Evan's '78 SWB 2wd

[evan]

I finally got to start my project this weekend. It's been a long time coming so it's nice to get going. The progress pictures won't come very quickly but I'm hoping to have it driving (probably without paint) by this summer sometime. I'm doing everything at my friends shop which is almost a 3 hour drive for me but I'm hoping to get out there a couple weekends a month.

Today was all about disassembly. It was slow but it's the first time I've done anything like this so I tried to keep track of all the parts, even if I'm not going to reuse them.

The plan is to use as much of the '79 (blue truck) as I can and then the cab from the '78 (orange truck). The cab from the 78 is in pretty good shape since I had the rockers done a few years ago. The 79 rolled into a ditch last year.





It begins.



The parts table filling up.



The bed came off surprisingly easily. The previous owner must have had it off at least once before.

[evan]

This is how I left it. I tried to get most of it off to the side as much as possible since I probably won't get back for a couple weeks.

[JuicyJ]

Dogs love chevy trucks. Good luck with build. What are your plans for it?

[sgtvanmp]

You work fast man. I hope your able to get back there more often then not.

Will keep an eye out for progress. Let us know what your going to do with it.

[evan]

Thanks guys. It's going to be pretty plain-jane compared to most of the builds on this forum. I'll use the 350 I built back in 2005 and rebuild one of the 3 speed transmissions. I'm going to keep the interior stock but change everything over to black. The only big change will be a static suspension drop. Still pretty standard though with coils and spindles in the front and a flip kit in the back.

[evan]

Here are the pictures I could find from the engine build. I was surprised to find that it's already been five years since then. Time flies when you've got your nose to the grind stone.

My buddy (a mechanic) helped me through it since I hadn't done anything more than an oil change before starting it. We took it down to the bare block, had the machine work done, and assembled it with a mild cam, an Edelbrock intake and carb, and long tube headers.











It doesn't look nearly as good anymore but it will lead a much easier life after this build since it'll get parked for the winters.

[my4by2]

Looking good man! Keep the pics coming!