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Upgrades are paying off [message #210764] Wed, 12 June 2013 01:52 Go to previous message
jtblank is currently offline  jtblank   United States
Messages: 237
Registered: June 2007
Location: Tulare, CA
Karma:
Senior Member
Just got back from my 300 mile round trip to Pismo Beach, CA and really am excited with the following last year's upgrades and maintenance items.

Re-insulated the ceiling with R-max sheet insulation, left last Friday temperature was 105, after cooling down the back with the roof a/c turned it off after 45 minutes, the rest of the journey was with dash only a/c and was very comfortable. Really could notice that the radiation of the heat was almost eliminated. Not till I got to Atascadero (120 miles) was the outside temp below 100, but the wife and I were cool.

Front and rear brake upgrades, used Jim K yellow sticky http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/598 and rear carbon metallic shoes http://www.appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/607. The front grab really well and no more squeaking coming to a stop. The rears were relined with the shoes and new spring kit, I also repacked both inner and outer bearing with Valvoline synthetic grease and new seals and new wheel cylinders. Upgraded the intermediate with 1 1/16", with all these changes I could really notice a BIG difference, the rear now seems to somewhat squat when braking and blend well with the increase stopping power of the sticky yellow front disc pads. I now know how bad the brakes were before..... Always had that feeling in traffic "hope it stops" but now if you hit the brakes hard if it ain't tied down its coming up front fast. I highly recommend both the sticky yellow disc pad and CM shoes Jim K has, I know that everyone is talking about the reaction arm system for the rear for both drum and disc conversions but with these excellent parts and proper adjustment you'll find a vast improvement over your "I hope" brakes.

Plug wires and K&N filter service, installed new Accel 8mm plug wires and serviced the K&N filter, since I travel the road twice annually I know what the max speed up certain grades, I noticed about 2-3 miles per hour faster climb, as a side note I averaged close to 9 miles per gallon which was an improvement of about 1 mpg.


PS hats off to Chuck Boyd for the brake shoe adjustment "ding" tip, no hot or sloppy brakes.

Never had a better trip can't wait for the next!

John Blankenship '76 Palm Beach Tulare, CA

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