New to me 1977 Crew Cab Short Bed

[CircusWagonJim]

Boy, nobody warned me how addictive Square Body collecting can be! After many years of on/off '67-'72 ownership I finally got my first square a few years ago with a 2WD 1980 Blazer while living in Texas. I played around with it and rebuilt the engine but then moved back to California and left the Blazer behind. A couple years went by but the urge was too strong and I recently got another 2WD Blazer (1976, one-owner, all original- even paint). That led to plenty of parts hunting which led to an even nicer '76 Blazer I wanted to own. Put mine up for sale but was too late on the nice one. So I ended up buying a '99 Tahoe and and a '77 Short Bed. Got the '77 home and immediately started looking for parts to fix it up. Instead of finding parts I found a great deal on a super cool 1977 Chevy Crew Cab converted to a SWB. Checked and it was still for sale- but it was 400 miles away!! I would also have to sell the '77 Short Bed I had just picked up. Advertised it and had it sold Tuesday night. My next hurdle was finding a trailer to tow behind the Tahoe I had owned for less than a week to tow home the new truck 400 miles. Found out NO ONE in my area rents a trailer they will allow a truck to be carried on- and most don't even allow the trailer out of the local area. Finally a friend came through with one I could borrow. Early Saturday morning I loaded up and headed to the bay area with my son Blake. We took our time driving up and got there in the early afternoon. The cool owner Jay showed us the truck we were definitely buying and started loading it up. The truck hadn't run in 6 years so they drug it on the trailer with a chain. Strapped it down and headed toward the city for my son to see the bridges. Bad idea! Everywhere we went was a total traffic jam and not trailer friendly. Even so, we crossed all three bridges and decided to just head back home. Drove through the night and got back home at 7am on Sunday. The Tahoe worked great and I was told the '77 just needed a carb to be a runner. Luckilly the '76 I bought the month befor to part out had a freshly rebuilt Q-jet on it. Finished parting the '76 and a week later found time to swap out the carb on the '77. Swapped the carb, bolted in a new battery, poured in fresh gas and started cranking. Didn't fire so poured a little gas in the carb and the 454 fired up and idled. Next plans are to swap out the 8-lug for 5 lug and get it lowered down or Ralleys.

[cochino12]

Cool truck. Why not keep it 8 lug?

[duceducenine]

Nice Jim!
Here's a pic when it was lowered on 5 lug
It'll be nice to see which direction u go with it --- jay

[travlinman]

Damn it. I saw that locally and when I went back to find the ad to call on it it was gone. It was 30 - 45 mins away and a steal . Think It Was 1500.? But I guess it worked out I just found a dailh driver crew dually for 900. Hope u do something cool with it.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by cochino12

Cool truck. Why not keep it 8 lug?

I agree with Adam. There was a time that all 8 lug wheels were ugly at best. These days even factory 8 lugs look so much better, and aftermarket are awesome. I love the SBCC squares, but it seems everyone has built one recently. Keeping the 8 lug would make it a bit more unique.

[aggie91]

That is the kind of truck I would like to find.

I vote keep it 8 lug too!

[Jonboy]

I think you stole it, Jim. Nice score!

Not trying to be the voice of dissent, I would say make it 5 lug again. Be like the cool kids.

[K5owner]

How well was the frame shortening done? That would be my only concern. I have seen people bolt them together and nothing else. Yikes!!

[ol_skool_chevy]

DAM MAN !!!!!!!!!!! I love it. I have wanted to build a crew cab short bed for a long time...thats a Very "family friendly" driver. I can wait to see where you go with it..keep it posted on your progress.
I understand why everyone says keep it 8 lug and I would normally agree, BUT i like the look of a 5 lug wheel on these trucks. Looks lighter and more of a car look to it for daily driving.
My only wonder is, can you only change out the spindles to make it a 5 lug?...I'd love to learn more about this 8 lug to 5 lug swap. I have seen a Ton of 6 lug to 5 lug..is it all the same??

[CircusWagonJim]

Yeah, I didn't want to put the price but it was defintely one of the best deals I ever got. I really appreciate that Jay held it for me until I could get up there that weekend. He said a bunch of people called to come look but I was the only one that showed up. I have never been a long bed fan so I just can't get into the 8-lug look. I have owned half ton short beds for 30 years and that's the look I love. I will have 10 emblems instead of 20 as well. I love the look of both ralley and stock full hubcaps- or even vintage 5-spokes so all of that makes me have to go 5-lug. I already scored a complete 5-lug front end and rearend for $150- so that's definitely going to happen. When I was a kid a lowered half ton with a 454 grille emblem was the ultimate- that's what I want.
As far as the frame work it's done really well. "Everyone has one"? Well, not on my block so I'm still pretty stoked about having something I won't bump into anytime soon.

[tintbox]

Dig it. Nice score!

[K5owner]

I love it. I could only go this route if it was 4wd though. I have always wanted a CC, SWB, big block, manual trans truck on a d60 and 14ff. Yeah..Thanks for stirring that up in me again.

[ol_skool_chevy]

Everyone has one?...........I agree, In my neck of the woods its rare...I would love one if I can find a nice clean crew to cut down. In Oregon most 3/4 and one tons crews are Beat up from Work.

[CircusWagonJim]

This is my recent square body projects.
1. Found the 2WD Blazer and planned on that being my ultimate. Found a nicer Blazer and sold mine to get it. That didn't work out. Kept the Ralleys for my next truck.
2. Bough this long bed for parts for the Blazer, parted it out for over $2500- because it had a fresh rebuilt 350 in the bed. Also kept a bunch of parts for myself.
3. Bought this one a couple days after selling my Blazer because Black/Red '77 Short Fleet Silverado has always been on my dream list. I bought it through pictures and it ended up being rustier than I planned. I was looking for parts to fix it when I found the CCSB. Owned the black truck less than a day when I realized I was going to replace EVERY piece of sheet metal. The Crew Cab made it an easy decision to sell the Black truck. Would have kept it if I didn't need the money for the next one. Will still have a Black/Red short bed or Blazer on my dream list.

[Low Elco]

Jeez, how do you keep track? Love the new one.

[Jonboy]

Originally Posted by ol_skool_chevy

Everyone has one?...........

All the cool kids do. We like them 5 lug, too.

[f.monroe]

What size wheels are on it? Interested in selling the wheels? I have a cummins 4 wheel drive they would lok good on.
Frank

[CircusWagonJim]

Wheels are 18-inch B.Coddington billets that have bad chrome. If you stripped and polished or powder coated them they would be super cool. Sell them for $500-. Tires are pretty gone. Not worth shipping.

[f.monroe]

I was sure hoping you would say 17 inch wheels. I have a brand new set of 285/70/17's on it but have always liked the Timeless wheels that coddlington made back then.
Thanks ,
Frank