Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Small update! :smoke:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Nice!

I see a two link and an airbag bracket too...

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

;)................Observant!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

That's a nice wheel/tire combo. I think I'll be going with something similar, classic look FTW!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Chief!!!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

So, got a lot done late this afternoon and this evening!!! I want to get the LS/Trans on this thing before the end of the week....lots of parts on the way!! Extensive kit front and back.

Pictures:
1. Drilling the holes for the upper air bag bracket....pain. At least the x-member wasn't on the frame and easy access!
2. Getting ready to install x-member.
3. X-Member attached and upper control arms mounted.
4. Got bored with the front and went to the rear end for a while. Test fitting panhard bar bracket. Will weld in place when I'm satisfied. I'm putting it in front of the rear end because I haven't decided if I'll put a rear tank in????? Or a narrow 6x15 spair tucked up tight, not sure that'll work???
5. Panhard test fitting. The panhard bar will attached to the frame with a welded in bracket.

1 of 2

Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

2 of 2

I have not set the pinion angle, so I won't weld-in the perches to the axle tube until that is done. Haven't decided if I'm gonna remove the original spring perches????? I probably will. YA!

Pictures:
1. Up front done for the night.
2. Perches, or whatever they are called (engine stands??), are ready for install tomorrow.
3. And, a load of parts for the suspension ready for install as well.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looks excellent Mike! Nice work!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Jayson

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looking Good!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Karl

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Bottom line up front: I love the Western Chassis drop spindles. When I had the tire mounted and balanced, I told them to put sticky weights inside rather than the normal ones on the edge. My last set of spindles would just take them off at the tie rod connector with an 8" rallys. Now I need to take them back and have the wheels rebalanced with the normal weights...blah! I also manually tested the front air system...will have to remove the bump-stops....blah again!

Pictures:
1. Thought I'd have room between the bump-stop and the bag, not when deflated! off come the bump-stops.
2. Lots of room between rim and tie rod connector
3. Ready for the LS tomorrow!
4. Front shot.
5. Installed an old caliper to get a feel for the spacing. :metal:

I slammed the bags and there seemed to be plenty of room at the lower control arm for turning in both directions? We'll see when the LS is in??

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Spent the evening taking apart the front end to remove the bump stops on the lower control arms and installing the calipers and brake hoses. I will be installing a new bump stops that work better with the air bags.

Pictures:
1. Woke up and remembered that I had this tool!!! It's a time saver.
2. Installed brake caliper.
3. Wrapped up for the night.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

:metal: Lookin' good. I'm taking notes...

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Nice work Mike!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks fella’s!! I need to clean my garage, get a pile of boxes recycled, then head to the landfill with other “stuff!”

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Well, started to clean the garage after going to the landfill, however, I got distracted with other things.

Pictures:
1. Put the wheels and caps on...distraction number one..cascaded from there!!
2. Got a little ambitious and hooked the LS to the picker!!
3. Installation went smoothly when I got the boy involved.
4. Fits well.
5. Checking driveshaft. The truck spent a lot of time out in the elements with the box off, you can see some of the pitting on top of the frame, still sturdy though!!

Also replaced the camaro exhaust manifolds with Hooker exhaust manifolds, then installed Hooker's down-tube thingy's with the bung for the O2 sensors.

The left air bag is leaking....I believe I didn't push the tubing into the fitting all the way when I was in a rush, it takes about an hour to deflate the airbag. Gonna have to fix that tomorrow.

Gonna head to JaysonB's tonight and run him some parts. :metal: Garage aint gonna get cleaned today. Lol!!

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looks good. Does the panhard bar clear the rear end pumpkin when the suspension is completely air'd out?

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Karl, as it is now, no. I will have to adjust the panhard bar at some point. The bracket holding the bar will have to be moved inward toward the pumpkin about 1/2 an inch and point a little skyward in order to clear the pumpkin when the truck is air'd out. Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Had to do something last night so I put some epoxy on a couple bed pieces that had been blasted and picked up on Friday. I’m waiting on some upper air bag brackets that are being fabricated for me so I can finish the rear of the frame. Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Always have to be doing something truck related!! Tonight I shuffled around the garage. I put the frame aside and will focus on the cab for a few days. I’m still waiting on my two upper brackets for the rear air bags. I found some time to do a little more welding and grinding on the cab. Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Started to lay out the bed pieces again. I’ll need to get a lot in epoxy primer this weekend.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

there it is, been waiting on this update!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

I know, I know! More to come!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Tonight I put the front steering components together and aligned the tires as close as I could get them until it gets aligned professionally down the road. Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Kind of jumping around!! Today I worked on the underside of the cab, tediously slow work!
Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looking great!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks SBTork!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Great progress. So cool that you are building two trucks of this caliber. And one in honor of your Dad. Keep up the good work -- Jayson too! And thanks for showing us the process.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks LT7A. I’m running out of time!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Sloooooooooow progress! Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Got the second coat of epoxy on the bottom of the cab (still wet). Tomorrow I will seam seal, let dry, then undercoat. Looks like I still have some welds to grind down :lol:

Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looks good Mike!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Great work. What are you going to use for undercoating? On my last one, I used black Raptor liner and was very pleased with the results.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks aggie91! Sorry for the loss on Saturday, great game! I have some 3M undercoating the bodyshop store here in town recommended. Bottom turned out better than I thought it would, I have a good mentor!! Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Boss

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Should be able to flip it upright tomorrow after it dries overnight. It's still a little soft to be pushing around. I'm in a hurry because i think the other one will be coming home soon!!!
:gmc2:

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Now that you have all the hard dirty work done, just haul it up with you and we can get it knocked out next!:lol:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Don’t tempt me!!!!!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Last night I was able to put the cab back on the dolly and get it upright. I also removed all the various screws and other fasteners on the firewall. I’m running out of time, need to get this project back on track! :) Thanks Mike