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Long post alert!!! Well guys, I did it—picked up a new “old” horse hauler. I went back to the first post from over five years ago when I started this thread and saw that my definition for “vintage trucks” (for the purpose of the thread) was anything at or over 20 years. My “new” ride fits and so here it is… 2002 GMC K2500 It is a one owner machine from Portland, OR. Many thanks to @Pullstart for hooking me up with a reputable car transportation company. I didn’t want to purchase anything from the Midwest because of salt/rust issues or the pure expense of a rust free version locally. This vehicle has been meticulously maintained through the years and as I study it over, I’m amazed at the condition of all the hidden areas compared to trucks from the “salt belt”. This particular vehicle was optioned pretty much the way I would’ve ordered it back in the day and upgraded in the same fashion that I would upgrade it. As some of you know, I spend lots of time traveling these days with our ministry (about 35,000 miles per year) and so I’m not home to much. When I am, I need a reliable vehicle and old Warrior (my rusted out 1995 K2500) is not that machine any longer. So, I was looking for an 8.1 liter BBC truck with the Allison 1000 tranny. This truck checks both those boxes. I know that it won’t get great fuel economy, but only putting on about 5,000 miles per year will ease the pain. I owned one of these about 15 years ago and was amazed at the lugging power of the “over square“ 496 rat motor! The interior is optioned well with front and rear cloth covered bench seats. The owner had the touch screen infotainment center professionally installed two years ago. Cell phone interconnectivity, back up camera, voice to text, all that tech jazz. The owner didn’t care for the original front clip on these trucks and opted to gather the parts from a Denali and had them installed about 15 years ago. I really like the look of it now, especially with the 2” leveling kit, the 17” Mayhem wheels, and Leer cap. It has a slide out Joey Bed in the back to bring all cargo out to full extension accessibility. It was a tricky process to make the purchase while I was in Texas on Meetings and the truck was 1983 miles from my home in OR. However, it all came together and I’m thanking the Lord that it made it safely to me. I am a happy camper to be the second owner of this new 21 year old truck. We named it “Clancy” which literally means ‘red haired Warrior’. I think it needs a Wheel Horse decal on one of the windows—don’t you? The only problem with the truck that I am aware of at this point (and presumably the reason the previous owner decided to sell) is that the tranny is in 3rd gear limp mode. When I get back from this trip, I’m going to have my local tranny shop do a full diagnostic and let me know what it needs. I’m preparing for a tranny overhaul but would be pleasantly surprised if it was something less than that!

Got the 417 out of hibernation to spread some white stuff around. No snow, 1/2 ton of lime.

I still like my earliest pics of my Bronco 14... She's not quite as shiny these days, but still a sharp machine!

Well, today marks the beginning of my 6th wheel horse restoration. This is definitely a unique one for me since I have zero experience with these tractors. This one I got from a guy that lived only 10 minutes from me for $400. He said it was restored (poorly) by someone in shop class at the local vocational school about 30 years ago then it was left in a barn for a while. The motor has compression and the trans seems tight. Everything is pretty much there even the deck (except the shower head muffler 😡). That and the air cleaner housing. The deck looks to be free of holes and the recoil works well too. which I consider a huge plus and . The front wheels were completely rusted out and had to be junked so I'll have to keep my eye out for those. This should be a fun one. Wish me luck!

Several years ago, I swapped out some well-rotted aluminum spindles for the J-type double D cast iron spindles on my 42SD. Then I got a larger deck so I put it up in the barn where it sat for years. Somehow, two spindles got water in them. I still don't know how. The spindles turned smooth by hand, but roared at full speed. Upon dissasembly, I found the culprit. There were small lines cut into the shafts where the needle bearings made contact and rusted. So I dug out some more spindles off an old pre "attach-a-matic" deck and took the shafts from them. Then I spent the day degreasing, reassembling, and regreasing the spindles. Now they spin smooth as silk again. Tomorrow will be deck cleaning, but mechanically she is solid and ready to work! Trying some larger guage wheels too. If it works, it'll mow at 3.75 inches. We will see tomorrow...

Why not fix the starter/generator/voltage regulator? They charge the battery fine when working properly. And maybe your battery is pretty much shot? I have 3 tractors with the old set up and never have to charge any battery

I built an engine run stand and in the process I decided to do a little investigating with dirty/poor connections. For instance painting the block where the genny mount bolts on and painting the mount itself dropped 3.2 volts as opposed to all the mounting points all clean and shiny.

It is Richard but the Plunge says we gotta have the missus in the pic ... who am I to argue with him... another one by Dan. This one is framed on the wall ...

Here's my 418-A. Just changing the old nasty oil

Happy Birthday, oh king of the big tire pulling monster machines! have a great day @Skipper!

A few winters back I restored-rebuilt a WH854 to new (including rebuilding the original starter generator, trans and replaced the engine with still in the box replacement K181). I had to devolve the 1981 replacement engine to 1964 standard but all parts bolted up without issue. Everything on the 854 presently as factory intended it to be in 1964. Theory of stock sounds good but one design bug… well… bugs me. No matter what I do… the starter generator does such a poor job of charging the battery. That bugs me. I don’t care if the 854 is a 1964. I should not have to hook up the battery charger as often as I do and I should be able to run lights without issue. Evidently Kohler agreed and solved the problem a few years later with an alternator stator. The replacement NOS K181 is-was a 1981 vintage and came in the box with an alternator stator that I ditched for the original 1964 design starter generator. I still have the 1981 parts (flywheel, alternator stator and starter) that I could switch back to how it can in the box but I like the old 1964 starter generator shroud look even if I don’t like living with the older electrical system. Here is the design proposal question: I have the parts for both… what if Frankenstein both? The 1964 shroud will not fit over the 1981 flywheel but I should be able to bolt the 1981 stator onto the 1964 flywheel, reconnect the block leads and run both (1964 starter generator and 1981 alternator stator). The gain of doing the above would be generating current from both the generator and alternator. Theoretically charging battery faster, and powering any lights I want. Helpful given one of my 854’s new cherished family duties is pulling a cart of children around on Halloween night. That is where I am left scratching my head. Too much current? Thoughts?

Here she is I do have original engine too I picked it up for the trans, steering wheel, tires and possibly foot rests. Everything else will be posted in classifieds unless someone pms me

A raider 10 seems to be following me home

Thanks! Looking forward to seeing pictures of your truck! If you check back through the 40 plus pages of this thread, I’m sure that more than a few times we’ve seen trucks newer than the “20 year old” range…so, post yours up when you feel like it…before we know it, August will be here anyway (typically when the new models arrive). I noticed that I am close to you right now. We are in Edmond, OK on ministry meetings! I’ll check back in here once I get the tranny sorted out…

Nice find @PeacemakerJack! I hope the tranny isn’t done for but either way seems like you’ll have her driving. The WH sticker would be cool and fitting of the color. I like this era GM truck as well. I’m 9 months out from getting to post my 04 Chevy! Post an update once you get it sorted out!

I’d strongly suggest that in doing such a terrific job of restoring that beauty, you may have neglected to assure that the S/G (and voltage regulator) have a solid ground through the S/G housing and mount to the engine block. When I did my 854, including replacing some wiring, I was very careful to make sure that all the obvious electrical connections were clean and solid. I was, however, so thorough with the painting of the individual engine and S/G parts that I effectively insulated the S/G from the electrical ground that it needs. Didn’t get as far as having charging failure, it was the pathetic anemic cranking with a new battery that caused me to slap my forehead with a “DUH!". I had to take apart the entire S/G support assembly mount, scrape off the paint between the components, dab with dielectric grease (to inhibit rust/corrosion), and reassemble. Now, like the other posters above, it is problem free for cranking and charging. A less likely possible issue is if the voltage regulator has failed. Let us know if you need a hand to diagnose that.

My wife went with me to the PA show back in 2007. I was floored and amazed. She quietly endured the heat, dust, and aromas of sweaty old farts and gasoline/ oil burning engines for two days ... Then she quietly planned a trip for us to the Gulf coast. There was NO options on my part. She said if I could go to Pennsylvania to look at a bunch of tractors, then I could endure a vacation with her. I couldn't argue, protest, grumble, or even frown. Doing so awakened the BEAST! She said if I didn't like it, I could go snuggle up with a tractor in the barn. Yes dear ... Thank you for saving me from a miserable week of grease, sweat, blood, and red paint.

The "P" stands for Pump Model.

Hydro's do not usually make the best pullers. I have pulled with them is some stock classes though so I can give a few tips. Weight is always a good thing. When pulling front weight is just as important as rear weight. When the front end comes off the ground the hitch height goes down. This results in less up pull on the front of the sled that your are pulling, making it harder to pull. There is also the danger of having the tractor coming up too far & dumping you on the ground. Most pulls have a maximum weight allowed. You will need to read the rules to figure out max weight, with this number you will then need to figure out where you want to add weight to balance the tractor out. When pulling with a hydro, once you are rolling you can push the motion lever all of the way forward. Continue with it in this position until you here the engine starting to work hard. Once you here the engine working hard pull back on the motion lever some. This will in a sense gear the tractor down some to allow you to pull further.

Mounted the 1-¼” riser onto the 854. Seat sides no longer touch the fenders when I lean (yay!). I’ll do a fender repaint when the weather warms up. Here the seat is centered over the rearward spring hole. The front (left) bolt only holds the riser to the spring while the rear (right) bolt holds the seat, riser, and spring. Rotating the riser 180º centers the seat over the forward spring hole, moving the seat 2” forward while keeping the rise. Seat forward position (square hole above front spring hole) Seat rearward position (square hole above rear spring hole)

A few of my favorite recents.... C-81 at the crushed stone pile. The C-160 after tilling the garden last fall... @Pullstart's Senior this winter, I'm about to hop on & go for a ride, thanks Kevin!

Ran into this issue myself. The start function did not always work on one of my resto's, After cleaning the paint off from the mounting surfaces for the S/G, it works every time.

Here's where I found her.

Nice truck Jack... like Dan said very appropriate color for us too! Be careful here you know we call them fish trucks here... @stevasaurus can spill his drink in mine with ease in my '95. Mixes in well with the grumpy old men fish smell...

Opposed to a sweaty new fart? I don’t care to sniff for the difference

Agreeing with the others about you having an issue. I have 10 tractors with SGs and no problems with any of them. If it starts the tractor guessing you have a regulator or wiring problem. Start by doing voltage tests, load test the battery and check wiring. Many times cleaning & adjusting reg contacts are needed. Are you running an Amp guage? As a purist I would like to see you stay orginal.

I would go through your original system & find out what it's doing or not doing before trying to reinvent the wheel. Probably something minor, easily fixed. Keep us posted! She's a BEAUTY!

I've used POR-15, and it's great. But I have to admit, just some red oxide primer works well for an entire season. Not as slickery as the black shiny, but it keeps the rust back. My FIL just coats his with light oil, and I've been shocked how well it works.

Yep - PAR3 You can get them in LED also...

@Blasterdad that’s the Mrs’ ride

I have to say that wheelie picture with the duals is one of my favorite pictures ever posted here, and yes that guy’s face is priceless!!

One of my favorite pics.

You're on! My wife would never pass up an opportunity to let me have it over tractors. There's NO WAY she's going to concede something that easy! (She's not so difficult about it any more since there isn't 20 + around the property anymore. She even believes one of them is hers! LoL)

I'd be willing to bet you $20. ...That you're wrong. My wife would say that it's not worth an argument, and she can save this for future use when she wants something!

1 engine + 1 tractor = 1 Millie.

Little yard clean up…

These are the same image, obviously. Mrs. P has an awesome picture taking phone and she did an amazing job editing it. We had an impromptu family photo that day, with her dad’s side of the family. It all started with tractor rides with Unc. That’s me. It ended with snowball fights, snowman making, snow angles, and all that jazz. In my opinion, this could be on the cover of Time magazine. It kind of screams urban family life. A family worker like @PeacemakerJack’s Iron a horse 875, kids playing after the work is done, etc. I am pretty sure there are three generations in the background and for an unsuspecting picture looker, the classic lines of the Pond Ride Away Sr. tell them it could have been there since grandpa was a kid.

And how do you guys know about that? Squonky's right about the mounting. Since the internals are grounded to the shell make sure the end bells are not rusty and good contact with the shell.

In GM school is was "Letting the Genie out!"

Only way to know is pull the pump apart and look at the diaphram to lever connector. Most of the ones we use have the T slotted end, the most vommon. There is more info on that site on identifying them.

Another pale face Dan?

A Red Tail Hawk hunting at the house.

I've got hundreds of those pics Richard ... I shoulda just took a vid. That was a fun day! Same day but Dan gets the credit for snappin this one.

Holy cow man, that's amazing

The one that started it all here - Dad's 702.....

1057 out getting some sun

Not sure if this counts as a classic, but my daily is a 1995 k1500, behind it in the pic is my 1986 Trans Am. They both owe me their life. I have rebuilt both vehicles except the body's. I picked up/trailered the truck from North Carolina January of 2019. I'm in upstate NY so I make sure she's all undercoating yearly and washed regularly. Most recently I replaced/rebuilt my rear end. Went from 10 to 14 bolt, has detroit locker. Its a 350 tbi, rebuilt 4l60e with extras. Procomp 6" lift, rims/tires. Custom bent dual exhaust. Hidden front winch. Alot of work to make it drivable and safe. So when I'm not working on my 1257 horse, I'm catering to the Chevy, or I'm working on the 86 T/A.