cause its not what I want to sell at this moment. Right now I can quadruple my money back. I can probably make more selling a more desirable truck.