Starting my first Square

[mud.man.rj]

Starting to melt here today, getting closer, but slowly.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

Finally got back to working on the '80 got the front end stripped down, and interior stripped.

Cab has turned out to not be salvageable due to excessive rust. I Was able to track down a nearly mint '80 cab. Not much I'm able to use off the old cab (Windshield, Glovebox door, seat)

I have included a picture of my minty doors i found last November also.


Bed floor is also not salvageable but i can use the front panel and wheel tubs if need be. Might have found a useable short bed floor as well.

Still need to track down a clean original hood and tailgate.

I also scrounged a couple 1940's era army tool/ammo boxes and a beat up old steel jerrycan that I'm mounting in the back (unlike the truck, they will not be restored, patina will be intact on them)

I have also come up with a name for my project (hope it doesnt sound dumb). I was cleaning out a storage locker with my brother in law and found my father's old records. Since this truck is being built as a tribute to my late father, and inspired by his record collection, i decided to name my project "the hag" after his favorite country artist Merle Haggard. After all, this truck is quite haggard as it sits now.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

Picked up a new bed floor came with a swb 4x4 frame and a rebuilt th400 Transmission.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

Picked up a rustfree hood and tailgate, some tan door panels, McGaughy's drop spindles, a brand new GM front bed panel, original 1980 grille and headlight bezels. Ill have to upload pics later. Got the donor bed floor stripped down. Front end of the truck is also stripped down ready to pull the old engine out. Small setback, ill have to replace my control arms as the originals have rust holes in them. didn't know that was possible but Manitoba road salt is notorious.

[Hankster]

Sounds like it was rusted out bad! Atleast your finding the parts you need though!

[rusty76]

Keep on getting at it. You'll get there. Those doors look really nice.!

[mud.man.rj]

You have collected so many truck parts your actually building another truck, your right on the salt at times, seen some really bad trucks with not much left. At least your finding parts, good thing it's a Gm product, still stuff to be found.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

Made quite a bit of progress this fall before snow set in.
Got the complete body off the frame, as soon as spring comes, ill be cleaning and painting the frame. installing the drop kit, new control arms, etc. Then dropping the new cab on the frame.

Since I don't have a garage to work in, all I can do now is gather more of the parts I need.

[mud.man.rj]

I have been to Thompson, colder than Flin Flon but very simular so not having a garage really does stop the work, maybe you could build a cover or shelter with a roof to be useable in at least spring and be able to stay out of at least some weather like rain and wind as summer gets closer. I know it won't help at all in winter but around late march early April would at least get you working a bit sooner. I have a garage now but years ago my covered patio was a great place to do some work.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

Spring is near. I've acquired a 06 silverado with a 5.3l which will be donating it's engine transmission and related parts. Need to find a wiring harness for the swap or have someone modify the 1980 to the 2006 wiring.. picked up a few smaller parts for later... got the mounts for the swap, a tan leather half wrap/billed steering wheel, signal lights and new cab rubber. Next plans are to get the frame stripped and blasted, rebuild the suspension and then mount new engine and cab

[cases84square]

You can use the factory engine harness off the 5.3 if you have the whole truck. Go check out http://lt1swap.com/index.htm it'll have all the info you need on reworking the factory harness.

[mud.man.rj]

Don't forget to share pic's of your engine, and cool parts, we wait and wait for pic's.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

Every time I try and add pics it says error I keep trying. I'll see if I can put some on tonight

[Kerrin_asmundson]

a few more pictures

[Kerrin_asmundson]

trying again

[Kerrin_asmundson]

tried uploading from my computer. error. tried photo bucket and uploading. error.

My truck is also 750 km from where I work and I only am able to work on it on my holidays from work when weather allows so progress isn't as fast as most of the trucks on here

[mud.man.rj]

Where do you work a fly out camp or something, a long ways and time away, must be hard to find time but glad you are on it when you can. Hope you can get the pic's straightened out soon.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

I work up at the nickel nine up here in thompson. I live in an apartment and have no access to a garage or equipment so my truck is at my brothers farm east of winnipeg.

[mud.man.rj]

Sounds like a good job at the mine I have a friend who moved his family their a few years ago. That is way to far for your truck to be away from you, hard to make time for that. I work at Stittco in Flin Flon as a gas fitter, great job. Was at Thompson training last winter for a few days.

[Hankster]

I'd go crazy if my truck was that far from me! Just keep working at it if you can!

[mud.man.rj]

So your truck is like at least 500 miles away, that is hard man, ya keep at it when you can and get it home so you can drive it. Determination is the key.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

More updates. I've got quite a bit of progress this week.. frame is completely stripped down, sandblasted and powder coated semi gloss black . Should be good to start with a fresh canvas. We got the new 5.3l engine running (was from a rolled - over silverado). So happy to hear that it runs perfectly. .no knocks or anything. Once he front suspension set up is in, my mechanic friend will pull it and drop it on the frame. Looking at one of those Porterbuilt drop members for the front suspension/crossmember set up, once I save up some cash. Still no luck on uploading pictures, though. I'll try next week when I'm back up north.

[Kerrin_asmundson]

Found a better set of doors, too. And a set of chrome bumpers with the rear one from a 70s Suburban. Will need to be re-chromed. Cab is up on stands so we are starting the metalwork right away

[mud.man.rj]

Had a few guys from Thompson at The Pas car show the a week ago, one of them had a lifted Chevy with a little S10 on a trailer, was planning on a V8 swap coming soon. Think it was the best turn out they ever had, around 40 plus cars/trucks and a few nice bikes too.