What order do ya'll recommend??

[ain't_done_yet]

I hopefully will be getting started on my SWB in January. My problem is, I'm not sure what order to do things in. Here's what I'd like to do:

Make it drivable first....complete new drivetrain. (but should I have the engine compartment cleaned up and painted first?) Am planning on fuel injection.

Lower suspension and install new wheels/tires. Would like to install all new components on front end when lowering.

Interior

Body mods

Paint

This is the order I'm thinking about. But....the undercarriage needs cleaned up and painted...I'd like to have the frame lookin' good.

Any input would be helpful....this will be my first build this in-depth.

[Captkaos]

I would change all the fluids out first. Checking the brake wear, steering wear, tires/alignment, u-joints, wheel bearings, door hinges, strikers/latches...

[Slonaker]

I guess it depends a lot on your goals. I have found, through experience, that I tend to lose momentum after I start on a major project. A good example would be my cam change fiasco.

I did a cam swap. It started out simple, and grew huge. I ended up sandblasting and painting the intake and every bracket on the engine, I replaced every gasket except the rear main seal and the head gaskets.

The engine got cleaned up and painted. I degreased everything under the hood, and repainted everything I could. I replaced the brake lines, motor mounts, fuel pump, radiator insulators, vacuum lines, belts, hoses, and everything that I touched during the project.

Everyt time I pulled a part, I could see another that was never going to be easier to replace. I just kept getting further and further into it. Unfortunately, as the scope of the project grew, I lost momentum. It was hard to stay excited about a truck that I couldn't drive. In the end, the cam change that was supposed to take a long weekend took ten months.

It was a real learning experience for me. Several other folks on here have told me that they have had similar experiences. I suspect that this is why there are usually so many basket case vehicles out there for sale. Keep this in mind as you start going through everything.

From this, I have learned to approach my truck as many smaller projects that can each be completed in a shorter amount of time. Being able to drive and enjoy the truck between those projects keeps me more motivated.

Slonaker

[84 400]

getting it mechanically sound should be your first thing. if pulling the motor repaint the engine bay (best time) As for the chassie weel pullling the box off and a good wire wheel or grinder will clean it in no time. if your going to need to do cab corners that is a good time to. The hardest part to clean is under the cab unless you plan on pulling it also. paint is definatly last. sounds like you got a good plan go for it

[84slopwaggin]

Yeah I second the start small theme. I've been involved in a engine swap for over a year now. Lack of knowledge and laziness at times. I too have shopped for other trucks, and I keep turning down vehicles that aren't much further along in their restorations than mine is. I'm still confident I'll get it finished here soon, but it should have been done months ago(engine swap). Oh, I am doing it all myself, poor me.

[cliffsta]

Well, to me, set priorities first. I'm pretty much going exactly against what my friend 84 400 says. I'm doing body and paint work first because my truck NEEDS bodywork first, its rotting away from underneath me. My 305 is still pulling (albeit in need of a carb) and the transmission is still strong (just leaking a lil') Once I have my truck physically sound, I'll start working on swapping motor/transmission/rearend. Interior is gonna be piece-mill (sp) after I swap cabs. I've already done wheels/tires and suspension drop will occur probably around cab-swap time.

My #1 thing is this is my daily driver. I can't simply pull it apart and start "fixin" things. I have to maintain it first and formost, and as time allows, do one major thing at a time.

[Russell]

Originally Posted by Slonaker

I guess it depends a lot on your goals. I have found, through experience, that I tend to lose momentum after I start on a major project. A good example would be my cam change fiasco.

I did a cam swap. It started out simple, and grew huge. I ended up sandblasting and painting the intake and every bracket on the engine, I replaced every gasket except the rear main seal and the head gaskets.

The engine got cleaned up and painted. I degreased everything under the hood, and repainted everything I could. I replaced the brake lines, motor mounts, fuel pump, radiator insulators, vacuum lines, belts, hoses, and everything that I touched during the project.

Everyt time I pulled a part, I could see another that was never going to be easier to replace. I just kept getting further and further into it. Unfortunately, as the scope of the project grew, I lost momentum. It was hard to stay excited about a truck that I couldn't drive. In the end, the cam change that was supposed to take a long weekend took ten months.

It was a real learning experience for me. Several other folks on here have told me that they have had similar experiences. I suspect that this is why there are usually so many basket case vehicles out there for sale. Keep this in mind as you start going through everything.

From this, I have learned to approach my truck as many smaller projects that can each be completed in a shorter amount of time. Being able to drive and enjoy the truck between those projects keeps me more motivated.

Slonaker

Sounds like the story of my truck... Started off with an engine swap, then suddenly the cab was off, then I was down to a bare frame, and since I was there I figured I'd midaswell replace with the frame with a 4x4 frame, and since I had the cab off, I figured I'd put a standard transmission in rather than an auto, then I fixed the rot in the cab, then I decided I'd fuel inject the engine, and then and then and then...

4 years later, its finally mostly back together, and running... Been feeling really burned out on it recently, if I had the same motivation as when I first started the whole way through, I probally coulda done as much as I've gotten done in 4 years in a year...

[79BIG10]

Originally Posted by Russell

Sounds like the story of my truck... Started off with an engine swap, then suddenly the cab was off, then I was down to a bare frame, and since I was there I figured I'd midaswell replace with the frame with a 4x4 frame, and since I had the cab off, I figured I'd put a standard transmission in rather than an auto, then I fixed the rot in the cab, then I decided I'd fuel inject the engine, and then and then and then...

4 years later, its finally mostly back together, and running... Been feeling really burned out on it recently, if I had the same motivation as when I first started the whole way through, I probally coulda done as much as I've gotten done in 4 years in a year...

Sounds so much like me as well guys. First the 79 Big 10 was down for 2 years with a blown engine but got that swapped out and drove it. Now I got the 79 K-5 Blazer and it's not running. Seems like I get one and then drive it but after parking I seem to lose interest or something else comes up where I don't spend the time or $$$ on them.