Project "Shorty Lowdown"

[Speedquest]

Hi,
i am new to the forum. I became a Squarebody lover by mistake. I got tired of asking buddies to use their truck to haul things, so I decided to just go out and buy and old truck. I justed wanted something to sit in the driveway until I needed it, so I was only going to spend $1000. Well, the first day I looked into Craigslist, I came across something my eyes didn't believe - a 1978 Chevy Pickup, lowered and Chopped! I had to go see this. So me and a buddy drove way to far (about an hour) to check this thing out. And, lo and behold, it was as it was described! I fell in love with the thing, even though during the test drive it changed lanes when I applied the brakes! The truck was lowered absolutely the wrong way (cutting the springs). It was so low, the Trans Crossmember snagged a bump on the way home and the truck felt like it bounced a foot in the air!

When I got it home, my girlfriend razed my about leaving the house to buy an old beat-up truck and coming home with another hot rod project! I bought the truck the week before the Woodward Dream Cruise, which is the larged Cruise in the country. So, for $1000, I had something to cruise in. Although it needed some love, I got a lot of compliments, because you don't see a lot of chopped top 1978 Chevy pickups here in Michigan

Darnel

[Jonboy]

Welcome. You will soon find these trucks are addictive, and your other projects will soon fall to the wayside.

[luifer76]

welcome to the forum....nice looking truck.....

[silvereagle07]

Welcome! Got anymore pics of it?

[mooseknuckles]

welcome!......sweet lookin truck man.

[higgiec10]

welcome to the site i like the chop top would like to do mine one day. and let,s see more pictures of the truck

[Chlsnk]

Great looking truck post up some more pictures. I'd kill to have your chopped cab in my project.

[Pop's C-10]

Welcome fam...that is not a bad looking chop..

[85crewcab]

Very cool! When do we get more pics?

[Speedquest]

Thanks for the Love, Guys. Everyone seems to be very helpful and supportive on this Forum!
Actually, the picture in the earlier was from Woodward Dream cruise last year right after I bought the truck. So I am going to bring every up to speed on what I have been doing over the last year. I have been reading the Forum and learning about these wonderful trucks and deciding what I am going to do with mine.. I also have been shopping Craigslist (I am addicted, just like I am to Garage Sales!),
What I love about these trucks are how cheap the parts can be and how abundant they are.

Passenger Door –Free! As soon I brought the truck home, my neighbor stopped by to check it out. It turns out he used to own a Crew Cab and he still had the doors for the Passenger side that I could have. I took a look at it, and it was a rust-free mid eighties Power Door-thanks!

[Speedquest]

Drop Springs - $20 So I was cruising the Pick N Pay junk yard and I came across an old rusted Squarebody that was once full on Custom! The Drop Spindles were already gone, and it had a custom Bed on it (Tailgate welded shut, molded in LED lights, Linear Actuator under Bed to lift it, I and very small rust spot. I almost bought it, but I needed a working Tailgate and the LED lights were molded in with a LOT of Filler.

Cragar Wheels-$200 Another Craigslist find! But finding new Unilugs Spacers and Lugs were a bear! I cost me almost as much to buy these as I spent on the wheels!

[Speedquest]

Drop Spindles, Spare Frame, Drop Shackles,3.73 Posi Rear Axle-$400 I need Craigslist Rehab! Bought a spare frame (in case I bag the truck-the Jury is still out) it would be easier to complete the work on the spare frame, then switch everything over. The frame came with drop spindles and shackles and a 3.73 Posi rear axle, so I rationalized I would have spent more than $400 on those components alone, and the frame came for free! I promised myself when I bought my 4 year old house I would not do any work in my driveway, but here is all the parts there (my garage is full with neglected projects!)

[Speedquest]

This picture is my truck with the drop springs, spindles, and Cragars installed.

[luifer76]

man nice find on all this parts....i can relay to you when it comes to craigslist man im on the dam website everyday and always find some good stuff my very first truck i had i bagged it with stuff i bought on craigslist.....

[cletis]

I love that truck! I had the same type of addiction untill my computer died and I had to quit cold turkey. Hopefully I don't relasp....

[Speedquest]

Haven't posted in some time. Was busy getting the truck ready for Woodward Dream Cruise up here in Detroit. My goal was to get it as low as possible without air bags. I used rear Drop shackles and raised the front leaf spring mounts about 2 inches. Here my buddy is using his Plasma cutter to C-Notch the frame. I have gotta to get me one of these! It cut like a hot knife through butter! I also added a Summit fuel cell and relocated the battery.

[luifer76]

great progress bro keep us posted and keep the pics coming.....

[BIG V]

looks good keep up the good work as for craigslist there is no known cure