My Crimson Cruiser - 1996 GMC 1500 Project

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

aldang25879

I'm Awesome
Joined
May 4, 2024
Messages
174
Reaction score
360
Location
Arkansas
I’ll call around town today and let you guys know what I find out. Even if it costs a little money I’d rather just have it done then screw around with it all night after working all day.

4wd LCA’s were discontinued, but I don’t think there was a specific reason. I’ve heard though that Chevy Astro van LCA’s bolt right up. Haven’t talked to anyone yet that has tried it, but I’d be curious to know.
I’m not sure if I’ve seen any Astro vans around my local junkyard but they do make the arms new. Hell, I barely see any OBS vans driving anymore, they’re definitely rare. There’s one guy with a 2wd model that I always see driving around town and that’s it.
 
Last edited:

aldang25879

I'm Awesome
Joined
May 4, 2024
Messages
174
Reaction score
360
Location
Arkansas
So most places won’t - plaza tire, Firestone, etc.

Reason being, they only put parts on vehicles that they order themselves, for a plenitude of reasons most generic tire places won’t deal with customer obtained parts.

While they wouldn’t, Big-O tire said they could do it for me. Big shout out to those guys. Mechanic told me he was confident he could make it happen for me.

I’m clocking some overtime at work this week so far, because we’re hitting a peak period. But once I get the other side taken out, I’ll update.

Seems like the steps are to get all the arms off, bushings all pressed out, wire brush and paint the arms, and have the new ones pressed in. And the lower ball joint. Then it’ll look real pretty and drive real straight :grd:
 

fancyTBI

*Sad TBI 350 noises*
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
3,372
Reaction score
9,696
Location
Northern IL
Here is build sheet if you guys have any final recommendations or suggestions. Since my Cunningham shaft arrived I’m going to order the rest of these items and get it started. Because the steering box is pricey before the core refund, Hopefully by the beginning of July I will have everything at my doorstep.
You must be registered for see images attach

I texted the seller and he actually offered me a 10% discount on it, so I’m biting on that.

You must be registered for see images attach

My rock auto cart covers a Haynes manual I want (I have Alldata as well, both definitely will help this build), a dash cover, Dex 3 for the power steering, and the remaining suspension components I need: Idler arm bracket, 2 sets of lower and upper control arm bushings. Which im sure the bushings will be super easy and not a huge pain in my ***. :anitoof:

You must be registered for see images attach

Already shipped is my steering shaft. I’m leaving this here for people who’d like to order one themselves, Cunningham has their own page on this website as well. This is for 95-00 trucks, if you have a 88-94, their website has a different option with u-joints on either side. Thats the one you’ll need.

You must be registered for see images attach

This is the part number and website for the red-top steering box. They’re very good and made in the USA. Cunningham is also produced in the USA that’s how you know both of those are good products.

Some info for anyone wanting to buy one of these:
-they got exceptional quality and you know it’s a good box every time unlike AutoZone.
- they have a 2.5 turn radius box available as well. I have no experience with them but from what I could gather they aren’t noticeably different. If you want a quick ratio racing box, I would suggest checking out summit don’t waste your money on this one.
- the price is $316, BUT there is a $150 core charge, $35 charge for a premade shipping label to get your old one to them, and shipping came out to $39. So expect to have about $550 to $575 to dish out before your refund. Make sure to either order this last, or to get that old box out when the package arrives if you’re still waiting for stuff. My buddy let it sit around, waiting for other parts, and he only got half his core charge back.

Once I have all this installed I’ll be tuning up the engine and then working on getting a drop kit.
A little late - I thought you were getting Mevotech TTX parts?
 

aldang25879

I'm Awesome
Joined
May 4, 2024
Messages
174
Reaction score
360
Location
Arkansas
A little late - I thought you were getting Mevotech TTX parts?
With my price point and some outside stuff with my mom’s situation I want to kill two birds with one stone. We’ll see how the XRF hold up long term and I won’t have to dish out as much money. Only downside is re using my old arms and worrying about pressing bushings, which I got figured out today.

Thanks for checking in !! I hope you like how it’s going so far
 

aldang25879

I'm Awesome
Joined
May 4, 2024
Messages
174
Reaction score
360
Location
Arkansas
Nice looking truck to start with. My Mom's side of the family are from Mammoth Spring, Arkansas
I really like your truck! It has that old school vibe to it. I’ve never been to mammoth spring but it looks just like gentry from what I can tell. This is one of the best states in the country! I love these old timey towns that never change :anitoof:
 

fancyTBI

*Sad TBI 350 noises*
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2018
Messages
3,372
Reaction score
9,696
Location
Northern IL
With my price point and some outside stuff with my mom’s situation I want to kill two birds with one stone. We’ll see how the XRF hold up long term and I won’t have to dish out as much money. Only downside is re using my old arms and worrying about pressing bushings, which I got figured out today.

Thanks for checking in !! I hope you like how it’s going so far
Ahh, I see. I hope those parts work out well for you. I’ve never heard of that brand.

Progress is good.
 

ImMrBill

Newbie
Joined
Apr 10, 2021
Messages
32
Reaction score
94
Location
Washington state
I really like your truck! It has that old school vibe to it. I’ve never been to mammoth spring but it looks just like gentry from what I can tell. This is one of the best states in the country! I love these old timey towns that never change :anitoof:
Yeah I love Arkansas even though I'm in Washington state. Most of my mom's relatives and my kin live in Garfield and Rogers Arkansas and Thayer Missouri. I'm 75 so I'm not able to get back there much.
 

aldang25879

I'm Awesome
Joined
May 4, 2024
Messages
174
Reaction score
360
Location
Arkansas
Ahh, I see. I hope those parts work out well for you. I’ve never heard of that brand.

Progress is good.
I’ll definitely keep up a detailed log of how they hold up. From what people said in my previous thread and some research I’ve done, they seem decent. I like how they look out of the box so far as well.
 

aldang25879

I'm Awesome
Joined
May 4, 2024
Messages
174
Reaction score
360
Location
Arkansas
Yeah I love Arkansas even though I'm in Washington state. Most of my mom's relatives and my kin live in Garfield and Rogers Arkansas and Thayer Missouri. I'm 75 so I'm not able to get back there much.
I’m in Roger’s I bet they’ve seen me drivin my truck around lol. We got hit pretty hard from the tornado, you can see in all my videos the amount of trees and branch piles everywhere. I lost the tree out of my front yard as well, if my truck was parked where it usually was it would’ve been crushed.

I’ve heard a lot of good and a lot of bad about Washington state, seems like the mountainside there is really nice to live. Seattle though, lol..
 
Top