Finally "Silvers" build thread!! ('78 swb 2wd silverado)

[BruthaMan]

Frame looks fantastic, Dennis! You are making some great progress. Wish we lived a little closer together. At the rate we are going on our builds, we should be finishing up about the same time. Would be really cool to get a group of freshly restored squares together for a little rally!

[menace121978]

thanks bruthaman! ya, i wish "WE ALL" lived in our own city. i wont be done for a while yet. once i get her back to rolling chassis things will slow down while i build the 350 up. by then i'll need to let the money tree in the back grow after this last pruning.

[LiveAnimals]

Originally Posted by menace121978

thanks bruthaman! ya, i wish "WE ALL" lived in our own city. i wont be done for a while yet. once i get her back to rolling chassis things will slow down while i build the 350 up. by then i'll need to let the money tree in the back grow after this last pruning.

haha, the wife keeps pruning the tree, I tell her I can do it but she insists.

[menace121978]

lol!

alright quick update...
got the shocks on so i could bolt down the u bolts on rearend


cleaned up, blasted, primed and painted gas tank brackets and gas tank (passengerside)

[menace121978]

i never have pics after the sandblasting because i go straight from there to cleaning and painting so my fingerprints and sweat dont start rusting the metal. the sand i'm using leaves such a nice texture. very happy the way things turn out after.



fuel line for the extra tank


fuel selector valve... this was one of those things that i talked about earlier that has been kind of jerry-rigged(this one was by my dad and grandpa.LOL) they used a piece of thin sheetmetal as a bracket and had it screwed to the frame w/ sheetmetal screws.

new rubber brake line

[menace121978]

i ordered an anti-squeek kit for the gas tanks so i should be abe to get those secured next week. my rear brake kit from blackbird custom will be here probably monday. i need to get a new nut on the rear framerail brake line and re flare it and clean it up.
i took out the fuel selector valve on the tank and i need a new sock filter. anyone know where to get one? napa only sells the whole unit for $100+. and lmc doesnt either...

[OrangeAnimal]

I just went thru your whole thread. Man I wish I had the space to take apart my truck like that. Maybe somewhere down the road. Yours is looking awesome!!

Let me know when you go to working on the engine. I will help you to not make the mistakes I made!!

[menace121978]

orangeanimal, thank you! i'll let you know for sure. should hopefully be next month. got an engine stand today!

[flamingbig10]

the frame is looking good

[OLDIRON69]

Damn nice work!

[JohnC]

Looks good man! That gas tank looks really familiar!

What is the disc off of? I noticed it was a six lug.

I also see you decided to go with the blackbirds rear disc kit. Did you not find anything better?

[menace121978]

thanks oldiron69 and aaron!

good morning john!! thanks for the idea on the tank that 6 lug was off a 4x4(wrong one). hey anyways, the blackbirds kit is the best stuff out there. and they are the biggest rotors possible to be able to run my 15" wheels. he uses ALL GM PARTS and the calipers in the rear will match the fronts. when you need pads, rotors, calipers just go to napa. no need to special order and hope the company you buy them from stays in business. hopefully they will be here today.

[JohnC]

Cool just another item to add to my already growing list! I can't wait to see it on. I bet it really looks cool. My cousin put rear discs on his 70 Camaro. He didn't buy the kit, just made one work from a different vehicle. After it was all done he wondered why he put forth all the effort, when it didn't really stop much different. Then we looked at the disc through the wheel, and I said that's why. IT LOOKS COOL!!!

Glad the tank turned out. I ended up painting the bottom part of the bracket silver too. Didn't realize you couldn't really see much of the actual straps below the truck. I'll try and get it mounted Wednesday, and try to get some pics.

[menace121978]

so he didnt see any improved braking? guess i'll have to get those coys sooner than later to at least get some pleasure out of the 4 wheel disc... cant wait for the kit to get here so i can start sanding down the caliper casting.

[tvblazer78]

I would also like to see if you do anything dif from me..

[joe231]

Not trying to 'jack your thread......I was looking the blackbird site...looks like a good product, but they seem kinda expensive...there is a guy on here in the 60-66 section that builds the brackets for much less money...Captianfab (John)
here is a link...
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=334885

[joe231]

sorry, my edit time ran out..........

of course you have to buy the calipers and rotors separately, but it uses the same calipers as the front on the trucks.
$23-$24 each on the calipers, $50 each for the rotors and $10-$15 for hoses.....under $300 for a complete rear disc kit

[JohnC]

Originally Posted by menace121978

so he didnt see any improved braking? guess i'll have to get those coys sooner than later to at least get some pleasure out of the 4 wheel disc... cant wait for the kit to get here so i can start sanding down the caliper casting.

He saw some, but it wasn't worth the hassle he said. At least for the braking advantage. He said it was totally worth it for the uniqueness and look of it.

Originally Posted by joe231

Not trying to 'jack your thread......I was looking the blackbird site...looks like a good product, but they seem kinda expensive...there is a guy on here in the 60-66 section that builds the brackets for much less money...Captianfab (John)
here is a link...
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=334885

More options! Hmmmmm

[tvblazer78]

You also have to buy pads and bolts hose clips. And yes you could come out a little less, but all you have to do it call the guy and it's all sent to you for not much more and no running to the parts place to find stuff. So just to save $20-$30 by doing it all your self, my time is worth more then that. Just my 2 cents

[joe231]

the kit with calipers is $400, so it would be a savings of much more than $20-$30, and no shipping, so even more savings, over $100 in savings.....I didn't say one was better than the other, just that it can be done for much less....just wanted to make people aware that there is another option...If I'm out of line just let me know

[menace121978]

i totally agree w/ trav. i researched this for months and really did the last 2 weeks and i kept coming back to the blackbirds kit... i have comfort knowing the rotors are 1 1/4" thick unlike the seville rotors.

and the research that randy from blackbirds has done on putting all gm disc brakes on the rear of our trucks is amazing. i'm not saying the other way is bad or wrong. i can see it being a headache "for myself"
thank you joe for the heads up though. Dennis

[menace121978]

joe your not out of line at all. i apprieciate it... but i already commited also.

btw not to stir the pot but my napa here charges a $30 core for just the front truck caliper.

[bigbadjohn84]

do the blackbirds kits have a website? Id really like a kit like that for my 81.. thanks

[joe231]

Originally Posted by menace121978

joe your not out of line at all. i apprieciate it... but i already commited also.

btw not to stir the pot but my napa here charges a $30 core for just the front truck caliper.

around here I'm sure I could get them for $5 or less each from the junk yards all day...heck I have a few junkers laying around the shop at this very moment

I believe the Lincoln rotors are 1 inch thick, what rotors are in the Blackbird kits? or is it a trade secret?

Oh and one more question, Does Blackbird supply part number/application so you can replace them when needed? or do you have to get replacement parts from them? Just a innocent question, for my info

Originally Posted by bigbadjohn84

do the blackbirds kits have a website? Id really like a kit like that for my 81.. thanks

yep
http://www.blackbirdscustomtrucks.com/

[joe231]

dang edit time out!!!


I don't think it is a bad price for a complete kit, I'm just a cheap ass that likes to save money as much as possible, kinda like piecing stuff together too.....as long as I write down what the parts numbers