'77 Camper Special

[Bird_Reynolds]

Hi I am going to post my first project truck today! My brother is whiteyandreddy and he clued me in on this site, and it's pretty sweet.
My truck is a 77 3/4 ton 4x4. I bought from a really nice mechanic who had to sell it because he needed a SUV. It has a 454 from an '85 rv, and a 700r4 (my favorite) trans. Everything underneath looks like standard stuff, but the guy put on a disc brake conversion kit, and magnaflow exhaust.
When I got it though it was a hodgebodge of different colored panels and I knew I had all kinds of bodywork to do. Anyhow here's a before and after pic!

[Bird_Reynolds]

Here are pics from when I got the truck. I think that is my nephew in the cab--where is he going?
Mechanically the truck didnt really need anything, so all I had to do was the bodywork. I was talking to my buddy Manuel (the guy with the Mater truck from my brother's thread) and he said his dad's body shop would do the work. So basically I just bought this truck and then hauled it off to the body shop. I didn't turn a single wrench. There are a lot of pro's to doing it this way
The deal I struck with Manuel, Sr. was pretty simple: he would work on it when his guys were idle. So he had the truck for like 4 months, but he did a super job. The truck needed a new bed, a door, fenders, corners. Plus it had those ugly mirrors! I think there may have been a hole in the floor too. But like I said the body guys did an awesome job. It was also cool to order parts from LMC and have them shipped directly to the body shop.
In these pics you can see the truck tore down, and where they tacked in a new rocker.

[Bird_Reynolds]

here's some more pix from the shop. It was always exciting to get a call from Manuel Sr. and go over to the shop and see the truck. At this point they were jamming it and I got to see how the paint looks.

Some of the things I learned on this build:
I will never get a 2-tank truck again. Chevy was so high in the 70s! Having to park twice to fill up once is a pain.
4" lift just barely clears 35x12.5's. I had to go down to 33's. Which still looked good tho. But my next proj is going to have 5" minimum.
The factory acrylic paints are not available, like at all, and there isn't a good equivalent enamel. At least I think so. I only talked to the guy at Napa so there is probably other solutions, but in my case I had to look through thousands of paint chips to find the gold color. I love that gold from back then. My dad had a '75 3/4 ton just like it he used to take us camping in. So this truck is my homage to my dad I actually did get it to put a slide - in camper in it and go four-wheel camping. I really want to get an slide in and restore it too, but one thing at a time.

[Bird_Reynolds]

More pix from the shop. Things were really starting to come together at this point. Me and my brother would shoot out after work and check it out. I think at this point i had him sold on the body shop

[Bird_Reynolds]

more pix from shop. That's my brother in law there. I was like a kid at christmas at this point. The paint is a 2 stage, and with like 3 coats of clear it shined like justice. man it was sweet The pictures aren't very good, it looks like im taking them through the bottom of a coke bottle for some reason. But the paint did look awesome, they wet sanded it so it was super smooth

[Bird_Reynolds]

Almost done! Had to customize the bumper for some reason that's why it's not on there. Also had to put the mirrors on it still.
that's my brother (whiteyandreddy) and my nephew.
another lesson: do not let the bodyman screw in the chrome trim. They wind up puncturing the metal and it rusts from behind. I like the 3M double side tape for the chrome pieces.

[cochino12]

love it!

[legendman]

Nice truck it came out good.

[MTCK]

The truck turned out awesome - love the color choice!

[Bird_Reynolds]

It's been a long time since I posted on my 77, but recent events have caused me to have to replace the carburetor! It is an edelbrock 1406 and was on sale for like 300 bucks. Replacing took all of 30 minutes. I didn't even have to get a fresh beer!
Also I decided to address all my fuel system problems. When the 454 swap was done on this truck, the way it sat in the cradles left no room for the bigger 454 mechanical fuel pump, so a 350 pump was swapped on. This pump can't keep up, so my truck has an electric booster that runs basically all the time. I can switch it off at times but I rarely did. So I finally pulled off the 350 pump completely and covered the opening. Also I changed all of my filters and all the rubber hoses I thought needed replacing. Also I put in a pressure regulator just to see if that helps.
Also this year I fixed my interior issues (like no dash panel or lights) and got a newer seat. My old seat had a huge hole where you sit, and I couldn't take it anymore.

[Bird_Reynolds]

Well I have been driving it around more now that I am home, and it looks like after I timed it I am at 12mpg! Not too shabs for a big block automatic. Next item of business is to fix the leaky brake master cylinder clean up the wiring

[MTCK]

12 mpg is great! That's a heck of a tune up you gave it. What kind of driving do you do the majority of the time?

[Bird_Reynolds]

Originally Posted by MTCK

12 mpg is great! That's a heck of a tune up you gave it. What kind of driving do you do the majority of the time?

I live out in the country on the flatlands so it's 90% highway driving. To be honest I just put on the new carb and tuned it per the book, and try to keep my foot out of it. I am by no means an expert.

[LT7A]

Great looking rig. It's funny how colors you might not choose for anything else can look so good on a truck. They stood out so much in the first photo that at first I though it was photoshopped. I like that it has the 454 too. Thanks for letting us see it.

LT7A

[Bird_Reynolds]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Great looking rig. It's funny how colors you might not choose for anything else can look so good on a truck. They stood out so much in the first photo that at first I though it was photoshopped. I like that it has the 454 too. Thanks for letting us see it.

LT7A

Thanks man!

[Bird_Reynolds]

So I damaged one of my wheels, and went to go get a new one. Turns out they don't make them anymore. Which is actually good, because I have been looking for an excuse to get steel wagon wheels for like 5 years. So I ran down to the ol tire shop and got these babies! Added bonus, 315/75's fit!

[Bird_Reynolds]

Also I should say I got it aligned, and put new shocks on. And my brother and I installed new wheel bearings and rotors. I put on new front brakes and a new master cylinder. So she's running really well!

[MTCK]

Looks great! Remind me how much lift you have?

[Bird_Reynolds]

Hey Marcus! Hope all is going well for you. I have 4".

[rusty76]

Awesome truck! I like the wagon wheels.

[Bird_Reynolds]

I haven't posted in a while but a lot has been going on. After spending a year reading up and buying parts, I finally pulled the trigger on doing a cummins 4BT swap. I will post pix this week.
I could have done a Cummins swap in about 5 different ways, In the end I bought an engine out of a Fedex truck. It adapts directly to a Muncie 4 speed. I put in a Ranger OD. She drives pretty good! Super narrow power band so I am glad to have the OD. She has a ton of leg and it cruises really well on the highway. It is loud and i have to do something about that eventually, but it is fun to drive. I have to admit I miss the V8 sound but so far I am liking it

[MTCK]

Man you have been busy on both your rigs! What kind of mpg you pulling down?

[Bird_Reynolds]

Originally Posted by MTCK

Man you have been busy on both your rigs! What kind of mpg you pulling down?

yes indeed. Honestly I needed a lot of help to do this, my front end loader is seized and there was some stuff I couldn't fab so I had to buy.
Right now mileage is about 20 total. I am going to keep driving it a couple more tanks and give a solid number. I am just going on little hops and shaking out coolant and fuel leaks.

[El Dorado Jim]

beautiful truck!!!!!where did you find the 4bt? that is a cool swap...

[Bird_Reynolds]

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

beautiful truck!!!!!where did you find the 4bt? that is a cool swap...

I got it from a guy on eBay actually! I looked and looked and finally just pulled the trigger. This thing is pretty cool because it mates direct to the muncie. And it came with everything. Me and my buddy just added fuel and it fired right up. There's a lot to be said for that