Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks fella’s!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Then you have the other issue. When you air it up it really really won't be seated deep enough... The propshaft is too short.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Very true!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Here's mine seated in with black tip removed.....

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Mongo. I just took the caps off a couple and they fit better. Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Tonight I thought I'd get a lot done....I was wrong! OK, so I cleaned the trans and wiped down the exhaust manifolds in prep for paint. I painted the transmission with Duplicolor Cast Iron engine paint and the exhaust manifolds with VHT High Temp exhaust manifold paint, also in Cast Iron. I was looking installing the new trans pan w/drain plug and discovered it was a 1/4" too shallow. :waah:

I was looking forward to mating the engine and trans and getting them back onto the frame....nope, gonna have to wait. Time out for now!! Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Tomorrow I plan on cleaning the garage, again, and start on the cab. I have to weld in the bucket seat brackets.....yes, I forgot to do that before Jayson painted it. I'll then have to weld in two nuts on the cab floor braces for the inner fenders....yes, I forgot to do that before Jayson painted it. The new cab floor braces don't have the welded in nut for the inner fenders. Then I need to respray the undercoating in select places.....:lol: Good night.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

that cast color is very similar to what I painted all my drivetrain with....I used castblast from seymour paints...mine looks a little flatter than yours...more of a matte finish

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Good info Mongo. I believe it will flatten out (satin) a bit when dry. I took the pics right after spraying them. Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Been a while since posting. I was up in Fargo, ND for work since last Wednesday. On Monday I got stuck in Sioux City, Iowa due to road conditions further east toward home.

Tonight I put the engine and trans back together. Oh ya, I received a new transmission pan from Summit and installed that too. I think I'm finally back on track.


Photos:
1. Getting ready to mate the engine/trans; like most of you know, when you are by yourself you have to take your time, one step at a time.
2. Got lucky and landed it right the first time.
3-4. Installed exhaust manifolds and partial exhaust.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

That blue on the engine looks great!!!....really looks good against the black and cast colors..

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Very nice contrasts. Remind me what engine mounts and transmission crossmember you used for this truck...

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Bee EEE Aye utiful! Looking awesome. I agree with Karl, love the contrast of colors.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks!! Karl, see top of previous page (Post #301). Hedman 73-87 LS swap mounts. So far so good. Trans x-member is a Dirty Dingo swap x-member.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Today I got a lot done. I reinstalled the accessories, injectors and fuel rails, fuel fittings and fuel line from the tank to fuel rail, transmission lines, brake lines and installed the core support. I spent a lot of time finding items that I lost - I should say misplaced! I also pulled the bucket seats out of storage in prep for installing the mounting tabs on the cab floor.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Very nice work!!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Ilkka

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Forgot a pic from last night. This one gives a good idea the new accessories.
Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Mongo! BTW, I popped the caps off of the injectors, perfect fit. Thanks for the insight! Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

glad it worked for ya Mike...

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Good day! I was able to get the new Dirty Dingo A/C brackets and the Sanden remounted. Now I have the appropriate tensioner and idler pulley for my setup. I also hooked up the Camaro power steering pump with the C10 power steering gear box. I can't remember where I purchased the fitting that goes into the Camaro power steering pump so that I could use my stock power steering line (high pressor side) with the C10 power steering gear box (with some creative bending). I also installed the radiator and fans along with the upper radiator panel and the panel on the forward side of the core support. Had to place a new sticker on that piece too! Forgot, I also extended the dual exhaust, now have to install the mufflers. I also moved the shifter linkage forward about an inch. Now it's time to get the linkage cleaned and painted

Tonight I also ordered a bunch of soft products (carpet, door carpet, rear cab wall carpet, firewall insulation), front and rear bumpers and some wiring relays and connectors for the electric fans. I think that's about it.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looks like the progress on this project is moving right along, so I got the body work on the front clip, and some small parts done, and got them all primered up. I'll let the primer sit for a couple of days, final sand the parts, and get them painted up.:metal:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looking great Boss!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

While I was out and about I had a visitor!!!!

-Precision
-LMC
-Summit

Wow, all on the same day. Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

******Change of Plans*******

So, my wife and I decided to buy an acre lot (accomplished) outside of town. This will give her the house of her dreams and the garage space I want with a lift etc; great compromise, but this truck has to go!! Knowing that I'm now going to sell this truck when it's done, I've decided to yank all the air-ride system and keep it for myself (AccuAir ENDO CVT and management system, along with the 4-link) and keep it for a future build, hopefully a 2WD 73-75 Blazer/Jimmy. I don't believe keeping the air-ride installed that I'd get my money back??? One more little variable, one of friends who's currently deployed, would like to buy this truck when he returns, but wants a static drop. If he doesn't, somebody will. Here's the work I've accomplished over the laster 1.5 days.

Pictures:
1. Unbacked the Western Chassis 1" drop coils and a new set of lower control arms
2-3. Install of the front components complete.
4-5. Drilled the holes for the rear sport bumper brackets and test fit the new TriPLus rear bumper along with TriPlus new front bumper.

More to follow...

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Pictures:
1. I began the task of taking out the rear 4-Link and components apart this morning. Everything came apart pretty easy. The only real headache was cutting off the upper airbag bracket from C-Notch. I'll grind those down smooth tomorrow.
2. The axle housing/rear end is put away for now and the components are all in a designated container. :metal:
3. Next I finished the dual exhaust back to the mufflers.
4. The mess!
5. Starting to inspect wiring. The 78 wiring harness is extremely clean! Relief.

Time for a break. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Later this week I have an appointment with a buddy of mine to change out the 3.08 gears in a spare rear end. We are going to install 3.73 gears. The other rear end has the 4-link brackets welded to it and the lower airbag perch, again, that's now put away for another day.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Today I worked on the cab in preparation for putting it on the frame.

Pictures:
1-2. Prepped a pair of bucket seat perches I bought from Jeff (1774btcrew). I drilled 1/2' holes in the mounting bases then plug welded the brackets to the floor. Prior to that I bolted the perches to the bucket seat then bolted the seat in place using one factory mounting point then marked the weld spot on the floor. YES, I forgot to do this before Jayson painted the cab!!!! :)
3. Inspiration is on the wall :chevy:
4. Good shot of Jayson's handy work (paint job)
5. Undercoated some overspray. I used 3M 08883, Rubberized Undercoating Black. If I remember correctly, 08883 is for high temp areas? I need another can of undercoating to finish the job toward the back of the cab.

Well, I just noticed something......I guess I should have put my mufflers further down-stream!!! Would have made putting the cab mounting bolts in a little easier! Duh! Oh well.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Wow.... happy to hear your garage situation will be awesome but, sad to see that you have to sacrifice one of the trucks... I guess that's just how it goes. I did that (sort of) with my 67 and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss it... I do like watching this one being built though. Cant wait for the next one.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Frank! I love this truck, but there's no real "emotional" attachment..more or less a blank educational canvas for myself; if you need to change something, you just hit re-do or paint over it - or parts.

The next truck will be a true Joint Adventure with JaysonB. I have an 85 cab, all the components for a 77 SWB 2WD rolling chassis, SWB bed floor, 80s tailgate, interior pieces galore along with bench seat, mixture of wiring harnesses, some dash clusters, analogue air management system w/bags, rally wheels and JaysonB has the rest along with the talent!! I'll scratch up an engine and trans too. That one should be a quick flip when we get going on it. Should end up pretty nice.

I plan on breaking ole Dads79GMC out of storage this week. Gonna be 65 on Friday I hear!!

Didn't get much done this evening. I did pick up a couple cans of the 3M undercoating and a couple bolts for the front shock.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Wow.....didnt see that coming...sorry to it go...

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

All is well Greg. I figure I have a good 25 years to build more trucks. I have a lot in my kit-bag for later. :metal:

Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Got some paint on the front end this morning.:metal:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looking fantastic Jayson. Can't wait to get up there next week!!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

im jealous...wish mine was getting painted...looks great!!!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Greg. Here is a pic of what Jayson sent me this morning. Awesome work! Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Had a chance to stop and see JaysonB's work today.....Awesomwe!! Can't wait to bolt the front clip to the cab.......uneventfully :)

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Very nice work Mike! A lot has been done since I saw your build thread last time. Congratulations on buying an acre.

By the way, I heard my brother had found your Instagram photos and admired some great pictures of your trucks. ;)

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks Ilkka! I figured I had better get a little more with the times. Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Finally on the frame, needs some leveling etc.!!!! Had the Cavalry come in today and lift into place!! Trumper is keeping an eye on everything in the background!

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looking good Mike!....