82 Silverado restomod - turbo LSx build

[mzsigler]

So, I've been looking for a project for a few months now. I was dead set on a turbo LSx setup, but couldn't decide what I wanted to put it in. A thread on another forum made me start thinking about square body chevy trucks. My dad had an 85 when I was a kid and loved it, I actually had an 86 step side that I bought and flipped right after high school. I came to this forum and started looking around at all the stuff the make for them now and I was sold.

I started scouring eBay, craigslist, Facebook classifieds looking for a truck. I wanted a short wheel base 2WD with factory AC (It's hot in the south, it's not even really optional). I hit upon this 82 on Craigslist. It runs and drives, has a newer 350, and has a very straight body with zero rust.

These are the pics from Craigslist:







We came to an agreement on the price and he met me in a nearby city. The truck checked out fine so I went ahead and bought it.



Drove it back to Memphis, about 50 miles. Did fine at 60-65 the whole way. None of the gauges work and the brakes are absolutely terrible, but otherwise it's in good condition and I mainly wanted the body anyway, as the drivetrain is getting replaced. Here it is as I got it back to the shop.



I'm going to tear into the brakes soon. They seem to be completely worthless, I was allowing like 10 car lengths on the way back. There might be something actually wrong with them, or I could be biased because my current fun car is a 96 Miata with aftermarket pads that will stop on a dime.

Nice straight bed:



Interior is all there and in fair condition. Obviously that seat is going to need to be recovered and the dash pad is busted up. Everything else looks to be in good condition.



SPID still in the glovebox.



What I'm guessing is the original 10 bolt. Can anyone tell me anything about them? I'm guessing for my power goals it won't be super long for this world before it's replaced with a 9" or something.



My first order of business was to order some suspension to lower it a bit and replace the ancient shocks. This should arrive shortly.



Here in the next day or so I'm going to pull the bed off and pressure wash the hell out of the frame and suspension in anticipation of new parts. Also gonna check out the crappy brakes. I'm also looking for a donor truck to swap in a 4.8/5.3/6.0 and a 4L80. Then it's gonna be time for turbos.

[tinydb84]

Looks like a nice start. Cant wait to see the turbo build.

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Looks like a nice start. Cant wait to see the turbo build.

Yeah I'm ready to get started but every truck at the salvage auction today has over 200k miles. Literally the lowest mileage truck today was 214k, lol.

[l92powered77]

Clean truck i am excited to see it put together. Ls power! Plus turbo hell yeah. Post pics galore. Welcome

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by l92powered77

Clean truck i am excited to see it put together. Ls power! Plus turbo hell yeah. Post pics galore. Welcome

I most definitely plan to.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by mzsigler

Yeah I'm ready to get started but every truck at the salvage auction today has over 200k miles. Literally the lowest mileage truck today was 214k, lol.

yeah man for an LS that's way too much, those motors were ran hard, just keep looking I know you is excited but be disciplined and smart, weather this is a 2 month build or a 2 year build the time will just fly by, and you want to sit back when its all said and done and say man I did it the right way

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by Gregski

yeah man for an LS that's way too much, those motors were ran hard, just keep looking I know you is excited but be disciplined and smart, weather this is a 2 month build or a 2 year build the time will just fly by, and you want to sit back when its all said and done and say man I did it the right way

Yeah I'm not super scared of mileage, but I don't want to go too much over 100k. There's no shortage of chassis and interior work I can do while I'm waiting for a drivetrain. Fedex says my shipment from Western Chassis will be here today.

[Jigme]

Originally Posted by Gregski

yeah man for an LS that's way too much, those motors were ran hard, just keep looking I know you is excited but be disciplined and smart, weather this is a 2 month build or a 2 year build the time will just fly by, and you want to sit back when its all said and done and say man I did it the right way

Plenty of LS engines out there with over 300k miles holding 600+ to the wheel. Mileage isn't a huge issue with these engines, as long as they aren't super ****ed lol.

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by Jigme

Plenty of LS engines out there with over 300k miles holding 600+ to the wheel. Mileage isn't a huge issue with these engines, as long as they aren't super ****ed lol.

Yeah I've seen some pretty high mileage ones, but the reality is I can likely get one with 110k for the same price as one with 200k. Might as well go with a lower mileage one.

[Gregski]

pulling up a chair to watch this build as well, pace yourself and keep the detailed updates coming, keep in mind there will be many people following along even if they don't chime in and post something here, but there will be plenty of us that do, so go for it

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by Gregski

pulling up a chair to watch this build as well, pace yourself and keep the detailed updates coming, keep in mind there will be many people following along even if they don't chime in and post something here, but there will be plenty of us that do, so go for it

Will do, your build thread inspired me to document the bejesus out of it because I really enjoyed reading yours.

[mzsigler]

Speaking of which, ordered the stuff to make my windows functional.



I went ahead and bought a window regulator, I haven't even pulled my door apart to make sure the driver side needs one, but it doesn't move at all and for $25 shipped, might as well.

[daddyjeep]

I'll follow along for the ride as well.

I have to say though....with the drive train plans, I am a little surprised you ordered a lowering kit. I was expecting something a little more aggressive with the suspension. At least a 4 link with coil overs in the rear.

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

I'll follow along for the ride as well.

I have to say though....with the drive train plans, I am a little surprised you ordered a lowering kit. I was expecting something a little more aggressive with the suspension. At least a 4 link with coil overs in the rear.

Yeah there's a chance I will regret that decision. That's the only reason I haven't ordered rear disks too. I might end up having to go with a different rear end entirely and buy them all over again. I wanted to get it at the level it's going to sit at though for the sake of exhaust routing. I would be super pissed if I built out the turbo setup and then found out that lowering it makes it not work.

[jimboh247]

I've been kicking around an LS swap. I'm going to follow along.

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by jimboh247

I've been kicking around an LS swap. I'm going to follow along.

Excellent!

[LT7A]

Cool. Gonna watch. Like your truck.

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Cool. Gonna watch. Like your truck.

Thanks!

[mzsigler]

First parts came in from LMC. Unfortunately my window regulator hasn't come in from RockAuto so I'm sitting here bored as hell.

[Gregski]

wonder if your new window handles will slip on the new regulator(s) you are procuring, it is common to find that at one point GM changed the depth of the handles and some will not mate well with some window regulators, not raining on your parade just trying to help, you way want to slip these new handles on your existing regulators just for a quick test, see my thread Restoring Rusty for more details

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by Gregski

wonder if your new window handles will slip on the new regulator(s) you are procuring, it is common to find that at one point GM changed the depth of the handles and some will not mate well with some window regulators, not raining on your parade just trying to help, you way want to slip these new handles on your existing regulators just for a quick test, see my thread Restoring Rusty for more details

Good idea, I'll try that before I tear the door apart. If they don't fit, at least I won't stab anyone like I would if I just spent an hour taking a door apart.

[bbbc10]

what lowering kit did you go with....like brand and parts that are in the kit?

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

what lowering kit did you go with....like brand and parts that are in the kit?

This:

https://westernchassisinc.com/1973-8...-Front-4-Rear/

(I have no idea why that is the link, it's the 4/6)

It's front drop spindles and drop springs, rear flip kit and C notch kit.

I added these:

https://westernchassisinc.com/1973-8...nder-kit-Rear/

So that I can use stock length shocks in the rear for better travel.

I also bought new shocks front and rear to go with all of the above. Here's a link to the front drop shocks:

https://westernchassisinc.com/ds-2-f...cks-chevy-c10/

I ordered the same shocks for stock height in the rear, because of the aforementioned relocation kit.

[bbbc10]

Thats top notch stuff.....i had western chassis spindles an springs on mine wth belltech flip kit rear......also had belltech drop shocks for 6" drop for the rear an still had to add shock relocating brackets......u might or might not have problems wth the stock length shocks on the rear

[mzsigler]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

Thats top notch stuff.....i had western chassis spindles an springs on mine wth belltech flip kit rear......also had belltech drop shocks for 6" drop for the rear an still had to add shock relocating brackets......u might or might not have problems wth the stock length shocks on the rear

I saw conflicting stuff regarding that, so I figured I would give the longer travel shocks a shot first. If they don't work I'm sure Western will swap them out or worst case I can sell them and order the lowering shocks.

Glad to hear you were happy with Western's stuff though, I'm not at all a car noob, but I am to these vehicles and these vendors.