Slowly but surely

[_NATHAN_]

I am currently in Afghanistan but will be home next month. As I am getting closer to the end I am thinking of all the things I want to do when I get back home, one of which it build my next ride. I am into just about anything that is custom but my loyalty always goes back to Chevy. So one night as I am scrolling through the local craigslist I see the listing for 1987 Crew Cab 3/4 ton truck that was priced unbelievably low. So the emails started and I am ready to buy it without even seeing it or hearing it in person. It is still being used daily and has been serviced regularly at a local GM dealership. It has been used by a glass shop since 1990 and they are only the second owner with very detailed paper work on the truck. Now the real hard part begins, I called my wife.

I am blessed with an amazing wife that is very understanding and likes to make me happy but this is not her kind of thing. Being on the other side of the world makes it a little harder to buy certain things especially when the one person that can do it for you knows little to nothing about what they are buying, but the price was right. With little to no persuasion she agrees to go look at it, drive it, take lots of extra pictures, and make an offer. Keep in mind my wife has never purchased a signal vehicle in her life and will pay full price for anything she sees and wants at a yard sale. And after nearly 13 years of marriage I know her very well and know this is not something I should even ask her to do, but I did anyway.

$680 later this is what she comes home with, I am so proud of her.

The list of mods I have planned are longer than my arm currently but I plan to do as detailed of a build as possible. Not much will happen for a little over a month. I have been reading a lot of the other build threads on here and I am very motivated to get going on this thing.

Over all mods in this order (kinda)

dropped to be level maybe 6" to 8" or so
prob bag the front and axel flip on rear
Convert to 5 lug for better wheel choice
20" or 22" wheels
shaved everything
rear suicide doors
paint flat black
total interior
possibly make it a shorty
c - notch and bag the rear
Z the front
then the engine bay, I am still undecided how radical

[FrankieD]

Welcome and Thank you for your service Nathan. My son was in Kandahar for a short time not quite what you hear on the news. Nice looking truck for the money your wife did good. Stay safe and keep low.

[_NATHAN_]

Thanks I'm glad I found this site. I have been spending a good bit of my free time looking through the other builds and being inspired.

I have heard a few things about Kandahar, my unit was there 2 yrs ago. We are in Bagram now and leaving very soon.

I agree she did very good, even talked them down a little which is really out of character for her. Now I just gotta keep her in this same mood so i can finish it as planned.

[_NATHAN_]

had a little free time so I had a little fun with photoshop. also got a line on a set of wheels not what i want long term but will do till i decide if im going to drop the 8 lug for 5 lug setup. still not home yet so its killing me not being able to do anything.

[wwj75c30]

id run those welds are the best i think keep it 8lug everyone does 5lug swaps it seems like

[_NATHAN_]

Originally Posted by wwj75c30

id run those welds are the best i think keep it 8lug everyone does 5lug swaps it seems like

I will for a while, but they are only 18's, which is fine till i save some more cash, I was wanting more of 20 or 22 like the torque thrust or a very simple five spoke of some sort if i switch to 5lug. Then i will pass on the good deal im getting these for to someone else.

[wwj75c30]

are they 10 wides?

[_NATHAN_]

they are 9, if i do the swap to 5 lug i am planning to do a staggered set, 8 in the front and 10 on the rear... i think

[_NATHAN_]

heres a few from the first stage of lowering the front

[_NATHAN_]

a few of the back, shackles and 4 less leaf springs

[_NATHAN_]

is it just me or is loading pics a pain for anyone else

[_NATHAN_]

new wheels, well new to me wheels and tires

[_NATHAN_]

new fender being shaved

[_NATHAN_]

put fender and hood on today, went easier than expected, I'm ready to get this thing all one color

[Gordonr1973]

Its looking good so far!!

[northeimcustom]

looking real good ! keep up the progress!!!!!!!!!!!

[_NATHAN_]

It' Christmas in February?!?!?!? Well at my house it is. So I was helping a buddy get his truck running the other day and i noticed a nice looking 4x4 early 80's. It looked if it had been sitting for a little bit but still in good shape. After checking into it I found out the guy trashed the trans and is selling it because he doesnt want to fix it. I snagged it for 600 bucks After finding a steal on a new trans and a few other things the truck is back on the road for under a grand including the purchase price. I drove the truck for a few weeks and put it on craigslist. The next day I made a nice profit of 3200 So Ive been grabbing everything I can before I head out to Hawaii I found several good deals on craigslist and the rest I got from a local shop that was very helpful. They make loads of nice things and ship nationwide, check the out Metal Worx inc. in Hope Mills NC. These guys are some of the friendliest and most helpful I've found. Not sure how much I will get done before moving but I will try to keep the progress going up to the point I ship it off to paradise

[_NATHAN_]

Here's my payday