My Build Thread, 78Chevyrado's 1978 C20

[78 Chevyrado]

Here's the "finished" thread:


Here's what I started with, All original except the seats and wheels/tires.  One day before the wreck I had just fixed the AC and ordered the Cruise control Transducer, making the truck fully functional, and was finished working on it.






Here's where all the trouble and this thread started. It's all smashed up, but the AC and cruise work like a charm.





The front end suspension took a lot of the hit and everything was loose and making funny noises so I totally rebuilt the whole thing, From Steering box to balljoints to inner shafts. Here's a photo of the new front end stuff all painted and finished.




Here's some of the stuff in the boxes awaiting other parts so I can begin assembling it all.


While rebuilding the front end I bought new springs and decided to put a set of HD coils on it to raise the front a bit, instead of the LD coils I had on it.  I'm not sure exactly how much it's lifted yet since the truck is still a bit twisted from the wreck.  I won't know how much until the body and or frame is straightened out but I'll let yall know.  Here's a couple a before and after pics without the truck fixed yet, call em preliminaries...  

View from the front....

Before (With LD Springs)


After (With HD Springs)


View From the Side

Before (With LD Springs)


After (With HD Springs)


That's all I have for now, Tomorrow I'm off to find a body shop I like that can straighten her back out again, but more's to come.

Kenny

[06gsxrman1000]

your doing a good job man keep up the good work

[VileZambonie]

Hopefully your body shop will make it all better again.

[zieg85]

I like the new ride height

[78 Chevyrado]

Got the truck aligned today.  They said I did pretty good aligning it myself to get it to the shop. I got pretty close on my toe in, the left was off by 0.114 degrees and the right was off by 0.019 degrees.  I did it with a string by myself.  The truck drives good now, and I like the ride from the new HD front coils.  There isn't much at all of the front end bounce most large vehicles have, so I love it.  Also It dang near won't lean in turns for nothing, So the new sway bar bushings are working very well.

[Thowell]

can you tell us how or what happened. just curious

[VileZambonie]

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=8822.msg58516#msg58516

[JRConnieK10]

Looking good she should be better than new when done. Did you decide on color combo yet?

[78 Chevyrado]

The color will end up a Medium Silver with Red inserts.  I'm still not sure on the Silver, There's a darker silver on New Nissan maxias I like, but I'll have to go to a dealer and check it out.  I think the red will be that Dodge "Inferno Red Crystal Pearl", Every time I see a dodge that color go by I think i like it better and better.  I also like inferno red in person, When I took my car in for the oil change at the ford/dodge dealer I wandered the dealer lot and looked at the color and I like it even more now.  I'd like to stick with a stock color from a car manufacturer instead of mixing custom paint solely from the point of easier color matching for possible late damage and ease of finding touch up paints.  That small can of touch up paint they give you after a paint job can only sit on the shelf for so long in my experience.

[DnStClr]

That red is similar to Buick's crystal red jewelcoat. Nice color. Personally, I prefer the GM color.

[smitty77]

I think the red will be that Dodge "Inferno Red Crystal Pearl", Every time I see a dodge that color go by I think i like it better and better.  I also like inferno red in person, When I took my car in for the oil change at the ford/dodge dealer I wandered the dealer lot and looked at the color and I like it even more now.

Nice choice!  Mama's PT Cruiser is inferno red, and I wouldn't want any other color.  It really pops in sunlight, but looks good on the overcast days as well.

Smitty

[78 Chevyrado]

I went today and bought all the body parts I should need from Goodmark.  They're like 15 miles away so no shipping costs.   I bought a rocker panel, Door shell, fender, inner fender and battery tray and support (it wasn't damaged, the tray's just rusty.)  All the parts look great, no nicks or dings whatsoever inside or out.  I gave up fairly quick on finding GM parts since it's not a restoration and I just need it fixed so I can drive it, and some body shops I talked to said they had good luck with them.  All I should have to have to body shop do is weld in the new rocker panel and pull out anything that was squashed in the pillar, and pull out the front bedside that was curled under a bit.  Then I can get to the painting.  I also decided I like the truck having a bit of rake to it so I bought a set of 1.5 inch lift blocks for the rear.  The HD Springs made the truck sit level, maybe even a bit higher in the front and I didn't like it so I'll try 1.5 in the rear.  If I don't like it I can always sell them and buy a different kit.  I'll see if I can get some pics tomorrow.

[Captkaos]

You should have let me know I sell Goodmark pieces and I could have got it for you cheaper and you could have picked it up.

[78 Chevyrado]

Aww man!  I'll let ya know if I need anything else, thanks for the offer!

Here's a couple a more pics,  It ended up the front was a bit higher than the rear so I bought a superlift 1.5 lift block kit.  I also like it better with a little bit of rake so this fixed me right up.



I decided on the dumbo mirrors and went ahead and mounted them so that when I get the rocker panel done they can also weld up all the old mirror holes.

Here's a pic of the truck lifted (unknown measurement in front / 1.5 lift rear)  and with the new mirrors.  When my tires wear out I'll get a set of 285/75/16s for it.

[78 Chevyrado]

I'm not going to two tone it for cost reasons.  So since I don't have to find a red and silver that go together, I can pick the one I like the best period.  I am going to paint it "Graystone metallic" code:16U from a 2008 silverdo.   Sometime this weekend or early next week I'll start taking it apart for paint, I'll have some pictures to follow. 

Here's a pic of an '08 with my color on it