87 Silverado First Start

[Corkey723]

Well I would like to say thanks to the guys that helped me get this thing running.  I bought it to restore and the motor needing repaired (no valve covers, throttle body, pushrods, manifolds plugs distributor, and a heck of a wiring mess.) Well got that all buttoned up and running now. It wasnt the first start, first start was just a 3 second check.  This was the first running and reving of the motor. Read the description for more details.   Also need some advice. I need a header bracket for the a/c pump. I also want to know what everyone recommends for painting the frameand how to clean it with the cap and motor all still in.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrS3WeG6No&feature=player_embedded

[Layne]

Awesome man! Congrats on getting another one of these beauties rolling around town.

[Corkey723]

Well this one was just parts for the guys 4wd, they stole the bed and were gonna use the cab, but decided to sell the 4wd. This truck was gonna go to the scrap yard, and there was no way I could let that happen. Plus I've wanted one of these for a while. Not bad for a 20 year old.

[Layne]

No sir! Not bad at all. I'm 21, did you see my build? I've got some youtube stuff too.

[Corkey723]

No I haven't seen your build yet. Do you have any links.   I just wish I had a bit more time to work on it, and the tools to do it with. It kinda sucks waiting. Im hung up now on the header a/c bracket, and sould the doug thorley one on summit work for most headers. My headers are 2nd hand and I dont know the brand of them. They are basic long tubes.   Ive driven the truck once with the open headers just around the block to make sure the tranny shifted and all was good there.

[eventhorizon66]

It's ALIVE!!!  Congrats.

I didn't have to buy a bracket for my AC.  I had to cut part of the factory bracket off and put a spacer under the front mounting point.

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=11882.msg89144#msg89144

[Layne]

My truck: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=14486.0
The movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV91UH2Tpo4

[frito-bandito]

Congrats on the truck, great find!

[Corkey723]

eventhorizon66, I saw your post before and couldnt find it again. That was my original plan, but I wasn't sure how strong it would be.  Ill be getting to this soon I hope. Im stoked to get this thing going. Once the p/s and a/c pumps are hooked up all I need is the y-pipe made. Then its onto cleaning the frame and getting that all patched up, then onto fixing the cab and figuring out why I have no dash lights. I think they work and are just really dim. Any ideas.

[eventhorizon66]

I just looked over that thread I linked to.  Disregard the pic that says "cut here".  That member was trying to eliminate the AC compressor; it had nothing to do with header modification.  The first pair of photos are the ones that show how I modified the AC bracket - by cutting the rear arm off of the bracket.  Just thought I would mention that in case there was any confusion.

[Corkey723]

Yeah, I realized that after I read through the whole post. I'm gonna get that bracket off the old manifolds tomorrow with my sawzall. Lol. Just have to get a spacer of some sort. I don't really have anything to make one out of. Any idea where I could pick something up at to work. So as you said, a 1.5 inch spacer should work. I'll let you know if I make any progress.

Also, does anyone have more pics of the brackets with how it's bolted up.  Mine was never hooked up.

[Corkey723]

Well here is a little update to where i'm at now. All the stuff stripped to do the rockers and cab corners and fix the core support. I'm lacking a welder now till my friend comes up or id be further ahead.

[bobcooter]

Some of yall my laugh, but when I converted my 79 to headers, I bought a bracket for the back of the long A-6 compressor from Hooker. I thought I was all set. Then, I needed a spacer for the front since my front bracket bolted to the exhaust manifold (which is much thicker than the header flange). Long story short, I cut a piece of 1/2" galvanized pipe I had lying around, painted it black and no one's ever noticed. Plus it's shorter than the exhaust is thick. Exhaust manifold minus the thickness of the header flange so there is not really any stress on in. No problems.

[frito-bandito]

Laugh?? I used washers for my spacers...

[Corkey723]

Well I had cut mine to just the front bolt, but I decided to not run the a/c. I'm keeping all the parts in case I sell the truck in the future or anyone who would want the setup. I'm just capping the lines going into the box and pulling everything under the hood. As much as I love having the loaded truck, I want a cleaner look under the hood and realized I use my a/c in my other cars maybe once a year. Right now I need a welder, I thought about buying one but I might just borrow one from a friend. Then I can get stuff patched, painted, new poly body bushings in, and then so on and so forth.

Unless someone wants to come to Johnstown, PA and help