'78 shop truck build

[65Robb]

Alright alright, got my first short bed truck is a 78 custom deluxe its as bare bones as it gets 250ci three on the tree manual brakes steering idiot lights even down to a factory radio delete pretty cool very excited for this build does need a floor repair on drivers side as its Flintstone powered, brought it home on a few borrowed wheels and tires so glad to have it sit on wheels and tires that all match lol ok build plan 4-6 drop blazer rear bumper give it a sleeker look 73-74 grille with chrome bumper 350 flat top pistons with vortec heads behind that will be a T5 lets see how it goes also wanting to swap 95-98 60/40 seats into it been debating on swaping over factory ac be a nice add in for the long parts haul lol

[65Robb]

ok after doing research got a factory tach cluster I repined the plug I do have two left over wires from the charge light brown and pink, idk if I used a engine harness for gauges if it would eliminate these wires completely so I don't have to add in a bulb or a resistor

[65Robb]

Alright alright update time well we are changing direction alittle bit as I have acquired a 90 gmc 350tbi/700r4 so the whole tbi auto swap is underway ill post pics as I can, I am keepin the tbi setup so requires 1987 fuel tank and pump the vss will not be needed as I am changing the lock out switch for a 4th gear lock out and I can swap it to mechanical speedo aswell. ill keep updates posted

[Shifty One]

In for updates!

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by Shifty One

In for updates!

I'm in too!

[65Robb]

Working on getting everything cleaned up waiting on timing set oil pump and gaskets then the engine can go back together still need to get the trans to my transmission guy for the vss delete and 4ty gear lock up

[65Robb]

finally I can upload pics!! ok got everything degreased and cleaned up time to freshen up this ole thing!!

[65Robb]

got the going to get the heads down tio the machine shop for valve seals and valve job getting the wiring sorted out aswell also scored a 60/40 split hoping it was tan when I got it but price was right so why not lol I cant wait to get this thing going!!

[Whamo]

Good stuff right here! I'll be a'followin...

I also did an early vortec swap...re-worked the heads for a more-than mild cam...very pleased...

nice score on the 60/40 split...

[65Robb]

Thanks the TBI will for for now in it pretty cheap the 60/40 is great just need to get it mounted I'll run this one til I find a decent tan one to match the interior better.

[65Robb]

finally got my 4/6 drop kit man sooo much better got the engine back from the machine shop just waiting on the 700r4 to get finished up also cleaned up the front part of the frame while it was apart an sprayed rustolem just to add a little protection and added a power steering box as well and used sos to help clean up the wheels

[wixthedog]

Looking good! Progress is a fantastic builder of inspiration.

[65Robb]

quick update I went harvesting out at my buddys house aka the squarebody farm haha got a bunch of goodies anything from full exhaust from another short box 4x4 to tilt column master cylinder/booster automatic brake pedal assembly to fan shroud power steering lines transmission lines ect.

[65Robb]

Ok now that I have these goodies lets get this thing cleaned up an painted I used rust-oleum on the frame I didn't want to just spray everything black so I took the time an too the evap line out while I did that I masked the other lines brake/fuel also painted the portioning valve cast color just to give the engine bay some contrast. don't mind the water spots had some weather roll in between the days I was working on the truck lol.

[65Robb]

Ok got the engine mounts bolted in same with power steering lines which I will need the cpp adapter for the pump as im running the older lines an box with a newer pump so the pump requires a oring where my lines are flares. ok so I accomplished taking the master cyl and brake pedal assembly out along with the column. now the column is a tilt automatic column im very surprised that this column doesn't have the lights an other stuff on it as it came out of a mid 80s truck looks like everything will plug in perfectly I got everything out an paitned waiting for re install, also the levers on this column where pretty rusty but its nothing a SOS pad couldn't take care of I went ahead and sprayed down the column with super purple and got it painted aswell. Thinking im going to clean up the engine harness aswell thinking of running it uonder the column along that pinch line then get wire hold downs that will bolt to the bellhousing once the engine an trans is in the truck.

[65Robb]

Engine update plans changed just a little bit I will be setting this truck up with carb for now I got the 355 built with flattop pistons tbi heads rv2 cam because I was going to run the tbi but to get it simplified and running im running it carb til I can save money and get the correct stuff I want for the efi swap. another issue I ran into is I had a pro comp air gap single plane intake that has the correct bolt pattern for the tbi heads but the top of the intake runners rest on the casting ledge, so I have a edelbrock performer eps that im probably going to drill out the center bolts to fit reason being is I have a 600 cfm edelbrock that im going to run an the eps is a square bore so no adaoter needed and with that I can run the factory tbi throttle/tv cable bracket so the tv cable geometry is correct less chances of burning it up the better.

[rodstored-72]

nice beginning... will follow along!

wondering if you would share how the OBS seats install/fit into the cab?

[65Robb]

That 60/40 was on a custom frame so essentially a bench it was just sitting there best video I found for these seats is on youtube channel gearhead4life he installs a 60/40 to where they are fully independent of each other.

[65Robb]

alright alright alright update time I got the master cyl/booster installed with automatic brake pedal assembly go the tilt column installed as well super grateful for my buddy hooking me up on the parts I needed. another thing I wanted to do was to check my electrical since the fuse block had some glass round fuses wrapped in foil. just wanted to make sure there wouldn't be an electrical fire while breaking in the cam on the 355

[65Robb]

Engine update I bought a edelbrock eps performer off market place for $50 not bad but it wouldn't fit the center bolt holes so instead of buying another intake an worrying about the tv cable for the 700r4 I decided to try my hand at elongating the center holes I think it turned out pretty dang good also had bought the 18* wedge adapters that make it fit snug and correctly and my throttle cable tv cable bracket bolt on like it should.

[65Robb]

last update for now I got the intake all cleaned up after my modifications an got the exhaust manifolds cleaned up an painted in duplicolor cast iron I think they turned out great.

[65Robb]

alright alright alright update time finally have a functioning truck 355/700r4 installed ad to order a G-force crossmember for the 700r4 had to wait for driveline to be cut down had some exhaust work to do since the system came out of a 4x4.

[65Robb]

so took me forever to get the tailpipes even. also went to the junkyard an found this huge 1.25 sway bar out of a c20 so I ordered some cpp sawybar mounts for lowered trucks made a huge difference, also had to roll my front fenders an took out my inner fenders for tire clearance now I need to order shocks an find tires that will clear with inner fenders.

[LT7A]

Wow, lots of progress! Pretty close to having it back on the road. What size are your tires that are rubbing?

[65Robb]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Wow, lots of progress! Pretty close to having it back on the road. What size are your tires that are rubbing?

235/75r15 I found some 215/70r15 for the front those shouldn't rub an I can install my inner fenders