Daughter's 1st Square

[my4by2]

Just recently purchased this truck for my soon-to-be 13 year old Daughter with the intentions of her & I building it up so it can be her first car when she gets her license at 16.

It's a 1979 1/2-ton SWB - it currently has no motor or transmission, but was originally a 350 4-barrell with a TH350 transmission. Whoever pulled it out seems to have done a good job & everything is still where it should be & not just cut or torn out...

The plans so far include a 4/4 static drop & full suspension rebuild with urethane bushings. We're going to be installing the 454 I pulled out of my project vehicle into it along with a new TH400 transmission. Not gonna crazy with it, just a mild rebuild & some Edlebrock parts.

I have the shop building my truck looking for me a 90's 454SS 14-bolt rear axle - they came with the 5-lug axle shafts & can hold up to the 454 much better than the 30+ year old 10-bolt ever could...

Have already bought the entire rear lowering kit from BellTech - shackles & hangers with their Nitro 2 drop shocks. Also purchased a 16-gallon Summit fuel cell as I want to delete her side-saddle tank & do a bed-fill install.

Also getting rid of the stock rally wheels you see as I purchased her a set of 16x8" Wheel Vintique Series 12 smoothie wheels & a NOS set of the dog-dish GMC hub caps - we'll get the wheels powder coated to match the red lettering & trim ring on those.

As for the body, looking at going with a flat or satin black - new chrome on the front, a cowl hood & a roll pan for the rear.

Won't be home next until May, so it'll be just a bit before I can post any build or progress pics.

[pat386]

Way cool!! Can't wait to see some progress
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[sumran]

Nice project and very cool that you are doing it with your daughter. If you are giving a 16 year old a 454 you are very brave! Mine got an old Honda with a four cylinder.

[my4by2]

Trust me, all that motor's getting is an Edelbrock Performer cam & intake - NOT making it a power house!!! Am hoping though that with her having to do the work to build it, that she'll appreciate it all the more & take good care of it - plus it'll be what she learns to drive on too - so she should be Ok at it.....

[roadrunner-europe]

Hi,

this rocks.

could you be my daddy?

My son (14) already asked me too, if he could have my truck, when he is 18.

Nice project. hold us up to date.

greeting

chris

[old Rusty C10]

hope you guys have alot of fun building it.. i know me and my son did with ours

[my4by2]

Well, looks as if I've changed direction on the engine plans already... No longer going to use the 454, instead I'll change the original '08 6.0L I bought for my project over to a carburetor & do a cam swap then use it. Mario is going to modify the collector on the Street & Performance headers I got so I even have those to use!

Did get in the NOS dog dish hub caps & fender badges I scored on eBay - so those along with the rear suspension parts & fuel cell means the parts pile is growing for May & forward!!!

Going to try & shot for getting the rear end rebuilt while I am home too - going with 3.42 gears & a Detroit TrueTrac limited slip. Hoping to basically wrap up the rear of the truck while I am home in May.

Stay tuned for more updates hopefully!

[76Charlie]

I have to tell you, first, the 14 bolt is a MONSTER! if it dont run out of gear oil, you ain't going to break it. As far as edlebrock things go, I'm doing the same with my 454 for my truck and its estimated at 300hp and 450+ ft. lbs. torque, she'll have a grand ol' time dustin those hondas her friends are drivin! Hope it goes well

[jitteryguy]

Originally Posted by my4by2

Well, looks as if I've changed direction on the engine plans already... No longer going to use the 454, instead I'll change the original '08 6.0L I bought for my project over to a carburetor & do a cam swap then use it. Mario is going to modify the collector on the Street & Performance headers I got so I even have those to use!

Did get in the NOS dog dish hub caps & fender badges I scored on eBay - so those along with the rear suspension parts & fuel cell means the parts pile is growing for May & forward!!!

Going to try & shot for getting the rear end rebuilt while I am home too - going with 3.42 gears & a Detroit TrueTrac limited slip. Hoping to basically wrap up the rear of the truck while I am home in May.

Stay tuned for more updates hopefully!

you go'n home in may or R&R ? I put in for a leave of absents for june.

[my4by2]

Just a standard R&R - gonna try for some extra time since it's my Son's graduation & I need a dental crown done.

[andrewmp6]

Sounds like its gonna be a nice truck when she gets it,I feel you on the crown i had one done yesturday but i have a good dentist now it didn't even hurt.

[grs]

Put a 305 in it with a 700r4 trans. She wont need a lot of power, and it will get better mpg's. Just an idea.

[terryj]

It's great that your daughter is going to put alot of sweat equity into this build, it will give her a sense of ownership, I think more parents should do this before buying a rig for their children.

[my4by2]

Yeah, I learned a VERY valuable lesson in just handing my Son a pre-built car ('70 VW Beetle).... Oh he likes having nice vehicles now, just won't put any work into them & doesn't take care of them... She's gonna earn this truck & hopefully respect it and know how to care for it & fix it if needed!!!

[Pyrotechnic]

My first motor was stock 350 with 100K+ miles on it. It had an Edelbrock carb and intake, Flowmasters, and the puff of smoke on startup from worn out valve guides. Had to check the oil regularly to make sure it didn't get low. That thing ran pretty good though, well at least I thought so being it was my first set of wheels.

I think because of that motor, I really appreciate what I have now. It made me hungry to keep working on making the truck better. If it were me, I'd keep the project on a strict budget and just see how she does with it all. Run a stock 350 and Turbo 350 trans and a stock open rear. Keep this a 100% driveway project.

The cool thing about that route is that you and her can spend time upgrading it later. I know me and my dad had a lot of fun doing that to mine. I'm sure after driving it as a stocker and getting some miles under her belt, she'll REALLY love the 6.0L swap and being able to roast both tires.

[my4by2]

Well, thing is the truck has no motor or trans in it right now so I really can't use a stocker... I already have the spare 6.0L so there's not much sense letting it go to waste or buying another 350 either.

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by my4by2

Well, thing is the truck has no motor or trans in it right now so I really can't use a stocker... I already have the spare 6.0L so there's not much sense letting it go to waste or buying another 350 either.

Yeah that is true. I keep forgetting you can get a 4.8/5.3/6.0 from the pick and pull way cheaper than buying or a building a 350 anymore. Well at least you're keeping it carbed.

I think my inner 16 year old is just getting really jealous of all these cool parts!

[76Charlie]

my cuurent 18 year old self is jealous of all the parts hey pyro I LOVE your gmc.

[my4by2]

Ok, so here is the rendering that Ryan & I came up with for my Daughter's truck project - i.e. Project "Princess". She's going to get this rendering in a frame on her 13th birthday in February - she can hang this up where she can see it all the time & stay motivated about it!

[76Charlie]

I'm sorry but that is too effin cool.

[Pyrotechnic]

Damn that is sweet. Lucky girl!

[my4by2]

Appreciate the comments guys - now I just need to turn the idea into a driving reality!!! 3 years till she can drive, so I have time...

[ghettoluxury]

Looks good and I see you have a use for the grille from the crew project.

[Palf70Step]

My daughter's first vehicle was a square, 82 with a 250. She really misses her truck too and keeps eyeing to steal one of mine.

[my4by2]

Well, my Daughter had her little birthday party & got her framed rendering - needless to say she LOVED it!!! She's definitely Daddy's little girl & I can't wait to get her all greasy working on it - Hehe