Project Snowball- Slow build

[Claytona08]

Originally Posted by rs74

I sure hope so. I think I have to give up one of my K30's to start up.

It would suck selling it but it probably would pay off in the long run!

[rs74]

Well it's only been a year and about three months since I have posted anything. The short bed is still setting in the exact same place it was then. Lol. I am however talking to a board member about a truck he has that has a 5.3l in it. It is just a LM7 2000 model but that is the direction I was wanting to take it anyway. Not exactly the engine I wanted but I can do a few things to it to wake it up. It will work for now if I can finalize the deal. If so then maybe that will kick start this in gear again.

My new business is starting to do pretty decent to hoping to get back on the truck. The drivetrain was the next phase in the build. I didn't want to put the front end on until I had an engine setting in it and ready to go. I need to see how this deal goes and then maybe I can start ordering some fatmat for the cab and start putting the wiring and duct work etc. back in it and then paint. After that I can put glass in and work on interior. If I can keep all of these little gremlins out of my head thinking that I need three other projects to do I should be okay.

[rs74]

I made the trip and but a 2000 Chevy parts truck yesterday from a board member. The truck is partially parted out already. I need to find a way to get it up and running before I start pulling it apart. They had sold the fuel pump and sending unit out of it and cut the fuel lines at the sending unit. I am going to see what I can do to make it run again just to see where I am at before tearing it down. So I think I am back onto getting this ol girl back up and on the road again. Hopefully the engine is good. I did get it to fire on a couple of shots of starting fluid which I don't like to do but at least I heard it fire up.

[rs74]

I have good news and some bad news. Good news is I bought a $60 fuel sending unit with pump from RockAuto and got the parts truck running. The 5.3 donor seems to run pretty good. I let it run for about an hour or so. So hopefully before long I can get it pulled into the garage and start pulling it. I have decided to go ahead and put in a new cam and possibly new valve springs while I am in there.

The bad news is the trans needs rebuilt I was debating having it redone anyway. The whole purpose of the fuel pump was to see what the donor drivetrain needed before pulling so that is all okay. It served its purpose. I wanted to get it running before I pulled it so I didn't have any surprises after it was installed in the short bed.

I am going to start buying parts here and there soon. A cam and springs, Hooker manifolds and it looks like a rebuilt trans and stall converter. I am going to pick up a 2010 Camaro water pump and a few other odds and ends. Once I can get the engine and trans done and set in the truck then I can focus on getting the under dash wiring and duct work put in and then finish body work then paint. Quite the process. Lol

[rs74]

Nothing to really to post about. I did move the short bed out of the shop and over into the other side of the shed so I can bring in the 00 donor truck and start pulling the drivetrain. First time in about two years since it has seen the outside. The bed is loaded with parts for interior and body. I just threw the toolbox on the front to get it out of the way. Lol.

[rs74]

One pic at a time. Ughh.

[rs74]

two

[rs74]

three

[rs74]

four

[rs74]

five

[rs74]

Just thought I would take some pics while I had it out. It needs a good washing down. It is full of dust.

[rs74]

WOW! I started this back in 2013. Can't believe it has been that long. To be honest I lost interest in this after the body shop took so long to get it to this point. I brought it home and put it back in the storage side of my shed. I have since bought a few other squares and other trucks as well. I have sold them but kept the short bed. I have for the last few years been into the gbodys which I still have two of them.

Recently I put my gbodys in the storage side of the shed and pulled the short bed back out. I gave it a quick bath and shoved it in the garage. I have been wanting a 64-72 short bed but I need to get back on this one and get it finished. It will probably take a while to get it back together but I guess you have to start somewhere. I plan on start with putting the wiring harness back in , FatMat the interior, and start working on putting the power window regulators/motors back in. If I can get all the wiring and duct work in, power door hardware in then I might concentrate on getting and engine stabbed back in between the frame rails. That way maybe I can at least start it and move it in and out of the garage as needed since I still need to do routine maintenance on my primary vehicles.

So here are a few pics. Nothing has changed from the pics before but it is somewhat clean again.

[rs74]

a couple more

[SCOTI]

G-body guy huh? What's your flavor? I'm a 'Bu/Camino guy.

[rs74]

For the time being. Thinking about selling both of them and looking for either a 70 Cutlass, 66-67 Chevy II or a 69 Camaro. My first car was a 70 Cutlass and then I had several 78-79 Cutlass's. Currently I have this 79 T-top Cutlass and the 88 T-top SS.

[rs74]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

G-body guy huh? What's your flavor? I'm a 'Bu/Camino guy.

I do love a nice Malibu though. That would be my next one if I got another. Love the looks of them.

[SCOTI]

I would love a nice, clean, earlier GM muscle car. Any of those you listed would be nice. I really like the 70 Chevelle, 1st GEN Camaro's, the early Chevy II's, or one of my all time favorites.... the 64 GTO. But, just the price of entry is 3-4x as much as a similar condition g-body. I eye-balled a clean, low mileage plain-Jane 70 Malibu & it was listed for >25k. Since I would be modifying one, that only adds to the cost. G-body's it is.

Current one I've been working on:

[rs74]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I would love a nice, clean, earlier GM muscle car. Any of those you listed would be nice. I really like the 70 Chevelle, 1st GEN Camaro's, the early Chevy II's, or one of my all time favorites.... the 64 GTO. But, just the price of entry is 3-4x as much as a similar condition g-body. I eye-balled a clean, low mileage plain-Jane 70 Malibu & it was listed for >25k. Since I would be modifying one, that only adds to the cost. G-body's it is.

Current one I've been working on:

Nice! I am just thinking that maybe I can get enough out of the two of them to buy a fairly nice muscle car. I may be dreaming but I might put this thought to the test.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by rs74

Nice! I am just thinking that maybe I can get enough out of the two of them to buy a fairly nice muscle car. I may be dreaming but I might put this thought to the test.

Good luck if that's what you choose. Keep after the truck as well!

[rs74]

I got the old cab drug up by the shed so I can start taking the wiring harness, duct work and heater box out and transfer to the new cab. Then I will have to tackle the window regulator hardware. Not really looking forward to that part.

[Chris74]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I would love a nice, clean, earlier GM muscle car. Any of those you listed would be nice. I really like the 70 Chevelle, 1st GEN Camaro's, the early Chevy II's, or one of my all time favorites.... the 64 GTO. But, just the price of entry is 3-4x as much as a similar condition g-body. I eye-balled a clean, low mileage plain-Jane 70 Malibu & it was listed for >25k. Since I would be modifying one, that only adds to the cost. G-body's it is.

Current one I've been working on:

What is the wheel and tire combo on the Malibu

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Chris74

What is the wheel and tire combo on the Malibu

15x6 w/3.75BS F; 195/65-15 (25" tall).
15x8 w/4.25BS R; 255/60-15 (27" tall).
Cooper pass car radials up front & Radial GT's out back. Wheel Vintiques 62 series wheels.
Spindle/spring 3" front drop. ~4" spring rear drop.

Not my first choice size wise but I had to work within the budget presented to me. They work for a stock 305/th350 driver just fine though. The fronts buzz on moderate dips/blips in the tarmac w/the drop. I'll be working on some new front inner wells to remedy that if it sticks around long enough.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by rs74

I got the old cab drug up by the shed so I can start taking the wiring harness, duct work and heater box out and transfer to the new cab. Then I will have to tackle the window regulator hardware. Not really looking forward to that part.

That unbolting parts from one & moving them immediately over for installation to another sure makes that process easier vs. pulling it all off, putting it in boxes/on a shelf for Xqty years & then trying to figure out what goes where and/or how the heck it was installed

[Chris74]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

15x6 w/3.75BS F; 195/65-15 (25" tall).
15x8 w/4.25BS R; 255/60-15 (27" tall).
Cooper pass car radials up front & Radial GT's out back. Wheel Vintiques 62 series wheels.
Spindle/spring 3" front drop. ~4" spring rear drop.

Not my first choice size wise but I had to work within the budget presented to me. They work for a stock 305/th350 driver just fine though. The fronts buzz on moderate dips/blips in the tarmac w/the drop. I'll be working on some new front inner wells to remedy that if it sticks around long enough.

Thanks that's the look I am going for on my el camino

[LT7A]

I got intrigued on this side discussion. My first car was in 71 Cutlass S and I've kept it. I also think it would be fun to build an 80s G-Body at some point. SCOTI, I like how your Malibu sits and rs74 both the Monte and the white Cutlass with the red interior and T-tops look really cool. Got to say, I am glad to see you're back on the truck though.