1983 GMC Astro cabover restore and semi work

My '86 Big Cam IV (315) takes 9 1/2 gallons...When you go to change the oil, do yourself a favor and punch a hole through the bottom of the oil filter and let it all drain out before unscrewing it, save yourself a big mess....Also, follow what BCK said about getting oil pressure first....You can also fill up the oil filter before screwing it on....Rotella 15W40 is a good oil, but really, I use the generic Walmart brand of 15w40....The key to oil is not so much the brand but to to change it and the filter(s) frequently....Oh yeah, one more thing, only use distilled water when refilling the coolant after changing, adding a bottle of Nacool too and your water pump thanks you...

 

Yeah man!, the old screaming jimmies, keep her wound up and watch her go....I never drove a Titan, but quite a few of the old 9500's w/ a 10 RR....

 

Long live the screamers, and #### the plush weedeaters today. (No offense please folks...)

 

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for some tips on my own resto project. A 1979, single axle, day cab Astro with the 8v71 and a 13-speed. My first step is changing out the fluids and cleaning out 8 years of mouse debris (and stink!).

 

Tell us all a little about its prior life....Years ago, we didn't usually see an 8V with a 13 in a S/A, usually run of the mill for a S/A was a 6V-71(238) and 10 RR....

 

This one was used by the local Department of Energy site to make the monthly run from one end of the site to the other with a load of radioactive waste. It has about 75k miles on it and would have been in great shape, except it was parked at the surplus lot for the past 8 years, and the mice moved in. Pretty much the entire interior has to go, but the hoses and wires seem to be intact. With four new batteries in it it starts right up and idles like a sewing machine.

 

Delco is still owned by GM, and still makes heavy duty truck parts.

Trucks have been 12 volt start since, I don't know, but my 1988 Peterbilt was 12 volt, not 24 volt. They use group 31, mostly 4 batteries in parallel.

You might have to update alternator and starter.

 

Hey patrickb2007, does your parts book by chance have the numbers for the heater control cables? I'm having a bugger of a time tracking down equivalent parts for mine. Thanks!