1986 black swb build thread
 

After having a black 1987 chevy swb from '06-'10 and selling it to fund my now exs crew cab, I've finally got another one to replace it! (The truck, not the wife)
I've been looking for a black 85 or 86 swb chevy for a while to have as my Saturday night cruiser and piddle project. It had to be black on black, have every option possible with the exception of a hood ornament/bed rails/bumperettes, and completely rust free. So after months of looking everyday, and selling my 86 K5, I found one 11 hours away in Thayer, Missouri. I bought it Christmas Eve 2013 (Merry Christmas to me!!)

So on with the truck. Its a loaded 86 silverado, PS/PB/Cruise/AC/PW/PL/Cargo lamp/clock/dual tanks/etc. Pretty clean overall and not a spec of rust that Ive found anywhere.
350/350/3.73 posi 10 bolt.

Ive got a bunch of plans for it and I will post them as I progress. Basically just tidy everything up and make as solid of a driver as possible. Starting with ditching the janky edelbrock carb and rebuilding a q-jet for it, pulling and cleaning the intake and valve covers, replacing thermostat, valve seals and running compression and leakage tests on all cylinders. This spring I will convert the AC and might go ahead and do a 700r4 swap.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Passenger side

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Another passenger shot

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Clean truck

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Hood

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Thanks rusty, I wanted to start this build with the best one I could find.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Last one of the inside. Still dirty. All I need is some time

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Last one for the day, my 86 and my brother Nico's 84. We both took advantage of the pretty day and cleaned them up.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

First thing to address is the lack of cup holders. I had a similar setup on my 87 and it worked well so I'm gonna do the same again. I use an 06 style silverado cup holder with the factory brackets. Then just weld a clamp to the bracket to attach it to the seat frame. Here's a rough sketch I did as well as the clamps I'll use.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Clamps. Hopefully I can do this today

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

That... is one clean truck! I'll have to watch the cupholder mod. Where did the j-hooks come from?

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Clean ride.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Good lookin' truck!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Thanks man, I appreciate it! The J-clamps/hooks were on some old unused conveyors at work. Im not really sure what they were for originally but I think they will work perfectly for my application!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Those clamps look like 1/4 20 beam clamps that you can purchase from an electrical supply house.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

BOTH of those trucks are very nice! :metal:

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

I was thinking the exact same thing. Super clean trucks. Jealous!:metal:

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

X2!!

Great start!!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Finally found some time to work on the truck. I got a 1 1/4 sway bar off of a one ton cleaned, painted, and installed with new poly bushings. Had to pull the sway bar mount brackets off my parts truck but everything went on really nice.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Also pulled the seat and carpet out. Took the carpet to the car wash and got all the gunk off of it. It looks much much better now

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

While the seat was out I installed the cupholder. I wasn't able to use the brackets like I'd planned on doing without some modification to the bracket, so I drilled holes in the seat frame and put some screws in it. I'm really happy with it, it's nice to have good cupholders.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Here's one of the bottom showing how it's attached, in case anyone wants to copy it.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Nice truck! If mine was that clean, I'm not sure I could call it a project!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Thanks man, I appreciate it but it's definitely a project. Not that it really needs anything but more just to have one to tinker with and make as nice of a driver as possible.
Here's a shot of the sway bar all bolted on. It handles much better now as opposed to not having one at all like before.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

I also got to clean it up today on top of getting to take care of a bunch of projects around the house. Plus got to meet a fellow board member and visit a while about squares and engines, all in all a pretty dang good day!