1986 GMC S-15

Jeffer949

Observer
So. I was just looking through the start of your thread and noticed something. Your Topper isn't the right one for your truck is it? The way it doesn't fit the cab. The way the bottom protrudes out farther. Not that it matters at all. I just noticed it. Having any luck finding body parts? I admit that I miss reading about your adventures.

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Andrew_S

Observer
Beautiful pics from the hike. Also, I am glad tosee your truck coming back together Andrew. I am curious why you are running a cat and that thin pipe exhaust? Dual exhaust and even some headers would not only give you way more power but your truck would sound cool too. In the summer I am around Kelowna so if you want a hand I can send you my tlf. nummber if you need help. Who knows maybe we could go fishing. Thanks for keeping us updated with your build. Cheers, Chilli...:cool:

I chose to run a cat because I got really annoyed by the constant backfiring out the exhaust when I would use the trans/engine to brake going down hills. Headers and opening up the exhaust side of the heads would definitely help a lot, no doubt. Just trying to stay on the budget side of things. Headers were another $500, more porting on the heads, more $$. Yeah for sure, next time your around send me a message and come by for a beer.



So. I was just looking through the start of your thread and noticed something. Your Topper isn't the right one for your truck is it? The way it doesn't fit the cab. The way the bottom protrudes out farther. Not that it matters at all. I just noticed it. Having any luck finding body parts? I admit that I miss reading about your adventures.

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Honestly no idea if the canopy was originally designed for the truck. It was original to the truck though dated 1986, and manufactured in summerland BC. Yes definitely got somewhere on finding body parts.

I found a mint oe hood at the junkyard for $60. It's tough moving stuff like this around with out a truck.
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One tiny little ding smaller then a penny on the front of it but aside from that it's mint and totally rust free.
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Also scored some headlights, a spare windshield washer fluid reservoir and an overflow bottle for the '84.
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Picked up some aluminium pipe for the '84 to finish off the intake and also some stainless rod to make some exhaust hangers for the '86.
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Really happy with how the '84's intake turned out. Miles better then the previous set up.
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New exhaust hangers, should last a long time being stainless. Still so stoked on the exhaust, 2 bolts and from the cat back just slides out in one piece.
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Fired up the engine for the first time and my timing gun ******** the bed. Scored a new to me (20+year old) sun pro for $20 later that day.
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I was really having a hard time finding a decent core support. Finally I decided to stop waiting and grab this one from the yard. I managed to get it on a 40% off day and it came to a total of $32. The only downside is it had a bit of rot in the bottom drivers side corner (on the left side).
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So I used the old damaged support to repair this one,
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A thousand spot welds later,
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After a lot of cleaning and some paint it turned out great,
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it sat like this for a week or so,
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Picked up this fender locally for $40 from a guy, brand new aftermarket fender. It'll do for now until I can find an oe gm fender.
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and finally after tying up a thousand loose ends we went out for a test drive in the bush
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Definitely need to get it painted sometime here in the near future but at-least we're back out there now. We lucked out and saw a nice bull moose mucking around in a swamp and then shortly later a nice cow moose. Unfortunately no rabbits or grouse tonight.
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Andrew_S

Observer
We've been out hunting/fishing quite a bit lately. Truck has been doing great (knocks on wood) aside from an egr issue I've yet to resolve.

Some pics from the last couple weeks.

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Pics never do roads like these justice, super steep.
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Picked up a couple chickens here and there but no big game yet.
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Found a beautiful area between Oliver and Keremeos
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Scouting some new lakes,
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Won't be long and we'll be out on the hardwater again,
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Every time out we run across a cow with a calf moose.
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chilliwak

Expedition Leader
Awesome looking pics Andrew. You make I guy just want to get outdoors when you see what you are up to. Cheers, Chilli..:cool:
 

ZWilson07

Member
Good to finally see you posting. Love seeing your updates. You need to apparently buy a third one to keep us busy here.

For the record, you do have another truck, you just didn't want to use it lol.
 

Jeffer949

Observer
So... was looking at a house on Zillow and was looking at the street view......did you take a trip to kansas and not tell us? Or better yet. Want me to go drive by and see if it's still there and steal the fender and hood?

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Andrew_S

Observer

That's so funny because I actually contacted that guy to see what he wanted for it. I could have used the grill for sure!

Awesome looking pics Andrew. You make I guy just want to get outdoors when you see what you are up to. Cheers, Chilli..:cool:
Thanks Chilli, I love reading build threads for not only the inspiration to work on my own junk but the inspiration to get out and enjoy the wild.


Good to finally see you posting. Love seeing your updates. You need to apparently buy a third one to keep us busy here.

For the record, you do have another truck, you just didn't want to use it lol.

That's a fair statement haha, the worst part is it never even crossed my mind to use it hahaha.

So... was looking at a house on Zillow and was looking at the street view......did you take a trip to kansas and not tell us? Or better yet. Want me to go drive by and see if it's still there and steal the fender and hood?

Holy ********! yeah please, I would love to just swap on some colour matched/faded parts!!! That's a great looking truck from the pic but I suppose I'm bias...


Sorry it's been way to long, the last 4 months have been crazy busy with travelling and visitors. Get a proper update in here.

The wifey quit her job in Calgary and we are both now living together again finally. The day I went to go get her.

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A week later we went on a 3 week hunting/snowboarding trip in Czech republic & Austria. Here are some random pics from that.

Old truck a group of guys were using for harvesting carp. Big portal Axles, saw these things everywhere in czech.
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Wifey got a roe deer first night.
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Random Land rover shop,
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Night hunt for pigs,
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Drinks & Guns,
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Hunting on the German/Czech border
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Doe's only was open when we were there.
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Hand feeding red deer on a game farm,
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Russian bore a friend shot,
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Mushroom hunting treasures,
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Visiting friends and he was prepping a couple of fallow deer skulls for euro mounts,
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Our friends bunkhouse/pub,
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Pretty neat scope, records your hunts. Costs about $7k...
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Andrew_S

Observer
Now the snowboarding/Austria portion.

Kitzsteinhorn Lookout,
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Hiked up to the dams above Kaprun,
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Worst mistake ever taking the funicular stairs....
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Lots of wildlife at the top,
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The lower dam,
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Awesome little unimog plow truck,
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Spent 4 days at Stubai Glacier, first night we arrived they received 70cm of snow overnight.... Made for a pretty incredible 4 days.
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Serious consequences to falling,
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The last two days were blue bird skies,
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There is a ton more pics but you guys get the just of it. Will try and update this with proper progess/BC adventure pics later this week.
 

chilliwak

Expedition Leader
Absolutely awesome landscape and adventure pics Andrew. That must have been an incredible trip. Thanks for posting up. Cheers, Chilli...:cool:
 

Andrew_S

Observer
^ thanks Chilli, it was such a good trip.

I'm not sure what's going to come of this thread. I started hosting all my photos with Flickr after photobucket ******** the bed and started charging. Now flickr is $60+usd a year and I don't think I'm willing to pay that. Have to try and figure something else out.

In the meantime some pics as promised.

The day we returned to BC we had to run out early in the am and get a christmas tree as it was almost Christmas.
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Beautiful morning and a ton of fresh snow and we found this gem on the side of the road.
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The wifeys father in law came for two weeks at christmas to visit and we took him out ice fishing a bunch. The S15 is pretty tight for 3 people though hahaha.
Here's a bunch of random pics from that two week period.
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Somewhere in the mix I changed a wheel bearing. Picked up a brand new one off a truck at the wreckers for $23. Looked like it had less then a thousand km's on it.

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Couple more blue bird days out on the lakes,

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Aside from great fishing, you can't beat the scenery imo.
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Love eating fresh brookies,

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I found a sonoma at the wreckers with a rough country 2.5" lift in it. I pulled the rear shackles for an extra 2" in the rear.

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After installing the rear shackles I decided I might like to the do the front as well.

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So I went back this aft. The haul was all 4 nitrogen shocks, tubular upper arms that adjusts the ball joint geometry, front diff drop bracket and wedge, lift keys, and I also grabbed a temp sensor, and a couple tps's to try and fix a hesitation while accelerating. Oh yeah and a tbi spacer. Scooped everything for less 91$. That means I got the whole lift for $100 cad and it would cost me over $1000 to buy it brand new right now.

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Kingsize24

Well-known member
Good score! Also... Why not just upload them directly to here instead of hosting them somewhere else then linking them. Just a passing thought.

Your adventures are always awesome. Seems like you live in a great location close to some awesomely beautiful areas. Keep them coming.
 

Paddler Ed

Adventurer
Good score! Also... Why not just upload them directly to here instead of hosting them somewhere else then linking them. Just a passing thought.

Your adventures are always awesome. Seems like you live in a great location close to some awesomely beautiful areas. Keep them coming.

His pictures (and thread) load a lot quicker than those that are directly loaded to here do... I know who does that, and who doesn't... and that shapes which threads I read at times at home.
 

Kingsize24

Well-known member
His pictures (and thread) load a lot quicker than those that are directly loaded to here do... I know who does that, and who doesn't... and that shapes which threads I read at times at home.

That may be true, but I would rather see his pictures and adventures hosted here than not see them at all. Him having to pay out of pocket to host pictures on another site so that we can have faster upload speed makes no sense. He seems to be looking for an affordable way to host the pictures here, so I figured direct upload would probably fit the bill, even if it loads very slightly slower. I'm fine with it. JMHO

Jason
 

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