ok here we go...dont laugh

[powerplant_chevy]

i am a recent convertee form the crazy world of honda. i had hondas from a slow civic hatchback, to a all out 398 hp turbo 91 accord (now in storage, needs new manni). i was one of those kids that would NEVER even look at a domestic let alone lern abouot them. so its not like im new to the car game. but i am new to the whole v8/domestic game. and if you needed an example. i was under the impression that because the v-8 honda motor, all v-8 had quad cams...untill a week ago when my bro in law slapped the answer in me. no joke.

so i guess i have a couple questions. im torn between a 73 chevy cheyenne 2wd long bed with a auto 350
and a 83 chevy c-10 2wd long bed with a 305, both auto.
or a 1 ton four door 75 gmc with a auto 350.

what im going for is a low rocket of sorts. bagged 454 is my dream. but here is where it gets dumb. i dont know where to start. like on the accord, i just bought a stage 2 coil over kit, built the motor and tranny parted the turbo kit, and custom made body parts.

i was told by a dude here in kansas that is a bagged chevy guy, to start buy buying a truck and cutting the front springs and taking some springs off the rear.

im just confused and need help on beginning directions. thanks.

[West Texas Z]

Get the 83

[allengator]

As far as choosing ANY project... always buy the BEST, most complete, rust free project you can...!

Having said that, if both trucks are in the same condition... the 350 will bring you money if you pull it to drop in the big block....

Check the SUSPENSION pages for info about bagging (thats not my bag... literally)

Oh.. check laws in your state for inspection... engine swaps etc...
Usually more flexible the older the car/truck is....

[John Gilbert]

Originally Posted by powerplant_chevy

i am a recent convertee form the crazy world of honda. i had hondas from a slow civic hatchback, to a all out 398 hp turbo 91 accord (now in storage, needs new manni). i was one of those kids that would NEVER even look at a domestic let alone lern abouot them. so its not like im new to the car game. but i am new to the whole v8/domestic game. and if you needed an example. i was under the impression that because the v-8 honda motor, all v-8 had quad cams...untill a week ago when my bro in law slapped the answer in me. no joke.

so i guess i have a couple questions. im torn between a 73 chevy cheyenne 2wd long bed with a 350, and a 83 chevy c-10 2wd long bed with a 305, both auto.

what im going for is a low rocket of sorts. bagged 454 is my dream. but here is where it gets dumb. i dont know where to start. like on the accord, i just bought a stage 2 coil over kit, built the motor and tranny parted the turbo kit, and custom made body parts.

i was told by a dude here in kansas that is a bagged chevy guy, to start buy buying a truck and cutting the front springs and taking some springs off the rear.

im just confused and need help on beginning directions. thanks.

If you want a bagged longbed, and you're not stuck on a '73-87 (Although I understand, I've got three of 'em) I can save you 20-grand, and a year, or so out of your life. All you gotta do is drive out to So Cal, and plop down $8,900.

See, that wasn't hard was it?

[smashingchuck]

get the truck that is in better condition.... stay focused on your goal. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to modify the factory springs if you are going to bag it anyway. I would start with a set of drop spindles. Look around the suspension forum there is tons of information there about how to correctly bag one of these.

[N2TRUX]

Welcome to the forum powerplant_chevy. I always suggest buying as much truck as you can afford. There are lots of things that someone with mechanical skills like your self can do, and there are those that are best left to a professional. Paint and body work are usually high on that list..

Focus on finding a truck that has paint you can live with. As suggested, spend some time in or Suspension Forum for a LOT of valuable information.

[powerplant_chevy]

you see the thing im torn about is that a 75 quad cab would be more sencable due to the fact i have a 1 yr old and one on the way. but lets say 2 yrs down the road i grab a 454, is the quad cab to heavy to really be a "quick" truck or is it a straight cruiser?

[Mrtn15]

If you put a 454 that was built right into anything, With the right gears.. its goimg to move!
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[powerplant_chevy]

ok after reading all your posts (and thank you) i think i might just go with the 73. ill just put the kids in the bed...im so kidding. but yea ill just grab her.

[hotrodhomi]

I would look for a blazer if you want to haul kids.

[foamypirate]

Welcome to the Chevy truck world, from another Honda head. I've got a 91' Accord myself, full of Bisimoto parts. Are you on CB7Tuner?

I would definitely echo what the guys above have said. Get the most truck for your money. Occasionally, you'll find a smokin' deal. I found a rust free 87', completely factory original, minus the seat, for $1000. It took a while to find it, but I was glad I did.

[N2TRUX]

Sounds like you need a Blazer or a Burb. You can build a Crewcab to run but thats a lot of metal to move. Since your in to late model power, consider an LS swap rather than a BB. Its not hard to get 500hp and still pull decent mpg. Something you are not going to see happen with a BB.
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[Dru]

Hello, powerplant_chevy.

Another Kansan here, it's good to see an import person getting interested in squares. All of your picks would probably end up being good candidate.

If you want it bagged, I dont think I would waste time with the springs, untill you get everything to do it. Just going to make more work for yourself. I'd go with dropped spindles before cuttings springs if you wanted a static drop for the meantime, and the big block would drop the front end down anyhow, due to the added weight.

What N2TRUX said about gas mileage is something to consider also, I'm sure youre probably used to good mpg, but here's an example, I get around 7-8mpg out of my mild 468 big block, will be converting it to injection soon, and I may get around 10-11, but wither way, I dont get too far between gas stops.

The LS motors can make some serious power, but I really dont care much for anything new myself...my 86 is even a little new for me, so thats why I stick with my big blocks.

[johnnypop]

I'd say shoot for the crew cab or a blazer... The crew will be a bit of a tank, but they look great when grounded. As for motors, LS is the way to go... If you've got some electrical know-how to wire the whole deal, you'll get way better mileage and reliability out of it. I love my 350, but the next go-round will definetely be a LS motor. You'll grow out of the single cab very quick with a wife and kids... I've outgrown my single cab because I spend a lot of time camping and it requires some extra seats and bed space to haul all the gang around

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

I vote the crew with a short bed conversion. Its how I ride.
Jay

[craazy22]

Hey cool to have a honda gearhead join us. I was once a hondaholic.. at once I owned a 2001 acura type R,( STOLEN) a 99 civic ek hatch with a b20vtec. (Stolen) a 95 acura integra rs with lsvtec(stolen) a 81crx with a jdm b16 and turbo (caught fire) and to finish my hondaholicism I had a 2000 honda prelude with stage 3 hks supercharger, spoon whhels spoon interior and spraying a 150shot pushing 11boost. Blew the motor racing a gto who claimed 700hp. I took him all the way till may motor did poof... lol. So afterf so much bad luck with cereal box cars. I came to my senses and realized I spent too much money on the wrong cars. Should of gone chevy long time ago. And now I'm slapping a bbc 454 in a short wside stepper.. but defently go with the 73
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[jitteryguy]

none of these truck's are really gonna compare to quickness of the Honda, the half ton'n can be made fast but it'll cost ya. the quad cab would make a sweet cruiser that the family can be comfortable in, the LS swap would be the best of both world's . fairly peppy decent milage.
plus the quad cab's are the coolest trucks out there !

[gchemist]

Ya have to build it if you want to stomp that Honda. Some of us here enjoy beating rice. Speed for a brick costs big $$$. A decent runner does not.

Welcome to the site.

[BigBlocksRule]

Get the crew.
You won't be able to park close to anything, but hauling a wife and kid around in a single cab truck ain't gonna be fun, particularly when you consider that anytime you want to take the kid somewhere, you'll pack more than a boy scout on a week long camping trip.
As for a big truck being fast, ain't gonna happen without a ton of cash. Make it reliable and torquey, get another toy for fast driving.

[powerplant_chevy]

Originally Posted by foamypirate

Welcome to the Chevy truck world, from another Honda head. I've got a 91' Accord myself, full of Bisimoto parts. Are you on CB7Tuner?

I would definitely echo what the guys above have said. Get the most truck for your money. Occasionally, you'll find a smokin' deal. I found a rust free 87', completely factory original, minus the seat, for $1000. It took a while to find it, but I was glad I did.

sorry i didnt even see your post. yea my screen name was cb7_with_snail. the shop i worked at got our f22 turbo "shop car/ mine and the owners new toy" done like 3 weeks ago. got a dyno and we were 267 at 9 lbs 342 at 15lbs and 398 at 19/20lbs. total build price was somthing like $12,000. and snow wont let us take her to the track so we are sitting patiently.

but i needed something to haul her and got into my buddys 454 procharged 84 short bed and fell in love with how a huge body truck slammed me into the seat so hard. so i sold my old accord and all my nitrous stuff and im tring to find my self a good starter truck.

[powerplant_chevy]

you see here is where im at a stand still. if i get a crew cab ill have the quality i want but not the speed. but they do looks sexy.

[mooseknuckles]

..you want a bagged crew cab to race around with your wife and kids in it?

[Chlsnk]

I would look into the crew cab or the 73'! Great to see another local guy here I live in Shawnee too.

[ghettoluxury]

I have had several Square Bodys, of all shapes and sizes. I loved them all but there is just something about the crew cab that makes me belive, I will never get rid of it. To make good power and still get good mpg's the ls swap is a great option. They were avalible in so many differant things and the aftermarket support behind them all the way. I am currently looking at this for my 88 crew since throwing a rod in the 350 tbi.