My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

I figure it’s about time to start a build thread since I’ve been on the forum for a while now, got a bit of catching up to do. So I wanted an 81-87 Chevy or GMC short wide for my first truck, something to work on with my dad and to learn. So we started looking on craigslist everyday and would find a truck and would go look at it only to find that the pictures were most likely taken years ago, and/or the seller wanted too much and wouldn’t come down any on the price. One day after my dad got home from work my parents said they were going to run some errands and would be back in a bit. Well a little while later I heard the garage door opening and heard a vehicle I wasn’t familiar with, that didn’t sound anything like my moms Mazda 6, pull into the drive way. So I walk out side and this is what I saw.

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You couldn’t beat that smile I had off of me! 1984 Chevrolet shortwide, 350/700r4

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

So my dad wanted to get the interior cleaned up first since it would be my daily driver. I don’t have any pictures of what the interior looked like when I first got it, but the only thing new in this picture is the carpet.

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The next few changes for the interior were new seat cover, took the gauge bezel off, smooth door panel trim, newish dash pad with one crack on pass side which is fine for now, pioneer head unit and 2 pioneer 6x9’s

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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Next we took it to one of my dads friends body shops for some body work. We had taken the step bumper off so it would be easier for them to get the bed off, so I just left it off until I got a sports bumper. Had the cab corners replaced and since it used to be a plumbers truck at one time it had a bed rack so we had all the holes on the bed sides fixed.

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After some time my dad primed the bed, also got a new billet grill and used rear sports bumper. Also painted my head light bezels a brighter silver to match the grill a bit more.

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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Drove it like that for a while, then bought a 2/4 McGaughys drop kit, which actually I think lowered the front 3 inches. We did the front first which took much longer than we expected and I ended up driving my truck for a few days with a huge rake. :lol:

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The next weekend we got the rear lowered, it already had 2 inch lowering shackles on it so we only put the 2 inch hangers on until we get the bed off for paint, and this how I drove it for a while.

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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Now that I’m pretty much caught up on everything, here is what is happening now.
It’s finally time for a paint job!!! :D
Saturday and Sunday we took off the grill, front and rear bumper, side marker lights, tail lights, mirrors hood, and wiper cowl. Sunday I started wet sanding the bed while my dad sanded down the hood and wiper cowl to get them ready to prime.

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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Monday while I was at school my dad sanded down the drivers side fender and door and got the fender primed, got the hood and wiper cowl primed also. Once I got home from school we took off the bed, now we can get the whole cab sanded down and primed instead of doing it in pieces.

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Oh and about the paint scheme, where the three small red stripes are their will be one solid silver stripe about the size of two of the red stipes together, the bottom color will be black pearl, top color raspberry 2, House of Kolor paint, and Southern Polyurethane Clear.

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Nice work bud, how old are you? If you don't mind me asking. I am 18 and I have been working on my truck too *'76 C-10 SWB* You are a little farther ahead then I am lol.
Anyway you just made me motivated to primer my entire truck this weekend. I believe I will just go with a white primer.
I am looking forward to your color scheme, it sounds sweet!

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Thanks man, Im about to turn 17 in a few weeks.

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Very cool first truck, and nice work so far. Looking foward to pics of the new paint job. :metal:

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Looking good. Can't wait to see the paint when its done.

The father/son projects are the best. Can't wait to start one with my son. He just turned 1 today so maybe this weekend...maybe not. My dad and I never had one, but we talked about it all the time. He did sit with me when I was working on my old Jeep but never helped as he said it was something I'd have to learn on my own, and he was usually doing his own projects around the house.

I'm thinking when he's 3-4 I'll let him hang out in the garage.

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Very nice man.......... I was still picking my nose at 17.......... enjoy this with your dad. Well, I still pick my nose, but now I am a professional at it! :lol:

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Thanks for the comments guys.
Got the cab and fenders primed tonight, lots and lots of sanding to do tomorrow.

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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Keep up the good work man!

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looking good

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Nice truck dude and a nice Father-Son build. Can't wait to see the color scheme sounds great!

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Nice looking truck....do the neighbors complain about the noise of sanding or the compressor, or the fumes of primer????? I plan on doing mine in the garage as well. Keep the pics coming.

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Thanks and no one has complained to us about anything, my dads been sanding and painting in the garage for years. Have had a few neighbors come over to check it out and ask what color it'll be.

Ill have todays update posted in a little while..

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Yeah neighbors can be a pain sometimes with painting at the house but screw em i do it anyways :lol:

Hey man looking good! :metal: :metal:

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

:lol: Thanks man,

So today we got the door jams painted and put some clear on it, wet sanded the cab and fenders, and my dad painted the hood and wiper cowl. Ill get pics of them tomorrow with the clear on them.

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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Awesome! Ill have to stop by sometime and check it out :metal:

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Heck yeah man! If not hopefully ill be able to go to the meet in May

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Heck yeah, ill be there

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Looking good. I'm just curious, do the neighbors say anything about the paint fumes? Or are you controlling it somehow? I would love to paint in my new detached garage, but am afraid the neighbors would go wacko on me.

Mike

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Thanks, and no one has complained, my dad does all the painting, he has the garage door up a foot or two and a few fans to keep the air moving. One of my friends across the street told me he could smell it when he was in his front, while my dad was putting primer on it. But no complaints.

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Here's a little sneak peak of the top color. House of Kolor Raspberry 2 pearl.

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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Looks awesome man!! :metal:

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Amazing, that color is turning out great! I am going with House of Kolor paint too, just haven't decided on what colors yet.

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Sweet color! Looks pretty close to the candy brandywine we used for the scallops and trim on my buddies '65 Cutlass roadster, just a few shades lighter. Can't wait for the finished product.:smoke:

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Thanks for the comments guys, here's a few pictures. Tomorrow ill have to get a picture of it out in the sun with the hood on.


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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Oh hell yes! :cool:

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Awesome! Looks good!! :metal:

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

very cool..

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

sweet jebus is that lookin nice !

bed done ? more pics ? wheels ? picssss ? lol sorry couldnt resist

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Thanks! Bed is not done yet, should be by this weekend though. These wheels are staying till i can buy some new ones.

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Too bad you're so far away, I've got a good friend here in my town who is amazing with aluminum wheel polishing. He could make your alloys look like brand new chrome.

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What's the trick? :lol:

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Here's a few pictures, the bed is getting painted today.

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Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

The guy used to own a buisness that did all kinds of aluminum polishing in the Bay Area, and when he moved up here (retired) he brought a lot of his old equipment with him. He still does polishing, just in his spare time. He does amazing work though, took a set of Cragars I have that were black with dirt and grime when I got 'em and made them look better than new. If you look in my buld thread you can see the one rear wheel on my Camaro in a pic. Not the best pic, but the wheels look incredible.

Looking forward to pics of your finished paint job.

Re: My first project truck - 84 Chevy swb
 

Damn dude, cant wait till my truck gets to this stage. Im tired of fixing dents lol.

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Sweet ride man! Wish my first one would have been a short wide. Awsome paint keep up the great work.

Ps. so glad the OU plate made it back on the truck!