73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: Grover 1 on February 04, 2010, 08:51:59 pm
-
My 78 Silverado is in the body shop. It's getting a complete tear down. I'm going to have it done in Butternut Yellow, a Chevy color from the late 60's. I'm going to use this for my daily driver so it's going to be done in Valspar primer. you can get the primer in any color you want. I'm gong for the rat rod look. I never liked that look, but after seeing some finished vehicles, I'm kinda diggin' it. Under the hood and the interior will be done more in a show quality. I'm just going with the primer, steel wheels, dog dish caps, ect. Here are some starting pics. By next week I'll have the bed off, glass out and be rebuilding the doors, new rubber and window motors.
-
Always exciting to have a new coat on the truck! Is the topcoat just going to be primer though? Why not topcoat in a satin or flat finish single-stage paint? I've always known primers to not be suitable as topcoats because they can absorb moisture and have poor UV protection. Maybe modern primers are better now.
-
Yes this primer is made to be the end result if need be. I may eventually cover over it but this will be good for now. The price is about 1/3 the cost of a "real" paint job considering the less prep work needed and the cost of materials. As this is going to be my driver, i don't want to invest 6,000 on a paint job.
-
Looks good. Here's a suggestion though. Put the door seals in and close the doors to get a good fitment if you want clean lines (which are the biggest flaw with these trucks)
-
Vile, do you mean put the seals in and close the doors before trying for good fitment?
-
Yeah, for fender alignment, rocker and cab corner etc. The seal makes a big difference when you're trying to get those nice body lines.
-
Do you have some pics of before it went into the body shop?
-
Here are some before pictures.
-
As you can see, it was a very clean truck before I started. The only rust it had was under the wheel well trim on the LF fender. I also chose it because it is a "loaded" truck. Complete with auto trans, power windows, locks, air conditioning, cruise, tilt, dual tanks ect. Oddly enough the cruise still works! Here's a question, keep in mind this is going to be a primered "rat rod" kinda look, should I leave the stainless trim under and around the rear window? Also, should I leave the slider in the rear or put a piece of flat glass in instead?
-
As you can see, it was a very clean truck before I started. The only rust it had was under the wheel well trim on the LF fender. I also chose it because it is a "loaded" truck. Complete with auto trans, power windows, locks, air conditioning, cruise, tilt, dual tanks ect. Oddly enough the cruise still works! Here's a question, keep in mind this is going to be a primered "rat rod" kinda look, should I leave the stainless trim under and around the rear window? Also, should I leave the slider in the rear or put a piece of flat glass in instead?
thats a nice truck grover 1, and i like how your going with the rat rod look, or shop look, i would leave the slider, and the trim going around the back of the cab but thats just my .2cents 8)
-
I would redo it the way you have it in black. I love that truck
-
Thanks guys. Vile, keeping black vehicles clean in the Northwest where it rains a lot is chore. You know my 75 is black so rather than having two black, I decided on the yellow - we'll see though, it's not written in stone, there's always Hugger Orange!
-
Here is a "test' area spray of the color yellow I'm going with. It's very whitish with touch of yellow.
-
Really nice truck,and one fully loaded,SWEET.primer looks great when its fresh,but in my opinion keep it oil and grease free.that stuff is hard to get off.keep us posted.
-
So what's up with this thing? I still wish you kept it black or just sold it to me! ;D
-
I keep adding little projects. I decided to relocate the gas tank between the frame as long as the bed was off for paint, that got done just this week. I got rid of the marker lights in the front fenders two weeks ago, i really like the shaved look on that, by the way. Even though its just a daily driver I decided to POR the frame at least up to the back of the cab. I'm going to give the body one last wet sand and then hope to have it sprayed and body panels back on before the end of the month. Hey Vile, if you're itchin to add another to the stable, can I make a suggestion? SEE BELOW
-
Why what's up with that?
-
Well, it's been a while but the 78 is finally going in the right direction - together. Frame and firewall were sandblasted this week, frame painted today. Waiting on a shipment from ARP for bolts for the crossmember and suspension, should be here Friday or Monday. Hopefully I'll have lots of new pics in the next couple of weeks.
-
great progress!
-
Looks great! Are you keeping the AC?
-
Yes, I'm going to go to a serpentine system from a 4.3. The A/C compressor is on the passenger side ( no hoses running across the engine) so it will be a neater/cleaner look. I also can use the "new" smaller Harrison compressor. I have found several serpentine systems for $200-$250 complete at the wrecking yards. I'll have the brackets and pulleys powder coated, probably throw a new water pump on and should be set to go. I'm going to try to have the front suspension back together this week, then back to the body shop. I talked to the painter today and asked him if he would paint my Kenworth in the same Hugger Orange/Cream combination!! I'll get a quote from him next week - stay tuned - haven't touched my bass in over a monthjavascript:void(0);
-
Got the crossmember in this week, crack in frame was vee'd welded and plated, control arms, new ball joints, brakes, steering assembly, new heater core, cab mounts and steering column. Back to the body shop tomorrow for firewall smoothing and paint. I'll be freshening the engine at the same time.
-
Well it's taken long enough but the firewall is finally painted in Hugger Orange. The underneath is done in a light undercoat in black. Sorry it took so long, but I just kept finding things, you know, as long as it's down this far, might as well... Going to work on installing the engine and trans this week.
-
Wow, after reducing the size the orange came out really grotty in the picture - it's actually quite nice.
-
Well it's taken long enough but the firewall is finally painted in Hugger Orange. The underneath is done in a light undercoat in black. Sorry it took so long, but I just kept finding things, you know, as long as it's down this far, might as well... Going to work on installing the engine and trans this week.
-
Looks great! I still have quite a bit of work to do to mine -
-
wow very nice looking.
-
That looks great. Nice work.
-
That does look great, how many hours would you guess you have into the firewall job ? Just curious....Tom
-
Not really a lot. There was two small areas of rust that got patches, the rest was cleaning up the pinch welds with dura-glass. Just in the prep probably 5-6 hours. Painting was about 1-1/2 minutes lol. I got the engine and trans in yesterday - pics coming soon...
-
Gotta ove Hugger orange. Yours looks great.
-
Thanks, nice Camaro by the way!
-
New pics, engine and trans are in. Started on serpentine system, idlers are lubed and painted. Here is some pics
-
:o That's awesome. Somehow I have never seen this thread until now
-
That looks so nice man, good work! I had the 400 in my 87 painted up just like that. it sure did look clean, as does yours!
-
Lookin good!!!
-
Awesome progress! What vehicle did you get the serpentine setup from?
-
It came from a 95 S-10 pickup with a 4.3 in it. Outside of one bracket, it was a direct bolt on, well after clean up that is.
-
What did you have to do to the bracket?
-
For some reason one of the A/C brackets that bolts to the block at the intake needed to be heated and bent a bit. It also needed a 1/2 inch spacer. No big deal really. I have the A/C compressor and the alternator on now. More pics this weekend. I'm pretty happy with the conversion. $150.00 at the bone yard - hope every thing works.
-
Here is the engine with the serpentine system finished. Carb and air cleaner are on there just for fitment. Got a few more little things done. I'm keeping the stock exhaust manifolds, had them powdered coated. Pics on that soon.
-
I like that air cleaner. Are you going to run tubes?
-
Don't know, I have the tubes and connectors that come with the cleaner, but I'm not sure I'm going to use this air cleaner. The polished aluminum doesn't really go with the rest of the engine. I've thought about powder coating the bottom and leaving the top as is, kinda like an early GM. Guess I'm still up in the air on the whole thing!
-
Started a new thread - mods - If I shouldn't have, feel free to move to original. Some new cool parts and more progress. Picked up a set of period correct slotted mags, had them powercoated, they never need polishing!!! See new fuse box, it's from American Autowire. Got the inner fenders in and core support, both powder coated in black satin. Radiator is in, heater motor, a/c box, coolant lines.
-
Its up to you but I think it's more interesting to keep it all in one thread. I like to be able to see a project start to finish.
Your progress looks great and you know how I feel about the slots!
-
It's been a while but the truck is back from the mechanical guy and is moving forward in the body shop. Got the Lokar shifter installed, I'm really happy with it. Dyna mat is in, painting has started. Top is actually a cream color although it looks white. Cab and front of bed are pretty much done. I bought the buckets and console, I'll post pics soon.
-
Oops, forgot to post the pics
-
Looks nice, I wish mine had little rust like yours.
-
Looks nice, I wish mine had little rust like yours.
I will second that Slooby ;D
-
Well it's been a long time time coming but my 78 is finally moving ahead. The shop it was in was involved in a financial screw up, almost lost my truck over it due to liens being placed etc. It all seems to be OK now and I have a few pictures I'd like to share. Thanks to Ville for showing the picture resizing download, it's so easy. All that's left to be painted is the hood and the bed. When that's done, I'll bring her home. I've got my interior all lined up, thanks here to Chris and those fantastic looking door panels he has for sale on this site. The guy that is going to do the interior has brought his commercial sewing machine to my shop. The interior will be a fawn color fabric, a color Chevy used in the mid 60's, with a contrasting light tan. It has been a nightmare - I almost lost interest (read give up) but she'll be home in a few weeks. I can hardly wait.
-
This thread is from years ago but was wondering if this project ever got finished up?