Storm's OTHER crew cab build

[Storm Chaser]

OK, most of you know me from the 88-98 side of the site where I've been building that SAS crew with the new cab. Well, a series of events have brought me to another crew cab project- an 88 V-series (or, an 87 as I tell the Autozone clowns to keep from bringing the wrong stuff home since they don't seem to realize that both body styles were made in 88).

This project came about when the transmission went out in my 78 that I use as a work truck- I went to change the tranny and found the floor supports and cab mounts so rusty that the cab floor was directly on the frame. I couldn't get to the upper transmission mount bolts. A buddy had a cab I could get, so I figured what the heck- if I have to change cabs anyway, why not put his standard cab on a crew frame, then slap on a 12' flatbed? So then I found this truck, but the cab's too nice to trash... so I'm building another crew (I might still do the long flatbed idea later though).

In the pic you can see that it is pretty much a complete cab on a rolling chassis. The floors in this thing are unbelievably solid! There is some issues with the outer rockers and cab corners- caused by the running boards that were on it (or, rust-catchers as I like to refer to them). I came across a rusty Suburban to use as a parts buggy (mainly the front end and steering components).

This is a down-and-dirty work truck build using less than desireable parts (rusty) just to get it on the road and useable. Then later I might find better pieces to replace the rusty ones.

For those who wanted a low-buck work truck build... here ya go!

Costs so far...
$200 for crew cab builder
$100 for Suburban parts truck
-$50 for wheels I sold
$250 total investment so far.

[84 400]

here you go again. Have fun with it

[justpball]

I will be watching...

[toomanytoyz]

Look's like a Great Start for what you have in Mind, That was a Great Deal on both of the Trucks...........

Why no Pic of the Burb, Is it that Rusty?

Good Luck with the Build...........

Rick

[Storm Chaser]

Oh yea, the Burb is that rusty... but I can get a pic of it tomorrow just to show. I'm using it's less-than-desireable front clip just to get the crew on the road- I figure I'll replace the fenders and inner fenders in the spring (radiator support and hood are good though). One inner fender is totally unuseable due to rust though and the fenders are pretty rotted where they meet the inners. I think I can doctor them up to make them work out for now.

Today I got the steering components moved over to the crew and buttoned up the brakes. I still have to change out the column though, because the PO broke off the turn signal arm (plus the replacement is a tilt column). I also got the front bumper and front clip pulled from the Burb and sitting in the yard. I figure I'd put the engine in before I installed the body panels. Also did some swapping and got myself a 700r4.

The motor I'm going to use is the one I put in the white truck (which is currently at my sisters, due to space reasons). So, I have to finish stripping out the Burb and get it out of here before I bring the white truck back. I figured I'd strip off anything I could sell off the Burb to add to the budget- wouldn't it be cool if I could get this crew on the road and end up with a $0 balance?

[toomanytoyz]

ttt for update?

Rick

[84 400]

That sure would be cool with a zero ballance and all. good luck and pic's always make for a better read

[Storm Chaser]

Been hacking up the Burb in between rain and family functions...

[84 400]

Nice progress

[Storm Chaser]

I sure wasn't able to salvage much off of the Suburban. I did get the front clip, but it's just temporary until spring when I can find/afford better.

The Sub had so much rust around where the pillars meet the floor, and in the quarters, that it is suprising that the roof stayed up! I was able to salvage most of the glass. the seats, gas tank, driveshaft, rolling frame and a few AC parts to use as Craigslist fodder. The only mistake I regret is putting too much pressure on the windshield and watching it crack. Darn. I was hoping to keep that for a future project.

Today, the only thing I'm getting done is cleaning up the mess I made stripping this thing out. Hopefully in a few days, I'll be working on the crew cab again.

[Storm Chaser]

Wow, I feel sorry for anyone trying to make a living off of scrap metal right now. I pretty much had the whole Suburban body (minus all the doors) cut up and loaded in the back of a pickup- took it in and got a whopping $25 out of it! Finally got the glass and guts out of the doors last night... boy those latch screws were a PITA! There was no interest in the frame on CL, so it's probably getting chopped next- we'll see if I can earn another $25 for a good day's work!

$250 previous balance
-$25 massive payday
$225 so far

[James McClure]

Storm, the old burb have buckets and a console? I might reduce your balance if it did. jim

[Storm Chaser]

Nope, it was a bench- the kind that don't fold forward, so no one around here wants it either

[Storm Chaser]

Well, I finally got rid of the rest of the Burb. Thing is, I went to bring the white truck back home (the 76) and decided NOT to pull the motor out of it!!!

It seems to be running good (other than the auto tranny noise in 1st). I've got another freebee cab on the way, so I think I'll wait and change out the cab on that one.

Soooo... I decided to try the engine that was in the Sub, which is a 305. It only rotates so far then stops. Rotate it backwards and it stops in about the same place. Took the valve covers off to get a good view of the gunk... loosened all the rockers and tried again- still hangs. I figured I'd pull the intake and see if I can see anything- all 4 inner intake bolts are rounded!

So, it looks like this thing isn't going to be the no-buck project I hoped for, cuz I'm lookin' for a good motor. I found a couple relatively close on CL for a couple hundred each- a 350 and a 305, so I'll call tomorrow.

And don't laugh cuz I mentioned looking at a 305- I've had very good luck with them in the past.

[dammitmitchell]

holy crap dude..
if my wife saw this post she would flip out
:why cant you do it for so cheap"... and i would live in my garage..
good luck on the build dude!

[Storm Chaser]

Oh yea, forgot to add the figures for my last two scrap runs...

$225 previous balance
-$25 another big payday
-$46 a little better payday
$154 so far

I guess I'm not doing too bad. I still have two rear ends and some glass to sell, plus another load of scrap to take in, which will put me close to $0... before I factor in the engine I need to buy. I guess if I can get this truck going for under $500, I'd still be pretty happy about it. If only it was this time last year, when scrap was more than double what it is now- I'd be gettin' PAID to build this truck!

The white truck will be harder to bring in at under $500- Ive already got $400 in buying it, plus a new water pump. Even though I'll be getting the cab for free and I already have it's transmission on hand, it still needs a new driver side fender, new boards for the flatbed, an idler arm, and front brake pads.

And don't even ask me to tally up the other crew cab- she's been in four digits since the very beginning.

[Storm Chaser]

if my wife saw this post she would flip out
:why cant you do it for so cheap"...

Well... your wife probably wants your truck to look decent too, and mine won't! This crew cab will be running around with a 4-tone paint job- cab is red and grey, front end is blue and white. My buddy is telling me that if I put a standard bed on it, it too has to be two tone andI have to pick colors I haven't used yet.

So tell your lady that there is a downside to cheap!

[Storm Chaser]

Nothing much to report yet- been trying to figure out the engine (accompanying thread in the engine section). Let's just say- I might have to go another route.

Bright side- I've been helping a buddy clear out some land he bought from an old man who kept EVEYTHING! A house, a mobile home, a barn, and two sheds packed to the rafters with all kinds of junk. I've been hauling crap outta there and came across a brand new radiator support- still in the box! Also found a good sliding window for my other crew cab. And they were FREE. Gotta love that price.

[dammitmitchell]

<jealous...
you are not my friend anymore
ha ha ha
good luck dude im watchin this thread...

[Storm Chaser]

With the luck I've had the past year, it's about time I started having some good luck! We dug a little deeper into the mess and found some other goodies. For instance, I found a pair of rust free doors and a hood for my girlfriend's boy's S-10. Or how about a TV from 1952? It looks like the one from Apollo 13 that they watched the moon landing on. I also found a perfect grille for my other crew cab.

Maybe the best find so far is a whole truck- it's an 88-94 (haven't dug deep enough to see the vin yet, but can tell by the dash) GMC 4x4. The truck was rolled pretty hard then shoved in a barn. Once we dig our way to it, I'm going to try to start it- if it runs, guess where the engine is going??? As far as I can tell, everything from the bed back is fine, and maybe the driver door, but I won't know till I get it dug out.

I'm probably not going to put the new radiator support on yet. Once I get the truck running, I'm just going to bolt on the old Burb front end and get it driving. Then, as I collect some money I'll buy new fenders and inners and a new grille. I'll wait until I have it all before I bolt it all on the truck.

I still haven't decided if I'm going to put a fleetside bed on or a flatbed. I was originally going to flatbed it, but since I decided to keep the 76 (which is already a flatbed), I just don't know. I'm thinking dually at the moment...

[aggie91]

This is getting real interesting. I can't seem to find a deal like that on anything. Even $500 for a running/draving anything these days is good, but for it to be a crew cab truck, well,

I say find a brown and cream colored fleetside bed for it....

[Cherub]

wow thats some crazy stuff right there.

[toomanytoyz]

Glad to hear you are having a little bit of Luck with your Finds, All i ever find is Trouble.........

Rick

[toomanytoyz]

ttt

Any update's??

Rick

[dammitmitchell]

crap the only thing i have found here in texas in a barn is angry property owners..
wtf...
grrrrrr