My 86 SWB - bit of background + pics + will update with progress - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

thepenguin99 · 11-10-2010, 11:01 PM

How I got it:

I actually acquired this 86 swb about 6 months ago. It has a 350 (originally 305) & TH350 combo with a 2.73 rear gear. I never did anything to it so the pics represent the condition I got the truck in. The truck was a trade-in on a 90 model swb my grandfather and I owned. Gave $700 trade value for it and I bought my grandfather's half for $500. If you figure the trade + what I gave my grandfather I ended up with the truck for $850.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly:

Good: The body is very solid for its age rust wise. Some small areas of surface rust starting but nothing major. Battery tray definitely has more than my definition of surface rust but no holes. Truck also came with the owners manual, warranty information, build sheet, and a couple other pieces of paperwork which was kinda neat.

Bad: The motor knocks. It was supposed to have been rebuilt 5-10k ago. The block is clean with recent pan/head gaskets so I think that is probably correct. That said, whoever did it half assed it like they half assed everything else they touched on the truck.

Ugly: While the body is still overall pretty solid & straight it has had the bed rails from hell installed on it at some point. No less than 8 fairly large holes per side! The bed also has a smallish crease in the back on the pass side. Windshield is cracked. As far as the interior it is also pretty ugly. Cracked dash, incorrect seat, door panels flaky at the top. Last but certainly not least on the ugly side is the radio. It was apparently installed by a man who had had a few to many beers and a sawzall handy. Hole is cut a lot larger than it needed to be for a standard cd player.

Pics! (thumbnailed because they are large)

**old Rusty C10** · 11-10-2010, 11:18 PM

ok so what ya gonna do with it? looks like a good start to a nice project

thepenguin99 · 11-10-2010, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

ok so what ya gonna do with it? looks like a good start to a nice project

The plan for now is get it running. I have a 468 on my engine stand that will be going in it. Also pulled the engine today. Pulling the engine is actually what prompted me to take "before" pics. Tomorrow I will be trying to straighten up some of the wiring the previous owner did and cleaning up the engine bay a bit.

bigwheel15 · 11-11-2010, 02:02 AM

Id be happy if my interior looked as good as yours on a bad day lol, mines terrible. And I just dont know what it is, the p.o. of my truck did the same with the radio, had a hole about half an inch too big on all sides cut into the dash.

11-10-2010, 11:01 PM	#1
thepenguin99 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Millington TN Posts: 435	My 86 SWB - bit of background + pics + will update with progress How I got it: I actually acquired this 86 swb about 6 months ago. It has a 350 (originally 305) & TH350 combo with a 2.73 rear gear. I never did anything to it so the pics represent the condition I got the truck in. The truck was a trade-in on a 90 model swb my grandfather and I owned. Gave $700 trade value for it and I bought my grandfather's half for $500. If you figure the trade + what I gave my grandfather I ended up with the truck for $850. The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: Good: The body is very solid for its age rust wise. Some small areas of surface rust starting but nothing major. Battery tray definitely has more than my definition of surface rust but no holes. Truck also came with the owners manual, warranty information, build sheet, and a couple other pieces of paperwork which was kinda neat. Bad: The motor knocks. It was supposed to have been rebuilt 5-10k ago. The block is clean with recent pan/head gaskets so I think that is probably correct. That said, whoever did it half assed it like they half assed everything else they touched on the truck. Ugly: While the body is still overall pretty solid & straight it has had the bed rails from hell installed on it at some point. No less than 8 fairly large holes per side! The bed also has a smallish crease in the back on the pass side. Windshield is cracked. As far as the interior it is also pretty ugly. Cracked dash, incorrect seat, door panels flaky at the top. Last but certainly not least on the ugly side is the radio. It was apparently installed by a man who had had a few to many beers and a sawzall handy. Hole is cut a lot larger than it needed to be for a standard cd player. Pics! (thumbnailed because they are large) Last edited by thepenguin99; 11-10-2010 at 11:02 PM.

11-10-2010, 11:18 PM	#2
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: My 86 SWB - bit of background + pics + will update with progress ok so what ya gonna do with it? looks like a good start to a nice project __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

11-11-2010, 02:02 AM	#4
bigwheel15 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 727	Re: My 86 SWB - bit of background + pics + will update with progress Id be happy if my interior looked as good as yours on a bad day lol, mines terrible. And I just dont know what it is, the p.o. of my truck did the same with the radio, had a hole about half an inch too big on all sides cut into the dash.



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