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.
Posted via Mobile Device

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.
Posted via Mobile Device

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.
Posted via Mobile Device

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.
Posted via Mobile Device

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.
Posted via Mobile Device

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.
Posted via Mobile Device

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