Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"

[Dads79GMC]

Nine hour round trip, that includes BS'n with Jayson etc., and the cab is home! Had to kick the daughter out of the house garage for the night while I make room for tomorrow for the cab in the shop!! I should stay quite busy for a while now. Still have to finish the 4-Link, install fuel tank and system, Dirty Dingo x-member, brake lines, undercoat the cab, then put it on the frame - oh and weld in the bucket seat brackets/perches. Jayson did an awesome job on the cab!! He now has the fenders, hood and valance.

Mike

[MrFinland]

It looks really nice, Mike and Jayson! You're doing a really great job and so fast.

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by MrFinland

It looks really nice, Mike and Jayson! You're doing a really great job and so fast.

Thank you Sir.

[Dads79GMC]

Tonight was dedicated to the progressing on the 4-Link and various little ankle biters.

Pictures:
1. Got the links painted and set at 21.25 (initial setting for 0 pinion, will play with it later)
2. At aired-out height
3. Up close shot of front hanger and forward link assembly (Malko Fab Co.)
4. Ridetech lower shockwave bracket.
5. I took one of the shock brackets that was removed from the axle housing and taped it to the top of the c-notch bracket, just playing around to get an idea of what Shockwave I may order. I did order and upper Shockwave bracket that will be welded in that location.

I have the panhard bar already figured out; it'll go behind the pumpkin. More on that later.

Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Tonight I also got the Dirty Dingo transmission x-member in place, but not bolted in. Will have to somehow raise the transmission, maybe put a spacer by the frame to more level-out the trans/engine. Also got the cab moved for the young princess (daughter) so she could park her car in the house garage, that's alright! That's about it. Mike

[Jaysonb]

Looks good Mike!

[Dads79GMC]

Quick detour!

Have a friend who's intent on saving his 77' factory 454 SWB C10, so I'm lending a hand with some quick little repairs. Lol! Everything is savable, right? It was evident that this wasn't the 77s first facelift.

After replacing the floor brace, we had to ratchet-strap the cab, front to back, in order to close the sardine can; I bet the cab moved an inch at the door gap!!! The cab also had dropped over time, so that was a fight too. Tomorrow we hope to get the outer rocker and cab corner tacked in so he can finish the welding. He's on his own with the passenger side. I think we're on our third time putting on and taking off the door.

I love this stuff, it was a great break from the 78.

Mike

[Low Elco]

Work looks Awesome!

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Quick detour!

Have a friend who's intent on saving his 77' factory 454 SWB C10, so I'm lending a hand with some quick little repairs. Lol! Everything is savable, right? It was evident that this wasn't the 77s first facelift.

After replacing the floor brace, we had to ratchet-strap the cab, front to back, in order to close the sardine can; I bet the cab moved an inch at the door gap!!! The cab also had dropped over time, so that was a fight too. Tomorrow we hope to get the outer rocker and cab corner tacked in so he can finish the welding. He's on his own with the passenger side. I think we're on our third time putting on and taking off the door.

I love this stuff, it was a great break from the 78.

Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Thanks Low Elco

Thanks Chief!! BTW, your paint reconditioning is looking great! Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Well, I couldn't stay focused on the 78 out of paranoia of harming Dad's 79 GMC. So, I went and rented a 12x30 unit five minutes from the house. Now I have room to spread out and work on the 78 and more space in the unit to hide my stash hoarded 73-87 parts!! Battery is out and the truck is covered! Back at it on 78 tonight!!!!!


Also found the original radio. I think I'll clean the radio good enough to put it in truck to take up that space in the dash and put my new stereo in the console. ?? We'll see.

Thanks Mike

[skyphix]

Cant wait to see this one come together, if its anywhere near like what Dads came out to be!

If it were me, I'd probably fabricate a block off plate for the radio (and paint it something like black so it looks like a radio delete plate) and hide the stereo. The original radio is really cool, but it always bothers me to see devices that aren't functional, installed. Another option would be to do a digital/modern conversion to that radio, or if you're looking for more modern functionality, either a hidden bluetooth amp, or the even smaller bluetooth receiver that is even easier to hide up in the dash, wired into your factory radio.

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by skyphix

Cant wait to see this one come together, if its anywhere near like what Dads came out to be!

If it were me, I'd probably fabricate a block off plate for the radio (and paint it something like black so it looks like a radio delete plate) and hide the stereo. The original radio is really cool, but it always bothers me to see devices that aren't functional, installed. Another option would be to do a digital/modern conversion to that radio, or if you're looking for more modern functionality, either a hidden bluetooth amp, or the even smaller bluetooth receiver that is even easier to hide up in the dash, wired into your factory radio.

I agree 100%!! The radio doesn't work and needs reconditioning. I don't want to lose it again. I have a modern conversion for this radio (retro something like that), but I hated the look of it in place of the factory radio. The new one is bluetooth, usb etc., have to hide it! Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Yes, change 4!! This setup seems to work the best with the small c-notch, factory shock location and my F-Body Camaro disc brakes w/ E-brake cable.

Today I spent the whole day in the garage and made a huge mess!!!

Pictures:
1. Upper and lower brackets tacked in place. The upper bracket is 1/4" the lower one is a Ridetech over-axle bracket.
2. Both brackets in place. I welded around the top and underneath the upper bracket. After welding I painted the brackets.
3. Installed upper bags, I need to change the fitting to an "L" fitting 3/8 line. Nothing like originally cutting off the shock brackets on the axle, only to re-install them!!!!! The shocks are Belltech rear drop shocks. When aired-out, the shocks still have 1' inches of travel left and when totally aired out, there's still a couple inches left; should be good at ride height.
4. Tires/wheels on.
5. Top-down view. Im still playing with the panhard bar. The bracket attached to the frame is a Ridetech bracket that I cut down. The bracket on the axle housing is a racing bolt-on panhard bracket.

All trial and error!!!! Bags will flatten out with more weight. The bags are Dominator D2600 by Airlift Performance .

Thanks Mike

[aggie91]

Looks good.

I would suggest that you make the panhard bar longer and mount it to the back side of the lower link bracket on the passenger side, but keep it level at ride height. Making it longer reduces the arc in travels in and thus reduces the side to side movement of the axle housing.

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Looks good.

I would suggest that you make the panhard bar longer and mount it to the back side of the lower link bracket on the passenger side, but keep it level at ride height. Making it longer reduces the arc in travels in and thus reduces the side to side movement of the axle housing.

Aggie 91, that is in hell of a good Idea! Now that the lower link bracket is not being used, you betcha! Now I can eliminate the axle attachment! Yes!

This is an example of why this forum is so great!!! Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

I’ll look at that option when I get home!!

[aggie91]

Glad I could help. I have picked up ideas and tips from you and Jayson, so it was the least I could do...

[rusty76]

Not sure how I missed this build but I’m here now. Excellent work!

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by rusty76

Not sure how I missed this build but I’m here now. Excellent work!

Thanks Rusty76!!

[moregrip]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Yes, change 4!! This setup seems to work the best with the small c-notch, factory shock location and my F-Body Camaro disc brakes w/ E-brake cable.

Today I spent the whole day in the garage and made a huge mess!!!

Pictures:
1. Upper and lower brackets tacked in place. The upper bracket is 1/4" the lower one is a Ridetech over-axle bracket.
2. Both brackets in place. I welded around the top and underneath the upper bracket. After welding I painted the brackets.
3. Installed upper bags, I need to change the fitting to an "L" fitting 3/8 line. Nothing like originally cutting off the shock brackets on the axle, only to re-install them!!!!! The shocks are Belltech rear drop shocks. When aired-out, the shocks still have 1' inches of travel left and when totally aired out, there's still a couple inches left; should be good at ride height.
4. Tires/wheels on.
5. Top-down view. Im still playing with the panhard bar. The bracket attached to the frame is a Ridetech bracket that I cut down. The bracket on the axle housing is a racing bolt-on panhard bracket.

All trial and error!!!! Bags will flatten out with more weight. The bags are Dominator D2600 by Airlift Performance .

Thanks Mike

4 Link setup looks nicely executed, cool setup! Interested in hearing how she performs!

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by moregrip

4 Link setup looks nicely executed, cool setup! Interested in hearing how she performs!

I'm pretty close. Have to make a new panhard bar longer as mentioned by Aggie91 and attach it to the lower link bracket (see above). Once I get the fuel tank mounted and fuel lines run to the fuel rail, oh and exhaust in place, I'll need to recoat the bottom of the cab after I weld in the bucket seat brackets then put the cab on the frame and begin wiring. Shouldn't be too long before she starts up. JaysonB has the hood and fender for paint. Hopefully I can run it for a test drive in a couple months??? The goal is to have this done by Goodguys, first weekend in July.

Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Happy NFC-AFC Championship Day!

Today I decided to go ahead and change the upper control arm mounting studs, the other ones were questionable (see post #154). The job wasn't to difficult, though I had visions of being unable remove the studs and messing them all up!! I cut off the studs about a 1/4" from the washer and tried to use an air hammer to push the stud out....didn't work; a BFH did work! I then used the air hammer to push the studs out. While I had the front end apart, I reinstalled the airbags and also installed the new shocks.

Pictures:
1. Cut off studs
2. New studs in place
3. Used two large nuts as spacers, then slowly tightened the fitted nut, pressing in the new stud place
4. All put back together
5. Todays mess

Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

One more.

[Dads79GMC]

Over the past week I've been collecting parts in an attempt to make my LS look more era specific. So I started to do some investigating of intakes, throttle body adaptors etc. I ran across the DelsS3 kit and was inspired to get to work on this transition. First, after giving this some thought, and ordering my parts, I luckily ran across a great thread from "dayj1" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=668385 which has helped me enormously think through this process, take a look, it's pretty crafty work.

Pictures:
1. Before I started my work of removing the accessories, intake etc.
2. Some of the parts that came in last week. I'm waiting on the specific coil relocation brackets and the wiring that goes with it. Tonight I ordered some coil plug wires that I will be able to cut to size when I decide where to put the coils (probably behind the intake).
3. Intake removed and Vortec alternator, power steering along and factory accessory mount removed. Ready for test fitting!
4. Holley intake in place along with the OE Vortec Throttle Body sitting on top of the adapter plate.
5. Valve cover conversion in place along with the dual snorkel air cleaner.

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