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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: Chevy454hp on December 22, 2014, 03:10:16 pm

Title: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on December 22, 2014, 03:10:16 pm
Just joined and wanted to start sharing my build. I have a 1977 c10 step side that bought in High School and have slowly and I mean slowly been building over the last 10 years. I have recently picked up a 01 2500 with a LQ4 and 4180e that I will be swapping out my current setup. This is going to be my first "LS series" swap and will need all the help and input you guys can give me. The truck started out with a straight 6, turbo 350 tranny and body parts from about 5 different trucks. I started building the truck with the help from my dad and a high school kids budget... cheap cheap cheap. First on the to do list was to get the truck one solid color so I wouldn't be embarrassed to drive it. Second was all about the power! Swapped out the straight six for a mild built 400 small block and put a kit in the transmission. I am lucky enough to have a local drag strip only 15 min from my house so this build is mostly intended for drag racing and fun on the streets, best time was 14.02 @ 98mph. Third was to work on the body and interior.

Last year I freshened up the engine and decided to work on cleaning everything up and start with my new theme for the truck, Fast Street Daily Driver. I loved the color and build of Stacey David's "Copperhead" truck so... Copperhead II seemed like a good name. I am still working with a tight budget and will no where come close to his build but I'm sure having a lot of fun.

Here is a photo of the truck when I first bought it.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: fitz on December 22, 2014, 04:20:10 pm
Welcome to the site.
It must be great having a drag strip 15 minutes from home.
I'm 1.5 hours from New England dragway, wish it was closer.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on December 22, 2014, 05:33:10 pm
Having a drag strip so close is awesome however it does get me in trouble with the mrs. every now and then.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 22, 2014, 06:39:11 pm
welcome from maryland. we had a drag strip close to home, but sadly i only went a couple time when i was a kid and now its closed. we now do truck pulls when they are local
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Jason S on December 22, 2014, 08:14:53 pm
Howdy from Kansas!
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on December 26, 2014, 09:53:04 am
Hope everyone had a great Christmas :D Here are a few more photos of the truck just after I brought it home.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on December 26, 2014, 10:11:15 am
Now don't laugh at the skinny high school kid in the photos, this was over a decade ago. Say GOOD BYE to the in-line 6. Sorry I could not find any photos of the 400 small block that replaced it :(. The engine was pulled from a 77 k20, I rebuilt it and put a Comp Xtreme 262h cam, Performer RPM, 600 Holley double pumper on it. I also cleaned up the stock heads as best as I could(882's).
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 09, 2015, 11:45:45 pm
A few photos of the engine bay with the 6 cylinder.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 09, 2015, 11:48:05 pm
Some just after a coat of primer and some body work.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 09, 2015, 11:54:18 pm
At the track with the new engine.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Jason S on January 10, 2015, 03:40:44 pm
Those are some really good photos.  I particularly like the second photo with the wrinkled sidewalls on the rear tire.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 20, 2015, 12:05:26 am
It was time to pull the step side off and switch over to fleet. I like this look better.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 20, 2015, 12:09:41 am
Thanks Jason S, It launched pretty hard but fell on its face on the top end. Engine had a lot of torque. 1.85 60' times but only trapping 90 mph in the quarter.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 21, 2015, 01:13:25 pm
Switching the bed over was a pretty easy job however the bed had a few dents and dings that needed some attention. Got it back to one solid color again.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: FlatBlack77 on January 21, 2015, 10:49:25 pm
looking good man!

i wasnt aware that you could put a fleet bed on a stepside truck so easily
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 22, 2015, 10:26:39 am
Yeah, It was very easy. A couple guys and about an hour and the old bed was off and the newish bed on. All the bolt holes lined up and the only modification was to the filler necks for the gas tank and i had to lengthen my tail light wires.

So after the bed was done and back to one color i decide to attempt to build my own cowl induction hood. I bought a steel cowl from a local swap meet for $50 and started cutting away.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 22, 2015, 11:38:04 am
Here is the end result, it took a lot of time. Welding it on was difficult because I didn't want to warp the hood, tacked it on corner by corner then jumped around all over the place to distribute the heat as even as possible. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: FlatBlack77 on January 22, 2015, 04:38:34 pm
right on man it looks great!

nice to see someone weld on a scoop rather than pop rivet a fiberglass one on then cake on the bondo so it can crack a month later
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 22, 2015, 05:37:01 pm
I still caked on the bondo :o however I prepped the metal extremely well and sealed it as soon has I was finished. I have had no issues yet and that was 8 years ago.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Chevy454hp on January 23, 2015, 03:28:06 pm
A few action shots from the track.
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: FlatBlack77 on January 23, 2015, 10:07:17 pm
aw yeah 8)
Title: Re: Project Copperhead II
Post by: Captkaos on January 24, 2015, 10:21:00 am
Nice!