I picked up a set of Chevy westcoasters for my 3500 got tired of the lousy small mirrors. The set comes with rivet nuts to attach the mirrors to the doors. I'm asking the best way to install the nuts, do I need to purchase a rivet gun or can I drill the holes install the nut and slowly tighten up the mounting bolt into the nut? The size of the nut is M8 x 1.25 mm x 20.4mm the hole I'll drill is 13.5 mm . Would just slowly tighting do the job? I don't want to goof this up. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Bob:D :D
Here is a pic of the nut I'm talkin about.

Did Chevy offer bucket seats in a 1982 K20? I'd like to replace my bench seat with some buckets.:)
I think they did. unfortunatley you don't see too many 73-87 Chevys w/ them I would Check Junkyards and Salvage yards for Blazers and suburbans cuase I think they were used alot more in these rigs. you can also get replacement upholstry to match your interior. Let me know what you find.
Check with LMC or local salvage yards for K5 Blazer interiors. You can mount the bucket seats and center console from the Blazer in your truck. I had the GMC High Sierra model and it came from the factory with buckets and console. I later changed to a bench seat, and both used the same mounting holes in the floor pan.
With VERY minor modifications, I mounted a pair of buckets out of an 85 Chevy Cavalier in my 80 GMC. Since they ae smaller than the Blazer buckets, it allowed me to make a huge center console for tools, etc.
~Chuck
So how much fabrication is required to put Chevy buckets from a full size blazer into a chevy pickup?
JCurtis,
I had Blazer seats with console and switched to bench seat without any fabricating/modifications. (Other than having to add my daughters' car seat where the console was!!!). I took the seat belts for the middle passenger along with the bench seat.
I would first obtain the seats and the brackets from a salvage yard or if you are buying new seats atleast get the brackets. The only thing I can think of that you might have to do is drill 4 extra holes for the bucket seat brackets and bolt them down. Ive never really payed to much attention to the bucket seats so im not sure how they are mounted.
At least in the late 70's early 80's, the "tubs" or floorboards had all 8 holes in there, plus the ones for mounting the center console. My switch from bucket to bench took about an hour. Although not an expert, seemed pretty simple to me. No holes to drill, no brackets to fab up or anything extra to do..just undo the bolts on the buckets, remove from the cab, slide in the bench seat, re-use the bucket bolts to hold down the bench. DONE.

I just installed my front timbrens.
I jacked up the torsion bolts about 6 turns each.
what would be a good guide to tell if they are at the same height?
I measured from the frame to to the bottom of the bolt and both sides are the same.
Is that good enough?
Thanks:)
03 gmc
2500hd
STANZA..........Measure from the front fenders to
the ground. This will assure that the truck is
ALMOST even ! A lot of guys say their truck is
lopsided when new and need to adj. the bars.
Remember to measure truck when you (or somebody)
sitting in it.......Then it will be pretty close !
I turn my bars 7 turns on left...6 1/2 on right for
example.
Did you mark the bolt heads and frame (for reference)
to turn them back down in the summer?
Where are you at here in CNY ?............geo
my truck sat lower on the drivers side. I adjusted it a little bit. Its still sits lower on the drivers side. I put 6 turns on the pass, and 7 on the drivers side. I didnt adjust any more because when i measured the rear wheel opeing heights there off 3/4 of and inch. Lower on the drivers side also. Adjusting the front torsion bars will not help the rear. So I didnt bother with it any more.
Whats the point if the front is even and the rear is off. It isnt noticible and the ride is fine. I wouldnt get too picky .....
My truck lifted over an inche with the bars cranked up...
no timberens yet.
oh ya, it may sit uneven because the gas tank is on the drivers side, depending on the gas in the tank it sags ....also your battery, and power steering box are on the drivers side.
:drinkup:
Make sure that you marked the bolts and frame so you can turn them back after the winters is over. If you plan on keeping your torsion bars turned up all year long you will need to have your front end re-aligned if they are turned up more than 5 turns.
When I adjusted mine, I measured from the bottom of the frame rail to the ground. I had been told that due to different sheet metal tolerances that the fenders could be off some.
If you measure from the frame to the ground at the same location on both sides, you should be able to get it right on! :salute:
thanks for the help,
got a western on the way, I hope I can throw it together myself.
snowplowsupply.com, decent prices.
After you raise your bars for plowing, do you have to lower them in the summer or can you leave them like that for good. i would imagine a alignment is a good idea but can you leave them? I hate having my truck sag!!!! it looks horrible so i just leave the bars cranked!!!
YES- Get an alignment. Always get one after any type of suspension mod or alteration.
do you have to lower them in the summer No you don't have to lower them :) but a alignment is a good idea ;)
I haven't lowered mine in 2-1/2 yrs. :waving:
Cool cause i cranked them up already and had it aligned, so im good there, i just didnt know if it was bad to leave them up like that? Thanks again!!!!
I just wouldnt run with more than 1.5-2" of a crank. Its fine to run that high in the winter if you need to have em cranked that high with a plow on but I wouldnt run em that high in the summer. To much of a crank eats parts especially cv's were does 7 put you?
Timbrens didnt effect my hight and I was at .75" over stock crank before I added em.
Originally posted by sonjaab
STANZA..........Measure from the front fenders to
the ground. This will assure that the truck is
ALMOST even ! A lot of guys say their truck is
lopsided when new and need to adj. the bars.
Remember to measure truck when you (or somebody)
sitting in it.......Then it will be pretty close !
I turn my bars 7 turns on left...6 1/2 on right for
example.
Did you mark the bolt heads and frame (for reference)
to turn them back down in the summer?
Where are you at here in CNY ?............geo
sorry i messed this all up but the trucks sit uneven for the reason of...the road tilts so the truck is compensated to ride level

Neat forum, just found it. This is my second post tonight. I have an 85 chevy k-10, 4x4, 4.3l-6, 4 speed (1-low and 3 speed). I wanted to put in a 5 speed. I know they match the 5 speed to the 4.3l in newer models. Does anyone know if it will work with my truck? I like the mileage the 4.3l gets, it just needs another gear to work well.
if you can find a nv 4500 cheap it bolts right in same mounts lenght everything but for the price of one around here my 1980 3/4 4x4 doesnt need it that bad as it is not a daily driver
You will need to find adapter for the T case. Your K-10 has out puts on the pass side, and all the NV4500 compatable t cases are drivers side. If you can find a NV 4500 out of a Pre 93 Dodge, you should be able to swap bell housings and get it to work.
Or try one of the many adapter places like advanced adapters and the like. Or get one machined local to you.
Dino
Thanks guys. I agree with the expense, that is why I have never done it. However, my current transmission is starting to make alot of noise. I think it is the bearings on 2nd and 3rd gear. Anyway, I think it may be the right time to try.
the 205 in the truck now should bolt right up to the 4500 as it was installed that way in some dodge trucks no need for a adapter
Can anyone help with transmission swap info. I have a '78 GMC 4x4 with a 3 speed(with low) and a 205 transfer case. I want to swap to automatic. My question is will a 700R fit. I know a 400 will fit, but i like the idea of the overdrive. Thanks
Even tho that tranny and t case combo was available for the dodges, that doesnt mean they will just bolt up. Case in point, many TH 400 trannies were used with 205's and also with 208 t cases. But you can not just interchange the t cases, you have to have the proper output shaft for each tranny to t case application.
I did however mention that a 5 sp and 205 t case combo from a dodge with the proper bell housing may work for him.
As for the manual to auto swap for your 78, it also can be done. The easiest way is to buy the units all together. But since that may be tough, a properly built 700 R4, along with the proper adapter and 205 assembly is possible, but again since that cobo never came from GM, you will have to find the pieces to get it all to mesh.
Dino
if you realy want the 700 sell the 4spd/205 combo and buy a complete 700/208 set up the 208 is not as strong as the 205 but has a lower low range and was factory behind a 700 so no adapters needed