About to take the plunge

[Damon23]

I've been messing with 2nd gen fbody cars for about 8 years now and it is time to move on. Everytime I see a 73-87 truck I want one. I have some cash so I'm on the hunt. I've found a 82 2wd short bed that looks pretty good. It has a 305/700R4. No rust and wont need any paint or bodywork. Roll up windows, manual locks, a/c, aftermarket stereo and steering wheel. No tilt, no cruise, good dash, good carpet and door panels. The exiting of the exhaust will have to be redone and the rear bumper will have to be swapped with one that sits in more. I dont like the look of the 82 grill but I think that is a easy swap. I'd have to do a bumper and grill and turn signals. Anyone ever do this swap? It will need wheels and tires and I dont like the aftermarket seat set up in it. I'm going to guess getting a bench seat wont be too hard to find? What do you think a good price would be on this truck?

[bbbc10]

looks good....u should get a sport rear bumper...as for the grille i like the 85-87 factory grille like i have on mine...maybe leave wheels and drop it..but thats just me lol

[motornut]

looks good
i'd leave the front a while,you will prob find somebody to swap with
lots seem to want that bumper,as other lights fit the marker holes

[J Knight]

Read this with regards to the grill swap, if you go aftermarket billet then disregard.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=558209

Thats a nice looking truck, might be a 4-5k price tag on that one.
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[Damon23]

There are lots of little fiddly things to do. Nothing major. From the looks of it the truck must have been dropped in the rear cause it is level. The front scares me cause of the filler panel that will have to be changed and that requires paintwork. I'll keep the bumper cause I found the driving/turn signal combo that is cool. I guess if it drives as good as it looks ill go all in at $4500.
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[misternash2]

don't let a little paintwork scare you. at least not filler panels and such. just find a shop in your area with a good reputation. a paint and body guy is a car guy's best friend!

[LEEVON]

Looks good from the pics, make sure you go over the body really well. $4500 would be top dollar if the body is really nice. I had one a couple of years ago that sat for a year trying to sell at $4500 and it was nice. If you're not in a hurry a little patience and you can find an '87 with TBI, power windows and locks, cruise, overdrive all that good stuff for $6500 top dollar.

[flashed]

If you need some touch up paint work I know of a great shop .Nice looking truck youre looking at,good luck .

[meatwagon83]

do the bodywork and leave it be, its a nice truck

[Your41Plague12]

I would honestly leave the 82 grille and bumper, they're getting harder to find. That's one of the better looking setups Chevy had in the 80's, IMO. However, it's your truck, build it how you want to. Either way, that's a very nice looking truck to begin with, it's much better than what I started with. I just prefer the way it looks now!

[Damon23]

I went ahead and bought it. The body is real nice on it and I really like the color so I could'nt pass. Runs real well down the interstate, cruising at 70-75. The idle is rough though. Stock q-jet and intake. I'll check all the vacuum lines and stuff later. I've had q-jets on all but one of the 79-80 Z28's I've had and they are buggers. I guess a new carb would not hurt, probably be more efficient. I'm not going to worry right now with the grille. The main thing is headers, carb and wheels.

I was really looking for a 87 but with the body being this nice and straight and everything being there I went for it. This body style is getting hard to find, especially swb trucks that arent beat on or cut up or customized already. This is really a stock truck that I can mess with and do it my way.

[J Knight]

Now that you took the plunge and bought it. WE WANT MORE PICS. Thank you....that is all.

[LEEVON]

Nice and welcome to the group!

[mrhino]

I used to be heavy into F-bodys myself even started my own club, but I love the trucks even more now. Im on my fifth truck now and im currently building a crew cab for my wife (she's into the square bodies) Anyway welcome to the group. BTW the truck is very sharp. I agree with you on the grill, but thats a tough call.

[silvereagle07]

I've also had a few F-bodies but went to trucks and have not gone back. Welcome to the forum. That's a good looking ride you have there. It's real similar to an 82 me and some friends built several years back. I like the front end of the 82. I think you should keep it.
Here's a couple pics of the 82.

[zook]

I recently purchased a 77 and didn't like a few things at first but they are growing on me. I understand it's just how we are...just can't leave well enough alone. Need wheels and want to burn more rubber. Nice truck you scored!
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[Damon23]

I'm not going to worry about the front right yet. It is going in this weekend for headers and either a rebuild of the quadrajet or replacement. We'll see if it is worth the rebuild or not. They guy that does work for me does wonders with that carb, gets them right. After that it is wheels and tires. The wheels on it now are the 15x10 chrome corvette rally with the disc brake caps. The tires are in really good shape but I want a more modern and bigger look. I like the coys wheels and I found a set of ridler wheels in a 18 in. I think we are going to drop it a couple more inches so I dont want to get too big of a wheel. I want the truck to still be functional as a truck even though it is not a daily driver. It has a aftermarket seat set up in it which is cool but I like the looks of the bench seat. It has the center armrest that folds up so someone can sit in the middle and that will fold up to reveal storage. Again, nice but not my cup of tea. It is also going to need a different steering wheel. It looks like a gocart wheel. The woodgrain has to go too. He gave me two bezels for the dash. He said he thinks one will work and the other does not for some reason. Silvereagle's truck has the rear bumper I want.

[zook]

I am with you on the wheels. They are nice just something to be said for billet or some type of newer look. Many to choose from and sizes for a cool stance.
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[875.3CHEVY]

cool truck.85-87 grill and bumper and call it done.

[zook]

seats look comfy. thinking about an intake, carb and distrib upgrade plus removal of the pollution stuff needed for ca. emission.(factory stuff)
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[Damon23]

The seats are but I like the looks of the bench better. I'm not going to go deep into the motor. It is just a 305. The carb on it I think is messed up. It is acting like my 79Z28 did when that quadrajet was on its way out. It runs good on the highway and down the road but wont idle right for anything. I've checked all the vacuum sources and they are good. Thankfully I dont have to worry about emmisions in Atlanta on this 82.

[zook]

my truck came from ca with all the original pollution stuff even though the original 454 was replaced with a 502. now in kansas lookin for more power. they left the quadjet and think it's compounding some of my performance issues. can barley burn rubber dam it man the bad. ..... the good. .time and money can fix anything and blessed to have both.
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[79 silverado]

If or when you decide to take the plunge on the rear bumper I may be able to fix you up. I've got a NOS sport rear bumper of the type on silvereagle's pic hanging out in its GM box that could be yours for the right price... Its only the bumper face bar itself and for the non-impact cushion type setup - no brackets, gravel shields, or license place bracket/lights. Those things you'd be sourcing half the brackets and the plate/light parts off a pullapart suburban and the rest from a pickup with the sport bumper. My girl teaches out that way but doubt it'd fit in her accord... might give me an excuse to have to head to logan's and meet her one day though