Spare Parts
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 270
Keeping the take-off parts as spares after preventive maintenance is always a good idea.
When I was a kid and still didn’t have a pot to **** in, I made almost weekly trips to the local junkyard because that’s how I kept my car running. Even then I was thoughtful enough to pick some “nearly” free parts as spares, including fuel pumps, spare upper and lower hoses, and ignition modules for the HEI ignitions.
For S-body daily drivers, the list of spares is pretty much the same, although I’ve added to the list. Today I carry the following, and would recommend this list (or a slightly abbreviated version) for anyone:
• water pump
• upper and lower radiator hoses
• small upper water pump hose
• heater core hoses
• two gallons 50/50 premix
• quart of motor oil
• thermostat
• distributor cap
• rotor
• coil
• ignition module
• old ignition wire and old plug (to test for spark)
• hydraulic jack
• tools (enough to change water pump, hoses, or cap and rotor) on the road,
• tire plug repair kit and pressure gauge
• fuses
• serpentine belt
• alternator
• idler pulley
• tension pulley
I had a good friend of mine who was a parts manager at a Chevy dealer, and he recommended carrying a new GM fuel pump module. I did that for years, luckily never needed it.
I’ve done multiple 1000+ mile round trips to Florida and back, and always felt confident I’d be alright unless something major broke.
The jack stands are a great idea. Rubbermaid makes some pretty big cases all this stuff can fit into if you’re careful packing.
Theres probably some other things I forgot to add. I think on one of my Florida trips I also brought my take-off OEM distributor complete with cam position sensor
PS: Tom you’re my hero, I just read how you fixed your ride in the desert!
Last edited by Billy1820; Aug 18, 2020 at 05:09 PM.
BF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,422
From: Northeastern Nevada, USA
Here's everybody trying to figure out why the wheels are looking a little funny.
And my buddy giving me a hard time while I work on it (because that's what friends are for, right?)
Last edited by Tom A; Aug 18, 2020 at 05:08 PM.
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 270
Lol sure as hell beats crying like a baby and trying to call your momma on a cellphone!!! 😂
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 270
For myself, I’ve never done any off-road, unless you count tear assing around on an RM-250 when I was 14. For me, the basic list of spares and tools is always a welcome safety net while on the road
Junior Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 377
From: New Mexico
Cimmerian, MacroMachine, and Tom A, it looks like we’re the only ones on the forum that don’t like to get stranded.
Given that these trucks are mostly 20+ years old, and from reading most new daily threads it seems that most members are probably in the 16 to 17 year old range with very little or zero mechanical knowledge, carrying critical spare parts can be a lifesaver, especially if you’re driving through Portland, Seattle, NYC, etc.
From what I gather, very little or zero preventative maintenance is done (example: help, I have an antifreeze leak, what do I do?).
Usually, a good mechanic (or any 17 year old kid with some brains) would find the leak, fix it, flush the system, then replace the rest of the hoses and install a new thermostat. The remaining good take-off parts would be kept and carried as spares.
However, since that practice may seem too “old school”, and the only part replaced is the one that’s leaking, a solution would be to visit a junk yard and gather up some parts from a wreck for the next time you’re stranded. ☠️
Given that these trucks are mostly 20+ years old, and from reading most new daily threads it seems that most members are probably in the 16 to 17 year old range with very little or zero mechanical knowledge, carrying critical spare parts can be a lifesaver, especially if you’re driving through Portland, Seattle, NYC, etc.
From what I gather, very little or zero preventative maintenance is done (example: help, I have an antifreeze leak, what do I do?).
Usually, a good mechanic (or any 17 year old kid with some brains) would find the leak, fix it, flush the system, then replace the rest of the hoses and install a new thermostat. The remaining good take-off parts would be kept and carried as spares.
However, since that practice may seem too “old school”, and the only part replaced is the one that’s leaking, a solution would be to visit a junk yard and gather up some parts from a wreck for the next time you’re stranded. ☠️
That being said, when I was a kid with my first car (a Camaro Z28 ), about the only thing I had in that was a road hazard kit. I was too busy being a dumb teenager going unreasonably fast to show off to my girlfriend and friends.
Beginning Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 38
From: Tignall georgia
Usually, i carry couple of gallons of water, and a fuel pump. After changing out one and dropping the tank, next time i cut a small door to the top of the pump. I haven't had to change one out in over 3 years, but for pm, i change the fuel filter, usually at every oil change. About every 3 thousand miles.
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,185
From: Zurich
Just lately cleaned out the Blazer and removed my bypass copper pipe I brazed once on a holiday in Austria some 20 years ago to bypass the heater element which was leaking badly.
Carry a couple of spare light bulbs.
Carry a couple of spare light bulbs.
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