1977 Cheyenne Build

[westie 666]

Woohoo, nearly home time and long week end for easter so I won't be back untill Tuesday.

Just heard from my painter, the truck goes into the paint booth on Tuesday to get its first squirt of color, we will see.

Once again thanks for the awesome welcome and i'll see ya next week.

[Russell]

Truck looks fantastic!

I know a young lady who is originally from New Plymouth who stayed with us here in Canada as an exhange student for a year. Last I heard she is living is Auckland as well while going to university

Might have to send you over there to give her a ride in your 77, she used to get a ride in my old 77 Chevy Stepside every day to school and back!

[bb1979]

Sweet looking ride you have got there, btw welcome from Australia

[Curly86]

On the 77 model the radio slides out from the back you can push the hose back and the radio will come out after you undo the nuts on the shafts.And sweet lookin truck

[gezn2]

Originally Posted by Curly86

On the 77 model the radio slides out from the back you can push the hose back and the radio will come out after you undo the nuts on the shafts.And sweet lookin truck

Yup, I checked it out on my hulk yesterday, I 'misremembered'.....
Apologies to the group, It probably won't be the last time my mouth takes over

[westie 666]

Originally Posted by Russell

Truck looks fantastic!

I know a young lady who is originally from New Plymouth who stayed with us here in Canada as an exhange student for a year. Last I heard she is living is Auckland as well while going to university

Might have to send you over there to give her a ride in your 77, she used to get a ride in my old 77 Chevy Stepside every day to school and back!

Hehe I'm sure my wife will understand. "Be home late love, just gona give a school girl a ride in my truck."

[westie 666]

Originally Posted by gezn2

Yup, I checked it out on my hulk yesterday, I 'misremembered'.....
Apologies to the group, It probably won't be the last time my mouth takes over

No sweat genz2, I'm sure i'll have my turn.

I'll have a go at taking it out as soon as I get it home.

[westie 666]

Checked with the painter and at 2.30pm is still not in the booth, they are waiting for the paint to turn up.

[Russell]

Keep us posted on it! Can't wait to see a couple pictures of it all painted up!

[84 400]

Welcome

That is one clean 77 you got there and the best model if you ask me. Looks like we have the same wheels.

Can't wait to see the fresh paint

[westie 666]

As promised, photos of truck getting prep for paint.

Because i'm not good at this photo thing they are in no particular order.









More to follow.

[westie 666]

Originally Posted by 84 400

Welcome

That is one clean 77 you got there and the best model if you ask me. Looks like we have the same wheels.

Can't wait to see the fresh paint

Thanks, I have got photos and will post them when I find them. they are American Racing.

[westie 666]

Well another week has gone by and still the truck isn't painted, because i'm getting a good deal, the painter is doing it around his other work (the kind that pays the bills)

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by westie 666

.....I want to keep it as original as possible, although it is going to be dropped as far as we can without having to get it certified (we are not allowed to cut springs or use flip kits) so will use drop shocks and spindles and maybe remove a leaf or two.

First . . .... Wecome to the board. Excellent project you've chosen.

I'm curious, why can't you use a flip kit? It doesn't alter any geometry of the suspension, just moves the rear axle from below the springs to above. Seems that's the best way from an engineering perspective.

What about lowering kits that bolt-in like AirRide? If they don't allow air suspensions, you could swap coil-overs in their place.

[westie 666]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

First . . .... Wecome to the board. Excellent project you've chosen.

I'm curious, why can't you use a flip kit? It doesn't alter any geometry of the suspension, just moves the rear axle from below the springs to above. Seems that's the best way from an engineering perspective.

What about lowering kits that bolt-in like AirRide? If they don't allow air suspensions, you could swap coil-overs in their place.

Us Kiwis are a funny lot, if I use a flip kit I would then need to notch the chassis and then would have to get an engineer to get it certified, the big danger is if it is not legal, I am stuffed because I would need to reinstate the chassis back to square one

I think coil overs are ok but would have to check first, and that is the hard part and to be honest I haven't gone into this yet. I will do a bit of research and let you all know how I get on.

[N2TRUX]

Pics....oooh....I like pics. The progress is looking great. Are you going back with the factory color?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by westie 666

Us Kiwis are a funny lot, if I use a flip kit I would then need to notch the chassis and then would have to get an engineer to get it certified, the big danger is if it is not legal, I am stuffed because I would need to reinstate the chassis back to square one

I think coil overs are ok but would have to check first, and that is the hard part and to be honest I haven't gone into this yet. I will do a bit of research and let you all know how I get on.

I have a flip kit plus dropped shackles & still have about 1.00 - 1.25" between the axle housing & the frame rails. I purchased bolt-in style c-sections but never got the chance to get them installed & have driven it that way for several years now (it did bottom out).

You should be fine w/just the flip kit & no c-notches (you would have a theoretical 2.50 - 3.00" clearance).

[westie 666]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Pics....oooh....I like pics. The progress is looking great. Are you going back with the factory color?

Yup sure am, I was going to put a bit of fleck in it but don't want to use clear coat, so just the original solid paint.

[westie 666]

Hi again,

Still no paint so no new pics,

Was looking at the tyres today in response to a pm, on the rear they are 295x50x15 and on the front 255x60x15 know wonder it screams at 80 mph.

I do have a new set coming, could some tell me what the original tyre sizes were?

[flamingbig10]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I have a flip kit plus dropped shackles & still have about 1.00 - 1.25" between the axle housing & the frame rails. I purchased bolt-in style c-sections but never got the chance to get them installed & have driven it that way for several years now (it did bottom out).

You should be fine w/just the flip kit & no c-notches (you would have a theoretical 2.50 - 3.00" clearance).

I have a flip kit, and drop shackles also I only have 3 leafs, with a bolt in c-notch and the bump stop are right on top of the rear end, there is only a 1/8 inch of clearence

[westie 666]

We are not alowed to modify any mounting points or remove bump stops and must have 4 inch clearance. We can use lowering blocks and drop shocks and coil overs. Still researching this, I may have to visit a suspension shop and talk with them to get the full story, so far I have been looking up the regulations.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by flamingbig10

I have a flip kit, and drop shackles also I only have 3 leafs, with a bolt in c-notch and the bump stop are right on top of the rear end, there is only a 1/8 inch of clearence

My bump stops are long gone. My 1 - 1.25" of clearance is the frame to the rear axle tube.

[westie 666]

Update:

Had a chat with a guy "in the know" he tells me that I can get away with cut springs in the front and remove 4 springs in the rear, not sure what drop that will give me but the good part is that I won't have to get it certified and it will pass it's safety checks, so that will do me for now.

[babyJay]

Welcome...nice project. What mods do you have planned for the powerplant?

[1984Silverado4x4]

Originally Posted by westie 666

could some tell me what the original tyre sizes were?

Probably 235/75R15 or something close to that.