New here wanting opinions and advice

[Carrier2]

Hello to everyone. I have been using the search button with lots of success.

I just purchased a running 72 SWB chevy that needs a lot of TLC and money.

I'm not sure where to start but I thought I would share with you some of the problems and be guided with some advice and opinions, thanks in advance for the help.

The truck needs:
Suspension (They heated the coils and rides horrible and leans through turns)

Tailgate- Did not come with one

Grill- The original is busted up with bad chrome, and would like to stay stock.

Front bumper- does not have one

Mirrors- Would like the ones that hang down from the top of the doors

Bed floor- rusted and wavy, considering wood kit with slightly larger wheelwells.

Rockers and sills- basically only rust on the truck

Engine- It has a nice 350 in it right now with a brand new 350 turbo. I was considering a BB swap but could decide to go with a big-inch small block if I could get the power out of it I would like. I thought I only needed different mounts to swap but have read a few different ideas, is it any tougher than mounts?

I know it is a bunch of ????? but I would like to tap all of the knowledgable people in here. Any and all help is much appreciated to help get this project started.

Kyle

[qksilver]

Get it driveable safely first, then address a project at a time. Otherwise you might fall into the trap a bunch of us have, myself included. Taking it apart then..........fill in the blanks. drive it, decide what you want to do with it, map out a plan and try to stick to it. It will get done cheaper and in less time. Research, research and so more research

[krue]

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi! There's lots of good info here. Click the Index link in my sig and get crackin'.

[Carrier2]

Originally Posted by qksilver

Get it driveable safely first, then address a project at a time. Otherwise you might fall into the trap a bunch of us have, myself included. Taking it apart then..........fill in the blanks. drive it, decide what you want to do with it, map out a plan and try to stick to it. It will get done cheaper and in less time. Research, research and so more research

Excellent advice, I have done a couple of projects exactly like that. This one is a little different since I have a fun daily driver and am looking at getting more in depth on this one. I do not plan on doing a frame off and getting in over my head. I would like to do the majority at once though. I will keep body mods at a minimum, and wait on paint and glass for last. Everything else I thought to accopmlish over the next year or so.

Thanks Kyle

[Carrier2]

Originally Posted by krue

Welcome to the board from South Mississippi! There's lots of good info here. Click the Index link in my sig and get crackin'.

I didn't know you were the one to put the FAQ together, Thankyou very much. I have read all of it except the paint and the later model stuff. I am leaning towards air bags because of the info in that section, and I had never thought of doing that before. I am also going to leave my glass including the vents to a pro now, if I don't decide to do a one piece.

Thanks, Kyle

[projectking]

[HeavyD]

I agree with qksilver, get new brakes, front end, and suspension to start. So many times I have been in vehicles where the person has spent $$ on chrome valve covers or something and yet they almost have to stick their foot out the door to stop the thing. If it doesn't brake, steer, or turn safely now, it will only get worse as you put some HP in it. Just my 2 cents.

[see ten]

Welcome to the board Kyle! I'm only a couple miles down the road from you in Lafayette. That truck sounds a lot like the one that was sitting at Hammond Jones for sale. Is it in black primer? I know a guy who has a really nice steel floor just down the road from you if you decide not to go with wood.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by projectking

AND

[qksilver]

Yep

[Carrier2]

Projectking, I took the truck to my Dad's garage yesterday, I will try to get before pics next weekend.

HeavyD, I am definitely doing suspension, brakes and steering first. I forgot to mention it has a power steering leak and turns like a dump truck, I'll fix that though.

See ten- It is the truck from Hammond Jones, not quite a total rebuild but not far from it. Tell your friend I am definitely interested in the floor, I have enough on my plate to not fool with a wood bed right now and that would be the first thing I would let go to get on with everything else. By the way what do you drive and do you ever get up around Chattanooga or Brainerd Dragstrip? If so give me a yell I would love to look at some nice examples of these trucks.
Do you know Matt that I bought the truck from, he said he knew someone that might have some parts or at least a tailgate.

Kyle

[Carrier2]

Oh and HeavyD I don't usually put money in anything pretty until it stops, turns, and runs as well as I can afford.

My DD is a 2005 Siverado that looks stock even the wheels, but has a Magnuson supercharger, fully built tranny, Full length headers and Corsa exhaust. I like the walk softly and carry a really bigt stick mantra.

Kyle

[see ten]

Originally Posted by Carrier2

See ten- It is the truck from Hammond Jones, not quite a total rebuild but not far from it. Tell your friend I am definitely interested in the floor, I have enough on my plate to not fool with a wood bed right now and that would be the first thing I would let go to get on with everything else. By the way what do you drive and do you ever get up around Chattanooga or Brainerd Dragstrip? If so give me a yell I would love to look at some nice examples of these trucks.
Do you know Matt that I bought the truck from, he said he knew someone that might have some parts or at least a tailgate.

Kyle

Kyle , I thought that sounded a lot like the same truck. If Matt is the same one who used to work at Roper I do know him but I haven't talked to him in quite some time. I was up your way today. My wife wanted to go to the movies and we came back through Graysville and 3 notch. As far as what I drive goes, it just depends on the weather and mood around here. I drove the C10 to the movies today.



I also have a Jeep with a 4" suspension lift. (found a pic).



I drove the 350z over to Helen last weekend.



I drove the K10 to Craigs cookout in west Tennessee a couple weeks ago.



Sometimes I beat around in this old Z.



I'll PM you the details on the bed floor.

[71see10]

Welcome again from Lafayette, And Yes thats Matt that we worked with. You well love this baord, It has help me several times and I'm still looking for answers !! Need any thing Just ask,some one will know the answer!!

Here's my ride!

[msgross]

my 2 cents

turn your 350 into a 383 stroker

new bumper = $110 at any swap meet

new springs and sway bar

good used tailgate = $200+

Good luck!

[Carrier2]

See Ten and 71see10, Sharp trucks, and I need to get to LaFayette more often. Hope to see you around.

msgross, I just need to find that swap meet, it looks like I can find a new bumper for not much more than that new, but the tailgate seems to be the problem, that and a 500-600 new grill.

[see ten]

I don't know that I would turn that particular 350 into a stroker or not. Supposedly the previous owner put a lot of $ in this engine. I can't attest to weather or not he spent his $ wisely but that's just the story going around. As far as a big block is concerned, unless you have a donor vehicle with every single pulley and bracket/ linkage mounts , this is a project that could quickly add up.

[Carrier2]

I probably will not use this motor as a stroker. I think it is a pretty high compression motor but besides that it seems pretty tame with a bad carb on it and several leaks.

I am by no means rich, so I don't mean an unlimited budget but I am not that worried about a conversion, I went into this wanting roughly 500-600 horsepower in this truck. I have no illusions that the engine and tranny alone will reach 10,000 in a hurry. I am hoping to keep the entire project in the 25,000 to 30,000 range without the initial cost of the truck. I just keep going back to the fact I can make that kind of power with an available crate big block and stay streetable, if I go big inch small block I may be reaching the limit on pump gas and naturally aspirated.

But I am getting ahead of myself, I still need suspension, brakes, steering, grill, glass, bed floor, paint and tires. And I need to at least consider interior and definitely very nice set of gauges to keep up with the motor.

Thanks for all of the help, and am looking forward to much more.

Kyle