Project Pancho Villa - 1978 SWB

[78BO]

Originally Posted by BruthaMan

My face hurts, I was smiling so much! Still reeling from the adrenaline rush!

LOL, I remember that feeling. I'm not wanting to start an argument on which carb is better, but I'd be willing to be if you took that edelbrock off and put on a holley, you'd be even more impressed. I had a 750 edelbrock on my 383.
While it ran like a bat out of hell, it just seemed like there was more there. I installed a 770 avenger and all I can say is WOW! The throttle responce was 100% better. The only down side to that is with the shaky engine you have to retune the carb every now and then.

But as for the truck, that thing sounds great. And looks good too.

[baclay9]

What trans cooler did you go with?

[BruthaMan]

Trans Cooler and fan are Hayden.

[juiceman650]

That exhuast sounds awesome man, and the Vintage Air system looks sweet!

[80streetcoupe]

BruthaMan, what a beautiful truck. I just spent the last hour reading your build from the start and I thought the truck was nice in stock shape as is. Beauty is only skin deep untill you peel back the layers...haha!!!
You did an awesome job on her and what a great tribute to your friend. Run the wheels off of it and I am sure your grandson will be by your side riding shotgun with "paw paw"!!
Again, great job on your '77 Chevy!!

[tattoed71]

just bought a truck off of bruthaman and got to scope out this truck the pics dont do this truck justice. all i could say is wow, i love the steering wheel, wasnt even thinking about the ex cab chevy i bought from him to tow my 1971 around i just keep thinking of that steering wheel. thanks for the truck did good coming home, now its parked under the carport for the next few months till someone needs it, thanks again brother

[BruthaMan]

Hey, it was good to meet you, bro! Glad to hear you made it home OK. Knew you would, that truck is solid as a rock! Good luck on your 71, sounds like you are going to do it really nice!

[Gordonr1973]

Any news?

[my4by2]

Beautiful build man! Can't wait to see the finished product!!!

[Dieselholic92]

What brand of headers are you using on you truck?

[BruthaMan]

Thanks for the kind comments. The headers are Hedman.

Rebuilding the motor for the third time. When we added the AFR heads last time and bumped the cam up to a Lunati 284, it was too much. I know, I know...there's not such thing, except that the idle is far too lopey and it's a bear to drive the truck with all that power.

So, we're bumping the cam back down to a Comp xe 264, but this time using a roller retro kit.

I've diverted my attention to a recent 72 CST/Longbed that I'm going to use as a daily driver. It's running good, just doing some "personal" touches to the 72.

[Chevylongbed]

Nice truck and cool work

how is the Vintage A/C?? Is it good, does it stays long time with you??

[bigsj]

Very nice build thread great job.

[Low Elco]

Did Pancho ride again?
Posted via Mobile Device

[BruthaMan]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Did Pancho ride again?

Not yet. I had a guy helping me out last year. He changed out the Lunati cam (way too much lope for me) with an XR264HR-10 retro roller kit. This is one area I'm weak on...motor building.

He got the motor back together, just barely, but didn't get the electrical, radiator/fan and accessories hooked back up. He's since moved out of state. I've not made the time to get out there and finish it up.

Was supposed to work on it last Saturday, but the guy helping me out couldn't make it.

Hopefully will work on it more this Saturday. Really anxious to get everything finished up. I may be putting it up for sale (haven't decided yet) once everything is perfect. There's so much money in this truck, more than I ever imagined.

[Low Elco]

Sell it? Wade, you haven't used it! Let life settle. Ask around town. Find a good guy and button it up, and enjoy it. Seems such a waste of time and money just to give it away at the 11th hour. What does Momma say?
Posted via Mobile Device

[BruthaMan]

I haven't made a firm decision yet. Just something in the back of my mind. If I do, it would not be a "fire" sale, by any means. It's an exceptional truck and only the best parts (many NOS GM) were used to restore it.

[Low Elco]

Viva Pancho!

[BruthaMan]

I'm polishing up the radiator before we put back in. As well, for all the aluminum brackets, etc, polishing then sealing them multiple times, so I don't have to do it so frequently in the future.

Got the process down for polishing aluminum. POWER is the key! I have a buffer/polisher setup, but can really only do flat items. Had been using a die grinder with compressor, and not have good luck at all.

Finally decided to break out my dewalt grinder and put a cloth cutting wheel on it. Man oh man, night and day difference! That dewalt is a bad mama-jama with 10 times the power I was getting with compressor and die grinder.

Wish I had more time to play, but work is backed up (and I work for myself...self-employed).

[WIDESIDE72]

Updates?
Posted via Mobile Device

[Low Elco]

Darn, thought there was somethin' happenin'! Come on, Wade, we know you're alive!

[BruthaMan]

No updates on Pancho, but I am motivated. Today was the first time I've been able to set aside some time to work on my trucks, and I put the time in on my '72.

10 hours straight, bruthaman be hurtin' for sure! My mind thinks I'm thirty, my body is quick to reassure me those days are long gone.

Put in a parallel flow condenser. Should have been a few hour process at most, but it was universal fit, and had to alter the universe to get it in there!

Tomorrow will get battery tray/battery back in, mount compressor, add oil, pull vacuum, stick pins in the evil truck voodoo doll, cross fingers, pull a chicken wishbone, look at pictures of shamrocks and rabbit's feet on google images, and of course, a few prayers...that it works!

Gotta find my camera too. My wife probably stuffed it in a drawer somewhere. Love her, but she drives me nuts moving sh...stuff all the time!

[Low Elco]

Don't forget the chicken blood cross on the drivers door with the snakes nose! Good luck!
Posted via Mobile Device

[BruthaMan]

I've been quietly working on Pancho the past few months to get the truck complete. A lot of the work is simply redoing what had already been done, so I haven't updated the thread.

Previously, we put on AFR 195 Street heads and a Comp Cams roller cam kit on the 383 stroker and at some point, life, laziness, family, work, etc. took over.

Finally got it started up, did the break-in, and took it for a short ride to see how it drives. An amazing feeling after all these years!

Pulled the truck out today to give it a good wash and started polishing it out. Took a few pics and posted over on this thread.

[Low Elco]

VIVA PANCHO! Congratulations on getting him up and running!