1977 c15
 

Well I am sad to say that I totally forgot about this forum as far as making a post lol but I have been lurking. Last June I traded my V-max for a 1977 GMC C15 High Sierra. The truck was a non running basket case. It had a 350 with t350 2wd short box step side. I have since done alot of work.

Re: 1977 c15
 

Truck is looking good! Nice patina on it ������������

Re: 1977 c15
 

It may look like it was lowered when I bought it. However the PO simply removed the front springs and the entire lead pack except the main spring in the rear. The truck had no brakes installed.

Re: 1977 c15
 

First thing I did was yank the bed. Then you know put the kids to work. C-notched the frame and paint it and the leaf springs as well as the axle. Just because we were there anyway.

Re: 1977 c15
 

I tell you. No front springs? That's the perfect excuse to pull the entire front end off. Might as well yank the engine and Trans while at it. Then remove the A-arms and you know put the kid to work doing this. And since everything is stripped might as well paint the frame. Well the cab is there so the fire wall will get painted as well. You know oven cleaner works amazingly well for cleaning frames. Just make sure to wear glove and a face mask 😷

Re: 1977 c15
 

Then in August I vist my dad. You know what? He was like I can get you a big block if you want one. So of course I jumped on that. Don't know how I will ever repay my dad but you know. Any way he follows that up by asking if I want a 8.1 or a 7.4. Well I settled for a 7.4 as that there is more aftermarket support. Then when I get the thing from him he includes a carb intake and 100cc heads as well. So I had to replace the chevy 350 even if it was a low mileage 2006 crate block.

Re: 1977 c15
 

My neighbor decided he wanted the crate 350 so he said that he would trade any big block parts that I needed that he had for it. Unfortunately his parts are for gen 4 BBC so I couldn't use the cams. But I got alot of other parts.

Re: 1977 c15
 

Well I got a summit catalog and fell in love with a copper and black 350. But after looking at the costs there was no way I could dump that much money for the parts. Well my BBC came with a generator oil pan so I bought that at least. Wel my neighbor said that we could set his powder coating set up up in my shop. So I bought some copper powder and got to work. How ever it didn't work out the way I expected. But I like this look just as much or more.

Re: 1977 c15
 

Well my neighbor came to like the powder coating so much that he bought a sand blast cabinet and set it up in my shop. Well at that point I hadn't painted the front suspension for the truck. Well as you can guess I decided to powder coat the A-arms. The sparkly powder was free so what better place to use it than the A-arms. Well just so you know blasting the A-arms was a real pain.

Re: 1977 c15
 

Well now we are caught up. I decided to put the front wheels on to turn the truck around. But come to find out that my wheels won't fit. They rub against the lower A-arm. Well the truck has 3" Drop springs and 3" Drop spindles. So I wound up buying 3 4" wheel spacers for the front. Hopefully this week I can get help moving the thing around. Move the front clip into the shop to pain all of the engine bay. Turn the truck around to re-install the bed. And such.

Re: 1977 c15
 

Thanks I love the patina on it but will have to paint the truck when I patch all the rust in it.

Re: 1977 c15
 

Very nice, I also have a 1977 GMC C15 stepside. Still has the 350/350 in it. Looking forward to following your progress.

Re: 1977 c15
 

Cool progress so far! I've been there on the a-arm blasting and bushing install...my least favorite part of any restoration!