Little Blue
 

I bought this truck last October for $2500. It was an all original 1991 Chevy Silverado: 1/2ton, swb, 4.3 and 5 speed, regular cab, fleet side. The first owner had put SS wheels on the truck when he had it. Other than that it was all stock.

The day after I bought her.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x.../Photo0047.jpg

First thing I did to the truck was have the headliner re-done. I couldnt sit in the truck without it laying on top my head.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...08313392_n.jpg

I drove the truck for another month or so and I couldnt stand how quite it was. So right before Christmas, I had a flowmaster single in/dual out muffler put on with 4in by 18in chrome tips. Then shortly after that I bought two 12s to go behind the seats. Pioneer head unit with Pioneer 4x6s in the dash and behind head. Two Rockford Fosgate 12s 800 watts a piece.

After all that I was pretty happy with the truck but then I got bored and had my income tax returns so I decded to lower the truck. A friend of mine helped me out and showed what to do.

First took the bed off.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...8/P1060225.jpg

Then some grinding and cutting and cussing.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...8/P1060259.jpg

And here ya go, 91 Chevy lowered 3/4

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...20218_0002.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

The latest thing Ive finished on the truck is putting some truck rallies on it.

Here they are after my friend sandblasted them, 2 7in wheels, 2 8in wheels.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...01927642_n.jpg

Here they are nice and primered, used some epoxy primer from PPG.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...66536741_n.jpg

And then painted body color.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...74759280_n.jpg

Tires mounted

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...03975540_n.jpg

On the truck

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...69319683_n.jpg

I also put smoked headlights and smooked tailights in the truck. Sorry aint got a pic of the taillights yet.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x...04007700_o.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

I prefer the SS wheels, but I still dig it. Now you need a fresh paint job on the truck to match the wheels. :D My '91 started life the same color too. :cool:

Re: Little Blue
 

Right now Im working on a 305 swap to take the 4.3 out. Ordered a comp cam int and exh lift are .490 int duration is 218 and exh duration is 224(trying to think from memory might be a little off). Found out the motor has roller lifters so thats what I went back with. Ordered the cam, lifters, and a gear drive from summit today. I also took the heads and dropped them off at the machine shop close to where I live to have the exhaust ports ported and polished, valves reseated, new valve seals, and bigger springs to handle the .490 lift. I got a friend that went to NADC but dropped out after one semester, lucky for me the semester he took was electronics and tunning. He will hopefully be able to re-tune my computer and chip to work with the v8 and cam. At least he says he can, if not overnight parts from summit work nice too just cost more. Hoping to have the motor in the truck by this weekend. Everything Ive read so far has said the computer is the same for a 4.3 as it is for a small block. The chip is what is different.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-08-422-8......the cam
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ED...4..........the lifters
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRO-66917C........The gear drive

Re: Little Blue
 

Nice man. I'm with 1bad on the wheels, but then we both own a set of 'em, so we're a little biased:lol: I actually like the faded paint, but it needs a factory rear bumper. I'm definitely in for the V8 swap.

Re: Little Blue
 

Motor is in, but floods out and wont idle for nothing. I still havent got the EGR hooked up and I found out the TPS is different from a v6 to a v8. Gonna try to get all that done tomorrow. It will kinda idle when its cold but soon as it starts to heat up it dies. Anyones opinion on this? Also I still havent got a custom tune on my computer did swap the chip out and put a v8 chip in, didnt help much.

Re: Little Blue
 

Well I got the motor in the truck and got it to idle now. Heres a short clip of it running. Sorry the video is sideways, recorded it with my phone.

Re: Little Blue
 

Long time no up-date..been doing a lot with her since I bought another truck to drive around in.

First thing I did was junk the TBI and swapped it carbed.
http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psdc476918.jpg

Got tired of the engine bay looking like crap and the engine looking awesome, so now Im in the process of smoothing the inside fenders and firewall.Started out by welding patch panels into the big holes and just mig welded the smaller ones up.
http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6a7d0520.jpg

Got the passenger side fender almost ready for paint tonight, shot it with some epoxy primer then some filler primer.
http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...pse30b9c6c.jpg

Sorry all pics were takin with my phone, not the best on being the same size.

Re: Little Blue
 

Had another productive night in the garage. Few more good nights like these and I will have this engine bay whipped.

First I wet sanded, then re-primed, and then wet sanded again the passenger fender. Its almost done now, little bit more sanding and she'll be completely smooth.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psbedd0d46.jpg

Next, I made the last patch panel for the driver side fender.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psba77b23d.jpg

Tack welded in place

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0436e2f9.jpg

And all welds ground down and ready for some body work.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6b2c6d98.jpg

Tomorrow I'm hoping to be able to get the passenger side fender done, and get the first and possibly second layer of filler on the driver side.

Re: Little Blue
 

Heres a quick link to a clip of the truck running before I tore it down. Just click on the pic I guess, and also heres a pic of both my trucks together the day I bought my 97.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1b2a041c.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3d3e9ddf.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

Got a little more done tonight. I got the passenger fender done, took about 2 more hours to get every little spot. I also almost got the driver side fender done, little bit more work and Ill be able to prime it. Sorry the pic is a little blurry.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5fe61892.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

Nice...I hope to find a nice stocker to turn into my DD. keep the pic of the engine bay coming it'll help when I do mine. Hit me up if you want to part with those SS wheels.
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Re: Little Blue
 

Sorry redsled but the ss wheels are long gone now.

I did get a lot done today/tonight, the driver fender is done and waiting for primer.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2052ef08.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

Got a little bit of an update for ya'll. This past Monday I pulled the motor and trans out of the truck. Tonight I got the the fire-wall gutted down and ready to be worked, I also decided to get the frame cleaned and painted first. Anyway, here are some pics for ya'll, finally got a new digital camera so the pics may be a different size.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6963068e.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psc07c504f.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psf7a65537.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psda004ce6.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

Got part of the frame done, started on it at 11am and finished at 10pm..what a day. Any comments, tips, suggestions?

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psbf912470.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psedc7dbc3.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7f0ec5a9.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

Got another up-date. Since I have everything off the front, common sence says to rebuild the gront suspension. I have everything ordered to do it. I started taking the passenger side apart and getting everything cleaned and painted, only took me about 3 hours to get from start to finish.

Already had started by time I took this pic, rotor and what not is off but thats it.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps71f025b8.jpg

Everything off, now time for some wire brushing

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps22d0188f.jpg

Everything is clean that I could get to with a drill and wire wheel. Dont know exactly how Ill get all the little nooks and crannys.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps98f57767.jpg

Under side, still got some more to do under here.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...pse8cbee0d.jpg

Cant wait to get this engine bay done and see what it all looks like. Then time to start the interior, custom gauges and speaker set-up is the main thing to do.

Re: Little Blue
 

Dont think Im gonna up-date this build anymore. No one seems to be interested in it, so whats the point. Only reason I post is to see what ya'll have to say: tips, comments, critizism. Im not getting any replies so...

Re: Little Blue
 

nice truck nice work clening up the frame i also did it on mine verry time consuming but rewarding

Re: Little Blue
 

I've been keeping tabs on it. I've got nothing really valuable to add, but I think you're doing good work.

Re: Little Blue
 

First time i've seen this thread actually since i just got back on the site a few weeks ago after a longgg hiatus haha

Anyways I'm liking the build alot!!! Giving me some idea for my '89 actually.

My '89 is a long bed 2wd though. Has a 350 700r4 in it with 3.08s in the rear and 31in tires but getting ready to soon rebuild the rearend. Possibly lower?? Idk yet still on the fence as to if i want to or not.

Btw i know you already switched to carb but did you check out just buying a ALDL cable to hook up to your computer and download one of the free tuner programs off the web for OBD 1 before you switched?? You can burn your own chip that way actually which is what i may possibly be doing to my truck.

Gotta ask what kinda chassis paint did you use for your chassis when you were cleaning it up? I'm originally from Mississippi which is where my truck came from and the chassis in areas is coated with the good ole red clay on it and wanting to clean that up bad...

But don't take offense if no one really comments or not in your thread, i've had the same way too when i got started with my rebuild of my '89. They'll show up and comment!

Re: Little Blue
 

Well heres where Im at with the frame. Im using chassis saver for the frame, seams to be working pretty good.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psad9aeac0.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps64a3f9d5.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psdf501c59.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

Looking good! It's hard to imagine my frame once looked like that...

Re: Little Blue
 

I might be biased but the truck is coming along nicely. Now that the front clip is off, it's not much more work to yank the cab, and the bed.

Re: Little Blue
 

Can someone tell me the proper way to put the front suspension back together? Like what order does everything go in and is there anything special I need to do while putting it all back together.

Re: Little Blue
 

Keep on updating us on the truck! Most will watch until you hit a topic they are comfortable with talking about. You are doing what a lot of us are not doing, building!

Re: Little Blue
 

squaredaway-you live in South Korea? I work for a South Korea based company. Random fact anyway, thought it was kinda cool.

I got some up-dates Ill post later on tonight or tomorrow. Still gotta get the pics up-loaded onto my computer.

Re: Little Blue
 

One side back together.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psad1a4a30.jpg

:devil:

Re: Little Blue
 

I see you figured out how to assemble the front end. Looking good nice job cleaning the frame up. I see new ball joints did you do control arm bushings also?

Re: Little Blue
 

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psdc476918.jpg

where did you get those bowtie wire looms for over the valve cover? those look sweet, great build.

Re: Little Blue
 

Did ball joints and bushings. Got all new tie rods also. And I ordered the wire looms from summitracing.com, they were about $40 I think.

Re: Little Blue
 

Finally got a wheel on one side. The driver side is together but no wheel yet.

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5c01b51c.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6c4db1db.jpg

http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/...psed45280a.jpg

Re: Little Blue
 

Sweet truck bro. I love the rally wheels I have a set myself.

Re: Little Blue
 

Im thinking about scraping this truck out or selling it for parts. Ive lost the desire to build it. Lost my temper with it tonight and now the dash needs to be replaced...so what should I do?

Re: Little Blue
 

You've made it this far, in this deep, keep building! We all get disgusted, take a break for a day or two and forge ahead. If in a week you still dont feel it, let me know what you want fir it! It happens, find the desire you had when you started and see it through.
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Re: Little Blue
 

Been there. What happened? Did you get the DS front suspension back together? And I can relate with the dash...mine's cracked to pieces on top.

Walk away from it for a couple days, assuming you've got another way to get to work. Remember, this is supposed to be fun, but that doesn't mean there won't be challenges along the way. And that sentence applies to life in general, not just old trucks.

Re: Little Blue
 

Well, I gotta some how take the air conditioning stuff out of the dash to remove the AC lines that go through the firewall so I can weld the holes up and smooth it out. I was taking the bottom platic out and it cracked. Lost me temper and decided that punching the dash and smashing it to bits was a good idea. Granted my dash wasn't worth a damn to begin with, I still didn't want to remove it. Now the paint I used on the frame didn't stick so the whole thing will have to come back apart, so Im still starting from square one.


Oh and my driving truck is a 97 extended cab. This 91 is strickly a project truck dedicated to my cousin Robert Justin Neely. He was my best friend in this world and sad to say it passed away on December 21, 2012 of a drug overdose. Im still angry about it and miss him which is the main reason I haven't had the desire to work on this truck.

Re: Little Blue
 

Welp, Im finally getting back to work on this thing. I got some new questions, whats the easiest way to get the cab off the frame and then back on? If its not to hard then Im just gonna take the frame to a powdercoating place and let them do the hard part haha..on another note, I am in the process of finding a big block for this thing. My goal is to have over 500hp in this thing just for the hell of it.

Re: Little Blue
 

Alright yall, got the frame dropped down tonight. Built a frame to support the cab up and just dropped the frame straight down. I also might possibly be getting a 396 to build for this truck...super excited about that.

Re: Little Blue
 

I'm glad to see your finally starting back on it. Any specs on the 396?

Re: Little Blue
 

Well I got a little bit of an up-date, the frame is at the sandblaster. Gonna get it blasted, primed, and painted for $285. Ive also started cleaning underneath the cab so I can have it painted before I get the frame back.

The 396 all I know is it came out of a 69 Chevelle. But a complete running when pulled big block for $700 aint to bad. Specially since I'm buying it from a friend so its less chance of me getting ripped off. Besides I'm gonna get it re-built anywho along with the 5 speed and I dont know what Im gonna do with the rear end. I do know I want a posi