Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

alright guys, 1st off i want to thank everyone here for allowing me to do this life long awaiting project. this forum is just full of knowledge and helpful people. this is a slow build because i'm doing everything myself and i've been taking autobody and welding classes at night so i can continue to do everything all the way to the paint booth.

now for some quick back ground. this truck was purchased new by my grandfather. 1st thing he did was take a few leafs out of the back and put on the mags. i was brought home from the hosipital when i was born in this truck. my papa drove her for 10 years and sold her to my dad who drove her another 15 years everyday to work. i bought her from my dad about 5 years ago and fixed her up a bit the 1st year and parked her. in december of '08 i started making plans for a frame off and in january i started taking her apart.
heres how she looked...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_0784.jpg
my plans for her are total resto w/ a 5.3 ls motor and 4l60 trans. new generation technology under old school style. my plans may change due to the smog laws out here after reading about the problems acex is having. if thats the case i will use the 350 crate motor my dad had put in back in '93 and back it up w/ a 700r4. i just need to find out if vortec heads and a mild cam will pass smog and get me to my 300hp goal. i'm building more of a weekend cruiser thats in memory of my papa and dedicated to my dad. heres some pics...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4082-1.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4098-1.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

i have a ton more pics up to the point i'm at now but i have to resize them 1st and i got to get to work.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

heres a few giant pics...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4144.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4102.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4113.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4138.jpg
bought this baby for the sandblasting...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4201.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4209.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4202.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4211.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4204.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4207.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4208.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4235.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4212.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4247.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

went w/ eastwoods extreme chassis gloss. very good stuff!
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4203.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4249.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4250.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4251.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4252.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

i have more but i gotta go. now i'm late for work! LOL

any comments and opinions are welcome and i need all the support i can get. thanks for looking too!! Dennis

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

What a cool build man! That is very cool that you have had that truck as long as you have, my dad orderd my 78 blazer new so I know what it's like to have somthing like that. Keep us posted and it's looking good!:metal:

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Very cool! I'm looking forward to more updates.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

thanks travis and evan! i just got home work... heres some more pics of the frame...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4254-1.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4300-1.jpg
sandblasted a arms and painted. new ball joints, bushings, bump stops, and tie rod ends.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4259-1.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

all new grade 8 bolts, washers, and nuts...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4332.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4333.jpg
front cross member all bolted up...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4335-1.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4336-1.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4338-1.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Cool build thread. I love trucks with tradition.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

shims and u bolts blasted and painted silver...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4339.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4341.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

hey thanks ken. your truck is my screen saver. i dont want to seem like a copy cat but hopefully in the end she looks just like yours but done in burgandy like the original color. (actually a color called red jewel found on the new tbss)

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

driver side a arms on...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4342-1.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...IMG_4343-1.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4345.jpg
and last one for now belltech 1" drop coils (which may change to 2")
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4344.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

next on the list is to order 3" drop spindles and brakes. i'm going w/ the stock size rotors and black birds rear disc kit so i can still throw on the mags when i want. just need to find out if they have a drilled rotor that will match the fronts. thanks again for looking guys! its dinner time, Dennis

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

looks good man, keep up the great work

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

That is going to be a great truck when you are done. Progress looks great so far.

BTW, AR is making the slots again, in 17". http://www.americanracing.com/browse_vintage.asp

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Glad my truck can offer inspiration. Keep up the good work.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

I would like to know this too, I am running the black bird kit too..

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

I was thinking about using the Blackbird rear disc kit so I emailed them to ask if I'd be able to replace the discs and pads with local parts store stuff. They said yes, so I assumed that when the kit arrived they would tell me the model and year of vehicle that the parts were sourced from. That way you could just search for slotted rotors for that application. Is that not how it worked?

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

from what i understand the rear caliper part # matches the fronts. i'll call them about the rotors and post up the info...

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

wow!! what an awesome guy and company!! i just talked to randy at blackbirds and he said for drilled and slotted rotors it would be extra for them but they can get them to match the front. he also had a good point that its really hard to (find someone) resurface them when the time comes. i'm just going to get the kit and get new stock rotors for the front that way they will match.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

great work! good attention to detail!

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Good to hear. Did you ask if the rotors match the front as well?

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

thank you for the comments and link jonboy, flamingbig10, and 69face! evan the fronts will match in looks but not part #'s.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Nice progress menance, that frame looks awesome. Keep up the good work. I'm intrested in the Red Jewel Coat color myself. I have painted a few different reds and burgandy's lately and I can't decide what color I want.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

looke great Dennis.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Good work, keep us posted. I cant see all the pictures cause my internet service provider sucks, but i get the picture.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

thank you silvereagle07, anthony, and st1! little by little... i have more progress and pics but just have to get them off my camera.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

alright, the passenger side a arms are on and the start of the suspension...
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4350.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4351.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4352.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4348.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4353.jpg
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/f...8/IMG_4346.jpg

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Shes looking great....

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

That's a beautiful truck and even better that it's a family thing. Subscribed!

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

thanks frenchblue72 and leevon! i ordered my drop spindles today and should have more updates and pics in a couple days.

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

lookin good. cant wait to see it rollin

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Very cool build, im in the middle of that process myself. I was going to put a body from my '82 on a frame I have from an '85 and that quickly turned into a frame off project. That eastwood chassis black looks really good. Did you just match up the old hardware and buy everything individually? Or did you get a hardware kit for the front suspension?

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

thanks chrub! me too man...

sbtork, for the front suspension i ordered a poly. bushing kit from pst that had everything from control arm bushings to sway bar bushings. the ball joints, tie rods, idler, and pitman arms are from napa. might sound wierd but i am trying to keep all parts made in usa. and napa's suspension parts all had u.s.a. stamped on them. :chevy:

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Did the grade 8 bolts come in a kit or did you just check the stockers for size and pick up what you needed?

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

i just took the old bolts in and matched them up. i was looking for a bolt kit but had no luck. its actually easier than i thought matching up the old bolts, just make sure you keep it all the same. (standard or metric)

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

Your frame looks amazing. How many cans of that stuff did it take? Did you put down anything like POR15/Chassis Saver first...or just the Chassis Black primer and paint?

Re: Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)
 

thanks corndwg01! i sandblasted it with 30grit sand from lowes and used the eastwoods extreme chassis black primer (3 cans) and extreme high gloss chassis black (also 3 cans). 3 was kinda streching it so i ordered an extra i ended up not using it yet. i highly recommed the chassis black. very happy w/ the results.