Project Pancho Villa - 1978 SWB

[menace121978]

HOLY CRAP that turned out awesome!! really great job man!heck of an eye. it all goes together PERFECT!!

[OLDIRON69]

LOVE the detail. You have done a great job.

[JFP Motorsports Div]

Truck is looking awesome man!! Where you get those door panels?? Custom made??

[Capcity82]

truck came out great.

[flamingbig10]

Originally Posted by JFP Motorsports Div

Truck is looking awesome man!! Where you get those door panels?? Custom made??

there made by roddoors and are available at http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/me...ategory_Code=D

[BruthaMan]

Should have some more pics tomorrow.

Got the hood on. Interior is finished. I had a 4/2.5 drop on it and decided it needed to be just a little lower. Took the helper and next leaf spring off the rear and it came out good. Taking one coil off from the bottom, today to snug it down just a little more.

Still have to bleed the brakes (again). New lines, been a royal pain with air in the lines. We've bench bled the master cylinder and it holds perfect. Lines are new, prop valve is new, so just have to keep working it. Nothing but fluid coming out, yet it still goes to the floor. After a few pumps, it gets right. Rinse, repeat, over and over again! I guess it just takes a really really really long time with new lines!

Went to the tax office today to get a new window sticker. Snagged "Oldies" as a custom license plate.

After brake bleeding, next step is to the exhaust shop. Corsa mufflers came in (I love Corsa exhaust!) and some really beveled dual wall chromed "dual" tips for each side.

After that, to the alignment shop and it's done.

May have to wait till next month on those, though. Time running out for the holidays.

[Scootin 81 C20]

Hey, where did them big bowties on the doors come from? I'd like to get one or two of them for my truck.

[BruthaMan]

Originally Posted by Scootin 81 C20

Hey, where did them big bowties on the doors come from? I'd like to get one or two of them for my truck.

Picked em up on Ebay Motors.

[Scootin 81 C20]

Are they these ones?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-97...#ht_2449wt_909

Or these ones?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...#ht_2705wt_909

Or these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/07-09...#ht_2646wt_632

[BruthaMan]

Like the third set, with the border.

[JohnC]

Sweet man can't wait to see more pics.

[BruthaMan]

Hey Guys,

More updates. The good news is, we started her up today and drove her for the first time in a year. The bad news is, looks like we're going to have to replace the front seal. Have an oil leak there. No idea how or why but it is what it is.

Here are some updates:

Getting ready to put in the headlight bezels. Original NOS bezels. Took some pics for a "historical" record.








Original NOS GM Park lenses:





Original GM NOS grill:





Original NOS GM Grill Emblem:





Couple of pics of the front grill:

[BruthaMan]

We got a wild hair (actually, that would be me!) that we needed a little more from the 4/2.5 drop kit.

We took out the helper (shortie) plus one leaf in the rear and it was perfect. No pics on that, sorry.

THEN....we tried putting in the 2.5 drop springs I had. I originally bought a 7/5 kit and so had the 2.5 drop springs.

That wasn't good. I had put on 1.5" wheel spacers to kick the wheels out so they were even with the fenders, which looks/works great. With a 2.5" drop spindle though, the 2.5" springs brought it down so one side rested on the fender the other side about half an inch.


So we opted to cut a coil on the originals. Put those in. Not much better and now without a solution. So we picked up some new coils (surprised anyone even had them in this small town) and package said they would compress lower than stock. We thought "great!" Sure enough, they were just right.

Here's a pic of all three lined up:



The red one is the stock, with one coil cut. The black one is new after market.

Couple pics of the stance:










Got the hood back from the painter:





And one with it on, showing the powder coated hinges:





I took some pics today on my iphone of the exhaust install and I go to download them from the phone and they aren't there. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow of the exhaust tips from the rear and may a movie clip with how the Corsa Mufflers sound.

We have to get the e-brake hooked up. Bought a brake line, but for whatever reason (not original), it's a bit too short. That, and replace that front seal, and I believe it will be done.

Next month will put in for an alignment and take to the transmission shop (the guy that build the 700R4) and have him check everything out.

What a trip!

[northern 85]

Man that is looking so Nice!!! Excelent work!!!

[flamingbig10]

looks great, but sorry to hear about the main seal

[menace121978]

Wade,
you get the brake prob fixed? just wondering what it ended up being... and besides the leak how does she feel driving?! like a new one??

sure looks bad a$$ buddy! congrats big time!!

[78BO]

WOW! Man I haven't been on here in a while. The truck looks great. Man you've put some work in to this thing. Can't wait to see it rolling down the road. Good job man.

[BruthaMan]

Thanks guys and another thanks for all the encouragement from everyone.

I would be remiss, though, if I didn't thank my friend Kent. Kent did a lot of work on this truck and has worked for me and along side me for about eight months. All told, we did the restore in about 9 months or so. Kent took off for about three months. If it were not for him, this would have taken years to do.

If anyone ever wants to hire someone that *really* knows these trucks inside and out for pretty reasonable, I know a guy that will work his butt off!

Dennis, it was surreal driving, yet somehow a bit anti-climatic. It's hard to explain, but somewhat felt like we still had to keep working, do more, tweak this, make that better, etc. As if I was a bit hesitant that the moment had finally arrived. I look at the truck now and think back to what it was like when I first got it and it's hard to imagine that in less than a year, we pulled this thing off.

We started off this morning. Took it around the block nice and slow to see it how it would handle. Came back and made a few adjustments, then went for a few more blocks.

Came back and decided we could make it across town to get the exhaust system in. It was very gratifying seeing it up on the lift, getting the crossover pipe, then mufflers, then the exhaust tips.

It was loud as hell, without the exhaust! Heads were turning everywhere! I stopped and put $20 worth of gas in. We put five gallons in the day before in preparation, but figured I'd get 5-8mpg so better stop and add some more go juice!

It was disappointing about the seal, but we can replace it in the morning.

The hard part is going to be not driving it much, until after the Make-A-Wish Car Show here in March. I'm really not into the car show thing...used to do it years ago and it's a ton of work for little reward, but there is something special about this truck and I'd like to share it with others this one time.

After that, it will be my daily driver. Albeit, I'll be taking better care of this than any car or truck I've ever owned. It's new, built from the ground up, with new parts, blood, sweat and tears (yes, literally a few times!)

[Capcity82]

truck is looking good

[Jonboy]

Wade, you really have built something to be proud of. I would think that the truck is quite a monument to your friend, and you get to enjoy it. Nice job.

[JohnC]

Man congratulations. It has been a great journey as a follower as well. You have really turned out a great truck, and one to be really proud of! Enjoy it, and again CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[menace121978]

^^^ yep x2 buddy!!


but we're still waiting patiently for a video! wish i was close so i could take a look at it in person man. i'd probably need a bib to keep the drool off myself... i LOVE that interior!!

[BruthaMan]

Thanks everyone, really honored to have such great friends here.

I'll probably get photos and a video first week in December. I take the truck back to the painter after Thanksgiving for wet sand and final buff/polish. After that, it will be ready for Zaino and then some final pics.

[JohnC]

You may want to start exercising your face muscles now. Because once you start driving that thing you will be smiling non stop!

[butternut1972]

congrats!!!!!! the first drive is the best. i couldn't help noticing the x-mas lights. i thought i was the only one who started in early november hanging x-mas lights.