1987 R10 Build

[foamypirate]

Hey guys, just wanted to share my (slow) build with you. I have way more time than money, so it's moving pretty slow, but I figured I'd share anyway. The way I look at it, it's taken me about 2 months to do what some people do in a weekend, but it's pretty hard when you don't have a cherry picker or a large garage to move stuff around in. Also doesn't help that my wife has been down for the last 2 months recovering from ankle surgery, so getting the bed removed was quite a chore!

Here's what I started with in March of '10 when I picked her up for $1000:



She was too quiet, so I installed a Magnaflow exhaust. She is still quiet at idle and on the freeway, but loud when I want it to be.


Buffed the paint and added some cheap temporary wheels:


Starting in late September, I finally decided to tear her down. My plans are pretty simple. I'll be cleaning up the frame, dropping the truck 3/4 or 4/4 (I kind of like the stink-bug look), installing undecided 18" wheels, replacing the tired 305/700R4 with a 6.0L/4L80E and a strengthened 10-bolt (TA girdle, Eaton Posi, Richmond Gears, solid pinion spacer),  sprucing up the interior with some fresh parts and new seats, and painting the exterior a blue metallic of some variety. I really don't want anything over the top, so no 4-link, no tubbed wheel wells, no airbags, etc. Just a nice looking cruiser with some guts to back it up.




Found a few trouble spots with rust, but overall the truck is in good shape with mostly minor rust. Cab corners and rockers are solid.







Pics of the bed dolly I built in use:




You can see how small the garage I am working in is:



Currently, I have both leaf springs packs out of the truck. One has been wire-wheeled and painted and reassembled. Other pack still needs cleanup and paint, and my poly bushings arrive today, so I'll probably finish up the packs.

I've got some Suburban buckets I am toying with using, as well. I've got the brackets for the cab floor and everything. They will be re-upholstered if I use them. Still debating whether I want to use these or go with a bench, or maybe some low-back buckets from discountvan.

[bake74]

     First of all welcome to the site.  Second, sorry to hear about your wife.  Third, not a bad place to start a project, and taking slow just makes you appreciate it more.  Good luck with it.

[firefighter]

Great 1st post with information and pictures. Looks like you've got a great start.

Hope your wife is recovering well. Sorry to hear about her misfortune.

You're right, these rebuilds seem to take up lots of space. I have parts scattered all over the place.
You did a nice job constructing the bed dolly. That makes it much easier to move around. I had to make one for my replacement cab too.
Please keep posting pictures and information as you make progress. We all enjoy following other members stories.

Keep up with great work!

[gsxrinthe9s]

Nice project looks like you are off to a good start keep us posted

[foamypirate]

Thanks for the comments everyone! Had a chance to get outside and pull the rear glass today. In the process, found the first piece of sheet metal I'll need to replace. 












Also had time to install the poly bushings into my cleaned up leaf spring pack. Please ignore the scuff marks. Those are from the spring plate sitting on the springs when I threw them on the truck temporarily to back it out of the garage.

[bake74]

     Yep, that channel will have to be addressed.  Not as bad as I have seen some though.  Keep up the good work

[foamypirate]

Do you happen to know if anyone makes that piece, or is it pretty much something I'll need to fab myself?

[bake74]

     I am not sure, I personally have never had to replace one.  But if your contact (chris) captkoas through the store (banner at top of page, he will have them or know more than likely where you can get the part. 
              Good luck

[foamypirate]

Not much to update on at the moment (I've got a constant stream of visitors from out of state from about last week until the middle of December, so not lots of free time right now). Anyhow, did manage to find 30-45 minutes to get out and clean up one spring plate and a few leaf springs. I'm just painting most of the parts I'm cleaning up right now, but eventually I'd like to pick up the gear to do my own powdercoating and get all these little bits powder coated. I'm planning on fully assembling the truck once to test fit everything with any mods I'll be making, so when they come back off before final paint/assembly, I'll finish anything off in powder coat that I want to then.

[Captkaos]

That channel isn't reproduced by the aftermarket.

[Jason S]

Looks like you're off to a great start.  Aren't the little surprises always the best?

[70fastback]

You could try this for the channel.  "A" comes in a 60" length.

[foamypirate]

You could try this for the channel.  "A" comes in a 60" length.

I'll have to look into that. My main concern is maintaining the radius of the bend there to keep a consistant seal on the glass when it's reassembled. I'll have to do more research and look at the old seal to see if a hard 90* like that will affect it.

Looks like you're off to a great start.  Aren't the little surprises always the best?

Always, haha. Fortunately, this truck seems to be relatively solid other than the few small problem areas I've found so far. Even the rockers are solid, though I am tempted to remove the outer rockers to clean and undercoat/protect the inner rockers.

That channel isn't reproduced by the aftermarket.

Thanks for the confirmation, that's kind of what I was thinking.

[thirsty]

That channel isn't reproduced by the aftermarket.

I would look for a truck in a scrapyard for this part. If you could get one then it would be like putting in a patch panel that fits and you will save time in end and get the proper radius for the corners.

[Skunksmash]

That channel isn't reproduced by the aftermarket.

Any chance of you ever selling a pre-made conversion kit? One that converts the burb seats to fit the trucks, that is.