Big Tex's 83 Chevy 2wd to 4wd Conversion

[quadzero]

What a beauty! The truck looks amazing. That is tough about the gas tank, that's all you need after you just spent hundred's of hours on this. Maybe I missed it in the thread but what size are the tires. They sure look huge with the little guy standing next to them.

[Big Tex]

Ha-ha, they're just 35's, but the 29" kid does make them look big!
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[Greenlee]

Originally Posted by Big Tex

Greenlee - Thanks! Did you get your exhaust done? How did the "open headers" trip go? I did that when I went from the 6.2 to the 350. I happened to pass an elementary school that had just let out, and people were breaking their necks to see what in the world was coming down the street. he-he, still makes me laugh....

Zane - That's ok. some days are just like that I guess.

Trout - Good luck on your '78. Do you have a thread started?

Big Tex,
I took mine to the exhaust shop yesterday. I had to go about 8 miles. I passed one cop shooting radar, but I just let off the gas and coasted on by so as not to draw attention to myself. I have no inspection sticker, but I got it registered and all the basic stuff like lights and windshield wipers working. Other than white knuckling it past the po-po I didn't have any drama. I had my 10 year old son with me and a friend following in my Nissan Titan with a tow strap and tools in case of a break down.

I ended up leaving her at the exhaust shop. I told them I want it pretty quiet and they recommended Magnaflows. However, they only had Flowmasrers in stock, which would be loud as hell. When I get it back I will post some pics.

Your truck looks great with the lift and tires! I am tempted to do that to mine. Those tires do look bigger than 35 with the little guy standing there!
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[MTCK]

Cool build! I love that red... I don't suppose you could give me a part # / manufacturer name off your hitch? I'm looking for one that style. The wheel tire combo looks just right. Are the rims 16.5's? Centerlines? Good work.
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[Big Tex]

MTCK - I'll see if the hitch has any info left on it. It was on the 4x4 frame when i got it. Since I had to cut 5" off the back of the frame, it's just on there with a couple of bolts now so the muffler shop wouldn't run the pipes in it's way. I'm going to have to move it inboard some. Hit the wrecking yard, when i'm there, i usually see several of these type of hitches, especially on the later 87-91 blazers and burbs.

Yes they are 16.5" tires on centerlines. Luckily they have a good amount of tread left, and this won't be a daily driver, so they should last a while. When they wear out, I'll probably have to rake up some different wheels. It's too bad, because there are a lot of good looking 16.5 wheels still out there.

[86454k30]

Cool truck, nice build and write up. Those wheels are Weld Typhoons for the record.

[Big Tex]

86454K30 - Thank you very much. Yes, you're right, they are Welds. I don't know what I was typing when I wrote Centerlines. BTW - You've got some nice trucks yourself. That Black one will look great with the lift and 33's on it. Did you ever do a build thread on the one in your avatar?

[Gene]

Very cool build, seems really familiar to me because I did the same thing. One day I saw a swb 71 chevy 4x4 swb and from then on I had to have one. My truck was even lowered like yours was. Its a really cool feeling to go from driving a truck that used to be in the weeds to driving a raised 4x4. Anyways, love the truck(my 2nd favorite bodystyle ). Awesome job!

[Big Tex]

Gene-
Thanks for the comments. I've been through your thread, it actually inspired me through part of the journey. It's a great looking truck!

A real life Okie from Muskogee, huh?
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[Gene]

Originally Posted by Big Tex

Gene-
Thanks for the comments. I've been through your thread, it actually inspired me through part of the journey. It's a great looking truck!

A real life Okie from Muskogee, huh?
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Yep, born and raised in Muskogee. I live on the outskirts now though lol. Thanks for the compliments also, theres a 4x4 swb 85 model in a field right off the turnpike on the way to Tulsa, I sure have been tempted to go by and ask if its for sale

[Hankster]

Anymore on the truck? That thing sure is sweet looking both ways you had it!! I thought about doing this to my 86 but i decided not too.

[Lifer292]

The only thing I would have done different, would be to cut that frame in a zig zag pattern instead of vertical..

[Big Tex]

Hankster and Lifer- Thanks for the comments.

Haven't done anything to it lately, except weld up some holes inside the bed. Been pricing paint jobs. Can't decide if I want to do it myself, or just pay to have it done. Wow, when you type it like that it sounds so easy. Really the decision is do i want to spend months trying to paint it myself, or convince my wife that we need to cough up some pretty serious money to have it painted! Time vs. Money.....seems I have more of the former, but not much of either.

[superduty_59]

Any updates lately? Good looking truck. I bet you are kicking yourself for pulling the good running more fuel efficient 6.2! Did you keep it or get rid of it? Maybe you can drop a Cummins in it instead of the gasser.

[Big Tex]

Superduty, thanks for the compliment. I need to update this thread, i haven't been able to work on it for a while because we moved. I did however drag it home and out of storage a week ago.

The 6.2......they are good engines, and they definately have their place, just not in this truck. I did sell the engine right after i took it out at a local swap meet. I love to hear the small block in this truck, so no diesel in this one. I did however stumble upon a '91 Crew Cab that i've been keeping an eye out for a 12 valve Cummins for....

[MTCK]

Did you procure the 91??? Glad you were able to unload that motor.

[Big Tex]

Yep. It's a cream puff too. One owner (lawn care company), low miles (odometer probably broke), non-smoker (maybe?), 350 with a SM465, hurricane Rita "washed it" real good too. I'll get some pics uploaded to the host site so i can update this.

I did manage to find an 8-lug front axle and a 4" lift on CL for cheap, so i'm stock piling parts as i find them priced right. Wifey wants me to finish the '83 before starting on the '91 though, and that's probably smart.

[superduty_59]

Good luck on the 91. Post some pics or start a new build thread when you get ready!

[Big Tex]

Here we go. Like I mentioned earlier, we moved last year. In August, which is the best time to move in Texas. You get to test your body to see if you're immune to heat exhaustion or not, and you don't have to worry about rain! Here's the last load from the old house. I flat towed it with the t-case in neutral, it did ok. I backed it into a self storage warehouse and it sat for almost 9 months. I did go by there a couple of times just to check on my ole buddy.



The new to us house actually had a shop, but when they built it, they made it 20x20 outside dimensions, so with the brick ledge and stud bay, it was really closer to 18x18 on the inside. In fact, my suburban stuck out the front door. So, after some remodeling inside the house, it was finally the shop's turn. Budget allowed for a 10x24 extension off the back. Dang budgets.
So, here's the trucks new home.





We also changed it from a 7' overhead door to an 8'.

Inside Progress:






After many hours surfing Garge Journal and reading the garage guru's over there's opionions, I finally decided not to coat the floor. I wanted this shop to be an awesome one, and i love looking at those with the cool painted walls, and coated floors, but the more I read about the paint and epoxy not holding up to welding slag, and grinding sparks, I decided against it. I did however paint the walls. I love it. I think it looks cool.







This gets us up to about a month ago. I've been moving all my junk and tools into it, and like I said earlier, drug the truck home a week or so ago. It's nice to have it back.

[Big Tex]

Oh yeah, I mentioned I procured a Super Clean (not really), one owner crew cab. Don't laugh!! It's a cream puff. I got it from a guy at work, who got it for free, he just had to go to Orange, TX to get it. It sat at his buddy's house for about 3 years. I had had my eye on it, but he was wanting to sell it for too much. It has a tbi 350, and an sm465, but i don't even know if the motor will turn over. I gave him $150 for it since it had a "title issue". I had to get a bonded title, but it wasn't that big of a deal. It'll just sit until i get the '83 done. I'm really excited about it though. I've already bought a set of power suburban doors, an 8-lug 10 bolt for the front with 4" springs. I've got the front half of an old 4x4 frame i want to use for the brackets, just looking for a trans/t-case and driveshaft at the moment. Oh, and a bed.

[superduty_59]

Love the shop! I know what you mean about shop size and budgets. That's a really good looking 91. I'm sure it will be a great project!

[Greenlee]

Nice shop!

The crew cab looks like a cool project also. Looking forward to seeing some progress on the 83'!

[mjensen]

That shop is looking great! Now get that truck in there and git'r'done!

[Jaredchevyk20]

what size tires are those?

[Jaredchevyk20]

nevermind, i just saw you already answered that ha ha