Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

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Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

UPDATE. I have changed gears a bit on my shortbed. Instead of moving forward with the cab I have I decided to find a nice donor truck. I have been looking off and on for a donor for a while as an option to get moving on this project. About a month ago I found this 87 longbed on Marketplace. Originally a Tennessee truck that was solid and had very nice interior which was a must have criteria for a donor. So two weeks ago I drove down and bought it.

I am very pleased with the overall condition of it other than the paint. There are only three things I wished it would have came factory with. A V8, overdrive and a tilt column but those things can be changed later if I decide. It has a good running fuel injected 4.3 with a three speed automatic. I drove it back home four hours with no issues. Someone lowered it by cutting the front springs and put a lowering shackle in the rear which when they did that they notched out a crossmember in the bed so the shackle would recess into it. It rides pretty rigid they way it is setup.

My plan is to remove the cab and frontend as a whole unit. Pull the engine/transmission, transfer the fuel system over to my shortbed frame. I have new tanks and sending units in the shortbed that painted but they are for a carbed engine si have ordered all new efi tanks, pumps, and sending units along with a new stainless brake line kit for a shortbed. Parts will start arriving Saturday I hope and hopefully start the swap next week. I am hoping to have it finished up and going in a months time. For now I am keeping the 4.3 although I do have a 5.3 and 6.0 waiting to be put in something. If that happens then it will be after it gets painted. Which the original paint idea has probably changed so I have to figure that out as well. Here are just a few pics of the donor. More to come. After 6 years of sitting I am finding some new motivation on this ol girl.

Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

Another pic

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I can only load one pic at a time for some reason

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Engine pic

Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

Other than a cracked dash the interior is one reason I bought this truck.

Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

The lowering shackle and cut crossmember.

Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

And last but not least the cab that I started with will be sold. Had it blasted and painted. Oh well, live and learn. I will be pulling the NOS doors back off and putting them with the NOS fenders. I've had them for 20 years and by the way it's going I might have them another 20 years.

Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

Making a little progress. Got the 87 cab and front end off in one piece. I just now got the cab lifted up off the shortbed frame. Need to take t he shortbed frame out in the morning and start transferring all the fuel lines over and put on the new brake lines. After that the engine and trans will get transferred over with new mounts, paint the tanks and install fuel pumps. Then maybe we will be ready to set the 87 cab down on the frame and start buttoning up everything. Still a lot to do after all of that. More to come. After more than 10 years of not having my shortbed on the road things finally seem to be taking shape.

Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

I forgot to update since the truck is back home. The 87 is back together, running and driving. The money I had set back for body and paint work got spent on a 66 Nova I bought. Needed a little extra to buy it so I robbed from the shortbed fund. Oh well I can make that back up.

Anyway. I still have little things to iron out on the truck after being put back together. Nothing major though. I did reset the timing yesterday since whoever did it before had it out about 16 degrees. It ran rough and was spark knocking real bad. Now it starts easy, runs smooth and has more power. As much as these 4.3's can have anyway. Lol. I am swapping the rallies back on today so will have pics of that later.

I have started looking around for someone to do what little bodywork it needs and repaint it. Still up in the air on what paint scheme im going with and what wheels I want. Just glad it is back together. Going to try and get an alignment tomorrow if possible. Here is a few pics of the Nova I bought and robbed from the shortbed fund to buy. Also even though not great pics here is the shortbed as it sits now. Rally pics later.

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Forgot pic of Nova engine

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Nice purchase on the Nova.

Is your plan to repaint the whole truck or just local repairs & paint the bed to match the front?

Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

Thanks! I'm going to paint the whole truck in a two tone. I am pretty much down to these three combinations of which the first one was my original choice. The truck is rust free but it does have a few dings here and there that need addressed.

Re: Project Snowball- Slow build
 

Got the rallies put on. Going to run them for now since the tires are new. I would like it better if they were 275/60's instead of 255/70's. I am hoping the springs settle a little as I think the front needs to come down a bit. The springs have never had weight on them so hopefully the 4.3 has enough weight to get them to settle a little.

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Another

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I like that 2-tone color scheme.

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Which one?

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Third thru 5th pics.

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top left is mine except i have a gray top, in 98 i painted it all blue but it will be back original soon CANT WAIT!!!