87 Square Body Build up....

[twangismythang]

Here begins the build up of my 87 V-10 I scored today for $1600. I bought the truck from my brother, who bought it with hopes of building it but then realized he would rather buy a
$ 50,000 diesel truck.

The 5 mile drive home only took about an hour as I drove, pulled and pushed. Acts like the carb is junk or bad gas or both.

The radiator leaks, the steering column is loose, the engine starts with a toggle switch.

Heres a few pics to get things started.








Real good tires.....

[twangismythang]

Here is a few I took after giving it a washing...




Had to install my favorite license plate.



So I sent 1 of my buddies a pic of the truck, he showed it to a coworker of his and turns out the guys son use to own the truck. He went further to add when his son bought it the seller told him the engine had a recent rebuild. The then owner had the transmission rebuilt before he sold it and said that the engine probably has less than 7,000 miles on it.

So turns out I have a good engine and trans, the body has no rust and not much damage.

Score for $1600!!!!

I have to first figure out the fuel delivery situation as well as the cooling system. I will also have to rebuild the steering column.

That will be just to get it going, then who knows whats next.

However first things first, I simply wanted a clean 4X4 to tool around in, I have little desire to play in the mud, although I might. With that being said the first thing I will do is ditch the roll bar. I will remove it in the morning and hopefully sell it to buy a tool box for the bed or I dunno a RADIATOR.

Probably going to try and eventually find some steel wheels and caps and just run some over sized all terrains.

So that's the plan a semi stock looking 4X4, we shall see how well this one goes....

[Just call me Sean]

That should be fuel injected.

[twangismythang]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

That should be fuel injected.

Yep shoulda been, but its got a edelbrock carb and a bunch of hacked up wiring.

[CHROMAHOLIC]

that plate rocks

[Just call me Sean]

Originally Posted by twangismythang

Yep shoulda been, but its got a edelbrock carb and a bunch of hacked up wiring.

Doesn't surprise me.

[twangismythang]

Today I accomplished removing the roll bars, ran into some level of difficulty with the dual gas tanks and had to grind one of the bolt heads off.



Leaner and Sexier........



Going to try and find a buyer, or trade it for a bed tool box.



Notice that either the beds crooked or the frames bent, anyone have any ideas on how I can tell? Looks more like the frame since the bumper turns up with the bed on the right side.

[twangismythang]

Here are some other pics of the foolishness that has taken place by the PO's.

wires everywhere





was going to hang my old school rifle rack in the back window but didnt have the screws to hang it, it will have to wait for another day.



Here is a shot of the carb, its very juvenile in appearance. I just need to find a donor TBI truck and change it back to TBI.

[Just call me Sean]

Looks like the motor was changed. Doesn't have '87up heads.

[twangismythang]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Looks like the motor was changed. Doesn't have '87up heads.

I'm thinking its an older block, will have to climb up and read the numbers.

Started up today with no issues and idled fine in the driveway, didn't feel like any drama so I didn't attempt taking my buddy for a test drive. Going to drop the gas tank soon and start replacing and cleaning from there...

[twangismythang]

Tackled the loose steering column today, found that it does not appear to be the original column. I am unable to find a switch to turn the wipers on, I am thinking the 87 had the wiper control built into the turn signal arm?

So now I have replaced the ignition key switch and replaced the juvenile steering wheel with one I had lying around.

While I was at it I changed out the door lock cylinders, so now at least I am able to secure the truck. That was really bothering me because the truck came with no keys.

Here's a few pics of the progress.......







now the new wheel....it will do for now




Gonna have to buy the horn kit if I'm gonna keep the wheel on it.

[Just call me Sean]

Yes the wipers are supposed to be on the turn signal lever.

[twangismythang]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Yes the wipers are supposed to be on the turn signal lever.

Guess I will have to hit the junk yards sometime soon.

[twangismythang]

Since we are trying to sell our house the wife made me hide the truck in the backyard.



Looks good there 2


Minor update, hung the rife rack I have had put away for some years. Small accomplishment, but I'm happy with it.

[twangismythang]

The primer job wasn't all that great so I had the bright idea of wet sanding it off and just spot priming the bare spots. I didn't take into account that the doors were a different color than the rest of the truck.

I was just trying to do something that didn't cost any money, not sure if I like the new look or not.

[twangismythang]

No real progress, I have been too busy prepping my house for sale. I did find out that it fits in the garage with 4 inch lift and 33's.


Also found that these tires cost about $230 a piece, pretty cool since the truck only cost me $1,600.



A few more of some seasonal stuff



Have to figure out how to decode this and find out what I actually have.

Looks like its a Silverado?

[twangismythang]

When you start the engine it throws sparks off of the positive cable on the battery, appears that the alternator is grounded, however these connectors don't look so good.



The heater core was leaking and the PO began tearing into the replacement job only to loose a bunch of parts. I went ahead and went in behind the fender to get the last bolt out.


Found this behind the dash, think it goes to what once was power windows and locks, any ideas?

[Just call me Sean]

They sell that connector at AutoZone.

[twangismythang]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

They sell that connector at AutoZone.

Great I will pick one up next time I'm there….

[JGood]

Love that steering wheel! Got an identical one in my 86 and a matching shifter as well!

[twangismythang]

Christmas came a lil early for me, decided to spend some money, swapped out the single plane intake for a dual and got it running a lil bit better. Figured I would tune it up and see if it will run.





Also scored a free steering column to have wipers.

[twangismythang]

My daily driver rocks!

[Just call me Sean]

Oh **** it's the cops.

[Katrina/10]

Are you still thinking of putting TBI back on?

[83swb]

Love the truck and the stance, shame the wiring is so hacked.

I have to tackle the loose column in my project, it was in a front end collison and looks like the driver may have hit the steering wheel, hoping there aren't any mangled internals.