Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Hello all. Yes, I have a problem, a C10 problem. My wife calls this truck "The Spawn!" Why, because over the last 11 years of tinkering with my Dads 1979 GMC (now in the hands of JaysonB for some body work and paint), I've collected an excessive amount of parts; a redundant stack of parts (frame, extra cab, fenders, doors, springs, rear ends, consoles, bucket seats, dash pads, clusters, front clip, bed sides, etc. etc. etc.) for which this truck has "spawned"! I deserve the jabbing! By the way, Sparky has been my nickname for 20 years.

Last August, I picked up a 1978 LWB Silverado. It had been purchased by the previous owner (PO) as a parts truck and was stripped down to virtually nothing. After paying $150, the PO delivered it to me on its rotors and rear drums, cab with no doors and nothing up front.

Course of Action:
1. LWB to SWB w/ Built by Brooks shortening kit
2. 350/350 CHANGE: LS/4L60e
3. FiTech FI CHANGE: FI LS
4. Buckets and Console (Buckskin Interior)
5. Static drop: 2.5" spindles and 2" springs and a flip kit with Built by Brooks C-Notch
6. [B]Wood bed floor (curious, see Dads79GMC build thread below)
7. Crimson Red with Frost White sides and roof (Yep, just like OJ)
8. Wheel Vintiques Series 62 with chevy caps
9. Fix the rust in the cab

Pictures:
1. Sitting at the PO's house before he took the doors and wheels/tires off
2. SPID
4. Original Owners Manual

Start time: 1730, 29 January 2018, I had to do that in order to give me a kick in the butt.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Pics
1. Wood bed project which was going to go into Dads79GMC, but once again, I changed my mind
2. 73/74 front clip (JaysonB hunted this down for me)

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Yesterday, I started in on stripping down the cab and was able to start rust repair. This will be my second attempt at cab rust repair. Hopefully, this time I get it correct and JaysonB will not have to fix this one too.

Pictures from yesterday and today.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

More pictures. At some point, someone attempted repairs and as i started ripping into this, I found it barely welded together. Seemed to have more caulk holding it together. I was able to find where the cuts were made in the last repair.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Test fitting. Should be able to start welding tomorrow. You can see the previous repair. I don't see a weld anywhere there. :)

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Looks like your off to a great start! Looks like it was fixed up back in the day when these were just out dated old trucks, and someone wanted to get a few more years out of it! There lack of welds saved you a bunch of time tearing it apart.:metal: Now I have to hussle on your 79, or you will be passing me up.:lol:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

There were no inner rockers or inner cab corners installed!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Where did you source the steel side panels for the fleetside wood floor?

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

I made them

Please see post #111 on Dads 79 GMC Build thread below.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

I'll follow along... Your description of the final results sounds nice. I'm wanting to build something very similar out of a 1980 C20 i have sitting around.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Gonna be following this build...

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thanks fella's! Got a little garage time today.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Pictures:
1. Inner kick panel. Thought I'd put a little rust encapsulator in the pillar while it was open. Yes, I removed the bolts from the lower door hind. I just stuck them in there as to not fill the bolt holes with primer. :)
2. Shot of tacked in inner rocker and kick panel
3. Door gap at the top??
4-5. Bottom door gap??

This is kind of pain, yet fun. Needs a little more work. Gonna have a little work to do on the inner cab support; somebody really welded it in there. Will not fully weld in panels until I too the support work under the floor area. It's bad!

Also, you can see the slight bow in the outer panel.....oh well.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Pictures:
1. Inner floor support is pretty roached and the floor bracing will need repair as well.
2. Old and new kick panels
3. slowly nibbling away at the cab corner. You can see that the previous corner was overlapped then filled will a cup of filler. I had to go pretty high on the corner and the A pillar in order to find good metal.

That's about it!!

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Not for nuthin, a couple good size fellas and a couple chunks of 4x4 and judicious use of a BFH can fix that bow. Carefully.

Also, if you're startin' this far down, I'd go LS unless you have the parts on hand. Not hard at all, and Soooooo much better in the end. Dig your project!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

I hear ya! Have an LS in my Dad’s 79 GMC.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Also, decided to order L/R under cab braces. Not gonna screw with repairing the one in there now.

Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Wau Mike! I'm really amazed at how do you manage to make two cars same time ?! I really appreciate it!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

I'm following also. I've got the same probs with my rockers and floorpans so I need all the info I can get. The only difference is that my truck is a crew cab. But I don't have much in the way of rust past the B pillar. But from the A to B pillars, ....WOW its toast!

Not to wreck the thread but I wonder if someone can tell me the differences in actual physical size between the old SBC and the new LS engines - physical dimensions and weight?

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

It's really just one. JaysonB has Dad's in his shop doing the remainder of the body work and paint. I've got to get as far as I can on this before Dad's returns!!!!!!

Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Today I picked up another set of outer rocker panels; ended up being identical to the ones I have, I'll just put those in the parts pile for truck #3 that JaysonB and I will be doing together down the road (more extra parts). Brown truck also came today with my floor braces.

Pictures:
1. Removal of floor brace
2. Had to tap the floor support before installing
3. Floor brace and floor support installed
4. Old and new floor brace side by side

Notes: I found the installation of the floor support was easier than expected. After drilling out the spot welds, I jacked up the left side of the cab and popped off the old floor support. I assembled the floor support and floor brace using the cab mounts hardware and bolted it down tight. The floor brace has a nut welded to it that attaches to the front seat bracket, this gave me two true mounting points for the floor brace. I then used a Dremel to clean the floor brace where the spot welds were located and then filled the old drilled out spot welds with new welds. I then took out the floor support, drilled some holes and welded it to the floor brace and inner rocker panel.

More to follow:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

I'm still messaging the out rocker panel, it's getting close. I'll need to do some slicing and dicing, and will have to fill in pieces to get the look that is required. You can see in picture #2 that the front of the rocker panel (at the door/fender intersection, the gap in the rocker is terrible. it seems the tooling of these is getting worse!!!

Pictures:
1. Fender, door, rocker intersection (needs work)
2. Closer look at fender, door and rocker intersection
2. The mess. I need to clean the dump tomorrow!!!!!

That's it for today. Should get some quality time in the garage tomorrow. Would like to get the outer rocker and corner finally installed and the get a start on the right side. I'm hoping to get the front clip on this week in order to get a good feel for the fit of all the new panels. Need to also shorten the frame and throw on the bed as well. Keeping the fingers crossed.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Thought I was gonna get more time in the garage today, but nope! Anyway, was able to put on cab corner and message the rocker panel. The left side still needs a lot attention, but for now it'll have to wait. Gonna start on the right side tomorrow. I will not permanently affix anything (beyond excessive tack welding) until I put on the front clip, shorten the frame and put the box on the frame. At that point, I'll adjust as necessary and then permanently weld everything in place. Then.....take it apart again etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.!!!

Pictures:
1-4. Left cab corner

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Kind of thought I'd get more done today!!!! Spent most of my time cleaning the garage, then headed to the landfill, went to dinner with the Mrs., then put together my new Eastwood blast cabinet. I still need to unpack the vacuum for the blast cabinet. Oh, and turned the truck around. I hope to get started on the right side panel replacement tomorrow.

Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Hi Mike! Did you buy a new blast cabinet? What are you going to use in that cabinet? sand, metal or something else? We use first our cabinet a sand but it was bad, then I changed the sand to metal so it became good. Now I see what I do. And it does not need so much to vacuum.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

... I forgot the photos! :lol:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Ilkka, I will probably start with glass beads? Spent the day tearing out everything in the corner of the garage and began my plumbing for the new compressor....still have a long long ways to go in order to plumb the whole garage; one step at at time. I installed a T of the main line to feed the blast cabinet. I have a 3/8 filter and then a separate regulator before feeding the blast cabinet.

Hopefully I can start the passenger panel work tomorrow????????

I did get some fender emblems in today for Addiction.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Sounds good. Glass beads can also blow aluminum.
Your garage looks so fine.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Started the passenger side; ugh 😑. It’s better than it looks.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Gotta love the two screws in the rocker panel! ����

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Got a couple hours to further dig into the right sight of the cab after work today. As I mentioned earlier, someone along the way had replaced the both cab corners, rockers, some or the floor and capped the passenger side cab support. Previous work failed to incorporate inner rockers and inner cab corners. Today I took off the passenger rocker, and like the other side, it was barely attached. Luckily, they overlapped the the rocker about an inch or so, then welded it in place after using a couple screws to keep it in place. Why do I say "Luckily," because it gives me more room (material) to attach the new rocker panel. Don't think this side is going to give the same issues as the drivers side give me.

Pictures:
1. Slowly chipping away at the front of the rocker. You can see the overlap and weld of the old rocker panel.
2. Shot of the front pillar and rocker cut-away.
3. Same pic looking back at rocker panel.

If I don't go to the gun show here in town tomorrow, I'll get the whole day to work on the cab.

Have a great weekend!!!

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

8 hours in the garage today!!!! :metal: Was able to get a lot of the structural work done along with tacking in the front of the rocker panel. Should be able to rework the rear of the rocker tomorrow along with getting the corner installed.

Pictures:
1. Operating table!
2. Cut out the old rocker, kick panel and some of the floor in preparation of installing new floor brace and cab support. Also supported the pillar before cutting into the floor brace.
3. Using self-tapping screws I fastened the inner rocker and kick panel in place.
4. Cut floor brace after drilling out the spot welds.
5. Good shot of solid floor being covered by previous repair. I just peeled it back to expose the original floor so that I could weld in the floor brace. I deal with the overlapping floor later.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Pictures:
1. Why you need to wear eye protection; kind of got my cut-off well buried into tough position and it blew apart!
2. I found that using the cab mount bolt and seat bracket bolt gives you two good reference points (previously stated). I marked the old floor brace up front on the fire wall so that when I put the new one in place, I just used the two vertical markings to line it up.
3. Realigned the inner rocker and kick panel then cut and spot welded in the inner rocker and completely installed the kick panel.
4. Tacked in outer rocker.
5. The mess!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Picture:

1. Door before aligning and tacking in outer rocker panel. Door fits much better than it looks. I adjusted both the panel and the door before tacking.
2. Close-up of filling the gap when installing the inner rocker panel.

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Great day in the garage!

Pictures:
1. Tested the new blast cabinet; worked awesome. I'm glad I bought the vacuum as well!!!!
2. Put the frame on jack stands in preparation for shortening of the frame and installing the front clip to check alignment with new panels.
3. Installed doors and front clip. It won't take much to align anything, fell pretty much right in place
4-5. Tore down rear drivetrain. Tomorrow after work I plan on shortening frame and temporarily assembling the bed in order to check alignment etc.

More to follow:

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Pictures:
1-2. Things lined up surprisingly well.
3-4. Relaxed on the my C10 Bench Seat Couch and took a couple pic's of the days work.

Oh, the gas cans spent the day outside; they usually do when the sparks are flying! :devil:

Thanks Mike

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

How did you get a hold of the Built by Brooks LWB to SWB kit? I can't seem to find a place to get it.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Oops, forgot to say:

Nice progress, keep up the good work!

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

aggie91, he has a Instagram page. I'll get you the email once I find it.

Re: Sparky's 1978 Silverado Build "Addiction"
 

Worked late last night and a bit today. Progress!!!

Pictures:
1. Leveled the frame - that took quite some time and a lot of moving around the truck.
2. This is the level after the chop and the Built by Brooks LWB to SWB brackets were installed. For now, I did not install the inner brackets because I'll take it apart again after final body adjustments and panel install. I will weld the cut line, then install the inside bracket and then weld the perimeter of the outside brackets as recommended.
3. Pic of outer brackets. It's amazing how using so many factory holes snaps this thing into square and level (as long as nothing changed up front, from cut forward). I did finish installing all the bolts before proceeding.
4. Had to partially install some of the floor in order to test fit the bedsides etc.. Since I didn't fully install floor and outer metal floor support pieces, the bedsides slightly sagged about 1/8" or so.
5. Need to drop this thing!!!!! :metal:

Thanks Mike