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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: choptop on November 21, 2008, 05:37:50 pm

Title: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 21, 2008, 05:37:50 pm
Well, I was moving trucks around the other day, and realized I had an old friend that I was neglecting. So,  I had decided to get on the ball and get her back on the road. Its an 81 Chevy Scottsdale C20 that has been used as a ranch truck most of its life until I retired it in 97 and started restoring it. The interior is almost completely redone. I still need to replace the sun rotted door panels, and dash pad. I have replaced the front end with one from an 85 GMC, and have a new bed for it. It has a 540 hp 468 bigblock that replace the wheezing 275000 mile 350.It has the turbo 400 tranny that was rebuilt  right before the bigblock was put in. This truck has close to 500,000 miles on it. The bigblock is the 3rd motor. This truck has hauled over 2 tons on a regular basis, and pulled either a welding trailer or a 410 John Deere backhoe in the Farm and Ranch construstion days. After it was retired from the feild in 96, my girl friend (now wife) drove it to highschool. It really is more of a family member than anything, so I am going to try to finish where I left off. Here's a few pics. They arnt all that great, but it shows her in her working days. I will put up recent pics shortly.
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 21, 2008, 05:39:34 pm
shows some of the progress over the years
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 21, 2008, 05:44:21 pm
The first pic is the 350 right before it was removed. At the time of this pic, it had a little over 275000 miles.
The second one is kinda poor,but you can see the backhoe she pulled around.
The third one is one of the rare times we get snow. Had about 6 inches, and that is alot for us. I know, we are lightweights in the snow department. Will get recent ones up soon
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: Donut on November 21, 2008, 05:49:39 pm
I like it!

Trucks are supposed to work and want more. ;D
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 21, 2008, 05:58:41 pm
just a couple quick recent ones. Kinda poor. Will take better pics tomorrow, and clean her up a little :'(
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: Captkaos on November 21, 2008, 07:29:05 pm
Ahh, one more revived.
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: 85MudMonster on November 21, 2008, 10:00:07 pm
I actually like that yellow color, usually I don't like yellow vehicles, but it looks good on these trucks.
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 21, 2008, 10:51:32 pm
My wife insists on going back to the original colors, which I will. I gave it to her, so will build it to her likings
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: 85MudMonster on November 21, 2008, 10:56:22 pm
What's the original color?
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: DnStClr on November 22, 2008, 10:00:11 am
That's a nice truck, Chop. Are you staying with the GMC grill on it?
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 22, 2008, 11:25:55 am
That's a nice truck, Chop. Are you staying with the GMC grill on it?

I thought about it, but she cant decide between the Phantom grille or the gmc grille, or Chevy grille for th 85s or 86s. If we go with the GMC grille, we will probably order one w/o the logo.

85Mudmonster, the original colors are buckskin tan, andyellow. I cant remember exactly what the yellow was called, but I have the name and the paint codes in the glovebox. The biggest challenge will be removing the front bumper in order to paint it. The rear bumper was welded on in 82, so it stays. The front is heavy, I used to stretch barbed wire off of it 1/4 mile at a time, and the rear bumper and rails were used to stretch fence as well. I have pulled the truck backwards while stretching fence just off of the bed rails. ;D
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: bigkountry on November 22, 2008, 09:00:37 pm
Very nice, I like the color as well. Thats a heck of a motor in her, friend of mine runs a 468 in is drag truck.
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 22, 2008, 09:03:35 pm
The motor is overkill for what I use it for, but well..........its a chemical imbalance issue I have. Im sure alot of you understand :D
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: bmaier on November 22, 2008, 09:31:42 pm
i love that front bumper!! do you remember where you got it?

also i like the yellow as well :D
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: bigkountry on November 22, 2008, 10:17:27 pm
The motor is overkill for what I use it for, but well..........its a chemical imbalance issue I have. Im sure alot of you understand :D

Many of us (me included) have this same issue!  ;D
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 23, 2008, 07:19:22 am
i love that front bumper!! do you remember where you got it?

also i like the yellow as well :D

I built the front bumper in 95 when a heffer put her foot through the grille.Its all there, heavy wall square tubing, channel iron,1/2 inch uprisers w/ 1/8 inch strap. Not going anywhere
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on November 23, 2008, 11:07:25 am
good lookin truck!  I love that bumper!
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: GMCtruckinNDN on November 23, 2008, 11:05:06 pm
Your baby looks really nice, I like that classic 2 tone color looks better!

Glad you did take real good care of her.  :)
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: lowbucktruck on November 23, 2008, 11:30:49 pm
That's a nice truck, Chop. Are you staying with the GMC grill on it?

I thought about it, but she cant decide between the Phantom grille or the gmc grille, or Chevy grille for th 85s or 86s. If we go with the GMC grille, we will probably order one w/o the logo.

85Mudmonster, the original colors are buckskin tan, andyellow. I cant remember exactly what the yellow was called, but I have the name and the paint codes in the glovebox. The biggest challenge will be removing the front bumper in order to paint it. The rear bumper was welded on in 82, so it stays. The front is heavy, I used to stretch barbed wire off of it 1/4 mile at a time, and the rear bumper and rails were used to stretch fence as well. I have pulled the truck backwards while stretching fence just off of the bed rails. ;D

Hahah... used it to stretch barbwire fence, huh?  That qualifies as a ranch truck, I do believe!  ;)
My old beater was used on my father's ranch, until he decided to retire.
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: choptop on November 25, 2008, 06:08:28 pm
Here's a couple more. Not too good because of a smudge on the lens. Will take better ones tomorrow, to dark right now> I forgot how much fun this thing is to drive. The trailer will be painted to match since this will be what she does mainly from now on.
Title: Re: An Old friend
Post by: SUX2BU99 on November 26, 2008, 11:50:55 am
 :D 540 HP 468 BBC in a 'yard' truck. Man, I wish! Good that yer keepin 'er alive though.