1997 GMC Yukon Build Thread

[Sparksalot]

Looking good.

 

[Sparksalot]

That road looks like a lot of fun. Too bad that guy in the blue car kept making love to his brake pedal.

 

[97YukonNZ]

 

[97YukonNZ]

Looking good.

Thanks man.
4 hour trip felt like an hour.
Very happy with her performance.

 

[97YukonNZ]

Hey there fellas. Hope your Summer is been going Great!

The trip up to Blenhiem was a success!
Truck went sweet! Did a bit over 1/2 tank of gas fully loaded 312km.
So just under 200 miles.

Had no issues.

Sold all 430 salami by 2.00 pm Sunday and all 50 packs of dog treats!
People up there were really freindly.

Trip home was eventful though with weather and flooding warnings due to a big storm.

Had to avoid some huge puddles taking ip our side of the road and probably 20 or so small slips due to huge rainfall!

Used no oil(clean as) and coolant was allgoods!

 

[97YukonNZ]

Have had a busy couple of weeks at work and organised to take a weeks holiday!

So as you do when ya get time off I decided it would be a good time to take the rear leaves out of the truck.

Going to take them in for a rebuild with a leaf added to stiffen her up in the rear.
The guys at Bellamy & East have been my go to for any spring work so I thought id save myself a few bikkies by taking em out myself.

What a job getting the front leaf bolts out! Ended up asking for help as I was preparing to have to take the tank out.

Thankfully the advice i got ment just chopping through the problem bolt but what an ordeal!

Only had 100mm cutting wheels for my grinder and with the angles I could only cut 1/2 way through then the rest with a hacksaw.

So glad a mate called round to say hi at the right time!
Lol he got to help cut that sucker thru
While I finished taking the other spring out!

So glad I wont have to go through that again!
I have new bushes to go in the newly tempered and set leaves.
Thinking it will firm her up in the bum real good!
The old leaves look tidy for 26 years old but man they have got no guts to them! The shocks are pretty much doing all the work.
Will be good to tick this job off the list!

 

[97YukonNZ]

Yes!!!
They are back from the spring maker's!

A really good price of $456.09 for a complete rebuild plus an extra leaf in each. Around $240.00 U.S

Ready for reassembly.

They fit exactly as they left!

After cleaning up all the parts I baked them in my old BBQ that I dont use for food anymore.

Baked them up to 200°c then Zinc coated them hot and placed back in the cooling bbq to dry.

Was around 20°f here yesterday and not good for painting.

Got a replacement bolt for the hardware that I had to chop out.
Happy with the state of the other components for now.
Will update if and when performance is done on the engine.

Righto! Time to get her pants back on

 

[97YukonNZ]

Only cocern I have is how high she will it sit with the extra leaf and re temping?

We'll find out soon .

I have an inch of adjusment with the drop shackles I installed a while back

If she sits too high Ihave been thinking of an additional custom bracket i could have made to doulbe bolt to the existing shackle safely that may give me more drop.

1 mission at a time ayyy.

 

[97YukonNZ]

I have decided to do the hardest bolt 1st and am paranoid about losing it down beside the petrol tank.

so i put duc tape on the backside until it is torqued somewhat.

Thought I'd do something I've never done before. Chucked the vacuum cleaner around under the job to clean up the mess breaking her down!

Haha So that is the clean up done 1st.

 

[97YukonNZ]

And She is back together!

Gave all exposed area's a hit with the wire brush and gave a zinc coat to save her from rust.
Thought I'd re paint the drum's while I had the can in hand!

 

[OR VietVet]

View attachment 404970And She is back together!

Gave all exposed area's a hit with the wire brush and gave a zinc coat to save her from rust.
Thought I'd re paint the drum's while I had the can in hand!

Not back together till tires and wheels are on and setting on ground. Gotta see the end results.

 

[97YukonNZ]

True that Ron!

here you are mate!

She is a bit high in the bum!

I am going to drop her an inch in the bum when i get home and if need be I have 40mm I can wind back up in the front to drop the amount of rake.

Feels much more positive in acceleration not have that sad old sag in the bum during torque conversion.
Just need to level her off a bit.

Thanks for your feed back

 

[OR VietVet]

I would not do anything to it till you drive it and haul with it first. Like I said earlier, I ran a shop that did springs like this and we would tell the customer give it a month at least and then report back. Over 90% of them sagged just a little as they settled and looked and handled fine. They especially liked the ability to haul better and the sure feel of the rear area when was in handling mode at higher speeds.

 

[97YukonNZ]

I would not do anything to it till you drive it and haul with it first. Like I said earlier, I ran a shop that did springs like this and we would tell the customer give it a month at least and then report back. Over 90% of them sagged just a little as they settled and looked and handled fine. They especially liked the ability to haul better and the sure feel of the rear area when was in handling mode at higher speeds.

Yes
My thoughts too!
Will drop an inch in the rear and let her settle a month to see how She relaxes..

 

[OR VietVet]

Yes
My thoughts too!
Will drop an inch in the rear and lst her settle a month to see how She relaxes..

If you want to relax or settle them quicker.....just go do some "Dukes of Hazard" jumps and they will settle pretty quick.

 

[97YukonNZ]

Okay so I've arrived home after a drive down to work n back .

I'm just going to say"

Oh My Gosh!!!!

What an improvement!! This has made a huge change to the casual frive. Can't wait for Her to settle in.

Much better!!

 

[97YukonNZ]

If you want to relax or settle them quicker.....just go do some "Dukes of Hazard" jumps and they will settle pretty quick.

Yehaaa Boy!!

 

[97YukonNZ]

Hey remember this guy!?

This is Teddy.
We have had the joy of him in our family for a wee bit over 18 ish months.

I just walked into the wife's healing room and found him like this cruising out in the energy of the room.

He was loving the peace.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Hey remember this guy!?View attachment 415923This is Teddy.
We have had the joy of him in our family for a wee bit over 18 ish months.

I just walked into the wife's healing room and found him like this cruising out in the energy of the room.

He was loving the peace.

How very Zen of Teddy.

 

[97YukonNZ]

Hey Hope you're all well!
Here we go on a mod.
Am going to put a pair of 2" drop keys in.
Lol wish me luck!!

Got her in the air. Just gave the torsion bars a lube to help them out so I can drop the old keys.

Bought this kit from Switch Suspension in Arizona.
Big shout out to Vance with thanks for helping me get the bits I was after.