Rusty, crushy, but trysty.

[makman1297]

There is nothing really special about this truck. It is a 77 silverado 10, once it was fully loaded and very nice. I bought from a friend due to his moving out of the area and now use it as my work truck. It has a 350 recently rebuilt, TH350 with a shift kit. Mechanically it is very sound, i have spent the last few months going through most of the truck. I have now started doing some rust repair, got tired of the floor moving every time i went around a corner. I am not fully restoring the truck, simply fixing the rust and spraying some paint on it (tired of it being many colors). I hope this may bring some inspiration to those who need to do rust repair since this was pretty bad to start with. I have lost some of my photos so not all the transformation is here. Here is the truck when i got it last summer.

[makman1297]

I have since replaced the bed with one off a 84, just needs some wheel well repair. I have put the doors off of a 90 blazer, replaced the broken leaf springs, fixed the rusted out hood (front), i have a set of fenders from a 73, installed a receiver hitch, and put some new tires on it. I only have the repacement parts for the drivers side and dont plan on fixing the passanger side and box until next summer.

[makman1297]

I started the repair yesterday, the front door hinge area was compleatly rusted out as well as the seam near the body line / door striker, odd i have never seen a truck rot out in those areas before. I went to the junk yard and cut the sections out of a 80 model and welded them in.

[makman1297]

Pics

[makman1297]

Cut out the old floor and found there was no cab support left at all, no wonder the cab moved so much.

[makman1297]

Welded in a new cab support and put in the floor and lower cowl.

[makman1297]

Some more repair, cab corner, rocker, etc.

[makman1297]

How do i edit the thread name, i seem to have some typo's?

[my4by2]

Man, glad to see another truck being saved but you could'a just found a donor cab & saved yourself a TON of work... Keep the pics coming though - it'll get there with time & effort!

[makman1297]

More pics. The problem with extensive repair is one small problem on each panel equalls problems aliging the door and fender at the end. Many of the aftermarket parts are not stamped the best.

[my4by2]

Can imagine that's gonna be a pretty big issue with that much metal getting replaced... Was so glad my project only needed the passenger floor repaired! Thank goodness for California vehicles is all I gotta say!

[makman1297]

I have been doing a full restoration on a 72, that was in worse shape, so this one has been pretty easy and the parts are much cheaper, besides its a work truck. Its nice the junk yard i have been going to practially gives the parts away. Two rust free doors and cab hinge area and striker area all for $60 dollars. The box was only $100. Its nice to practice the metal working skills, so i am better when i finish up the nicer projects. I have been trying out different body fillers and tools on this truck.

[my4by2]

Sweet man, always best when you get the stuff for cheap! I am sure it'll make for a great work truck - these trucks are work horses after all & they really don't build 'em like this anymore unfortunately.... Won't exactly go so far as to say mine will be used for work, but it will be my primary driver & will tow occasionally as well. What's the link to your '72 thread?

[makman1297]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=431212

dont know if that is linked correctly, its called project 72 custom 10.

Yeah its amazing at how they changed the build between the two series, and the parts are twice as much for the 67-72 and almost no junk yard parts. These (73-87) are defiantly more modern in the build, i can tell by tearing into both series.

[my4by2]

I found it just after asking you where it was - just went into your "statistics". Man you rebuild some rusty stuff!!! Keep up the great work though!

[makman1297]

Yeah I grew up in MN, everything is rusty, guess i am just used to it. The 77 is from ohio. I do enjoy curing the "cancer", but sometimes its overwhelming. Espically when you have to make the patch parts which always happens on these.

[Chris Guthro]

Your Very Ambitous! I would of been going hunting for a good cab, mayube something that needed cab corners and a bit of patching on the floor! but very nice job, I take it your painting it black?

[makman1297]

Yes i am paiting it black. Finished up the welding and cleaned up the welds, just need to do the body filler, then re-assemble.

[spudz]

it looks great!!!!

[makman1297]

Thanks, its always nice to know i am not the only one who thinks its ok, sometimes you get blinded by your projects and need an another opinion.

[mooseknuckles]

yep lookin good...I had to put rockers and cab corners on mine too....still not done!

[makman1297]

cleaned up some more welds and got some filler slapped on, but had to goto work early. Hopefully will get most of the cab done tomorrow.

[makman1297]

Worked on the filler a little more, should have the cab ready for paint tomorrow.

[silvereagle07]

Nice work! I need to get in gear to put my corners on.

[spudz]

Honestly I like reading the northern builds. The rust repair is awesome. We don't have that down here. Hell even my parts trucks are mostly solid with maybe some cab corners and rockers that have light rust. I admire the people who take the time to save rusty vehicles.