Something to tinker with...

[Big Daddy Bear]

Figured I should start a build thread on my next project, a 1992 Chevy 1500 W/T.

Picked it up a week ago, previous owner said it had "no compression" and was a non-runner. Pretty solid and rust-free body with only a few dents and dings.

Has been in some degree of a fender bender as it has a wrecking yard hood and a wrinkle in the top of the core support. I think the "damn-it" on the front of the fender is unrelated to what wrinkled the core support and cracked the grille, but can't say for sure.

The non-running condition has been identified as either blown head gasket(s) or cracked head(s). It still turns over, so was not overheated to the point of seizing-up the 4.3, but it will have a V-8 in some point down the road.

Here are some pictures to give an idea of what I am starting out with and other than the V-8 swap, the only real plan or direction at the moment is to shrink it from a long bed to a shorty.

I know that is going to bring out the nay-sayers, the "just buy a short-bedders" and such...but around here they are not cheap when they can be found or are 4x4's and I want a 2WD.

And, having less than $600.00 invested, which includes UHaul rental, fuel and title transfer, it is more than a cheap enough starting point to give this a go.

Here are some pictures of what I have accumulated this week. Will be a very slow project as I have lots of other commitments that will push this back, but sadly, that is how life goes...at least I am still in it!!

[Big Daddy Bear]

Few more:

[Big Daddy Bear]

Some more:

[Big Daddy Bear]

Picked-up a pretty decent and rust-free short bed yesterday:

[Big Daddy Bear]

Also got a replacement fender, under the primer, it is the same factory color as the truck, but that will be changed later as well...

[mingoman]

Looks like a great project. I even like it as a lwb, but then I'm biased when it comes to that.

[Palf70Step]

That was a clean looking truck to start with, especially the interior. Looking forward to seeing you build it.

[Big Daddy Bear]

Thanks!

It really is (aside from the dead 4.3L which wasn't going to be staying anyway), other than the standard bad paint.

Last several projects had varying amounts of rust-through, and since I have moved here, I don't have access to some of the equipment I had at my old place, so wanted to start out with something a bit more solid.

[Big Daddy Bear]

Spent a little time on the truck this afternoon. My inside shop is basically a one-car sized area, and depth-wise, the truck is too long to fit front to back if complete.

While the weather is great for outside working now, come fall it will not be. So working on that aspect for the time being.

Pulled the rear bumper, spare tire lift & cable assembly, dropped the gas tank and called the back end done for now.

[Big Daddy Bear]

Moved to the front and started dismantling the nose. I knew it had been in a front end fender bender at one time because of the wrecking yard hood and the dinged fender and core support.

Got a better look at the damage once it was exposed. Just glad I got a parts truck with no front end damage, so is just a matter of a little parts swapping when the time comes.

[diveplane]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Bear

Figured I should start a build thread on my next project, a 1992 Chevy 1500 W/T.

Picked it up a week ago, previous owner said it had "no compression" and was a non-runner. Pretty solid and rust-free body with only a few dents and dings.

Has been in some degree of a fender bender as it has a wrecking yard hood and a wrinkle in the top of the core support. I think the "damn-it" on the front of the fender is unrelated to what wrinkled the core support and cracked the grille, but can't say for sure.

The non-running condition has been identified as either blown head gasket(s) or cracked head(s). It still turns over, so was not overheated to the point of seizing-up the 4.3, but it will have a V-8 in some point down the road.

Here are some pictures to give an idea of what I am starting out with and other than the V-8 swap, the only real plan or direction at the moment is to shrink it from a long bed to a shorty.

I know that is going to bring out the nay-sayers, the "just buy a short-bedders" and such...but around here they are not cheap when they can be found or are 4x4's and I want a 2WD.

And, having less than $600.00 invested, which includes UHaul rental, fuel and title transfer, it is more than a cheap enough starting point to give this a go.

Here are some pictures of what I have accumulated this week. Will be a very slow project as I have lots of other commitments that will push this back, but sadly, that is how life goes...at least I am still in it!!

wow nice

btw i have the 1994 brochure the v8 is not that bigger in power to much and torque really ,the v6 is not a bad motor at all specially if u have manual gearing like mine, says in brochure here it was the biggest v6 on the road back in 1994.

[Big Daddy Bear]

Thanks!

I am just doing away with the 4.3L altogether. The parts truck has one as well, it runs & drives but has a bad bottom-end knock.

Am just planning at this point to go backwards a little and drop a carbed, V-8 and either a TH350 or 400 auto, or am also kicking around the idea of the 5 speed manual in the parts truck.

But I am a long way off from drive train decisions, so nothing set in stone yet.

Finished up the front end by pulling the bumper and brackets off, then called it due to it being so hot and no shade, can't even call myself a shade-tree mechanic for the time being...

[diveplane]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Bear

Thanks!

I am just doing away with the 4.3L altogether. The parts truck has one as well, it runs & drives but has a bad bottom-end knock.

Am just planning at this point to go backwards a little and drop a carbed, V-8 and either a TH350 or 400 auto, or am also kicking around the idea of the 5 speed manual in the parts truck.

But I am a long way off from drive train decisions, so nothing set in stone yet.

Finished up the front end by pulling the bumper and brackets off, then called it due to it being so hot and no shade, can't even call myself a shade-tree mechanic for the time being...

well done

the shade idea buy a temp tent when working over u and a big box fan, harbor frieght

[Big Daddy Bear]

The way it seems that it works in Washington is, as soon as I do that it will start raining.....

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Bear

The way it seems that it works in Washington is, as soon as I do that it will start raining.....

Mississippi is not much better, plus it's like 400 degrees hot too.

[Big Daddy Bear]

Well, just TALKING about it yesterday brought in a thunderstorm and rain last night!!

[Palf70Step]

Yep.....that about describe the feelins here....400 degrees, 300 percent humidity, even without rain.

[Big Daddy Bear]

Spent a little time this afternoon pulling the bent core support so I can remove the engine and transmission next. Then it will be able to be moved inside my little shop and I won't be so restricted by weather when I get time to work on it.

Can see in the picture of the core support, the driver side headlight is not sitting straight, damage from the previous fender-bender.

[diveplane]

nice job

[Big Daddy Bear]

Thanks! Planning on getting the engine & tranny out in the next day or two as a local guy buys transmission cores, good for a $100.00 back into the truck fund when I get it pulled, so there is a little more motivation now...

[Big Daddy Bear]

Engine and transmission out and now time to start cleaning up the engine compartment. Once I get all the dirty work done, it can then be rolled into the shop so I don't have to work around weather issues...small progress, but still moving forward!!

[diveplane]

wow amazing seeing the motor out

[Big Daddy Bear]

Poor thing is starting to look a little spindly, just a cab and the fenders...

Have to find time to hit the Dollar Store up for some spray oven cleaner and get the engine bay cleaned-up.

[LT7A]

Nice project you got there. You're just down the street from me more or less, ha. If you haven't used Simple Green, you might be really surprised a little work if it takes to get the engine bay a lot cleaner. A lot of times I'll spray it down with simple green, let it soak while I'm doing something else and then hose It off. Two or three treatments like that and it starts to look pretty darn good. The paint looks pretty good in there and you might etch it with oven cleaner. Although I guess I recall that you might be changing paint colors.

[Big Daddy Bear]

Thanks, I dragged it and the parts truck home from close to your general neck of the woods, give or take. One from Tacoma and the other from Renton.

I have never tried the Simple Green, usually just grab the cheap oven cleaner. Have never noticed any paint etching, but good thing to keep in mind if I weren't going to eventually change the color.