Help with Restoration Plans

[supersweet442]

I'm about to bring home my grandpa's old longhorn that he'd bought new. He died back in 93 and I got it after me grandmother died in 1999. I got mainly cause I was the only one who wanted it. It's been sitting outside from '92 to present. It sat in the garage from new till '92 from what my family has told me. It's all there except the tailgate and wooden bed(rotted out). It will go through a complete frame-off restoration with me doing most the grunt work. I plan to use it as my truck when I finish it. And that’s why I can't decide. I know in original form that it is a great and reliable truck. But if there is an area I want to upgrade I'll completely replace it, Example: Swap the TH400 for a 4L80E to have a better towing and highway capable truck. While keeping the original trans and driveshaft in storage. So here is what I'm thanking.

Idea #1: Restore to original condition with only a K&N filter as the only upgrade.

Idea #2: Leave motor and rear stock. but run a 4L80E and a set of late 90's chevy steal wheels and BFG's.

Idea #3: Run a Fuel Injected 502 and vintage air. along with #2 upgrades.

Idea #4: OK this one is a little wild. Will include #3 uprades. Swap the body on to a CUCV set up. Mainly to have the 4x4 frame and dana 60/ 14bolt and np203, no use for diesel 350. It will be a 5/4 ton 4x4 Longhorn if you can't see where I was going with this for Idea #4. I know the frame will have to be stretched, I would also do cross-over steering with an upgraded 2wd steering box(just to say I did). This way I could put the complete chassis and drivetrain in storage.

Either way I go it will remain white on red interior.

I would like to hear yalls opinions on my build.

Thanks,
Joshua

[jackyl9999]

How bout some pics? It boils down to skill level and money. If it was my grandfathers truck I would try to keep it original.

[stllookn]

All stock with some running gear upgrades is nice. Don't turn it into a 4x4...go out an buy a 3/4 ton 4x4 if you want one. Just my 0.02!

BTW...Welcome to the Longhorn Club!!!!!!!!!

[Yukon Jack]

Hmmm, option 4 appeals to me for some reason - oh, I dig 4x4's!

[supersweet442]

I'll get some pics up when I can. I guess I'm not convinved that a stock longhorn can tow my 442 or jeep on today's highways. Mainly cause of the TH400 and 4:10 gears.

Joshua

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Well what to do. I think your Grandfather would be happy knowing that your happy working on his old truck no matter what you decide to do. The truck wiil always be a a good memory of your grandpa.

In the end it'll boil down to your buget. The more you can do the less your budgetr costs will be.

esll.

[stsalvage]

whitch engine is in that now 396 or 402 and you know you can run a 700R4 withg out the computor and with gas being one of the thoughts here run one of them sm block fuel injected and still have a truck you can drive all the time

My main thought is do you like stoping for gas every 1-2 days having a over drive is nice but if you can't get your truck into the 55 mph range Over drive dose not do much good

Remmber you have to make it worth driving every day you get into it Big block now days is mostly for the weekends not at 2.80 3.50 a gallon

[supersweet442]

I'm going to go get some new pics of it so yall can se the level of a project that it is. Hopefully I'll have them posted tonite or tommorrow.

Joshua

[68caliRat]

Personally I'd go with #3. I've never been one to stay completely stock. But a nice engine upgrade with AC would make me happy.

[dan42]

[supersweet442]

Well here are some pics. Keep in mind that it is a project and that's why I'm considering option 4. I also don't wont two trucks down the line cause the Longhorn would not get used.










Check out the paperclip mod

[supersweet442]

ttt

[68GMC454]

personaly from the way the truck looks i would go back to stock with a few mods, the stock set up will pull anything you put behind it..mpg suck, but it will pull anything you get back there..i would change out the gears to a better highway gear...and find a tranny with overdrive in it...i really wouldnt convert it to a 4x4...but your grand paw will porbably be happy just to know you got it and are useing it...

[prairewolf]

New wood bed.

new carpet and seat recover.

new tires.

super clean everthing else.

check all safety items, brakes,wiring, gas lines, etc.

leave Patina paint as is.


that truck is sweet. my. 0.2 life is good. kent

[blukangoo]

I say keep it original because that´s the way I like them.
If your budget lets you do what you have planned, go ahead.
I´m doing a frameoff right now and my budget will let me do everything but the paintjob.
Most of the parts just get cleaned and painted and I buy only what "has" to be bought like gaskets and hoses.

Whatever you do, good luck with it and have fun.

[Morgsie]

I like the CUCV idea. I was actually planning on doing that one day, but I decided if I ever get a CUCV I'd just leave it as is, cause then I don't have to worry about the body (parts are way more plentiful). I don't know why people need to have stock everything. I personally like stock appearance with a modern drivetrain. Just because it's a 40 year old truck doesn't mean it needs to drive like one. Out of sight out of mind.

[supersweet442]

i keep going back in forth between stock with 4l80e and cucv mod. i still have two "projects" ahead of the Longhorn. the jeep is about to go off to paint and then the 442 will be started. niether are actually projects they both look nice and run good. the Longhorn already has factory front disk brakes should i upgrade those? thanks for all the input guys and keep'em coming.

Originally Posted by prairewolf

leave Patina paint as is.

patina paint?

Thanks
Joshua

[blukangoo]

Originally Posted by supersweet442

patina paint?

Patina Paint is a paint you can use to artificially make something old.
We use it on brushed pine furniture. We put that paint on it after it has been sealed and wipe it off. The deeper parts of the wood stay brown and the top is clean. Makes it look old. We use it to match new furniture to old.
Hope that helps.

[raws67]

I would go stock, obviously it isnt going to be a daily driver and the TH400 with 396 and 410 gears is perfect for towing. I bet your grandfather would agree, thats probably why he kept it so long. Question how long has it been parked under a tree collecting leaves? clean it and start searching for rust. I would see how it runs but my guess is that you will want to go through and change seals bearings and most likely rings ohh and I believe you might want to have those heads re-done for hardened exhaust seats or todays unleaded will cause them to fail. Yes I enjoy stock especially on a practical truck.

[AKChevyman]

Wow it already has A/C so that is a plus but as far as the upgrade keep the outside stock but upgrade the drive train and chassis. Upgrade the brakes for sure to Disc. The trucks looks really straight with little rot should be a really nice restomod. I have my great grand fathers 71 C/20 that I am working on it has all new drive train and I am adding a few other things but the out side has subtle mods. Good luck and god speed on the resto. Also is the Mustang yours also you should take that when you take the truck

[Rollie396]

If your granddad was anything like mine,he wouldn't care what you did to the truck so long as it was what you wanted and it made you happy.Dig in!

[dwaite72lnghrn]

Well if it has Disk brakes up front then granpa already started to modify it. As they were not on trucks until 1971.

[supersweet442]

Does any have the power numbers for the stock 396.

Thanks
Joshua