New Guy Here

[85Bowtie]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and a '73-'87 Chevy truck enthusiast as well as a hardcore Mopar guy.

My truck is an '85 short bed, 2wd, 305/350TH C-10 Metallic brown with tan interior with the Silverado Package.

This is my very first vehicle and I'll never get rid of it, EVER. I got it when I turned 16 in '98 and have driven it everyday until August of 2006 when I started a career and needed a more economical car for my daily commute. It's sat ever since.

However, I do have plans this summer to build a 400 SB I have laying around, rebuild the tranny with a shift kit, ditch the 2.73's for a 3.08 w/posi and rebuild the suspension. Other than that, I want to leave it stock looking but maybe add a dual snorkel air cleaner with functional ductwork.

It is a VERY solid truck, no rust, original paint still looks really good. Has about 200K on it now, 90K original miles when I first got it. Up to the point I quit driving it, everything happened at once. The windshield got cracked where I hit a rock kicked up from a truck, the speedo stopped working, the tranny's about dead, and the 305 went from running good to terrible.

So I think I can give it the makeover it deserves and cruise it around some this summer, the only thing in my way is a Dodge Police Car I need to finish up and trying to find the suspension peices for my rebuild.

Any of you guys know where to get a complete suspension rebuild? Tried summit, can't find anything really. I'd like it to handle a little better, but still remain stock appearing, no body drops or anything.

Thanks,

[1984 swb chevy]

Welcome from New Jersey. You should be able to get all the stock parts at your local auto parts store. You should post some pictures of your truck so everyone can see it.

[85Bowtie]

Oh, sorry, I have a few but it's pretty dirty in the pics. I just uncovered it.

I was looking to get an Energy Suspension kit with new MOOG parts.

I saw in a magazine a few years back a company called PST or something similar that made a great handling upgrade for these trucks but can't find it.

[old Rusty C10]

welcome to the board! nice truck!

[SBTork]

Welcome to the board. Yes PST does make a good front end kit for these trucks. And as said above, your local parts store should have everything in stock, ie tie rod ends, ball joints, sway bar bushings, control arm bushings, idler arm, pitman arm, etc. Good luck and get it back on the road

[sswitzke]

Welcome to the board from southwest Mo. Nice looking truck.

[flamingbig10]

welcome to board from Texas, your local part's store should have every thing for the steering

[fast75]

welcome from east texas. sweet truck too. this place is a goldmine of information, alot of VERY knowledgeable folks here.

[85Bowtie]

Thanks for the comments. I'll be sure to show the progress as I begin working on it, probably sooner than I thought

I'll also be sure to check out the parts stores for my suspension upgrades, I definitely want the Energy Suspension bushings since they've always worked great for me.

Alot of the parts on it I can bring to work and put in this blasting machine to clean up.

I'll be sure to keep it posted.

Thanks

[jchav62]

Cool truck! Welcome from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

[JohnC]

Welcome from Oklahoma. That's a nice looking truck.

[AceX]

'85... A great year, but I'm biased...

Solid truck. Good to see it will get the attention it deserves. A good 5/7 drop, trac bars, bushing, and sway bars will do wonders for that truck...

[78 Big10 454]

Greetings from sunny Southern California. You've got a fine lookin' ride.

[silvereagle07]

Welcome from North Carolina! The PST kit in nice and it doesn't squeak like engergy suspension kit. My dad installed the PST on his daily driver and I haven't heard any complaints from him. Here's a link. Good luck!

http://www.p-s-t.com/pc-1732-220-che...d-1973-99.aspx

[85Bowtie]

Thanks again,

Hey thanks for that link too. I've had a hard time finding info online for this truck as far as suspension upgrades go, or at least anything I could trust.

[Driveway Dreams]

Welcome aboard, great looking truck you got there. Now, make it look like a 2wd. Like has been said...a nice drop to fit your taste and plans with the truck, sway bar set up, & some tires will make it a great handling truck as well as good looking. You have a nice start to it.

[73chevyman]

heres some more if ya need it

http://www.73-87.com/links/trklinks.htm

[jared78]

welcome from washington. I don't know, metallic brown? tan interior? you know, lower that thing, upgrade the handling and throw some big billet at it and you might be on to something. lol I'm kinda partial to that whole brown on tan thing.