1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

I have decided to make a build thread. A little background is that the truck is a 1982 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe. It was orignally my granfathers and when he got a new truck he gave it to my family which then caught my interest in it. I have had the truck for about 5 or 6 years now and haven't worked on it until last year. The truck originally had a 305, which is going to be replaced with an LS2. I am currently in college so progress will probably be slow except for the summers. At the moment the truck is kind of a budget frame off restoration.

Here is what the truck orignally looked like:
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This past summer I tore the whole front and rear suspension apart and lowered the truck as well as redid bushings etc.
Before:
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After:
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In the front I have belltech 2" drop springs and 3" drop spindles from DJM.

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Next was the rear which got 2" drop shackles and 2" drop hangers from belltech:

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1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

The next thing I decided to do was wheels and tires....I decided to go with American Eagle Alloy 225 series 20x8.5 in the front and 20x10 in the rear.
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This is a real picture that I had someone photoshop rust out of:

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1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Next thing was the drivetrain. I was originally going to just rebuild the 305 or buy a crate 350 just to throw in it, but after spending a year watching all the builds on here I decided to go with fuel injection. I was looking at motors but not too seriously when I found an ls2 on ebay. It was out of a tbss with 45,000 miles on it with the trans, harness and engine for $3200. Well after talking with the guy for a couple months I decided to buy it. The only thing is the engine was out of a awd tbss so I have to get the tailshaft on the transmission swapped out and a few other things. Before I even got the engine I decided on tearing down the truck for winter.
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1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

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1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

I recently got the frame painted but haven't had the time to get the crossmember painted and put back in so the front suspension can go back together.
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1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

This last weekend I got the engine.

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Can't really see, but picture of the 243 casting...
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1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

And now I am currently back at college, so if any work gets done it will have to be on the weekends. This is how everything currently sits:

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Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

WOW!! Excellent work. Your wheel choice is awesome!! Can't wait to see your progress... :metal:

1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

thanks...I got them about the same time Dennis did....I think they are going to become the new Coys though

1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

I do need help with a problem I have. One of my rear cab mount brackets has pretty much rusted through. I though I had remembered seeing them for sale in lmc, but it appears that they only have the front ones. Does anyone know where to get one of these or is a junkyard the only thing other than making one?

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Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Great progress so far! It looks really good!!

Check it out --- I bought these rings as suggested on ebay b/c I didn't have a hole saw big enough to cut them myself.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=431253

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Sweet build!
Will be following this one.

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

clean build you have goin, should run good with the ls2 we have a tbss for a shop truck , its runs great !

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

you on a good path..

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

With that fan and instake...I'm guessing that LS2 came out of a TrailBlazer SS? If so....you also got a Super Duty 4L70e transmission hanging off the back. Those exhaust manifolds are also one of the few sets that will fit in LSx upgrades with some of these trucks.

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

:metal:! awesome man!!! i'm excited to see you started a build thread:D

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Sweet Build Man! Subscribed

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

nice work!!! are you running 295/40/20 on the back??

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Nice work :metal:
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Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

bbc10 that is correct 295/40/20 on the rear. I believe its 245/40/20 on the front but I forget, I can look it up if you want that too

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

thanx...that would be nice if you can, also how is your clearence on the rear? im wanting to do a 5/7 drop on mine.

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

the fronts are 245/40/20.....clearance on the front is fine. On the rear I had some rubbing on the right fender when I hit bumps but it was not anything that bad, I just hit the fender with a rubber hammer twice and haven't had a problem since....everyone else that I have heard that has the wheels don't have any problems with them so I think my rearend might just be a little bit off to one side, which hopefully gets fixed this time I put everything back together

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

thanx alot....much needed info and keep up the good work!!

Thanks for all the compliments guys. I got a little work done this weekend. I got the engine accessories taken off and hopefully I'll have it cleaned up and put back together. Still don't know whether I should paint it or not since most of it is aluminum anyway. I got the crossmember painted and bolted up so I can get the front suspension back together too.


Another issue I have since this was awd appears to be the oil pan. There is a straight through hole for the awd so I guess I might have to get a new oil pan. Anyone have any suggestions? Here is a picture of it, you cant really see but you can get the idea.


I also ordered my engine adpater plates today. I went with swaptech's because they have three positions you can mount the engine at and I like the fact that the bolts to hold the adapter to the engine are all flush.

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

looking good, it seems like every one now days that does a ls swap doing a frame off
I would run the gm muscle car pan, that what I got its comes with every thing you need for the swap
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-19212593/
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...0/100_2637.jpg

Thanks for the help on the oil pan, I'll have to look into it. Well I got some more work done today. I got the pass side suspension together, drivers side needs a lower ball joint and one new u-bolt and then I'll finally be done with the front suspension. I was also able to order new engine mounts today, so hopefully next weekend I can get the driver's side suspension done as well as an engine sitting in its correct place. I also decided that I'm going to paint the engine so I am in the process of cleaning it up also.

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Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

awesome progress keep da pics comeing

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great work! keep at it!

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Looking good! It should be a fun truck with that engine.

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

I'm doing the same thing!!! :metal:
subscribed

Sorry for the pictures being blurry. But my engine mounts and adapters came in this week so my goals this weekend are to get the front suspension completely back together, get the rear springs on, sandblast the rear, paint the engine, and hopefully mock up the engine although I'm thinking that it wont fit with the tbss oil pan. I should have more pictures up after this weekend.

Well I got some work done this weekend. I didn't get to the rear like I wanted to, but I got all the front suspension back together and sitting on the ground. I got the steering box cleaned up and put back on along with some steering parts. I just replaced the tie rods over the summer and both the inner tie rod "dust covers" had ripped so I guess I will need to replace them before getting the steering done. I also got the rear leaf springs cleaned up and painted and put on the truck. I got the adapter plates as well as new mounts on the truck. I also got the engine painted and ready to go. Also cleaned up and painted the exhaust manifolds. Just need to get a new oil pan and the engine should be able to go in the truck.
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Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Well didn't get that much work done this weekend. I got the rear suspension put back together, for right now I'm going to stick with the 10 bolt. I think it might have 3.07 gears. I have a 12 bolt from a truck that I'm going to build to put in, so I didnt feel like cleaning or messing with the 10 bolt. I also got some engine parts painted. I decided to paint the accessories with header paint. I dont know whether I like it or not. You can see in the pictures but It's basically ceramic paint and is like a flat black. I also ordered a bunch of parts yesterday so this weekend should be really busy.
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Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Best price I've found on the oil pan. I got mine from them in just a few days [url]http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ part #19212593

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

A heads up on the tailswap swap, the entire trans has to be taken apart to get to it. an you will need a speed sensor and reluctor gear. i did this to my 4L80E as it came from a 4x4 silverado.
it MAY be different on yours i dont know, but here is a good source of info on it http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/automa...-4x2-help.html
and http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/ was the only place i found that sold the reluctor gear individually. just DO NOT buy your rebuild kit their. they screwed me on that. (sent the wrong one (a cheaper kit for the 91-96 trans) and wouldnt take the item back because i opened it. which i understand IF it were the right damn part.) and i ended up getting the kit locally for over $110 cheaper. but hope this helps!!

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Thanks for the info, I just ordered the summit one though. Coulda saved 50 dollars though. Thanks though.

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Thanks for the info. I still have not decide on anything with the transmission. I still can't decide whether I should sell it and buy a 2wd 4l80e or trade. I guess I would really like trading for a 4l70e 2wd but I don't think that will ever happen. I would eventually like to put l92 heads and ls3 intake on it so I think I might be better off just getting a 4l80e but the 4l70e is a sport package basically so it already has a shift kit in it. So I guess I'm still just looking for options and opinions.

Re: 1982 C10 swb "SS"
 

Wish I would've come across your post sooner then. I found that one in a google search when I was searching for my pan. And try www.rockauto.com for other parts and search the net for dicount coupon codes too. I've saved tons on parts from those guys. :metal: