Project County Fair Queen

[dnights]

Well to start out, I have been just skimming through this side of the site for a while now and finally decided that I should start my thread.

What I started with is a 1981 Chevy c10, 305 with factory air. It was bought in kansas and spent most of its life as a farm truck. I am not sure what owner I am but I know there was at least two before me. I actually bought this truck from my Father in Law who let it sit after it died one day at the farm. I got a new battery, check essential stuff and still wouldn't start. Talked to a few friends and put in a new ignition module and it fired right up. First time in three years. I aired up the tires and drove the truck back to the house and tossed him the keys. I bought it from him shortly after that. Since I have had it, its been the basic keep it running and driving while I decided what to do. Well, I did that for four years minus a year overseas but he drove it for me and now that I have finally decided to retire her from farm use, its times for her to get her groove on. Sorry I don't have any before pics but I will start with what I have.

Plans are LS engine of some sort and have it to be a good comfortable driver. Paint is going to be a three tone, Black on the bottom, Gun Metal Silver on top with a midnight blue line across the body line.

[dnights]

Some more pics. I did paint the wheels black but going to upgrade to 18in rims but still looking for the right one with the look I want. Also if anyone is wondering why I am doing the bed this way, I lost my help to move it and had to grind some welds to pull it apart.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Looks to be a solid start for a truck glad you saved it!!

When you get a chance post up some pictures of your interior.

Don't worry I had to do the same thing when I took my bed apart piece by piece.

I'm personally not doing an LS swap but everyone pretty much is, it'll be a great DD motor with good power and decent economy plus it's not a lot different than stock. A lot of people are doing 5.3, I've seen a couple go 6.0. This forum is a great source for information and plenty of people doing the 5.3 so the knowledge is here, I can speak personally don't be afraid to ask questions.

Good luck with your build, and I'll be staying tuned for it. Sorry for the long winded post.

[Rascal_one2001]

looks like it wasn't used to hard as a farm truck has a nice straight bed floor. the 5.3 and 4l60e is a nice swap lots of power smooth and a good simple overdrive transmission and there is only a million crashed suburbans and tahoes with them so not to pricey. should be a nice grocery getter that you can burn the tires off when you want.

[dnights]

Well I will get pics of the interior tonight. Not a lot left. The dash pad was destroyed so it has been removed along with the carpet. I will also toss in some pics of the engine bay while I am at it.

[dnights]

Ok, as promised. Here are the pics of the interior. Also I should note I do have a 350 block in my garage that keeps telling me to build it as a 383 stroker....Any thoughts about that against the LS swap?

[Rascal_one2001]

you don't like redbull do you. building 383 and putting it in your truck would be a lot easier than the ls swap since your truck is already setup that way depends on if you want a cruiser or a play truck. I went play truck on mine.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Rascal couldn't have said it better, for me my vote is take the 350 and build it into a 383.

[dnights]

Well not a lot going on with the truck. I have been sick for almost a month. Double ear infections and upper respiratory infection. Thought I had it cleared up but came back. So almost two rounds of 10 days of antibiotics kept me from the truck. Still going on round 2 but I am getting ready to visit some family and hit the junkyard that has a bunch of squares. Hoping to walk away with a Driver's side fender, dash pad, engine stuff, a new cluster and anything else the wife will let me get.

[dnights]

Not a whole lot going on with the truck. Finally got the truck bed completely off the frame. Managed to rip my favorite pair of jeans doing it by myself in the process but they were garage jeans anyways. Now I am in the process of cleaning up the frame and trying to decide how much of a drop to do on it. I am thinking just a two inch drop in the rear so I don't have to do a notch and still have room for travel if I want to put stuff in the bed. Any thoughts on how to do the drop would be appreciated. Right now I am just looking at lowering leaf springs but I was also looking at Western Chassis extended shackle.

[77ChevySharkBite]

You could actually go up to about 4" drop in rear and be fine but best bet I would suggest is getting some drop shackles probably going to be the cheapest option I would think.

[dnights]

Well nothing new truck wise to post but I finally took the safety class on post and now have access to a paint booth. Once I take the paint and body class, I can use the booth to paint the truck. I know I am still quite a bit away from that point but that is at least one thing I can check off the list. Plus, I spent an extra 20 minutes with the painter getting tips.

[dnights]

So I have decided on Belltech drop hanger to lower the back end of the truck. It says it will give me 3 inches of drop which is what I want and will keep the rake that I am looking for. As for tonight, I didn't take any pics but in a matter of 2 hours give or take, I lowered one side of the front 1.5 inches by cutting the coil. I will knock out the other side tomorrow and will post a pic on how it looks. I have decided that to go with 18s which will fill up the wheel wells better and finish out the look that I want.

[dnights]

HELP!!!!!!

So I had no issues with the passenger side lower ball joint but the driver's side is giving me heck. I have done the normal tricks except for the BFH. I even broke the new ball joint separator from Harbor Freight. Any ideas on what to do next to remove it. It's the only thing I need to separate in order to get the spring out to cut it and I am stuck......I also have started spraying it with some PB Blaster(My fav). I truly think whoever put it on the last time did not have a torque wrench and over tightened it since I even had to modify the tool to get it to work.

[dnights]

Well, still never managed to get the lower ball joint broken loose from the spindle so I decided to pop the upper. After figuring out I was going to have issues with that also, I look at my manual, went to Lowe's and figured out a redneck way to figure out how to get it to pop. I took two bolts, two washers, two nuts and an extended spacer to get it to pop in less than five minutes. I tried to do the same to the lower but still had no luck. All in all, I did manage to get the coil out and cut down. I still have some minor things to take care of to complete the job but it is now lowered in the front. After looking at it, my wife is telling me it looks good and that the rear doesn't need to be lowered. I am not sure but will ponder it for a while before I make my final decision.

[y5mgisi]

When disassembling the bed, was it all bolt together, or where there welds in places?

[y5mgisi]

lol never mind.

Also if anyone is wondering why I am doing the bed this way, I lost my help to move it and had to grind some welds to pull it apart.

Do you recall where the welds where?

[dnights]

As far as i know, it is completely bolt together. I think one of the previous owner's welded the bed sides to the bed at the tail gate. I am not 100% sure since the only bed I have taken apart was mine but that was the only welds I encountered. The only other welds that I know of on the bed is the inner bed sides are spot welded to outer bed sides but I haven't taken it down that far.

[y5mgisi]

Sweet! Thanks!

[dnights]

No problem, hopefully that helps you out. Also, it is something that can be done in a day if you really want to.

Now on to another issue that I am having. How many of you guys on here have ran into the issue with your truck that one day it will start and have no issues and then the very next day it will act like it's dead and back and forth. I have been having this issue where is does it own thing when it feels like it. I have rebuilt the starter and that is not the issue. I know it is a wiring issue but not sure where to start looking at. I thought maybe looking at the ignition. If anyone has an idea of where to start then I would appreciate it.

[y5mgisi]

Are you saying it will turn over, but not start? Or it won'teven turn over?

[dnights]

Sometimes it will turn over with no issues and then the next day it will act like the battery is dead. I know the starter is good since I have checked that and rebuilt it. I also, didn't have this problem until the last two months are so. Before that never had a problem with it.

[y5mgisi]

Ignition switch or neutral safety switch is my bet.

[jpnh]

how old is the battery?mine developed a similar problem recently my bud thought the starter had problems usually thats the problem it wasnt didnt think it was the battery but i ended up putting a new battery in anyway to strart with sometimes in older rigs its a combination of things electrical but havent had a problem since. -jeff

[dnights]

The battery is still good. I checked that out. I have notice that when the humidity is high here is when I have the issue. Right now we are sitting at 10% humidity and she starts right up with no issues. A friend of my told me to check where the wiring goes into the firewall. I separated that piece and it was layered in dirt and didn't look right. This is just frustrating.

Also, on another note, my wife told me to put it back together because she is afraid that if I get it done get hit here in Lawton, that I will be spending a night in jail. lol. That is how bad the drivers are here.