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

[menace121978]

alright guys, 1st off i want to thank everyone here for allowing me to do this life long awaiting project. this forum is just full of knowledge and helpful people. this is a slow build because i'm doing everything myself and i've been taking autobody and welding classes at night so i can continue to do everything all the way to the paint booth.

now for some quick back ground. this truck was purchased new by my grandfather. 1st thing he did was take a few leafs out of the back and put on the mags. i was brought home from the hosipital when i was born in this truck. my papa drove her for 10 years and sold her to my dad who drove her another 15 years everyday to work. i bought her from my dad about 5 years ago and fixed her up a bit the 1st year and parked her. in december of '08 i started making plans for a frame off and in january i started taking her apart.
heres how she looked...

my plans for her are total resto w/ a 5.3 ls motor and 4l60 trans. new generation technology under old school style. my plans may change due to the smog laws out here after reading about the problems acex is having. if thats the case i will use the 350 crate motor my dad had put in back in '93 and back it up w/ a 700r4. i just need to find out if vortec heads and a mild cam will pass smog and get me to my 300hp goal. i'm building more of a weekend cruiser thats in memory of my papa and dedicated to my dad. heres some pics...

[menace121978]

i have a ton more pics up to the point i'm at now but i have to resize them 1st and i got to get to work.

[menace121978]

heres a few giant pics...




bought this baby for the sandblasting...

[menace121978]

[menace121978]

went w/ eastwoods extreme chassis gloss. very good stuff!

[menace121978]

i have more but i gotta go. now i'm late for work! LOL

any comments and opinions are welcome and i need all the support i can get. thanks for looking too!! Dennis

[tvblazer78]

What a cool build man! That is very cool that you have had that truck as long as you have, my dad orderd my 78 blazer new so I know what it's like to have somthing like that. Keep us posted and it's looking good!

[evan]

Very cool! I'm looking forward to more updates.

[menace121978]

thanks travis and evan! i just got home work... heres some more pics of the frame...


sandblasted a arms and painted. new ball joints, bushings, bump stops, and tie rod ends.

[menace121978]

all new grade 8 bolts, washers, and nuts...


front cross member all bolted up...

[N2TRUX]

Cool build thread. I love trucks with tradition.

[menace121978]

shims and u bolts blasted and painted silver...

[menace121978]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Cool build thread. I love trucks with tradition.

hey thanks ken. your truck is my screen saver. i dont want to seem like a copy cat but hopefully in the end she looks just like yours but done in burgandy like the original color. (actually a color called red jewel found on the new tbss)

[menace121978]

driver side a arms on...



and last one for now belltech 1" drop coils (which may change to 2")

[menace121978]

next on the list is to order 3" drop spindles and brakes. i'm going w/ the stock size rotors and black birds rear disc kit so i can still throw on the mags when i want. just need to find out if they have a drilled rotor that will match the fronts. thanks again for looking guys! its dinner time, Dennis

[flamingbig10]

looks good man, keep up the great work

[Jonboy]

That is going to be a great truck when you are done. Progress looks great so far.

BTW, AR is making the slots again, in 17". http://www.americanracing.com/browse_vintage.asp

[N2TRUX]

Glad my truck can offer inspiration. Keep up the good work.

[tvblazer78]

Originally Posted by menace121978

next on the list is to order 3" drop spindles and brakes. i'm going w/ the stock size rotors and black birds rear disc kit so i can still throw on the mags when i want. just need to find out if they have a drilled rotor that will match the fronts. thanks again for looking guys! its dinner time, Dennis

I would like to know this too, I am running the black bird kit too..

[evan]

Originally Posted by tvblazer78

I would like to know this too, I am running the black bird kit too..

I was thinking about using the Blackbird rear disc kit so I emailed them to ask if I'd be able to replace the discs and pads with local parts store stuff. They said yes, so I assumed that when the kit arrived they would tell me the model and year of vehicle that the parts were sourced from. That way you could just search for slotted rotors for that application. Is that not how it worked?

[menace121978]

from what i understand the rear caliper part # matches the fronts. i'll call them about the rotors and post up the info...

[menace121978]

wow!! what an awesome guy and company!! i just talked to randy at blackbirds and he said for drilled and slotted rotors it would be extra for them but they can get them to match the front. he also had a good point that its really hard to (find someone) resurface them when the time comes. i'm just going to get the kit and get new stock rotors for the front that way they will match.

[69face]

great work! good attention to detail!

[evan]

Originally Posted by menace121978

wow!! what an awesome guy and company!! i just talked to randy at blackbirds and he said for drilled and slotted rotors it would be extra for them but they can get them to match the front. he also had a good point that its really hard to (find someone) resurface them when the time comes. i'm just going to get the kit and get new stock rotors for the front that way they will match.

Good to hear. Did you ask if the rotors match the front as well?

[menace121978]

thank you for the comments and link jonboy, flamingbig10, and 69face! evan the fronts will match in looks but not part #'s.