Harpie's 71 SWB vortec 5.7 build (Project Snowball)
 

He guys just figured I would start off my build and share a few pictures of the ol girl. I promise to get more pics of it before the tear down begins but this is the other day when I got it home. Plans are to tear it down completely and start from ground up. I want a nice driver that looks original except when you pop the hood and that 5.3 is hiding under there. I am thinking black with white top and inserts with all the trim and a 3/4 drop and 18s but may go a lil lower hadn’t decided I just want a comfy ride but a great stance. A little about the truck its a 71 Cheyenne swb originally had a 350 and was dark olive and white. The cab and front clip are excellent and have little to no rust. I will go ahead and replace the rockers since that is the only rusty place I can find. Now on to the bed it is horrible and as you can see is not the bed that came on it originally. The floor is completely rusted out but I have a complete long bed with excellent header and floor that I will be cutting the floor down and making a new one for this. I have been lurking around on the site for awhile getting ideas and information for my build I cant wait to get started I have always loved these trucks!!! And I always welcome all the input I can get from you guys!!!

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Welcome fellow Okie! sounds like a plan, gotta love those 5.3 swaps. Theres plenty of them on here to get info from and even a few in Oklahoma.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Yes sir I have been creeping around looking at them for sometime now and they are full of great info that has helped me a lot in gathering parts and etc... And this build will have four generations working on it so it will mean a lot to me and I can pass it down to my ill man when he is worthy lol.
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Looking forward to watching the progress... I am subscribed..

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Ok guys got a little progress done today. I noticed the other day the rearend did not look right so I took the bed off today and its a ford 9in. Just love the crap you find that a PO has done. So now I am on the hunt for some original trailing arms and a rearend so pretty much everything that has to do with the rear suspension. Whoever did this sure cobbled it on there and I cant have it like this when I build it back. So if anyone has what I am looking for laying around give me a shout!!! I also took pics of my bed and I am a little ashamed to show it but hey it will be all better once I get the rusty floor and header gone. So here ya go pic lovers...

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

and a few more...

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Looks like your cab originally came from a lwb truck.
Was the frame cut down also?

That's not a 9 inch for rearend.
Looks like an old Oldsmobile rearend to me.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Almost forgot,... WELCOME to the board!

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

In ref to the rearend I guess that is what it is I have never seen one and no the cab is original to the frame the guy I got it from got it from the original owner. And the frame has not been cut.
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

The glovebox decal (SPID) says the truck has a 127" wheelbase.
Shortbed trucks had a 115" wheelbase.

Not to be negative,... just to make you aware of what you have.
There are alot of trucks out on the market that use to be lwb trucks.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Well I may just hafta be calling ol boy up and please no worries on negativity I welcome any and all info or advice. But I know the frame has not been cut so someone may have done a cab swap. But since I'm not trying to build an original spec truck guess it don't matter.
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Looks great! Check your PM's.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

great start, looking forward to the progress

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Well i scored myself a rearend today from a 72 so now just need to find a good set of trailing arms to go with it and ill be back in buisness.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

welcome and thanks for sharing this build with us. What is wrong with the trailing arms, from the photos they look correct to me. I dont know about that panhard bar though? I have never seen one that looks like that! Quick turn around on the rearend, nice job!

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

I could prolly use them but they are not in the best shape the passenger side looks like it cracked between the nuts on the bolt and the genius that swapped the rearend welded everything together and it looks like my two year old did it so I picked up a good clean set from a 70 model that a friend of mine is parting out. So it's been a good day gathering up replacement stuff.
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

I would say, Nice Job!

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Very cool! Welcome and have some fun.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Welcome,looks like your off to a good start gathering parts.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Hey guys thanks for all the kind words and welcomes I am having a great time building my dream truck. I know it will take lots of time but looking at some of the rides on here and all the builds gives me a lot of inspiration so glad to be apart of the forum.
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

belated welcome to the board fellow Okie! Looks like a great project you have going. I may have a set of trailing arms you are looking for out in my "bone yard".
Looking forward to progress. subscribed

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Hey thanks if something happens and the set my friend is pulling off for me are in bad shape I may give ya a hollar on your possible set.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Scored myself two 1971 stamped Oklahoma tags today in excellent condition figured it would be a nice touch when the ol girl is all done.
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Sounds cool let's see some pictures.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Score on the tags! I want to get some vintage 67 plates for mine too.

Glad my craigslist stalking could benefit someone. That looked like a good deal on the rear end, I just don't have room for any more parts or I may have bought it. I need a warehouse so I can hoard more truck parts. Later

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

I'll keep an eye out for ya some plates I might know where to get ya one and I went and picked up the rearend yesterday it was a 12 bolt and was in great shape so thank you again!!!
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

looks like a nice place to start, welcome a board !!!!

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Ok it’s been just a bit since I posted but I have accomplished a few things since last time. I have picked up my 12 bolt rear end from Marlow OK, I went to Bixby and met 68shortstep and purchased a bed floor to replace my rusted one. Thanks again Don it was great to meet ya! I have also got the front clip off the truck and the cab is cleaned out. Now I need to get the tank out and start taking everything out of the dash at least I am getting closer to pulling the cab off. Anyway here are some pics for you guys and pic of my 1971 OK tags I picked up.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

And a few more... and ya just hafta love those floors!

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Hey those floors don't look too bad from here, I don't see daylight through them. Nice progress.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Well it has been awhile since I have posted but I have been super busy but my lil project is back on top of the list. Gonna call ECE on friday when I am off and order a 4/6 drop, chasis rebuild kit for the frontend a trans crossmember for my 5.7vortec 4l80e swap and a hidden hitch kit so I can get after putting my freshly blasted and painted frame back on all fours. I will get pics posted soon the cab and front fenders are headed to the body shop in a couple weeks for paint cant wait to start putting this ol girl back together! Oh and I decided to paint it good ol pure white I have gone back and fourth was going to do a two tone but I decided against it and named this rig Snowball lol.

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Good to see you back on it and updating, Snowball eh? I would kill for a snowball right now! So did you decide to run the 5.7 vortec instead of the 5.3? That is what I have but a 4L60E trans in mine. How about them pics!!!

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

If I could post from this dang iPad in my unit I would get them up now but dunno how lol hafta get the ol pc at home fired up. But yes I sold the tahoe I was gonna get the donor from for much more than I had in it so now got some good cash for my build and nothing tied up in my motor or trans and yes Snowball we used to call my first truck that it was 89 Chevy 3/4 4x4 that was white so why not lol I saw your latest update glad to see ya got your frame ready, I am so excited to get mine back on the ground!
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Well the past couple days has been fun ordered a truck load of stuff got my 4/6 drop, trans crossmember, hidden hitch kit from ECE and Mark was the best great service and very helpful. Also ordered my vintage air from Scotthotrods Justin was great! And ordered a set of the streeter polished 18x8s and 18x9s along with a set of the Dakota digital VHX carbon fiber gauges with the blue back lighting from Travis at pro performance again couldn't ask for better service or a friendly voice at the other end of the line. Great bunch of vendors we have here! Now I can't wait for the boxes to role in I'm like a kid on Christmas eve lol
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Woot woot! Order day is always fun!
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Ok figured I would post a few pics now I'm learning how to post from my iPad. The ups man has hated me latly but got my drop, wheel, cnotch, vintage air kit, Dakota digital gauges and I am thinking of using a radio delete plate to mount my ac controls also included a pic of that mocked up. Enjoy
Chad

http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/...6A3812BCE4.jpg

http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/...6A1F1EB0B2.jpg

http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/...6A01F5D28C.jpg
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Wow, nice parts load !
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Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

Thats a lot of great parts! now put it together;) Those wheels will look great!

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

I don't have the Vintage air yet but it is on the short list

Re: Harpie's 71 SWB 5.3LS build
 

nice, :cool: