79 short box project

[79chevykid]

so i got the motor pulled, and front suspension out now its time to clean up the frame and eventually paint it. what is the best paint to use on the frame iv been trying to decide between por 15 or chassis saver, does anyone have any opinions on which is better? also what is the best way to set up a paint booth? heres some pics of where im at, the frame is in really nice shape just a little bit of surface rust on the rear.

[beastie_3]

If you use the search box, you can find everyones opinions and their pictures. There is no right answer, you will have to decide yourself, but both are good products.

[79chevykid]

so i havent been on in a while, but now the weathers getting nice and the snow is melting so im back to working on the truck. iv been cleaning up the newer cab i bought its off an 85 so ill have to do some modification eventually, but i found some rust that shouldnt be too hard to fix, the worst is right under where the old hood hinges mounted and theres some on the left outer rocker and the left cab corner. my main goal right now is getting the chassis together, as soon as i can get my frame outside without snow on the ground im going to start sand blasting, i ordered chassis saver to do the frame and all the suspension parts and monday im going to go buy brand new 2" drop spindles and a total polyurethane bushing kit i found on CL. im not sure what i want to do about the rear axle my 2 options are buy the disk brake conversion for like $400 or wait till something comes into the local u-pull junk yard that has disk brakes that i can get for like $150. mine is a 12 bolt, was this a good rear end or if not what else would be good? thanks  -kyle
btw- i got a new blackberry so pictures should be a lot better   


the floor is solid but has some little holes here and there, u can kind of see the cab corner and the rocker rust ill probably just buy a new one for like $10

[79chevykid]

yesterday i went and picked up a bed i found on CL its really nice shape, it came with a tailgate too. its still at my dads house and im bringing it back to my moms this weekend so ill be getting better pictures of it hopefully.

[bake74]

     Nice find on the bed, and looks like your doing great on the restoration.  My frame is stripped right now, I am going to get it powder coated, though I have a friend that owns the place.  I just got por-15 in for the axles though, I am going to be coating them this next week so I canget my axles back together.

[79chevykid]

iv been working alot on getting the old bushings out so i can at least get the front rolling im waiting on the rear axle, im saving my money so hopefully soon i can do the disc conversion then ill put it in. its weird how i ended up with a cab and bed the same color from completely different places!

[79chevykid]

ok so its been a while but now im not in school so iv got more done, the frame is sandblasted and waiting for paint, all the suspension components are done, i have a mcgaughys front big brake kit with 2.5 drop spindles on the way. my goal for the summer is to get the chassis rolling because next year im going to school for autobody and i can get the bodywork done and everything painted.

[79chevykid]

so i got the frame, rearend, and front suspension components sandblasted and painted (i used chassis saver satin black) also i have a picture of my front brake/drop spindle kit. i hope to have it assembled in the next week.

[snibook7537]

looks great keep up the work and you'll be really happy with that old new chevy. What are you looking at as far as engine and trans?

[79chevykid]

probably just a newer 350 and 700r4 or th400 but overdrive might be nice

[69byrd]

Great job! Keep it up and it will be done before you know it.

[greg1984GMC]

Looking good.
They are a lot of work but I thing it's worth it when they are done.

[snibook7537]

there was a 80 or 81 just like your's on ebay a week or two back but it was all taken apart, I think it was in Georgia, somewhere south.  Shortbox custom deluxe with a 250 and a three on the column, I thought it would be cool to put it all back together with all the stuff he had. Swap A/C from a donor truck and put a mild 454 with that column shifter.  Would be kinda cool looking I would keep it basic kind of a sleeper pickup.  Personally I would put a stick in it. I know a lot of people say the NV3500's are weaker than a 4500 but I think it would be nice plus it is just a half ton and 2wd. also it will give you OD. I have never driven one but a lot of people say they shift a lot nicer than say a sm465, more car like.

[1980c10]

I swapped my SM465 for the NV3500, gear spacing is "car like". I can get up to 28mph in 1st and 68 in second. Its so much better than the sm465 as I can stay in my power band until I am up to whatever speed I want to go and can also quietly go down the interstate. Not to mention 18-21mpg with a 393 hp 350.
As far as strength of the nv3500; If it couldn't handle it I would have broken mine a few times by now. The 4500 is stronger but its not the same trans; the ratios etc are going to be differant, I am pretty sure you'll lose the tall lower gears.

[sonicbluezx3]

Looking good! I'm doing pretty much the same thing except I'm only doing it from the cab back. Looks like the coating you used went well.... I've got some KBS Coating coming today in the mail so hopefully this weekend I can get the frame all done. Mine is a lot more rusty than yours though... so you are lucky!

Looking forward to watching the progress!