"The Ayatollah of Rusty Hole'a 1987 SWB 6.0 4L80E

[Gordonr1973]

Edit April 2011: I'm 7 months into this build and coming out of a huge delay to get my motor back from the shop...I'm now swapping 6.0 Liter LS plus 4L80E into it.

I'm trying to take photos and add details of the swap that you might not find in other build threads. If there is something that has been covered a million times in other threads, I probably won't include it in mine to save myself time. Good luck with your projects!!


DON"T LAUGH! (My feelings might get hurt)

I bought this truck this past month for my winter project. Up here in Alberta, Canada these trucks usually go for $1,000 + in bad shape and anywhere from $2,500 + in decent shape. Good shape (even with bad cab corners, they are asking $5,000 to $6,000 + on www.kijiji.ca)

So, I paid $750 for an '87 Silverado with power everything, 305 TBI, 4 speed automatic. I already have two new doors, new windshield, new tailgate & rims from another project and I can get panels for the rest fairly cheap.

Plans are to go to a streetable 383 (from a solid 350 I already have from my parts truck), rebuild the tranny, etc etc but to start with a strip down and get the frame blasted and painted before it snows here.

Basically, I want something that I can fit in my garage and work on in the winter as I can't do anything on my driveway any time of year because my old-retired alcoholic neighbor is a lunatic that calls city by-law on me regularly. LUNATIC, certifiable for the looney bin!.

Old prick! (Maybe that's what I should call this truck!)

[Gordonr1973]

Okay, here are some progress pics....

In all the threads on here we see most frame-offs starting with everything peeled off the frame....well, I've been working on stripping it now for a week and I'm only 1/4 done.

IT'S HARD WORK!

But, I'm tagging and bagging all of the pieces so I know what went where so I don't go crazy when trying to rebuilt it.

[Panelman55]

Do you plan on keeping the "OG" patina? I know that was a real gut buster!!!!
Looks like your off to a good start and have a plan. Show us how you do it in Canada!

[Gordonr1973]

Originally Posted by Panelman55

Do you plan on keeping the "OG" patina? I know that was a real gut buster!!!!
Looks like your off to a good start and have a plan. Show us how you do it in Canada!

I have some "mental plans" for the paint scheme...I just need to take a weekend and do some renderings to see if it will look decent.

I'm keeping it under my hat for now...

[Gordonr1973]

It is a "Limited" you know...lol...

[Gordonr1973]

Here's some more pics and one hint for anybody else....when you think you've disconnected everything to lift your box...you've probably missed something.

Lift it slowly and have a good look underneath. I missed disconnecting the gas necks, the ground wires and the brake lights. Basically all of the wiring because I was doing the front end for the last few days and forgot to go back and do the wiring.

What do you think of my swiss cheese A-arm?

[Gordonr1973]

PS. that's my mechanic Tyson trying to fix the motor after I set it on fire. Yep, 2 foot high flames and the only thing I had close was a case of Diet Coke...thank God for DC!

[palposity]

This will be a great truck! You have a good start!

[Gordonr1973]

Today I got done a bit more:

- took of the front rad support, rad & cooler
- got the rest of the exhaust off (One side I had to saw-z-all off b/c the bolts were just too rusty

Had some bad news today, a used 383 I had my eye on sold on me...not quite sure what I'm going to do now for a motor as I had decided to go used to save a bit of cash and save time as well.

Might just do up the spare 350 I have without going all out to a 383. Will have to sleep on it.

Here's a pic of my dd as well....not too often it's cleaned up this well as I drive all over the place for my work.

[chevyman95]

wow man those winters are harsh, you going to learn to weld through all this?

[Gordonr1973]

I got a bit more done today, here's a contest:

- what do you think the first picture is?

- do you think the second picture has anything to do with the truck not starting well?

lol

Got more things peeled off the motor today, might be ready to lift tomorrow night. Any tips on getting it out of there without too many problems?

[GmtGmt]

Got Rust? Cant belive thats worse then mine lol

[babyJay]

Is that the gas tank? GEEZ! Gordon you are braver than I. We scrap trucks like that one around here.

[HOGDADDY]

I believe you have a hole in your gas tank.

[chevyman95]

yeah thats what I was going to say, hope it goes well for you and not knocking your truck but I've seen less rusty ones heading to scrap here in GA

lot of work ahead

[Gordonr1973]

Yeah, that's what we get with all the salt and sand they put on the roads here in winter...like I said, to get one that's redone already I'd have to put out $6,500 but I don't really trust what other builders have done unless they can show me something like our build threads.

This way I can say exactly what's been done to it b/c I did it!

Anyways, still tearing down the cab, got the doors off, bench and carpet out today. Floor pans are a bit rusty but better than I thought they would be.

[mooseknuckles]

I know what you're going though, cheap trucks with little or no rust are hard to find around here! haven't seen a gas tank that bad tho....

[jchav62]

Good progress. That project will keep you busy for the winter. It appears to need one of everything... Very brave man.. Can't wait to see what you do with it...

[355bullet]

these guys can help ya!! lol!!......i cant believe that gas tank!! never seen that before.. great build man

[Gordonr1973]

Not much progress this week so far as I've been out of town working....

I have pulled almost everything I can see off of the cab to try and lift it off with my engine lift, but it's going very slow. I tried looking for a thread on here on how to remove a cab, but only have found bits and pieces of info.

I think I might put something together on it if I pull my cab off my parts truck, just for somebody who's never done it before like me to see what to keep in mind.

I did find this link though which was old, but kind of helpful:

http://www.usbody.com/Old-Pic-Galler...ck%20page1.htm

This link was good for ideas for my engine lift, I still might make this attachment next week when I'm back at the farm and have access to our welder:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=113397

[89muscletruck]

whao dude! the joys of our long winter eh?
I cant wait to see how you manage to fix this old girl up cause ive got something similar waiting to be redone as well, not quite as badly rusted as yours but close.
Ive got two questions for ya though. First how did you come by the name Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla? are ya a wrestling fan? Second, have you checked out the picknpull up on 188A ave and 182 for parts? I was there this mourning and they had quite a few 73-87 chevys, i dont know how your parts hunt has been (i saw your add on kijiji) but there might be some sheetmetal out there for ya.

[Gordonr1973]

I looked at a few before I bought this one, there was a guy in Grande Prairie that was selling 3 short boxes in various stages of disrepair / rebuild for $3,000.

I probably would've bought those just to have parts to build one from them all but I just had no way of getting them home without paying a car hauler to do it for me.

Yes, I'm a Chris Jericho fan, but I don't really watch WWE anymore unless I can't sleep on a Monday night. It sucks without having the WCW as competition. For me it peaked in the days of the nWo and Raw is War.

I've been to pick your part on 118Ave a couple of times but haven't really found anything that hasn't been ripped apart already.

Two people have called me from my ad on kijiji.ca and I have bought parts off them. I really need a set of good doors with power windows and locks and I am always on the look out for good fenders even though I now have two sets.

I also need a good tailgate and short box sides if you see any around...

One guy from Michener Allen Auction let me come over and tear apart a 83 Suburban that he was sending to the wreckers later that week. That was good as I got a set of doors (a bit rusty though) a hood, and various odds and ends that I took from the engine. I also got a good bumper (7/10) and some vinyl from the headliner that was in good shape in case I need it for my '79 rebuild. (Next winter)

My point of view is I'll go look at whatever is offered if I can becuse you never know what you'll need. Then if I can help somebody else with a hard to find part later on everybody is happy. So let me know if you need something for your truck.

Here's one in your neck of the woods:

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...AdIdZ237362889

Here's another:

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...AdIdZ237298549

The second one I wanted to go and look at, but now that pictures have been posted I think I won't because I can't really use anything off of it right now. But it would be a decent truck for somebody else to re-do if they were interested!

[Gordonr1973]

Lots of things on the go last week but some progress made....

- got the cab off the frame & the motor and tranny out

- started to take out the fuel and brake lines tonight

- I sent off my door panels to Stitch to get covers made up for them and the dash

- bought a better bumper and a better tailgate on the weekend

- I have a line on some box sides that I might be able to get

Does anyone know how to take the steering box off the pitman arm without disassembling everything??

The biggest news is this:

I priced out what it would cost to redo my '79 350 into a 383..... $6900

I just about crapped my pants....that blows my whole budget on my build. I cannot afford a $7000 motor, not including tranny or wiring...

So I went on the forum and did a weeks worth of reading and then spent hours on the internet and ebay searching for a used motor and I found one....it should be in town later this week and I will take photos then.........

[benoit454]

why not just rebuild it to a 350?

Also you need a pitman arm puller, take it loose from the box and pull it off, then unbolt the box from the frame.

[89muscletruck]

The white shortie is pretty cool but its a little bit outside my price range.
Oh the joys of being a starving student.
Ah well at least I have managed to get my 94 about where I want it, short of a 6.0L and a lowering kit that is.
but Ill keep you in mind when Im wondering the junkheaps.
What have you found for a motor? did you stick with the 383 for did you find something wilder?