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

[Big Tex]

Finished the vent windows. Got the driver side glass and vent window installed. Pulled it out of the shop and decided to wash it for the first time since it's been painted. Cleaning it up was motivating! I turned it around so I can install the passenger side glass and vent window. Got the bumpers down out of the rafters, need to work on cleaning them up. Got new headlights, headlight buckets, and grill trim, wheel arch trim, and drip rails installed. Still just picking away...

[quadzero]

This is rolling art.

[70stroker]

Love the new color, its awesome going fro, 2wd to 4wd and how muchnit changes the same truck. I like my truck so much better in 4wd configuration

[swamp rat]

Sweet!!

[MTCK]

On the road yet?

[Big Tex]

So, it's technically "on the road". It made it's first trip down the street and back. Kids were with me. First time either of them have ridden in it on the road. When I went to turn around in the cul-de-sac, it stopped moving forward. It sat for a few seconds, then started moving forward again. It did the same thing when I turned to pull in my driveway right before this pic was taken. It just stops, then starts going forward again. Is this a trans fluid issue? Like the converter isn't full or something?



I ordered some sound deadener/heat shield stuff to start putting the interior back together. I really need a dash pad and door panels. Mine are pretty much done. I was sitting on a cooler, and the kids were sitting on a step for step aerobics exercising my wife use to use, but I commandeered for a step to work on the truck with!

Sorry for the picture quality. Its a screen shot from a video on my phone.

[Dieselwrencher]

Very nice! I bet the trans is low on fluid. It is probably sucking air when you come to a stop or go forward. Best get the interior finished. If your kids are like mine, they'll want a ride in it every day.

[Greenlee]

Looking good Big Tex!

[69chevytrucker]

sweet ride love it i built my 69 on a 83 frame

[MTCK]

That looks awesome. I've always liked those 83-84 Silverado grills. You are close!!

[Big Tex]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I was able to pick away at it some more while I was off over Christmas. The exterior is pretty well done except for a tailgate panel, and I need to fix the e-brake cable. The cable leaving the cab is the older set up, and the frame is the later set up. I started on the interior. I got some headliner fabric at JoAnn Fabric, and glued it on myself. It looks Ok, not great. It actually looks better in the pics than in real life. I painted all the trim pieces with SEM paint, and ordered a dash pad cover from Rock Auto. It was $85 vs. the $400+ for a new dash. I've kept me eyes open for a couple of years for a good non cracked OEM one, but just couldn't find one. I'm about 90% pleased with this cover. It's not perfect, but it looks good. I ordered "light brown", but it wasn't even close, so I ended up shooting it with the same SEM paint. Then I "simple greened" my seat belts. Again, they cleaned up pretty good, not show car quality. I ordered a carpet kit from stockinteriors.com great customer service. I could have saved about $15 ordering it elsewhere, but when they called me back about 20 minutes after I left a voicemail, the customer service was worth the few extra bucks! Anyway, on to some pics:









Next up is recovering the seat.

[MTCK]

Interior looks great. I'm glad you had a good customer experience. Funny thing is the folks I got my upholstery from were awesome too. Definitely not the norm these days...

[86454k30]

excellent work!!! I can't remember..is that a 4" lift with 35s?

[Big Tex]

86454k30-
Yes it is. 4" Pro Comp kit I caught on sale several years ago, 35's on 16.5 x 9.75 wheels. I'll probably have to shop for wheels eventually due to the availability of tires for the 16.5s. I don't want to run the X-mil 37's. I was at discount this weekend, and had them look to see what they could get in a 16.5, only BFG 33s, 35s, and 37s came up on his screen. But when he took a closer look, he said only the 37s were available.

[86454k30]

Ya it sucks you can't get a good 16.5 anymore, super swamper still makes a bunch of 16.5 sizes in radials though they aren't cheap. Almost cheaper to go new 16" wheels and 315's. Your truck is too nice for military 37's anyway.

[Greenlee]

Looking good Big Tex!

Try O'Reilly's for the e-brake cable. I went through the same thing with mine. I have an 83' cab and the frame is an 87' with the newer style e-brake setup.(I'm not sure what year the peddle assembly is from or if there is any difference). The factory cable seemed to be three separate sections of cable (rear, middle and front). I was missing the middle section and couldn't find it anywhere. I bought a replacement cable at O'Reilly's not knowing what section it would replace. Turns out it replaced the two front sections of cable. Also, the first cable they sold me was too long. There are different lengths for short bed and long bed. Once I got the right one it went in pretty easy and works great.

[Big Tex]

So, I took Friday off, and spent the day with my Dad making seat covers for the truck. It took us all day, but I'm super happy with the results. The interior is finally starting to look like it has in my head for years...

I stitched all the decorative stitching that makes the lines in the seat, and Dad sewed all the main pieces together. Anyway, on to pics:

Big Tex Dad in action:


Mocked up, not bolted together yet:


Installed:


Kid Approved:


I was able to get the e-brake cable situated. Thanks for the suggestions there. Next up is working on the door panels. That's the last big thing to do. Hopefully after that, I'll get the registration and inspection current, and get it on the road.

[MTCK]

Nice work that turned out great. You guys have some talent and it's cool that see a project that's a family affair.

[Big Tex]

Well once again, it's been quite a while since posting. This is what has happened in the Big Tex Garage.



The truck ran well with the 350/350 combo. However, I was never really satisfied with it. I told my wife, I love how the truck looks, now I just want it to run as well as it looks. I began studying the LS swap forum on here, and pulled the trigger at the end of 2017 on purchasing an LM7 5.3 from an '01 Yukon.



After seeing Zoomad and Larry paint up the 5.3 they stuffed into Zoo's K5, I knew what direction I was going. This is right before the real fun began.





I started removing the 350 in January and had the 5.3 in and running by May. This was working on it an evening or two during the week, and most Saturdays. I tried not to let it interfere with the family.

I could not have done it without this forum, Brendan at LT1swaps.com and the info he has there (he did my ECM flash), and the Facebook group LS Swapped Square Body.

[MTCK]

Dang that’s a big change! Keep the three speed auto?

[Big Tex]

Hey Marcus, it was quite the change. No if fact that TH350 was a big player in me pulling the trigger on this. It would NOT stop leaking. It leaked everywhere it seemed. All around the pan, and I'd replaced the gasket twice one rubber, one cork. It leaked at the dipstick port and where the shifter went in. So, I was already considering yanking it for a 700r4 swap anyway. Although that would have been cheaper, the 350 still had that old truck smell with no emissions equipment on it. The wife and kids didn't like that at all, so that played into it as well. The 5.3 has 02 sensors, two cats per side, and I used the 4L60e that came with the motor. Now it doesn't stink, and it's nice having 1 more gear.

[86454k30]

Nice work! Did you swap the tranny hump to the taller 4wd version?

[Big Tex]

Yes I did. When I started, I didn't even realize there were two different cabs. It was quite a surprise when I tried to put the trans and t-case in! Luckily I had the parts truck still, so I robbed the high hump from it.

[Hankster]

Nice! This thing gets better and better!

[82Diesel]

Awesome thread! But I will say since I own all 6.2s Diesel trucks Short bed 6.2s are marked as Rare now... Even my Longbox is.

But anyhow. I need to read through the rest of the thread.