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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: lownuff on February 12, 2019, 03:51:16 pm

Title: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 12, 2019, 03:51:16 pm
Just found this forum so figured I'd post my put together.

This truck sort of fell into my lap. I wasn't really looking for a project but a guy at work needed to get rid of it and he even delivered it so here we are.

Trucks a 1987 Silverado package, all the fancy stuff. It's a long bed and the left side of the body has seen better days.

It's got a TBI 350 in it, it's supposed to run but haven't messed with yet. The trans is supposed to be bad but again haven't messed with it.

I bought a mexican short bed for it. Also grabbed a fender and a short bed tank.

As you can see it's gonna be quite a bit of work. I think the windshield sticker nails it.

Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 12, 2019, 03:52:15 pm
And here's the bed. Not common, kinda ugly but it was cheap.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: JohnnyPopper on February 12, 2019, 04:05:41 pm
Welcome from SoCal!

Looks like you're off to a good start.

I can't make out what the window sticker says...
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 12, 2019, 04:26:03 pm
Welcome from SoCal!

Looks like you're off to a good start.

I can't make out what the window sticker says...

Thanks, it says will it make it haha
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 12, 2019, 04:26:55 pm
So got the bed home and had to move it around.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 12, 2019, 04:29:23 pm
Then I had to remove the old bed and man was this a pain in the ass. I then moved the truck into a better spot so I could work on it. Check out that sweet original two tone.

Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 12, 2019, 04:31:13 pm
Found some interesting stuff after removing the bed.

Can't weld up an exhaust? No problem!

Also who needs drop shackles? Custom.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 12, 2019, 04:32:48 pm
Grinded down some areas on the frame, welded on some stands to keep it in place, and cut it. No going back from here.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 13, 2019, 12:33:30 pm
Picked up a new trans for it
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 13, 2019, 12:37:30 pm
Welded up the frame, don't mind the welds.

Welded in a plate as well before I welded the inside.

Ground down the outside and then boom, short wheel base.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 13, 2019, 12:38:40 pm
I couldn't even give the long bed away so I cut it up and made a bench out of it.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 13, 2019, 12:39:44 pm
And that's where I am now. I got the tank brackets mounted but need to get a new fuel sending unit, I must've damaged the connector when I removed the tank or something.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: Rapid Roy on February 13, 2019, 01:31:41 pm
Welcome to the site.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: JohnnyPopper on February 15, 2019, 02:37:30 pm
Nice progress!

Keep them coming.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 18, 2019, 09:50:52 am
Well, I got the bed on.

(https://i.imgur.com/D9NyN3t.jpg)

Then I wrapped up the wiring on the taillights, put fluid in the trans and decided to take it on a test drive.

I made it as far as my other driveway and the front u joint blew up.

(https://i.imgur.com/vCDPe8j.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XGS65DU.jpg)

Up next is replacing the front fender and start doing some bodywork.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: cvbear on February 18, 2019, 07:48:55 pm
Wecome to the forum.  This is a great group of people, you can get lots of help here.  I love the wheels on your truck!
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: VileZambonie on February 19, 2019, 07:06:57 am
Cool. The Mexican beds are neat
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 19, 2019, 08:56:17 am
Wecome to the forum.  This is a great group of people, you can get lots of help here.  I love the wheels on your truck!

Thanks, they definitely need a good cleaning.

Cool. The Mexican beds are neat

I'm still undecided on the bed honestly.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on February 25, 2019, 03:08:46 pm
Well, the more I looked at the bed, the less I liked it. So I picked up a beat up stepside.

Slapped it on and I love it already.

Need to remove those homemade drop shackles, they're hitting one of the bed supports. Going to swap back to stock ones and do a flip kit.

Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on March 05, 2019, 03:07:49 pm
It's about to get real junky before it gets pretty.

Pulled the front clip off last night.

(https://i.imgur.com/6yiLrUP.jpg)
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: JohnnyPopper on March 05, 2019, 03:26:28 pm
Looks like fun!!

What was the original color?

'78 had a couple of colors that went by 'Camel', there were dark and light versions, ones with metal flake were termed 'Poly" 
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on March 05, 2019, 04:13:30 pm
Looks like fun!!

What was the original color?

'78 had a couple of colors that went by 'Camel', there were dark and light versions, ones with metal flake were termed 'Poly"

It sure is. Original color was two tone russet metallic and tan. You can see it on the back of the cab also. Someone must've really hated the color, because they swapped all the interior over to blue/gray.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on March 07, 2019, 01:50:17 pm
Front clip is completely off and sold. Going to need a deep cleaning this weekend.

(https://i.imgur.com/h2cLEw3.jpg)
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on March 15, 2019, 01:27:08 pm
Well guys, this thread is about to take a pretty radical turn. What started as just a simple cleaning up and lowering has snowballed.

I was looking for a hood for my front clip swap and I ended up with a whole truck. Frame has been notched and is set up for a stock floor body drop...so I guess I'm putting together a bagged truck. Tune in for updates.

(https://i.imgur.com/PEAwKg9.jpg)

Now my backyard is a mess.

(https://i.imgur.com/eJJV1qR.jpg)


Tomorrow, I'm going to pick up the rest of the truck tomorrow. (Bed, bumpers etc)
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on March 18, 2019, 09:39:48 am
Well picked up the extra bed, its not in good of shape as I hoped. I'll put it up for sale or maybe turn it into a bench.

Here's the frame I'm swapping everything to. Pancaked front crossmember, z'd and a big notch out back. Last bodydropped truck I had was a '97 Tacoma and it was traditional which meant zero room. This will be fun.
(https://i.imgur.com/GCEgjUK.jpg)


Cleaned up the backyard and moved the truck around, figured I'd stage it a little so I can start doing the swap.

(https://i.imgur.com/AudqAfZ.jpg)


Then I pulled the engine/trans out.

(https://i.imgur.com/Gg4D4kx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZcUOA2z.jpg)


Next I want to pre-run all the brake lines and fuel lines in the frame before I set the engine in there.
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on March 25, 2019, 01:19:31 pm
Didn't get much done this weekend.

Got the cab off and the frame painted, also snaked in the rear brake line.  Also mocked up the rear axle, going to have to build the wishbone part of the 3 link.

(https://i.imgur.com/FwUJp6N.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ZyENzG8.jpg)
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on April 08, 2019, 09:53:26 am
Got hit with a nasty cold so I've been down for a couple days. Ruined my weekend, but did manage to knock out another bench.

(https://i.imgur.com/69y6iOB.jpg)
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on April 16, 2019, 03:52:57 pm
Well no updates, I'm trying to keep myself from getting burnt out and have reached a point where I'm trying to nut/bolt resto this and I can't do that to this truck. Did that on my last project and it took 3 years!

Did manage to take a couple hours on the bench though.

(https://i.imgur.com/7GXhpb5.jpg)
Title: Re: 1987
Post by: lownuff on May 09, 2019, 12:50:29 pm
No real updates, been using my weekends to run around collecting parts.

Bought this suburban
(https://i.imgur.com/dO10E6Y.jpg)

And here's what I bought the suburban for.
(https://i.imgur.com/J9Y4QBy.jpg)

Pulled the engine/trans out. This was a huge pain.
(https://i.imgur.com/KSiYDgm.jpg)

Then I sold off what was left of the suburban.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ksvpnyw.jpg)


I also built a ford bench somewhere in between there.

(https://i.imgur.com/0IHMM1x.jpg)


So now I've got the basic parts to start putting it together, need to do a lot of mock ups, but time to start moving forward now.