1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

This is gonna be a pretty slow build thread, since I don't have all too much money coming in to work with xD. But here we go. I got this truck about 2 years ago from my dad. He got it from my grandpa to fix up for my brother, but then traded my brother for a 94 extended cab. He then passed the truck down to me. It was a PIECE when my dad got it. He pumped about $8000 into it, and I think it would look so much better if we would have had $8000 to spend on a halfway decent truck. It has a 350 with headers and a larger than stock cam. I want to build a 383 stroker in the near future and put that in there. Maybe along with a 3.73 posi. Anyway, Since I have gotten the truck I have added a bigger cam, rebuilt carburetor, new grille and headlight bezels, new door panels, new dash pad, and have sanded on it to get it ready to paint in the fall. I have done more than this I'm sure, but it's late and I can't think of what I've done to it atm. :lol:

Here are some pictures that represent what it looked like when I first got the truck:

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Here are some pictures with the new grille and headlight bezels:

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Here is a picture of how the interior used to look(it was bad!):

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Here is the old dash that just got replaced today:

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Newer door panels:

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Here are some pictures of how the interior sits now with the new dash pad and billet trim pieces:

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Here are some pictures of how the exterior sits right now. I want to lower it, I'm thinking maybe 2/4? The back has already been dropped a little to even it out with the front. Let me know your opinion on how low.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Here's one of my truck and my cousin's 83, mine's the one on the left:

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Looks nice! I would say 4 in the front and then drop the rear to match. Unless it's not gonna be a DD then slam it to the ground!

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Unfortunately it is my DD. I wish that I had another vehicle to drive so I could tear this one all apart and do a full resto :P

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

i like it wat made u do body work?

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

The paint was really fading, and starting to turn a slightly purple color... It wasn't painted with base coat clear coat, and my Dad was the one who painted it. I decided I want to get it painted professionally with base coat clear coat. It looked a lot worse before I started sanding than it did in the first couple of pictures. It rapidly started to fade, I think he didn't get enough paint on certain places.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

ohh i see... good luck

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Here's a picture when it started to go bad. It got worse than this. Notice the lines running down below the mirrors =\. We tried buffing and waxing it, didn't help :(

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Thanks

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yea i see wat u mean u going back the same color.. btw what are the seats out of other pics or them?

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Yeah I'm going back the same color. It's that color of blue with metal flake in it.

My dad ordered them from somewhere new... I think they are just aftermarket seats. I'll ask him where he got them from. I'll go get some pictures of them today.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Nice truck..i say go 4 in tha front & 2 in tha back..that sould give you a slight rake..

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Thanks

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Sorry I forgot to add the pictures of the seats, there they are. Sad part is, my dad doesn't remember where he ordered them from. :( All he knows is that they are from a company in California, and that he had ALOT of trouble getting them here... Took about 3+ weeks.

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you know that gives me an idea i can get to bucket backs and mount them to my bench bottom :) kool idea

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Been a while since I've updated the thread. Haven't done much... engine has been giving me a little trouble lately. I've basically only done sanding since the last update. Here is a picture of how it sits now.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Coming along nicely, I'd still lower it just a couple more inches. But that's just my .02$

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Got a new update: Scored a 400 Small block for only 300 dollars! It came with a 350 crank to make it a 377, and a kit with a lot of the parts needed to build! We need: 350 rods(i think), heads(thinking of either going with vortec 350 or 2.02 heads), Intake(RPM air gap if we do vortec 350), and a carburetor(Holley 650 double pumper is what we're thinking). Here are some pictures.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

The guy threw in a 700r4 transmission for only 50 bucks. Needs to be rebuilt. Might go in the truck someday.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Here is the specs on the cam if anyone wanted to see them:
http://www.cranecams.com/product/car...detail&p=23763

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Few new updates:

going to start building the motor when it comes out of the machine shop. Here are the specs that are gonna be on the engine:

400 Small Block bored .030 over destroked to a 377,
Steel 3.48" stroke crank,
Forged I-Beam 5.7" rods,
Dish top speed pro pistons,
comp xtreme energy 268H hydraulic flat tappet cam(we had to change the cam, the one that the guy gave us was WAY to big),
stock 400 heads that are reworked(or possibly some aftermarket heads if we can find some cheap ones),
Holley Street Dominator Dual Plane Intake Manifold,
Holley Street Avenger 670 cfm Carburetor.

I'll upload some pics of the new parts I have bought whenever I can.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

I guess I can also show some videos of the Truck.

Here's one of what it sounds like after I first got it:


Here's one with flowmasters and a new cam:

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

I love that sound...makes me wanna yank tha 350 out tha camaro & drop it in tha tha truck..

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Thanks, I can't wait to hear how the new engine is gonna sound :)

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Here's a random picture I took from the back of the truck, then the gaskets, new cam&lifters, and holley street dominator intake. I'll take a picture of the Carburetor when I can, it's on my 350 that's in the truck right now though.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Got the block back from the Machine shop!

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Got the block on the engine stand today and ready to get workin so we started putting in the Bearing spacers and Main Bearings and then noticed that we have the wrong Main Bearings. We have the bearings for a 400 and need the bearings for a 350, so that's about as far as we got today; was hoping to get the crank put in today but that didn't happen.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

More pictures coming soon, got the new correct Main Bearings and the Crankshaft is now in the engine. Sunday we will be putting the pistons/rods in.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

3 freeze plugs..4 bolts...ahh..what a gem..

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Is it bad to have 3 freeze plugs on a 4 bolt main?

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

There's no problem with only the 3 freeze plugs, heck some new cars don't come with any. Freeze plugs are just a fail safe for when people stop properly maintaining their coolant.

That block came out really clean and nice from the machine shop. How much more HP do you figure that the stroker will produce over the built 350 in the truck?

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

I'm thinking it'll produce MUCH MORE HP, because the 350 in there now is old and tired. I'm hoping it'll be at least 100+ more hp, although I'm not sure how much the 350 in there now has.

Re: 1983 Chevy lwb slow build
 

Put more of the motor together yesterday. Got the pistons in, put the cam and lifters in, and put the timing chain on.

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Also put the heads on, they are reworked stock 400, 493 casting number heads. 1.94 intake/1.50 exhaust I believe.

Also, the guy who reworked the heads said he put z/28 springs on there. Anybody know what that means?