project 'kick-start'

[454HO]

I have been stalled on the '77 Silverado rebuild that is cronicled in my signature for about 2 years now. Some time ago, I decided that a long bed was not what I really wanted. But when I bought the truck it was such a good deal plus it was an emmissions exempt factory big block. Then I got the cab striped down and saw just how much work it needed to make it into my dream truck. So the project has been 'simmering' on the back burner, getting very little attention. All the while the expensive parts I have bought are just sitting around the garage collecting dust.

So what to do????

Well, I decided to go out and buy a short bed truck in decent shape to swap my drivetrain and other parts into. This way I can at least start to get some fun out of all the money I've spent.

Then, I will part out all but the cab from the '77. The cab will get new floors, rockers, cab corners, some firewall massaging, etc. as I have time. And hopefully some day in the next couple years it will get swapped onto the new short bed truck. And will hopefully be registered as a '77 again. Sound like a plan??

Here is the truck I bought -





And this is the engine I have to go in it -





It will get the rebuilt TH400 tranny and the 12-bolt rear with 3.40 gears and Detroit Locker out of the '77 too.

And I also have a completely rebuilt front end I can swap over to it. New ball joints, control arm bushings, tie rod ends, Bell Tech 3" drop spindels, 1-1/4" rotors, big block springs, Monroe shocks, and a C20 1-1/4" sway bar.



My goal is to have all the part swaped over and the truck drivable by Labor Day. Wish me luck!!