My 83 Silverado the Weekend Warrior!!

[jjguitarist]

I am doing a budget street rod 83 silverado 2wd. project! So far what I have gotten done is, got it stripped down, the frame is lowered 3'' in the front and 2.5'' in the rear (not sure if the rear is low enough yet), front end is completely rebuilt, and frame has been cleaned and painted. I have just started doing my cab corners, i got the pass. side done but I dont like the job i did on it (first time body weld) so i am gonna order the longer cab corner replacement and try it again! Progress has been kinda slow so far because my garage caught fire in the attic from the flu while I was working on the truck last winter and burned to the ground! I lost 90% of my tools and parts for this build. So now I have the garage back, some of the parts, and I am getting back on this hot rod!

[jjguitarist]

Here are the cab corner pics. I dont really like the job I did on the pass. side so I am gonna order a longer corner replacement, cut it out, and do it over!!

[jjguitarist]

Plans for the Motor: Around 480 horses (give or take a lil) of ground pounding 383 stroker!
aluminum heads w/the big valves and ports, 302 cam w/.550 lift solid lifter, edelbrock rpm air gap intake,
750 holley double pumper. I have the short block all assembled with eagle forged rotating assembly internally ballanced. I am using a 1 piece rear 4-bolt main block. Gonna use the serpentine belt system from a 91 parts suburban and gonna hook up the factory a/c.

Tranny: 700r with a b+m transkit (rated @ 500hp) 3,500 rpm stall

Body: I am putting the side by side headlight front end out of my parts burn in it. shaving the tailgate, emblem mounts, holes in the bed rails, tail lights(not sure what i am gonna put back in, i have some caddy lights!?!?) and side marker lights on front fenders. 2'' cowl hood.

Suspension/rearend: already lowerd 3''front 2.5''rear. 3.73 gears with gov-lock (until it goes out then I will order an Eaton).

[jjguitarist]

The interior will be mostly stock except, bucket seats from the burb, I am gonna make a custom center console with console shifter, and I am going to do a full autometer gauge setup(down the road because those things are like gold!!).

[jaredts]

Just curious, what don't you like about your cab corner repair?  It doesn't look that bad in the pics.

[jjguitarist]

It was fine until I went to smooth it out and bondo it. I guess i tried to grind it down too much and the metal got really thin!! ti was a learning experience though. That was my first body welding job...

[VileZambonie]

i have some caddy lights!?!?)

Ha! I won't make that move again! After all the work just to make them look right I don't actually really care for the caddy lights themselves so I'm having custom lamps made.

[jjguitarist]

Really?? I have heard it is a pain to put them into these trucks too! I want to do something different just not sure what.

[1983stepside]

truck is lookin good im putting the caddy lights on there side in the roll pan on my stepside i found a set with 6 or 8 white led's so i dont have to wory about haveing a back up light

[jjguitarist]

Oh thats cool!!

[team39763]

Sounds like you're gonna have a strong motor combo.

[jjguitarist]

Man I Hope so!! I have never had anything over 350 horses.

[jjguitarist]

Well a lil bit of a sucky day today. Had a bad day at work then came home thought I would work out some frustration on the truck but that didnt work either! Removed the 10bolt from the burb and found out it has been changed before. It is not the 3.73 limited I thought it was turns out to be a 3.50 one wheel burner. Oh well, gues I will have to buy gear set and a locker of some sort?!?!?

Until then I am gonna do the Captkaos blazer tank swap to keep me busy until I come up with some more $$$

[jjguitarist]

Another lil setback. I started my tank swap last night. Got the temporary brace welded in and cut all the rivets holding in the brace, spare tire mount, and brake line mount. After I got it all cut out i went to raise my tank up just to have a look see and it is too big!! The tank I have is from my 90 burb parts truck and after I looked on here today I guess it is a 40gal. Not sure what I need now, guess i will shop the junkyards for a smaller Blazer tank....

[Captkaos]

Burbs came with 25 or 31 or the optional 40 gallon tank.  The 40 gal tank won't fit in a shortbed.