1997 GMC Yukon Build Thread

[97YukonNZ]

I was wondering where you had gone. I haven't seen you lately. Glad to hear everything is going well

Yeah work life balance imbalanced

That and haven't been doing anything to the Beast!
Sold a few of my vintage bmx collection so i could start a few jobs on her!
How's the new place? You all moved in?

 

[97YukonNZ]

Went across the road to the panel beaters to get something out of the Yukon.
Mike is well into the roof and pissy about the state of it! Roof Had bad crazing and someone had just primed the shit out of it and top coated it.

Lol I'm getting value for money out of the 2k cost!

Wish I could get it this low with the wheels on!
Hahahaha

 

[97YukonNZ]

And She Is Back!!

Picked Her up from the painter

Happy with the work he did on the roof.
The surface rust above the windshield turned out to be just that.

Decided to keep the roof rack fixture holes. Just black silicone down the threads so I can choose to have rack on at any time. Left off plastic strips as no luggage will ever touch the roof.

 

[Tonyrodz]

And She Is Back!!View attachment 397837Picked Her up from the painterView attachment 397838Happy with the work he did on the roof.
The surface rust above the windshield turned out to be just that. View attachment 397839Decided to keep the roof rack fixture holes. Just black silicone down the threads so I can choose to have rack on at any time. Left off plastic strips as no luggage will ever touch the roof.

Looks awesome. He did a great job.

 

[97YukonNZ]

Looks awesome. He did a great job.

Thanks Tony
Yes it has really changed the look of her for the good. It was the 1 job that needed doing as soon as i bought it.

As usual though it has taken 3 years to get to it!

The work has come at a cost though.
As per usual,it has been something that has happened a couple of times to my vehicles .

As the prep work has been done on the roof the panel beater in his rough & dusty coveralls has rubbed along the doors causing vertical scratching and flat spots in the clear coat.

Hopefully I can polish it out with a black pigmented polish ihave. Ive gotten rid of worse wear from off roading.

Looks like that was his last job on the truck. I have been told about a friend of a friend's son who works ftom his lock up but paints from his day job at a Professional paint shop for a Reputable car dealership in Town.

Maybe his turn next Tony ay.
Lol thanks for taking the time to read this novel.
Hahahaha

 

[Tonyrodz]

Thanks Tony
Yes it has really changed the look of her for the good. It was the 1 job that needed doing as soon as i bought it.

As usual though it has taken 3 years to get to it!

The work has come at a cost though.
As per usual,it has been something that has happened a couple of times to my vehicles .

As the prep work has been done on the roof the panel beater in his rough & dusty coveralls has rubbed along the doors causing vertical scratching and flat spots in the clear coat.

Hopefully I can polish it out with a black pigmented polish ihave. Ive gotten rid of worse wear from off roading.

Looks like that was his last job on the truck. I have been told about a friend of a friend's son who works ftom his lock up but paints from his day job at a Professional paint shop for a Reputable car dealership in Town.

Maybe his turn next Tony ay.
Lol thanks for taking the time to read this novel.
Hahahaha

I think the painter should fix those scratches since he's the one that put them there.

 

[97YukonNZ]

I think the painter should fix those scratches since he's the one that put them there.

Yes me to.
I have had this talk before and know where it leads.
It was my fault or it is how i clean my vehicle. Or i should not use a chamois.

Is just disappointment. I'm not faulting his workmanship but his care.

Maybe we become to attached! I like to look after my shit so maybe I should learn to paint as well. Haha

 

[Sam Harris]

Yes me to.
I have had this talk before and know where it leads.
It was my fault or it is how i clean my vehicle. Or i should not use a chamois.

Is just disappointment. I'm not faulting his workmanship but his care.

Maybe we become to attached! I like to look after my shit si maybe I should learn to paint as well. Haha

No, him being a painter, should certainly understand the desire to be meticulous with vehicles, especially paint!

 

[97YukonNZ]

No, him being a painter, should certainly understand the desire to be meticulous with vehicles, especially paint!

You are so right!
I think some of these guys who have been doing it for so long just get tired and it becomes just 1 job after another.

Am really keen to see how this young guy goes when i have saved enough for the next job!

 

[97YukonNZ]

Hi how are ya's
I just did a run over here to the family beach house last night.
About 60 miles. Truck ran sweet!

They have dropped the speed limit on this bit of open road to 50mph and 35mph once you reach the hill country/summit road.
So that being said i was doing about 1500 rpm on the flat and peaked about 2500-3000 a couple times climbing steep grades
A couple of big climbs.

I checked my water return before leaving as i usually do.
Inside it is usually nice green anti freeze.
When i lifted the cap i noticed a build up of browny geasey deposits on the inside walls of the container and a loss of a small amount of coolant.

So i popped the cap on the rad and it was clean,no debris and clear. Inside of cap clean too.

Just popped cap for a look post drive and there is this deposit on the inside.
My thoughts are:Am i lifting a head gasket? Or is the inlet manifold leaking again?
Temp was good!

No residue in the oil cap,smells of yummy engine!

Engine oil is a good color. Just about time for a change. Am doing every 5000-7000 miles.
What do you think of this crud?
Time to drain and change coolant or maybe something more serious?
Am keen to hear what you think.
Cheers Tony

 

[97YukonNZ]

I had a wee race up a stretch of road with a big road bike recently. I wound her up to 4500rpm between gear changes and pulled up to around 95mph.

I wonder if that cleared the block of some build up as She does spend a bit of time parked up in the garage.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Thought you saw that mess in the radiator at 1st. I thought head gasket, until I re-read it. If it's only in the overflow and not the radiator--if it was me--I'd do a coolant flush, and if everything else checks out ok, I'd just keep an eye on it. I wouldn't call myself a mechanic, but that's what I would do.

 

[97YukonNZ]

Thought you saw that mess in the radiator at 1st. I thought head gasket, until I re-read it. If it's only in the overflow and not the radiator--if it was me--I'd do a coolant flush, and if everything else checks out ok, I'd just keep an eye on it. I wouldn't call myself a mechanic, but that's what I would do.

Thanks Tony
That is what I'm thinking as its not overheating or fuming and oil is looking good.
I think the sludge in the cap is what got sucked through from the refill bottle on the drive over.

Not a bad Saturday afternoon here for an Autumn day. Cool and still.
Lol your type of weather!

 

[97YukonNZ]

Its a bigger climb back out of here tomorrow. About a 1/10th gradient so ill look at everything again when i get home.
You cant drive out of here in a car with cooling issues so if there is an issue i should be able to see evidence of it.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Its a bigger climb back out of here tomorrow. About a 1/10th gradient so ill look at everything again when i get home.
You cant drive out of here in a car with cooling issues so if there is an issue i should be able to see evidence of it.

Hopefully it was just a fluke and everything is good to go.

 

[97YukonNZ]

Hi
It has taken me a while to report back as to how I got on coming home.
She didn't overheat or use any coolant so you had it right @Tonyrodz !

Glad it wasnt the start of something fellas!

 

[97YukonNZ]

Gidday guys!
I was doing a farmers market a few weeks ago and this wee guy popped up to say hi!
His name is Salty. Hard case wee guy!
He is a mixture of Fox terrier and Jack Russell.

 

[97YukonNZ]

I have enjoyed the look of new roof recently after the new paint went on.

Have decided to do a home show in Blenheim. Going to sell salami/sausage
There over 3 days.
Is a 200 mile drive north of Christchurch where we live.

Am going to drive the Yukon.

Going to be the longest trip in her so far!
Will be taking all the gear. Tables,signs,the steel work for hanging salami from. And about 600 salami

So I need to put the roofrack back on.

It really needed a clean up so i decided to go too far and sand,prime and paint the rails.

It came up pretty good! Not perfect but will do for now!
I actually like the look of it now its back on the roof.
Is pretty streamlined and definitely needed!

 

[97YukonNZ]

I will get a picture up soon of it.
Just need to give her a wee clean 1st.
Ya know. Pride of the ride n stuff!
Winter here now so she is A Dirty Girl!

 

[97YukonNZ]

On another note;

We here in New Zealand have to have our cars tested for road worthiness on a regular basis to be legally allowed to use them on our roads.

Cars after 2000 are checked annually
The beast being pre 2000 gets checked 6 monthly.
If you are caught driving without a w.o.f you may get fined $150
If you are unlucky and get a cop who likes the power you could get a separate fine for each item that doesn't come up to code!
Usually you'll just get a warning and 2 weeks to get it sorted.

Is a good way of keeping up with the health of your vehicle!

Anyway: I had a test in December 2020 and failed on a lower right ball joint.

It was coming up on Christmas week and i was lucky enough to find the part so i booked the job in with the guy's that failed it and wouldnt you know it! The dealership gave me the wrong part!
A 2 wheel drive ball joint instead of a 4wd.

So i had to wait a couple of weeks for the part to arrive. 5 months later I finally get it done and passed for inspection.
All is good!

So that means i had a test and failed. It is in the system for Land Transport Authority showing it failed and why.
It also shows the fail 6 months later and the pass as they fixed it.

Yes i drove illegally on it for 6 months. Only got it fixed because if you dont have a current wof you cant register the vehicles license of registration and then there are insurance issues to follow if you crash.

So now it gets interesting.
She passes the next 2 tests over 2022.
No Sweat!
Just had a test last week and guess what?
It Failed!
Right front Ball Joint! Again!!

So i got them to check it out and looking under her you could see a new ball joint on the left hand side!

The changed out the left side and filed the paperwork as the right side being done! That means I've been driving on a failing ball joint for 3 years!

So i went and bought a new part and took the rig back down and talked to the business owner. He was very embarrassed and gutted with his employees.
Asked him to look after me on the labor for the job and he readily agreed.

No point in me ragging people ayy!

So i go into the office to book the job in.
His wife is the office lady.
When I give her the news(talk to the woman) she pretty much spits the dummy.
Reckons its a mistake and there is no way they would have missed that!!

Let alone the fact that it could have failed at 60mph and killed me and the people i smashed into.

Lol i still haven't learned! Talk to the man!
Leave him to sort out the office staff

Amazing that she would even attempt to question the situation.
Is all on file. I have it on paper.

Really i could report it and lose them their license to warrant car fitness.
It might yet happen if there is anymore attitude!

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