1987 GMC V1500 Sierra Classic LS swap/build

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Flatpat

They are little pricey (worth it to me) but ARP should have the bolts you are looking for.

I think a little pricey may be an understatement lol!

[Jonboy]

How about OEM converter bolts?

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Jonboy

How about OEM converter bolts?

I guess I need to call GM and price some. Damn them using an Allen head though. Thought about using stock ones, not sure.

Though about just going to fastenal and getting some "grade 8" or whatever the metric equivalent is.

Good news is I got a really good trans guy building my trans using what I have and providing a torque converter, replacing all the plastic pistons and adding corvette servo with my shift kit. He's gonna build it real tough for $600 where all I have to do is pick up next sat and install. psyched about such a great price. I'm actually selling a spare built sbc and it's finding the rebuild and then some.

[NastyBuzzard]

Trans will be finished this saturday!! Dirty dingo mounts are on the way.

I also traded my spare intake and cable throttle body for a 04 intake and 04 manifolds. I wanted to delete egr and I think this is the easiest way to do it. Cleaning all that up soon.

As soon as I get all my parts home I will start taking the 87 apart!

Still trying to figure out how I am going to get the 01 sender onto the 87 pump assembly. Or if I can get the 01 pump assembly to go into the 87 tank... I think that is my last real big hurdle as far as what it will take to get her running!

Also plan to run out to the junkyard this weekend and pick up the diesel auxillary battery tray. If I didn't spend so much money last week installing a new drain field and then replacing top of my septic I would buy the 91 front end from the junkyard... I gotta see if I can spare the extra $300.

[Hankster]

Can't wait to see you get to work on it!

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Hankster

Can't wait to see you get to work on it!

You and me both! I feel bad I haven't been updating lately but hasn't been too much to show.

The time is coming though! I have just been reluctant to take apart my running driving truck b/c it is my only truck and I do use it quite a bit on the weekends. So the time its down is gonna kill me!

Been thinking about trading my 99 z28 6speed convertible for a 03+ chevy silverado...

[Hankster]

Nooooooo, Keep the z28 man, wait it out, The 87 will be everything you want in a truck.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Hankster

Nooooooo, Keep the z28 man, wait it out, The 87 will be everything you want in a truck.

I know it will, when its done!! But it will never be done! Plus b/c of my family now, it would be real nice to have a 4 door truck. Still scouting for a 85-91 crew cab to put on my leftover 2001 donors frame.

[Hankster]

That will be cool! I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that Z ... I love them cars!

[Hankster]

Have you looked into a 4l80 trans? They are a lot tougher.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Hankster

Have you looked into a 4l80 trans? They are a lot tougher.

Yeah most definitely. I couldn't locate one for cheap. Also I already had the 4L60E from the donor plus I already had a shift kit and rebuild kit for it. I mean trans drove fine and never slipped. Oh well I guess, too late now.

[NastyBuzzard]

New addition... Traded my 99 z28 6speed vert straight up for this.

How I got it:



How it is as of this week.





Saw someone on facebook do this:



Now I am wanting to give it a shot. Thoughts?



I am picking up trans tomorrow and I am starting to take the 87 apart!!

[JustN]

i think a 07+ bumper might look better means those truck lil more squared up like 80s

[NastyBuzzard]

Unfortunately I don't have a spare 07+ bumper laying around.

I did pick up trans today. He showed me the old parts and he wasn't kidding. They were screwed up... Cost $800 comes with 1 year warranty and built to withstand over 400 ft/lb. What he says anyways... To bad the little 4.8 will never see that much torque, however If I do ever get my hands on a spare 5.3, there is another story.

Started taking some parts off the truck.

Bed bolts are being a total pain in the rear.

[Hankster]

Keep wrenching, little bit at a time it'll get there!

[NastyBuzzard]

Started taking bed off:



Apparently long bed is a lot heavier than short bed. Us 2 guys couldn't get it all the way off. Had to enlist the cherry picker.



Then this happened.



Cherry picker dug into the dirt and it slipped off.... Totally sad now.







End result.







Also got exhaust out from under the 01 donor. True duals with walker 17604s??? Didn't have any H pipe or xpipe. Reuse some or no?





Motivation in the CRAPPER now b/c I am an idiot and hurt my bed that had 0 rust or bondo.

[old yelr]

Aw man, that sucks!!

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by old yelr

Aw man, that sucks!!

I know right !! So mad at myself. My bad luck keeps on showing up. Afraid to touch it.

[Hankster]

that sucks about the bed man! Just keep working at it, everything happens for a reason.

[C@rnut001]

Sorry to hear about your bed. You can purchase a new bed side though and put it back together, but I know how that feels. Keep at it, it will be worth it in the end when you get it all together.

[NastyBuzzard]

Yeah, fortunately the bed will be the very last thing I put back on. So I got a while to get it worked out...

Yeah maybe it happened for a reason.. Always thought about converting to a short bed or step side.. However it being a single cab long bed is what makes it what she was. I dont know, on the fence about the whole deal.

Next is to get rad core support off and all and start pulling out the TBI & 700R4, then time to pull wiring.

I really wanted to pick up a 91 style headlight front clip for $300 but that money may now need to go into the bed.

Still pumped for LS though!!

[NastyBuzzard]

Made a little progress this evening while wife and kid were asleep.

Got everything disconnected from rad core support (I think). All that is left is to drain rad/fluids. I am holding out on doing that for a bit so I can move truck around to wash off rear frame and what not.



Electric fans out:



Rad core support bolts need to be replaced.. Maybe all new body bushings all around:



Beginning to take some of the wiring off:



Thats it for this update!! Hopefully more to come soon.

[Flatpat]

Dang, sorry to see that about your bed. I just had a tree fall on my '90 454 SS while I was doing a cam swap so I feel you pain. Keep at it, it'll be that much more sweet when you're done.

[NastyBuzzard]

Originally Posted by Flatpat

Dang, sorry to see that about your bed. I just had a tree fall on my '90 454 SS while I was doing a cam swap so I feel you pain. Keep at it, it'll be that much more sweet when you're done.

Ouch!! That sucks!! I love those trucks man. How bad did it hurt it?

[y5mgisi]

Sucks about the bed! Nothing that cant be fixed tho.