Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"

[Dads79GMC]

Tonight I thought I'd get a lot done....I was wrong! OK, so I cleaned the trans and wiped down the exhaust manifolds in prep for paint. I painted the transmission with Duplicolor Cast Iron engine paint and the exhaust manifolds with VHT High Temp exhaust manifold paint, also in Cast Iron. I was looking installing the new trans pan w/drain plug and discovered it was a 1/4" too shallow.

I was looking forward to mating the engine and trans and getting them back onto the frame....nope, gonna have to wait. Time out for now!! Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Tomorrow I plan on cleaning the garage, again, and start on the cab. I have to weld in the bucket seat brackets.....yes, I forgot to do that before Jayson painted it. I'll then have to weld in two nuts on the cab floor braces for the inner fenders....yes, I forgot to do that before Jayson painted it. The new cab floor braces don't have the welded in nut for the inner fenders. Then I need to respray the undercoating in select places..... Good night.

[mongocanfly]

that cast color is very similar to what I painted all my drivetrain with....I used castblast from seymour paints...mine looks a little flatter than yours...more of a matte finish

[Dads79GMC]

Good info Mongo. I believe it will flatten out (satin) a bit when dry. I took the pics right after spraying them. Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Been a while since posting. I was up in Fargo, ND for work since last Wednesday. On Monday I got stuck in Sioux City, Iowa due to road conditions further east toward home.

Tonight I put the engine and trans back together. Oh ya, I received a new transmission pan from Summit and installed that too. I think I'm finally back on track.


Photos:
1. Getting ready to mate the engine/trans; like most of you know, when you are by yourself you have to take your time, one step at a time.
2. Got lucky and landed it right the first time.
3-4. Installed exhaust manifolds and partial exhaust.

Thanks Mike

[mongocanfly]

That blue on the engine looks great!!!....really looks good against the black and cast colors..

[aggie91]

Very nice contrasts. Remind me what engine mounts and transmission crossmember you used for this truck...

[808_67C10]

Bee EEE Aye utiful! Looking awesome. I agree with Karl, love the contrast of colors.

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by aggie91

Very nice contrasts. Remind me what engine mounts and transmission crossmember you used for this truck...

Originally Posted by 808_67C10

Bee EEE Aye utiful! Looking awesome. I agree with Karl, love the contrast of colors.

Thanks!! Karl, see top of previous page (Post #301). Hedman 73-87 LS swap mounts. So far so good. Trans x-member is a Dirty Dingo swap x-member.

Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Today I got a lot done. I reinstalled the accessories, injectors and fuel rails, fuel fittings and fuel line from the tank to fuel rail, transmission lines, brake lines and installed the core support. I spent a lot of time finding items that I lost - I should say misplaced! I also pulled the bucket seats out of storage in prep for installing the mounting tabs on the cab floor.

Thanks Mike

[MrFinland]

Very nice work!!

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by MrFinland

Very nice work!!

Thanks Ilkka

[Dads79GMC]

Forgot a pic from last night. This one gives a good idea the new accessories.
Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

That blue on the engine looks great!!!....really looks good against the black and cast colors..

Thanks Mongo! BTW, I popped the caps off of the injectors, perfect fit. Thanks for the insight! Mike

[mongocanfly]

glad it worked for ya Mike...

[Dads79GMC]

Good day! I was able to get the new Dirty Dingo A/C brackets and the Sanden remounted. Now I have the appropriate tensioner and idler pulley for my setup. I also hooked up the Camaro power steering pump with the C10 power steering gear box. I can't remember where I purchased the fitting that goes into the Camaro power steering pump so that I could use my stock power steering line (high pressor side) with the C10 power steering gear box (with some creative bending). I also installed the radiator and fans along with the upper radiator panel and the panel on the forward side of the core support. Had to place a new sticker on that piece too! Forgot, I also extended the dual exhaust, now have to install the mufflers. I also moved the shifter linkage forward about an inch. Now it's time to get the linkage cleaned and painted

Tonight I also ordered a bunch of soft products (carpet, door carpet, rear cab wall carpet, firewall insulation), front and rear bumpers and some wiring relays and connectors for the electric fans. I think that's about it.

Thanks Mike

[Jaysonb]

Looks like the progress on this project is moving right along, so I got the body work on the front clip, and some small parts done, and got them all primered up. I'll let the primer sit for a couple of days, final sand the parts, and get them painted up.

[Dads79GMC]

Looking great Boss!

[Dads79GMC]

While I was out and about I had a visitor!!!!

-Precision
-LMC
-Summit

Wow, all on the same day. Mike

[Dads79GMC]

******Change of Plans*******

So, my wife and I decided to buy an acre lot (accomplished) outside of town. This will give her the house of her dreams and the garage space I want with a lift etc; great compromise, but this truck has to go!! Knowing that I'm now going to sell this truck when it's done, I've decided to yank all the air-ride system and keep it for myself (AccuAir ENDO CVT and management system, along with the 4-link) and keep it for a future build, hopefully a 2WD 73-75 Blazer/Jimmy. I don't believe keeping the air-ride installed that I'd get my money back??? One more little variable, one of friends who's currently deployed, would like to buy this truck when he returns, but wants a static drop. If he doesn't, somebody will. Here's the work I've accomplished over the laster 1.5 days.

Pictures:
1. Unbacked the Western Chassis 1" drop coils and a new set of lower control arms
2-3. Install of the front components complete.
4-5. Drilled the holes for the rear sport bumper brackets and test fit the new TriPLus rear bumper along with TriPlus new front bumper.

More to follow...

[Dads79GMC]

Pictures:
1. I began the task of taking out the rear 4-Link and components apart this morning. Everything came apart pretty easy. The only real headache was cutting off the upper airbag bracket from C-Notch. I'll grind those down smooth tomorrow.
2. The axle housing/rear end is put away for now and the components are all in a designated container.
3. Next I finished the dual exhaust back to the mufflers.
4. The mess!
5. Starting to inspect wiring. The 78 wiring harness is extremely clean! Relief.

Time for a break. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Later this week I have an appointment with a buddy of mine to change out the 3.08 gears in a spare rear end. We are going to install 3.73 gears. The other rear end has the 4-link brackets welded to it and the lower airbag perch, again, that's now put away for another day.

Thanks Mike

[Dads79GMC]

Today I worked on the cab in preparation for putting it on the frame.

Pictures:
1-2. Prepped a pair of bucket seat perches I bought from Jeff (1774btcrew). I drilled 1/2' holes in the mounting bases then plug welded the brackets to the floor. Prior to that I bolted the perches to the bucket seat then bolted the seat in place using one factory mounting point then marked the weld spot on the floor. YES, I forgot to do this before Jayson painted the cab!!!!
3. Inspiration is on the wall
4. Good shot of Jayson's handy work (paint job)
5. Undercoated some overspray. I used 3M 08883, Rubberized Undercoating Black. If I remember correctly, 08883 is for high temp areas? I need another can of undercoating to finish the job toward the back of the cab.

Well, I just noticed something......I guess I should have put my mufflers further down-stream!!! Would have made putting the cab mounting bolts in a little easier! Duh! Oh well.

Thanks Mike

[808_67C10]

Wow.... happy to hear your garage situation will be awesome but, sad to see that you have to sacrifice one of the trucks... I guess that's just how it goes. I did that (sort of) with my 67 and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss it... I do like watching this one being built though. Cant wait for the next one.

[Dads79GMC]

Originally Posted by 808_67C10

Wow.... happy to hear your garage situation will be awesome but, sad to see that you have to sacrifice one of the trucks... I guess that's just how it goes. I did that (sort of) with my 67 and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss it... I do like watching this one being built though. Cant wait for the next one.

Thanks Frank! I love this truck, but there's no real "emotional" attachment..more or less a blank educational canvas for myself; if you need to change something, you just hit re-do or paint over it - or parts.

The next truck will be a true Joint Adventure with JaysonB. I have an 85 cab, all the components for a 77 SWB 2WD rolling chassis, SWB bed floor, 80s tailgate, interior pieces galore along with bench seat, mixture of wiring harnesses, some dash clusters, analogue air management system w/bags, rally wheels and JaysonB has the rest along with the talent!! I'll scratch up an engine and trans too. That one should be a quick flip when we get going on it. Should end up pretty nice.

I plan on breaking ole Dads79GMC out of storage this week. Gonna be 65 on Friday I hear!!

Didn't get much done this evening. I did pick up a couple cans of the 3M undercoating and a couple bolts for the front shock.

Thanks Mike

[mongocanfly]

Wow.....didnt see that coming...sorry to it go...