My latest, a 68 short step

[jablack]

I got this truck in February. I had sold all of my other trucks except for my daily, an 87 R10, so I figured it was time for a new one. It's a pretty stripped down model. It had a six cylinder and a power glide originally, no trim, and I'm guessing no radio since there's a delete plate in the floor. The seat is in great shape and it had a brand new passenger side inner fender sitting inside. Looked nice after I cleaned out the interior.
Since I got it I have swapped it to five lug, I got some 15x8 rallys and some new tires. I need to sell my 87 so I can put in an engine and trans. I haven't made up my mind on the engine yet but it'll have a 700r4 trans.
Here's a few pictures, from the day I got it till now. Not bad on a shoe string budget and no time.. I got the tires mounted and balanced for a 6 pack of bud light. I'll pay that any day..

[jablack]

When I got it the first thing I thought was to paint it satin black. I'm thinking satin red with a satin white top now. Need some opinions.

[Dano69c10]

Give it the CLR treatment and a couple coats of wax and you'll be good to roll!

[70cst]

That is one looking ride

[50bomb]

Looks Great. I say keep the straight 6 if its running good and maybe find a good 200r Trans. I heard this works great. As far as color goes, I like it as is but the satin red/white top would look very good.

[jablack]

The paint is all cracked and is not a good patina or I would keep it how it is. It didn't have an engine or trans when I got it. If it still had the 6 I would be driving it now. I want an LS engine but I think for now I'll just put in a small block, 327 or 350 with the vortec heads I have. We have a lot going on right now so my budget isn't the greatest. After I sell my 87 Chevy truck I'll be able to at least get this one on the road.
I always wanted a 67-68 short step so I am very excited about this project.

[ChevLoRay]

Do the satin black or red, then paint the top. If black body, then how about a metalflake red top. Or, if the body is red, maybe a white pearl. It's all for contrast. But, do the satin with the proper paint that is also sealed. Same prep goes into making a good paint job last, you don't want to waste money.

[jablack]

If I did black it would be all black, but I might keep the nose silver. I like the pearl white top idea. If I go red I want it to look similar to what it is now. It was a vermillion red with white top originally.

[hopped up]

the satin red with white would look really cool. be sure to drop it a few inches too!! nice truck
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[jablack]

I'm going to see how it looks after I put an engine and trans in it. Hopefully it will sit down enough and I won't have to lower it. I drive over 80 miles round trip and I like a nice ride.

[50bomb]

Oh in that case a sbc350 would probably be easiest to come around. I got lucky and got my l6 250 off a board memeber not to far from me for a decent price.

[jablack]

I have a line on a couple of 350s for a descent amount. I figure I'll go the old small block route till I can build what I really want.
I had a 250 inline a couple of years ago. I wish I had kept it. After a little work it was a nice running engine.

[CC69Rat]

Great start on the truck! I agree, satin red / white would be cool.

[big_al_71]

Congrats!!!!

[jablack]

I don't know if you can tell from this picture but the grill is pushed in on the passenger side by the headlight bezel so I found another to replace it with. I'm going to order another radiator support and battery tray and install them together. Here's the new grill after I stripped off the trim and lights.

[jablack]

Sold my 87 Friday night. Spent the weekend looking for an engine with no luck. I know I can do an old small block for cheap, but I think I want to go with a carbed LS.

[chevy72blu]

Not sure how much you have looked at the LSX swap section of the board, but its usually cheaper/easier to run the factory EFI stuff rather than switching one to a carb (though it can certainly be done. A few guys on here have done it). You can get a "ready to run" 5.3/4l80E, <75k miles, with the harness already modified and computer flashed for around $3k. Or, check out LT1Swap save yourself quite a bit by doing the harness work yourself. I havent found them, but people on the board seem to be finding complete 4.8/5.3 motors in good shape for less than a grand if you search around.

[jablack]

I have been wanting to do a carbed LS for some time now. I just don't think it will fit in my budget right now.

[jablack]

Still no progress on finding an engine. I hate being truckless..

[C10_ustacould]

6.0L Long Block here in FWB...

http://okaloosa.craigslist.org/pts/3036214560.html

[496bb]

Keep looking, a 5.3 isn't that hard to find. I have the 5.3 I found for a good price- sittin on an engine stand in the garage- waitin on a truck to put it in! You can piece together the necessary components and keep the FI for not too much. Tuning can be accomplished easily through a number of folks, and driveability will be great.

and I agree with the majority- red/white...

[68Stepbed]

I carbed my LS1 for simplicity purposes. I just didn't want to fool with all the electronics. The only electronics was the MSD 6010 box, which was pretty much plug and play. Dollar for dollar, though, it's about the same. It's just preference.

[jablack]

I like the simplicity of going carb and I think they look so nice. 68stepbed that thing is sexy, very clean.

[68Stepbed]

Thank you!

[CC69Rat]

Dang Matt .. Come to Chattanooga and help me do that to my GMC ?