Project Rust Belt 87'

[stavendirtbike]

Time to get down to the nitty gritty! I've had this 87 Silverado for almost 4 years now. Always wanted a square body, better yet, would have loved one to be black, Silverado package, short wheel base, FUEL INJECTED. I found EXACTLY the truck I wanted 5 minutes down the road. One owner, ran and still runs great, but even then, rust was appearing but it was still very presentable.

Fast forward a few years and the Rust Belt New England has really taken it's tole on the old truck. Once again, I found an offer I couldn't refuse. Locally, a rust free short wheel base bed, WITH the dual tank openings, $300. SOLD. Had to fill a few dents but very solid.

Picked that bed up 2 years ago. Didn't have the time (in 2 years!) to tackle the project, atleast the rear of the truck. Last year I did hang 2 new fenders, a door, new rocker.

After working on the front half of the truck, I went off to Basic Training for the Air Force. Came back a few weeks ago ready to hit this project full force. Shelled out the money for the Western Chassis 4/6 kit.

So, here are the plans. Bed is now off the truck. Back half, as you can see, pretty rusty. Very back of the frame ends need work. My father is a great welder and knows structure work, we can fix that. Also, there is one section of the frame, I included the photo, where you can see how it thins out! Once again, some strengthening we can do. The c-notches should also help strengthen the area.

I'm going to sand down the frame, apply Zero Rust which has worked great for me in the past. Cab corners I need to do. The passenger tank leaks, I don't need 2 at this time with the cost of Fuel so I'm going to remove it and cap the lines. The driver's tank I replaced last year.

Front half of the frame, and underneath the cab is solid. I posted a topic before about what I found in Texas while away for the Air Force. You non-rust belt states don't know how lucky you are! Square bodies galore down there..... not a darn spec of rust!

Oh, also, sadly, while removing the old bed. My buddies at the front, not paying attention, smash BOTH the darn corner moldings! Yes, I know how expensive these are!  Hopefully I can find something at the pick/pull or ebay. Do these pop right off?

OOPS!


Thin Metal

Some structure work needed here:

[stavendirtbike]

Oops meant to put this in Members Projects since I will be updating as I move along. Moderators maybe you can move this?

[Captkaos]

it goes here, Members projects are for small projects not full restores.

[VileZambonie]

You did put it in there so I moved it here. Where are you from Stave?

[stavendirtbike]

I'm from East Haven, good to see a fellow Connecticut here..... unless you can understand some of the rust you see!

Tackled a few things today. I removed the leaking passenger side tank. All the brackets and filler tube are rotted as well. I am not replacing this tank, I don't drive far with the price of cost.... one 16 gallon works fine for me. I did cap the lines though in case later on a new tank is added.

I also replaced the driver's side front cab bushing under the floor board. I replaced all the other cab bushings last year except this one since it looked OK then.... as you can see, it no longer does. Luckily though, the bolt on that cab bushing actually came out. All the other's I did, the bolt snapped from rot, and I had to access the other half from inside the truck..... removing the carpet and cutting access holes.

[Lucky73]

 Just another reason why I love the california;D

[beastie_3]

Just another reason why I love the california;D

Well, about the only good reason...Them people in Sac dont know what they are doing.

[stavendirtbike]

Had a bad experience today. As I rebuild the Silverado, I have a 1992 s10 blazer that I am driving. 4.3 TBI. We use it in the winter to plow the driveway with, and basically just a fall to vehicle if something breaks down.

Well, I have the trailer hooked up to the blazer WITH my silverado bed on it, heading to the scrap yard. I roll up to a light, busy intersection 2 lanes, stalls. Cranks but no start. Great, stuck in the middle of traffic at noon time, and I also FORGOT to grab my cell phone (of course when you actually NEED a phone). A nice woman let me use hers.

Get the blazer towed home and my father was able to hook the trailer up to his Yukon.

Now yesterday, before all this happened, I had the blazer idling in my driveway, and it stalled out. Same scenario as today (atleast in my driveway though). First thing I did was spray starting fluid in the TBI. It fired right up and continued to run fine no problem. Well sadly if I had starting fluid on me today, I would have been out of that intersection because when we towed it home, I sprayed starting fluid in it and it now runs fine, I even drove it to the store today!

I checked fuel pressure at the TBI, we have 13 which is perfect. I did fill up the tank yesterday before these two stalling situations...... I'm thinking bad gas. I put a new fuel filter on today as well just incase.

I'll have to try again tomarrow! This time I will have starting fluid with me. Any suggestions or ideas why it would be doing this?

[beastie_3]

Does it all of a sudden shut off, or does it bog down before it dies?

[chevymotocross]

Does it all of a sudden shut off, or does it bog down before it dies?

Suddenly shut off. Yesterday it just died. Today I was braking to the stop light and it died. I did some trial and error today like Idling with AC on, lights on, in drive, foot on brakes, didn't stall.

[jaredts]

I'm thinking fuel pump.  Even though fuel pressure is o.k. the pump may be stalling from time to time.  Eventually you'll be able to figure it out.  Unfortunately its usually after the intermittent problem becomes a constant one.

[stavendirtbike]

Made it to the scrap yard today! Made $32 on that old rusted bed. Blazer has been driving fine. I think I got some crappy gas or maybe something in the tank was disturbed and clogged the filter up. No problems since.

Won't be around this weekend. Next week I plan on tackling the rear suspension, flip kit, shackles, c-notch. I'm going to have to get U-bolts made at the local suspension shop since the ones that come in the Western Chassis kit aren't even the right size. I've heard of this before, I wonder why WC or Sport Truck Direct has not caught on. I'm going to call up STD and let them know but from what I've heard here.... they couldn't care less. I don't see contact info for WC.

Hopefully all those old rusty bolts break free..... or literally break. I may have to get new leaf spring bushings, I'll determine that when it's apart.

[beastie_3]

I dont think its the fuel pump if starter fluid is the only way it will start again.

[VileZambonie]

It could definitely be the fuel pump. When it dies next time smack the bottom of the tank a few times and see if it fires up. What I do with an intermittent no start is I hook up my lab scope to the fuel pump. I doubt you have a lab scope so I won't get into details but if you are interested there's lots of how to videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEdMhfbw69M

[stavendirtbike]

Thank you vile for the link. Well, I thought I was home free with the blazer.... well I was, it made it to the scrap yard and back!

Later on today, I went to the bank, pulled out of the bank lot, died. Same darn thing, sprayed starting fluid down TBI.... and home I went. I decided to do some joy riding close to home and see what happens. It died again at a stop sign. Drove it around for quite awhile after that and stopped at a store. This time, the blazer would not initially start. All the other times, it was running and stalled. Popped the hood, starter fluid, home I went.

I will have to try the smacking the bottom of the tank. I guess I should also test pressure while the engine is under somewhat of a load (ac on, in gear). I was also told to have the ignition module tested since it sends a signal for injector fire? I was also told to check the pump relay and oil pressure switch. I'm going to have to start driving another vehicle around though because this is becoming quite an embarassment out there on the roads and very unsafe stalling at busy intersections!

I would really like to get one of the Actron GM TBI fuel pressure testers that I believe hook up near the TBI area. The tester I have, requires you to remove the fuel filter, get sprayed in gasoline, and then usually one of the darn o-rings start to leak. When I was under the truck yesterday testing though, it did show 13 running.