85 Sierra Ute - Stock - Need advice

[The Frayne]

G'day Guys - I'm hoping for some advice and wether to invest in the ute to be perfectly honest.

Basically - I have picked it up pretty cheap, its got just on 150,000 k's - 970cc - 4 on the floor.
Body is surprisingly straight with a few rust spots here n there, but defo can be sorted by a decent re-spray.

However, she is in need of some love -

The ute came with a few tires, basically 215/75 15r's all round, except for the front drivers side, the tires is just a fraction taller. The other day a fella shouted at me, saying the back left is buckled, on inspection it was and has now been changed for the orig, think 205??

SO it needs new tires and rims really.

Recently on the drive, from first to third im getting massive vibrations through the cab, steering wheel and 4wd gear shift.
On 4wd the whole underside feels like its going to drop off, extremely rattly and steering is almost impossible.
Ive had a good look under there (ZERO MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE) and the axle driving the front wheels is fairly loose and rattly, the axle that goes into the exchange for the back wheels is very noises to, extremely audible noise into gears..

Bushes are gone, and id like to look at the suspension also!!

Engine, or tho rather noises (thought it was the tapheads but adjusted them and its still the same) is fairly strong.
Im doing about 500k's a week and its being driven at 100kph for about 40mins a day.. so cant really complain tooooo much there..
Oil change and renewed radiator have been done, she doesn't chew any oil and basically get about 270ks per tank - about $35 each time..

So.... haha - What do you think?
Is it worth spending the money on, I'm in Perth, summer is coming and No aircon is going to be a killer..

Im considering a few things, new engine including 1.6 efi or 1.3gti or even a toyota engine..

These are things I could do with advice on.

So after all that, Id really appreciate some advice.
Any perthies that are around and can point at the thing are welcome to come n kick its tires haha

Cheer , all the best..

Dave.

[St Jimmy]

Recently on the drive, from first to third im getting massive vibrations through the cab, steering wheel and 4wd gear shift.
On 4wd the whole underside feels like its going to drop off, extremely rattly and steering is almost impossible.
Ive had a good look under there (ZERO MECHANICAL KNOWLEDGE) and the axle driving the front wheels is fairly loose and rattly, the axle that goes into the exchange for the back wheels is very noises to, extremely audible noise into gears.. this could be universal joints they may need replacing The steering could be out of balance tyres, or king pins,
to check them jack up the front and shake the wheel from the top if it moves they may need replacing
regards
james

[DieselZook]

Congrats on the purchase. Looks good in red too. I really like Sierra utes. The only thing I don't like about them is they don't make them anymore.

Tyres & Rims:
I have fitted 235/75R15 on 15x6 rims under a stocker 1.0l ute with zero dramas.

Vibrations etc:
1. Cab vibrations: pretty much anything out of balance ends up vibrating the cab and chassis.

2. Steering wheels vibrations: If you are talking about a woble in the steering wheel (rotation left and right quickly) then that is often an indication of something wrong with one or both front wheels. Either bent or out of balance. If it is vibrating up and down, left and right (not rotating), or in and out, it is probably just vibrating with the chassis/cab. To solve it, take it to a tyre specialist and get a full balance, or if you are going to buy new tyres then just do that as they will balance them for you.

3. 4wd gear shift vibrations: (assuming it is vibrating independatly of the cab) usually indicates something wrong with the drive line. For the first step in the solution go to point 6.

4.

In 4wd the whole underside feels like its going to drop off

See point 3. above

5.

steering is almost impossible

Got me stumped without more information or seeing it myself. But solve the other problems first, it may just go away then.

6.

and the axle driving the front wheels is fairly loose and rattly

I think you are actually talking about the tail shaft (also called the prop shaft, propeller shaft, or drive shaft) The tail shaft transmits power from the transfer case to the diff. In your ute it would comprise of two uni joints at either end, a spline (usually with a rubber boot over it, but in yours it may have perished and fallen off) and a shaft, either solid or tube. Anyway, grab this shaft with both hands and shake it with all you've got up and down(you won't bend it with your hands) as you do inspect both uni joints and the spline. If you have movement in the spline, I'm sorry you have to buy a new shaft (I've tried have the spline replace, but no-one I could find would do it, and it would probably end up costing more than the shaft). If the unis have movement, but the spline is firm, then you can replace the unis. Do both the front and back tails shafts. This is not the only thing that can go wrong with drive lines, just the most common. So if these check out and the vibrations continue ask again.

Engine:
1.0l are noisy, they are doing about 5,000rpm at 100km/h

To spend money or not to spend money:
I would. First get the tyres and vibrations sorted out before you think of engine upgrades. And no air con - Just wind down both windows, should keep you comfortable so long as you are not in a business suit or something.

[nicbeer]

another perthie

where in perth are ya.

if u want to see what 205s are like on the ute let me know as u could borrow a set i have and also have a set of 225s around the house.

may have some other bits u need. never know. he he

[jimbo jones]

lookk like a nice unit all she needs is some tlc

[The Frayne]

Thanks for replies guys will address each one..

[The Frayne]

Congrats on the purchase. Looks good in red too. I really like Sierra utes. The only thing I don't like about them is they don't make them anymore.

Tyres & Rims:
I have fitted 235/75R15 on 15x6 rims under a stocker 1.0l ute with zero dramas.

Vibrations etc:
1. Cab vibrations: pretty much anything out of balance ends up vibrating the cab and chassis.

2. Steering wheels vibrations: If you are talking about a woble in the steering wheel (rotation left and right quickly) then that is often an indication of something wrong with one or both front wheels. Either bent or out of balance. If it is vibrating up and down, left and right (not rotating), or in and out, it is probably just vibrating with the chassis/cab. To solve it, take it to a tyre specialist and get a full balance, or if you are going to buy new tyres then just do that as they will balance them for you.

3. 4wd gear shift vibrations: (assuming it is vibrating independatly of the cab) usually indicates something wrong with the drive line. For the first step in the solution go to point 6.

4.

In 4wd the whole underside feels like its going to drop off

See point 3. above

5.

steering is almost impossible

Got me stumped without more information or seeing it myself. But solve the other problems first, it may just go away then.

6.

and the axle driving the front wheels is fairly loose and rattly

I think you are actually talking about the tail shaft (also called the prop shaft, propeller shaft, or drive shaft) The tail shaft transmits power from the transfer case to the diff. In your ute it would comprise of two uni joints at either end, a spline (usually with a rubber boot over it, but in yours it may have perished and fallen off) and a shaft, either solid or tube. Anyway, grab this shaft with both hands and shake it with all you've got up and down(you won't bend it with your hands) as you do inspect both uni joints and the spline. If you have movement in the spline, I'm sorry you have to buy a new shaft (I've tried have the spline replace, but no-one I could find would do it, and it would probably end up costing more than the shaft). If the unis have movement, but the spline is firm, then you can replace the unis. Do both the front and back tails shafts. This is not the only thing that can go wrong with drive lines, just the most common. So if these check out and the vibrations continue ask again.

Engine:
1.0l are noisy, they are doing about 5,000rpm at 100km/h

To spend money or not to spend money:
I would. First get the tyres and vibrations sorted out before you think of engine upgrades. And no air con - Just wind down both windows, should keep you comfortable so long as you are not in a business suit or something.

Re- Rims & Rubber - Have decided on a 215/75/ 15 Kumo found a friend that can get them as cheap as Maxxis in same size..(think that's a good deal)

Re- Vibs - Well, It could be to-do with the fact that I have a slightly taller tyre on the front left and a 215 on the left, but just doesn't seem to come from the tyres, I could be wrong, feels like the engine is trying to rattle its way out of the chassis.
I've tried, Fairly badly to record an average take off,stop and take off again, im uploading as we speak, its in mp4 format, so ill get the link up for that asap. (Shows the 4wd stick and also steering wheel)
As always it didn't seem quite as bad when I was recording, but hey.
I'm going to get the new tyre's and get all the rim's checked, I suspect one or more are rolling or are fubar.. time will tell.

Re- 4wd Vibs/Problems - Will also record in cab and try and get some under cab action recorded. Its really hard to explain the exact feeling/noises.. Its also a real pig to get back into 2wd after I engage the 4wd.. More to follow.

Re- Tail Shaft (LOL) yeh think your bang on, Rubber is still attached to the spline, but I need to get under and have a good shake again, basically the time i did before, the shaft has alot of flex in it, the front side the back wasn't that bad.. Again more vid footage to come.

Re- Uni's - Are they fairly low cost to repair?

Re- Engine, Yep agreed, need to get all the basics covered before I go to hard money wise.

I am a mature age apprentice so I'm hoping most things will be fairly low key cost wise, that said - Looking at maybe a short term loan of say 5k to get it all running sweet, Am I dreaming with that figure??

Will attach a few more piccies of the old girl.

Cheers again for your help.

Dave.




[/b]

[The Frayne]

another perthie

where in perth are ya.

if u want to see what 205s are like on the ute let me know as u could borrow a set i have and also have a set of 225s around the house.

may have some other bits u need. never know. he he

I'm based NOR (Marangaroo) but work mainly in the Myaree area

I've got the orig Brigie 205 on the back lefthand side at the moment, think she looks a little skinny so will stick to the 215's I think..
Just gotta get some new Speedies.. They dont sell the white ones anymore so ive heard, Maybe Mr Mag?

Any Links to your zuk matey?

[nicbeer]

another perthie

where in perth are ya.

if u want to see what 205s are like on the ute let me know as u could borrow a set i have and also have a set of 225s around the house.

may have some other bits u need. never know. he he

I'm based NOR (Marangaroo) but work mainly in the Myaree area

I've got the orig Brigie 205 on the back lefthand side at the moment, think she looks a little skinny so will stick to the 215's I think..
Just gotta get some new Speedies.. They dont sell the white ones anymore so ive heard, Maybe Mr Mag?

Any Links to your zuk matey?

u get can get other ones that the speedies in the whites. u will need 6s maybe for the 215s not too sure

im up wanneroo.

link to zook is in sig, click the zook name.

[The Frayne]

another perthie

where in perth are ya.

if u want to see what 205s are like on the ute let me know as u could borrow a set i have and also have a set of 225s around the house.

may have some other bits u need. never know. he he

I'm based NOR (Marangaroo) but work mainly in the Myaree area

I've got the orig Brigie 205 on the back lefthand side at the moment, think she looks a little skinny so will stick to the 215's I think..
Just gotta get some new Speedies.. They dont sell the white ones anymore so ive heard, Maybe Mr Mag?

Any Links to your zuk matey?

u get can get other ones that the speedies in the whites. u will need 6s maybe for the 215s not too sure

im up wanneroo.

link to zook is in sig, click the zook name.

Cheers fella - Hey thats where I grew up eh, cant F'ing believe the new shops going up, my old boy still lives there off dundabar (Sp)
Im up that way every couple of weeks eh!
Love the pics, looks like projects a plenty!!

[The Frayne]

Update - She seemed to get worse over night, so popped down to Suzishop in Midland and got it looked at, $118 later, and a rear tail shaft uni joint (Front Joint) later.. and we are back to business, nothing out of the ordinary noise or vibration wise now..
Looking fwd to the weekend to test it on some sand.

Just gotta get my tyre situation sorted now.

Cheers for advice so far