1986 black swb build thread
 

After having a black 1987 chevy swb from '06-'10 and selling it to fund my now exs crew cab, I've finally got another one to replace it! (The truck, not the wife)
I've been looking for a black 85 or 86 swb chevy for a while to have as my Saturday night cruiser and piddle project. It had to be black on black, have every option possible with the exception of a hood ornament/bed rails/bumperettes, and completely rust free. So after months of looking everyday, and selling my 86 K5, I found one 11 hours away in Thayer, Missouri. I bought it Christmas Eve 2013 (Merry Christmas to me!!)

So on with the truck. Its a loaded 86 silverado, PS/PB/Cruise/AC/PW/PL/Cargo lamp/clock/dual tanks/etc. Pretty clean overall and not a spec of rust that Ive found anywhere.
350/350/3.73 posi 10 bolt.

Ive got a bunch of plans for it and I will post them as I progress. Basically just tidy everything up and make as solid of a driver as possible. Starting with ditching the janky edelbrock carb and rebuilding a q-jet for it, pulling and cleaning the intake and valve covers, replacing thermostat, valve seals and running compression and leakage tests on all cylinders. This spring I will convert the AC and might go ahead and do a 700r4 swap.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Passenger side

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Another passenger shot

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Clean truck

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Hood

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Thanks rusty, I wanted to start this build with the best one I could find.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Last one of the inside. Still dirty. All I need is some time

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Last one for the day, my 86 and my brother Nico's 84. We both took advantage of the pretty day and cleaned them up.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

First thing to address is the lack of cup holders. I had a similar setup on my 87 and it worked well so I'm gonna do the same again. I use an 06 style silverado cup holder with the factory brackets. Then just weld a clamp to the bracket to attach it to the seat frame. Here's a rough sketch I did as well as the clamps I'll use.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Clamps. Hopefully I can do this today

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

That... is one clean truck! I'll have to watch the cupholder mod. Where did the j-hooks come from?

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Clean ride.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Good lookin' truck!

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Thanks man, I appreciate it! The J-clamps/hooks were on some old unused conveyors at work. Im not really sure what they were for originally but I think they will work perfectly for my application!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Those clamps look like 1/4 20 beam clamps that you can purchase from an electrical supply house.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

BOTH of those trucks are very nice! :metal:

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I was thinking the exact same thing. Super clean trucks. Jealous!:metal:

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

X2!!

Great start!!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Finally found some time to work on the truck. I got a 1 1/4 sway bar off of a one ton cleaned, painted, and installed with new poly bushings. Had to pull the sway bar mount brackets off my parts truck but everything went on really nice.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Also pulled the seat and carpet out. Took the carpet to the car wash and got all the gunk off of it. It looks much much better now

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

While the seat was out I installed the cupholder. I wasn't able to use the brackets like I'd planned on doing without some modification to the bracket, so I drilled holes in the seat frame and put some screws in it. I'm really happy with it, it's nice to have good cupholders.

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Here's one of the bottom showing how it's attached, in case anyone wants to copy it.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Nice truck! If mine was that clean, I'm not sure I could call it a project!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Thanks man, I appreciate it but it's definitely a project. Not that it really needs anything but more just to have one to tinker with and make as nice of a driver as possible.
Here's a shot of the sway bar all bolted on. It handles much better now as opposed to not having one at all like before.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

I also got to clean it up today on top of getting to take care of a bunch of projects around the house. Plus got to meet a fellow board member and visit a while about squares and engines, all in all a pretty dang good day!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

yeah really nice truck i like the tinted Windows too

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Thanks, I'm definitely a fan of tinted windows. I got a massive rock chip from a state truck about a month back and am getting a new windshield out of the deal. Before it goes in I am really tempted to tint it with some 45% then put a 5% strip back across the top. All the other windows are 5% already so I don't think tinting the windshield would be too noticeable from the outside looking in.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Nice truck, love the stance

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Subscribed.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Beautiful truck, definitly subscribed!!

I think you should go for tinting the windshield, I wish it was legal to tint the windshield (and front side windows) here. It looks so much better, gives the truck a whole different attitude.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

what size tires are these? Nice truck!

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and Silverado interiors are very sharp , hope I can find nice Silverado interior parts at salvage yard this summer

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Thanks y'all. I'm almost positive that tinting the windshield is illegal here also but I like it. I remember seeing a round light black stepper on here a long time ago that had it and it sure was slick.

The tires are 235/70/15 up front and 285/70/15s out back. Radial t/a.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Found it. It belongs to vegas80step.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

I love it, really like the rear window too!
I'd be happy if "they" would atleast let us tint the side windows here.
Unfortunatly, if you get caught here with tinted front side windows and/or windshield they will most likely destroy your windows, make you tow the car/truck home, ban it from the streets until new safety control is done and give you one h*ll of a fine. In total (ticket, towing, new windows + safety control) probably around $2000-2500...

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Beautiful truck!

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love the truck!!! I have been searching for the same cup holder!!! I have been tempted several times to take the one in my 06 crew cab out and intall it in my 85!!!! Glad that I got to see an installed pic of the mod search will contuinue!!!! bad ass truck!!!

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

:cong: clean truck. Don't look like it needs much

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Well I finally took some time and dug through some of the q-jets that I've hoarded over the years and found a really nice 77 model 175 horse carb that I'm gonna use. The finish on it looks near show quality and everything seems pretty good upon first inspection and trial run minus a few vacuum leaks (leaky air/fuel threads mainly). I got a delco rebuild kit, new float, choke (with correct light blue pigtail) and ethanol compatible accelerator pump for when the time comes to rebuild it but for now I'm just glad to get the edelbrock off of it. I also picked up a new delco compressor, accumulator, and orifice tube to get the a/c back to blowing cold once the humidity drops and it warms back up. All in all a pretty good few days for the 86!
I'm also in the market for a new pump to carb fuel line. Anyone have any recommendations? The engine currently has an air gap intake so idk if a stock line would work or not. I tried to make one but discovered that bending fuel lines is an art and that my bender is more of a kinker and my flarer is totally useless unless you just want to permanently ruin the end of a tube. Both piece of crap tools have since been returned to harbor freight, and I'd rather just buy a pre bent line and be done with it.

Re: 1986 black swb build thread
 

Got some more done. Engine is getting closer