I was going to post this in misc but decided I wanted some more Chevy specific help.

Little background. I am AD Army currently deployed to Iraq stationed out of Ft. Carson. Originally from Tn and part of my life in Ga. Anywoo. I found a truck that I have purchased. It is in Atlanta though and my buddy is going to pick it up for me and park it until my return in August. Situation... I have to drive it to Colorado. What it is... 76 Suburban with 12 inch suspension lift, 3 inch body lift sitting on 44's. Built 400 bored to 406 with twr pistions, crane fireball 2 cam, afb 750 cfm carb, and a few other little doodads with approx. 6000 miles on it since the build. Has the original 3 speed manual with a granny gear(so 4sp I guess) freshly rebuilt with less than 1000 miles on it. The truck is in awesome condition, cosmetically and mechanically. And is build right(at least I think). I know it has a 12 bolt in the rear but I don't recall the front at the moment.

So, as my first post and a new member to pirate(looking foward to many more), I am asking for your help. I am compiling a list of what I need to take on this almost 1300 mile road trip to be prepared.

What are some of the common breaks on chevy's? As in what kind of spare parts are a good idea to take?

Any special tools outside a standard tool set?

And anything else you can think of that would be a good idea to have.

I am doing this road trip with my wife and a friend and his wife. We are going to stop off a couple camp sites for some good times, then hit the road at morning again.

Thanks.

Here is what I got on the list so far...

Basic tool set
High Lift Jack
Coveralls:smokin:
Our camping gear, clothes, and fishing gear
Flashlights
Jumper Cables
Lots of water
Laptop with power inverter
GPS
Carb and Brake cleaner
RTV gasket maker
Various fluids(gear oil, oil, brake fluid, powersteering fluid, coolant)
Belts(i.e. fan belt, power steering belt, etc)
Fuses
Spare u-joints
Thermostat
Upper/Lower rad hoses
Fuel pump
Duct tape/ Electrical tape
BFH



I will edit this list as people provide input.

Here is what I got on the list so far...

Basic tool set
High Lift Jack
Coveralls:smokin:
Our camping gear, clothes, and fishing gear
Carb and Brake cleaner
Various fluids(gear oil, oil, brake fluid, powersteering fluid, coolant)
Oil filter
Fuel filter
Spare battery
Belts(i.e. fan belt, power steering belt, etc)
Spark plugs
Plug wires
cap and rotor
Fuses
Wire and my automotive wiring set
Spare u-joints

I will edit this list as people provide input.


Upper and lower radiator hose
ear protection(I've never seen highway freindly 44's)
Portable DVD player

Upper and lower radiator hose
ear protection(I've never seen highway freindly 44's)
Portable DVD player

Sorry I totally forgot to thank you for your service. THANK YOU!

Sorry I totally forgot to thank you for your service. THANK YOU!

Thank you. Noted on the hoses and dvd player, thanks for the input. As for the hearing protection, eh, thats life, lol. You should ride in one of these hmmwv's or a mrap, lol.

Forgot to add. Keep in mind I am not trying to pack an entire parts store, lol. But I don't want to be walking over a some stupid little 15 dollar wear item.

I will do a starter, alt test before I roll. As well as a few other things. Full service, all fuids, etc.

Fuel pump. Had one go out on me with less than 1,000 miles on it. Factory defect, but still had me stranded. Bring a spare. Cheap insurance policy.

Thank you for keeping me free.

Here is what I got on the list so far...

Basic tool set
High Lift Jack
Coveralls:smokin:
Our camping gear, clothes, and fishing gear
Laptop with power inverter
GPS
Carb and Brake cleaner
RTV gasket maker
Various fluids(gear oil, oil, brake fluid, powersteering fluid, coolant)
Oil filterFuel filter
Spare battery
Belts(i.e. fan belt, power steering belt, etc)
Spark plugsPlug wires
cap and rotor
Fuses
Wire and my automotive wiring set
Spare u-joints
Thermostat
Water pumpUpper/Lower rad hoses


I will edit this list as people provide input.

How about:

spare transmission
spare rings and pinions
spare driveshafts
spare engine
spare master cylinder
spare headlights/tailights
spare radiator
spare steering wheel
spare cylinder heads
spare mufflers and muffler bearings
spare wheel bearings
spare disc and drum brakes

Okay, a LITTLE extreme I know...but my point is you could buy out the entire autoparts store and throw in a horse trailer and tow it behind your truck, but whats the point? The items I highlited in red are things I don't think you need.

I have been in your shoes... I hope your buddy has a decently mechanical mind, if so he will be abale to tell you what to watch for....

Sign up for AAA plus rv .

Hey, how's MSR Tampa treating you? Or are you somewhere else? I would add a good cell phone service to your list, since you won't have singars or E-pluggr, LOL.
Thanks for serving our country!!

I agree with pretty much everything above, and I'm sure you'll have at least one or two flashlights, decent amount of water, jumper cables, I'd even take a few flares as well. Also maybe a few misc bulbs like a headlight bulb or 2, maybe a couple tail/turn signal bulbs things like that...thanks for fighting for us too, my hat's off to you military guys/girls...

Personally, I'd tow it on a trailer. 44's are a lot of tire for that long of a trip.

If you drive it, repack the front wheel bearings, check/replace and grease ball joints or king pins, and check/replace and greaseTRE's and DLE's. Also, check/replace and grease u-joints. Remember, with that much lift and tire you might have d shaft angle issues which will wear u joints quickly and test wheel bearings and ball joints (if D44 or 10 bolt axle).

Thanks for your service.....

What about a spare distributor? Tools to do wheels bearings and the wheel bearings and make sure it has a big a$$ trans cooler! have fun

I would put some smaller tires on it for that trip. That is a lot of wear on a 44 inch tire. Driving big tires at sustained highway speeds for that amount of time puts lots of heat into them. Which makes them wear faster. Also, with smaller tires, you don't have to worry about putting so much stress on the rest of the ddrivetrain.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. It is being noted and the list is being modified. Response to a few things..

First, to everyone, thank you for your support. It really does mean a lot to us over here.

Second, a trailor or smaller tires isn't an option for this trip. I have considered other options. The idea of the trip isn't about just getting it there. It is about having some fun on the way.

Third, I plan to grease everything, change all fluids, repack wheel bearings, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filiter, oil filter, and fuel filter before I roll.

Forth, to the comment about my buddy having mechanical knowledge. We are both 63B(light wheel mechanics). Before the army I did it full time, I worked on land rovers and volvos(a import shop). The chevy thing is kinda whats new to me. Mostly just their common failures and what kind of special tools are used. We got the knowledge, just want advice.

To Goatnard, I do have a cell, lol. And I am not at MSR Tampa. I am at Camp Echo, Ad Diwaniya. We are about to move though. There is talk of where to but that whole opsec thing, lol...

To everyone, thank you for the advice, it is really appreciated. I got a few months to plan this trip so I am starting early. I want to be as prepared as possible.

Someone mentioned the tools to do wheel bearings... What special tools are involved? And other special tools that chevy uses on a 76 burb?

It depends on what axle you have under there. A hammer and chisel will work to get the nut off. Allen wrench set, pick set or a couple small screw drivers. Keep in mind that TSL's will be bald after about 15,000 miles on the road. Thanks for your service.

:beer:

It depends on what axle you have under there. A hammer and chisel will work to get the nut off. Allen wrench set, pick set or a couple small screw drivers. Keep in mind that TSL's will be bald after about 15,000 miles on the road. Thanks for your service.

:beer:

I am not sure on the front axle. And the rear is a 12 bolt I know.

I know tread life is crappy, lol. After these tires wear out I plan to get some decent 20's and run tires off a lmtv military truck(like a 395/75/20 or something. Measures to about 45 inches on a tape). Cause then I can get tires for nothing. :D

And thank you. :)

How about a picture of this beast!

How about a picture of this beast!


Lol, I forgot that. I will sign up for photobucket and get those posted asap.

Pics as requested. :smokin: Some of these pics the driveshafts were out due to breakage and was waiting on the new ones to come. One of them is when it was in primer before it got painted purple, lol.

http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/10050271vd0.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/1_3.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/1_4.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/1_5.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/1_6.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/burb1.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/l_074ae6946ecc422aed8e6b15f74ec54e.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/l_3d2533f2e1541ae07e279e7ac8e643f3.jpg
http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww180/DurtySpeed/n1122630774_30898741_3070.jpg

Also, keep in mind that this trip is going to be done over 7 days/6 nights. So I will only spend 3 to 4 hours on the road a day. We are making it a road trip/camping trip. I am going to map out the drive and pick some stopping points. Do some fishing, some drinking, and who knows what else. If anyone is interested in getting together, maybe for a little mud slinging or just to come hang out and camp and toss a few back, let me know. I will be getting the route planned in the next few days and put up my estimated stops. If you are in route or close to those stops, let me know. I would love to get together and talk shop. Even if I am just coming through for lunch. This trip isn't happening til my after tour leave obviously so somewhere around the september time frame.

Thanks everyone.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Cartersville&1s=GA&2c=Colorado+Springs&2s=CO#a/maps/l:::Cartersville:GA::US:34.165001:-84.800003:city:Bartow+County:1/l:::Colorado+Springs:CO::US:38.8339:-104.820801:city:El+Paso+County:1/m:::::0:::::/io:1:1::::f:EN:M:/e


This will be about my estimated route pending changes to road construction, etc and where I find my camp sites. I plan to make up about 200 miles give or take a few per day.

and make sure it has a big a$$ trans cooler! have fun

Do you really think that 4 speed needs a cooler? I wouldn't think so.

As far as the list goes I'd bring some duct tape and electrical tape too.

oh yeah, and your front axle is a 10 bolt just so you know.

i wouldnt plan on doin much wheeling on this trip because that 10 bolt wont hold up for very long with 44s on it. just keep that in mind, hate to see you broken in the middle of no where.

Do you really think that 4 speed needs a cooler? I wouldn't think so.

As far as the list goes I'd bring some duct tape and electrical tape too.

oh yeah, and your front axle is a 10 bolt just so you know.


10 bolt huh? Awesome, thanks for clearing that up. I thought that was a rear axle type, lol. I don't really know much about Chevy's and axles, etc. So 10 bolt front and 12 bolt rear. Now I know. Thank you.

And that is why I didn't comment on a tranny cooler. I was thinking that since it is a manual, that means no fluid pump, so... Yeah, I already knew that much though.

But duct tape and electrical tape... How the hell could I forget the old 100 mph tape, lol. List will be updated.

i wouldnt plan on doin much wheeling on this trip because that 10 bolt wont hold up for very long with 44s on it. just keep that in mind, hate to see you broken in the middle of no where.


Yeah, I know, I keep hearing that. It has held up fine for 3 years now. I don't do any real wheeling anyways. I just like to romp around in the mud and it seems to hold up to that pretty well. Biggest problem seems to be u-joints and the yokes on the transfer case. It will get swapped in due time. It is on the list of future mods. And if I do any wheeling, it will be around other people and I am going to have 2 other trucks on this trip anyways. A 99 z71 on 37's and a stock F150. So we have back up plans and parts runners. Getting stuck in a town for a day or 2 isn't the end of the world either, we have plenty of time for this trip. Thanks for the input.

YOu being from Ga, should know about the sticky mud. Those 10 bolts and 44 will break quick in a good mud hole..

Hey if ur running the stock shackles on the front springs get urself some spare 7/16 replacement bolts. theyre cheap to buy and 12inch lift springs have a tendency to break those bolts. most after market kits upsize them.

Its also probably worth bringin a spare ujoint for the back hopefully if anything lets go on ur trip u can just pop the new one in.

and careful with those axles they may have held up so far but theyre kinda like driving on eggs . . .theyll be alright as long as u dont push on them too hard.

Do you really think that 4 speed needs a cooler? I wouldn't think so.

As far as the list goes I'd bring some duct tape and electrical tape too.

oh yeah, and your front axle is a 10 bolt just so you know.

Watch those axles..............I would think that they should handle just driving down the road.............however if you have the gear needed for 4 people to camp 6 days...........it's going to be loaded............sounds like it will be a great time!

Thanks for the advice everyone, couple things.

Yes, I realize these axles are not up to par. My intentions are that when I get back to colorado, I want to pull a couple rocks out of a decomissioned lmtv. Prolly the wheels and tires also. There are some perks to being a mechanic in the military. :D Free parts. Just so happens that chevy's can use a lot of parts off the hmmwv also. Definately comes in handy.

As far as carrying a lot of gear to camp for 6 nights... Umm... I am military. I can fit 2 weeks worth of gear in a ruck, lol. :smokin: Its the girls shit that will break the truck, lol.

And again, thanks for the advice everyone.

As far as carrying a lot of gear to camp for 6 nights... Umm... I am military. I can fit 2 weeks worth of gear in a ruck, lol. :smokin: Its the girls shit that will break the truck, lol..

I think some one already posted this... but earplugs are not only for the wheels but women too, they dont know how to shut up :D hmmwvs parts fit a lot of chevys because GM made them. Hope you have fun on the trip thanks for your sacrifice I would hate to have to learn how to type in arabic on these boards.:flipoff2: