Project Short Bus 1976 Crew Cab

[LEEVON]

Look, squirrel! Project Green Bean was 95% done, so why not start another before it's 100%

I have been on a crew cab kick for a couple of years. This is the third one I have owned this year, and hopefully the one. I found this truck up in Wichita and it was a single owner until it passed through a small dealer to me. 1976 C20 3+3 Camper Special Silverado, 454/400, A/C, tilt, cruise with 80k original miles. The body isn't perfect but good enough for a cruiser with some rust. The bed/tailgate are super straight and the interior is very nice for original. It starts and runs, but needs a carb rebuild, exhaust, a tune-up and some leaks addressed. Basically had been sitting since 2002.

I scooped it up sight unseen in the same week I had an appointment with Chad at Coyote Customs to do a short bed conversion. I hauled it straight from Wichita to Sand Springs, Oklahoma where Chad did his thing. I had him replace the driver side gas tank, delete the passenger tank, go through the driveshaft and do a notch from Tinworks Fabrication while he had the bed off.

From there I brought it home and started a 1/2 ton conversion with parts I had collected for another one of the crew cabs. First I put my new-to-me hot water pressure washer to use on the chassis so I could start with a clean slate (that thing is amazing 10/10). All of the front suspension and steering components were replaced consisting of new upper control arms, 2.5" spindles, stock Moog 2454 HD springs with 3/4 coil cut, new 1.25" rotors, calipers, hoses, etc.

I am currently working on the rear suspension. After removing the 14 bolt and 56" leaf springs including rear hangers, I cleaned up the rear a little and made room for sport bumper brackets by removing (for relocation) the rear crossmember. I have brand new 52" 1/2 ton springs, a flip kit, drop shocks, new diff brake lines and a donor 12 bolt 3.73 unit with brakes already done.

The look I am going for is 4/6 to 5/7 drop on these Weld Laguna 22's. I realize that short bed crew cabs look a little weird. To be honest I agree, also...so do long beds...so be it!

After the drop and wheels, exhaust and brakes are all settled, I will begin addressing the drive-ability stuff like carb, tune-up, etc. Will be back with more updates soon!