Project 4.3 SS
 

Here you go..A wrecked 1994 shortbed i bought at the salvage auction.

I am going to redo it all. lower it down,custom paint inside and out..color i have not decided on yet.

This thing was slammed in the rear 125,000 miles 4.3 5speed so it will do good on gas. It will get a 92-95 CPI setup installed on it. And new coposite headlights and grille.

It even has the chrome 454SS wheels on it with brand new tires.

before pics..all i did was remove the bed for now..needs one bed side outer skin..bed did survive..it is a fleetside bed.

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Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Cool. Gotta love those short/fleets. Are you planning to do anything with the 4.3?

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

This is the flood truck i bought in nashville last month. it has a rebuilt 4.3 in it . was sitting at a shop after motor was done then the flood came. got it running and ready for the road..I am going to sell this one now that i got the shortbed.

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Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Hey 70blaze, in the 2nd and 3rd pic, it looks as though the rear half is bent and bit twisted. Is it even salvageable?

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

The rear bumper was on the ground,frame took the major hit. I have another frame i am picking up saturday. then let the rebuild begin!!Ist is to paint the new junkyard frame. then its to make it roll...The nice thing is a have a lift in the barn so it will be easy to lift the cab off...lol :lol: Yes it will be fixed.Its only nuts and bolts but for $500 bucks and it runs and drives how can you go wrong? Thats all i paid for it..

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

man you got that cheap! i paid 2500 and did the same amount of work to mine! what a ripp!! did you look into having that frame pulled? we fix stuff like that all the time at work! might be easier then swapping! what way you leaning on for colors? i really wanted to do a candy red or dark blue but the wife wanted it red like my last truck.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Just got home with the donor frame..I got this nice not wrecked frame for $150 local...all i had to do was pull the bumper,bed and cab off..and the rear end..You cant beat that deal...And i got the blue door for $25 and i asked about the spare tire/wheel..He said you can have it...Wow what a great day!!!

The truck had no motor or trans in it,it took me 2 hours to get it all off.


let the work begin. I have a trck to paint 1st,then sunday its shortbed time..


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Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

I have not decided on a color yet. I am waiting for my paint book to get back home. never let someone borrow that book!! I can say it will be one of a kind.

I have done 67-72 for years,did a few 81-87 trucks...this will be my 1st 94 i did

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Nice job on the score today. Good luck with the build.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

I was busy today,got the whole truck tore apart..ready to start transfer to new frame. And yes that is the 70 blazer 4x4 with a 94 truck front clip,I had no where else to put the front clip.;)


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Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

more pics...


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Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

See what happens when you have the right skillset? Oh, having the right tools and a shop to use 'em all, doesn't hurt, either.

I like your project title, especially since I drive a 4.3 SWB stepside. Got me to thinkin'....

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Plan is to put the CPI 92-95 intake on the TBI motor for now..I have a 94 S10 harness and ecm..here..I am then going to get a 94-96 Caprice 4.3 Baby LT1 V8 and put in it. The vin "W" in the caprice. as soon as i can get one of those wrecked at the sale too. It is nice having my own rollback,shop..lift..ect..

I am building this so i have something nice to drive around again.I need a pickup bad..You cant haul firewood in the 70 2wd blazer...lol

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Got the frame painted,rear end on new frame,changed motor mounts..94 and 96 4.3 mounts are different. .getting ready to put motor/trans on new frame so i can then use the weight of them to put the coil springs back in..It is no fun putting springs in a frame with no motor. I know..I will have more pics tomorrow night.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Yesterday got the frame painted in between heady downpours.

Today got it in the shop,then motor /trans front springs,new shocks all around in,ready for fuel and brake lines and gas tank,then is cab time..


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Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

You know that the V-8 exhaust pipes will attach to the manifolds, right? You can have dual exhaust with OEM/aftermarket pieces. If you keep the Cat, you will need to place the O2 sensors closer to the exhaust manifolds to keep em hot enough, though.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

lookin good

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

I just scored 2 posi units from knoxville pullapart..92 caprice with 90,000 miles and a 93 roadmaster sedan with 120,000 miles. These will fit the 88-98 trucks and anything 8.5 with 30 splines..like 81-87's

I am selling one and putting one in this truck.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Do you have a buyer for it yet? If not let me know how much you would like for it!

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

The extra posi i assume? right..

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

ha yes! i don't think i need another truck just yet.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Dang, I wish I could take it off your hands. No extra cash at the moment. That's good to know about the B-body rearends, though.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Most of your 91-96 wagons had them. just look for the G80 code on the list.

It is not the junky gov-lock...these are the auburn style...like the old ones..and they are 30 spline..

JB1016...go to nashville pull a part and lay on the ground and get you one.:lol:

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Yup, I think I'll make a field trip some day in the future.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

I did it now...lol the red truck is no more...now that one is parts.

I needed a new cab,the black one was hit so bad,when i pulled the seat out,the windshield cracked...bummer...it was twisted..so I am going to paint the red cab here in a day or two. The red cab is off and almost ready for paint. Then it goes on the shorty frame. let the rebuild begin..

Hey it is progress. And this way i know what i have. I would rather it be a 1970..but..at least it is still a :chevy: :metal:

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Today,gutted the red cab down to just a piece of metal. The dash in these trucks and easy,wire harness is simple. 10 minutes the dash is out. I painted the firewall,ready to put it back on the new frame here in the morning.

so far,not to bad a job to do.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Ok here is an update, last friday the 9th is when i got my frame. It it now back a rolling truck with new cab installed.

If you put a auto cab on a stick truck,you need to change this welded on bracket.(thank you gm engineers) To the auto cab. and simply cut i hole in floor for shifter..I am using the same year cab 94..now why would gm do this?

The round bracket in the 1st pic..that is what you need to drill out and weld in the other cab. I am posting this if anyone has to do this,not to be supprised,it is not that harn to do. You will have to drill holes for the clutch master cylinder ,this has 3 dimples where it does go. so far thats all i see different.

Got fire wall painted and door jams too.

Posi is the one out of a 93 roadmaster. it is 30 spline and the auburn type posi. will go right in a 88-98 truck. or any 30 spline 8.5 rear.

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Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Almost ready to run,got the a/c dash unit back in today,along with the dash and clutch/brake pedals. Brake booster..man these year trucks and simple like the 67-72's There is not much to them. I like that 5, 7mm screws and 2, 13mm bolts is all that holds the dash in.. All i need to do is the steering column and seat and a few wire hookups,ready to run again.

About another week or so will be done.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Man, you are cooking! Great work. Can't wait to see it finished.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Color is "purple haze metallic" but gm got sued over the name so it is now
Hawiian orchad mteallic. 1992 corvette color. It will be different for a truck that year.

I have got alot done in a few weeks..but i make my own hours and am my own boss..Ebay keeps me going...

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Progress is amazingly fast man. Keep it up it's looking good.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Posi is installed ..I simple bolt if..Jusy changed the 3.08 ring gear off the caprice to the trucks 3.42 ring gear..Fit no problem. New e-brake cables...installed..it is ready for the front clip to go back on..and i am going to pick up another bed here in a few days.

Its time to rebuild doors...and paint the inside of them. That takes time to do.

I have a kool shifter now. It takes longer to get parts around here that to do the job..

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Today got the back of cab painted,front of new bed painted..got me a nice short fleet off a 1997 today for 300 bucks..local yard...even got a tailgate and one taillight with it..and a gm bedliner too...thats was a great deal...but

I saw a 1972 Custom/10 sitting out there with no rear end..it had factory a/c ,cab not to bad..I am going back for it...But i got the factory TILT COLUMN out of it while i was there:lol:

Now thats a great day:metal:

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Pics...you just have to keep posting pics..:lol:

red cab, teal bed,black front clip, Not for much longer...lol


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Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

That is a good day. Would the 72 cab become a new project, or part of an existing one?

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

what no shifter pictures?! man i wish we had your kind of junk yards around here. all the ones by me are so picked over!

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

I will have more pics today...shifter mod was simply too. I have a few extra shifter handles too.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

I am going to see what they want for the a/c cab..My rollback is getting a rebuild here soon...And i may just change cabs or may fix mine..The orignal passenger rocker just now came off..I changed the drivers side in 1985 when i bought the truck.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

so what did you do with it? i want to find a short throw or hurst for mine but no luck yet.

Re: Project 4.3 SS
 

Man it is hot here...102 in the shade...I did manage to get the interior back in,seat..cd player..front e-brake cable changed..the red longbed front cable is different than a shortbed...That was a pain..but it is done..And got the front clip back on..Progress today was slow..due to the heat...Normal high here is 83 with only 14 days above 90 a year..we have 48 days over 90 this year..The A/C dont quit..

I have several more shifters now..I will make anyone one when they see mine finished up..