MMMDROP, the great white BuffaLOW

[slammed427]

I picked up my 84 dually last year for $1300. It supposedly had 10k on a rebuilt 454, 8k on a rebuilt th400. It was a concrete truck before the owner retired. The truck sat for a few years when his grandson talked him into selling it. I didn't even haggle, it was a running, driving crew cab dually. A truck I've wanted since my 92 extended cab dually got stolen back in 07. I did nothing to it for the first few months except put gas in it and drive it. Then it got a bunch of work.

The fuel feed hose split leaving work one night. I originally thought the pump gave up. Had the truck towed home. I replumbed the fuel system from the tank to the carb, did plugs, wires, cap and rotor. Then the ignition rack in the column broke. I changed the column and got it running again. The drivers fender and hood got swapped out with some parts i found on craigslist. I put a new windshield in it, and six new tires, after the best tire on the truck threw the tread and wiped out the passenger side dually fender. I swapped out the stock steering wheel for a 4 spoke out of an 88. I had a Chevrolet horn button, that worked until I found a gmc button on ebay.

I swapped in a set of bucket seats from a 96 regal after the bench seat mount broke in June. They are power adjustable and super comfy.

I picked up a 5/7 drop from Switch Suspension in June. I was going to wait until the AZ summer had passed until I did the drop, but true to my madness, I started the drop in July. Now it's late October and the truck is back on the road. A bunch of issues came up while dropping the truck, most of which have been sorted out. I still need to trim the fenders, and get some shock extenders for the rear. The total drop came out to be 6/8.

I'm crunching a bit to try and have it ready for Dino's Git down next month. I need to get the front swapped out for a 90 Burb front, get the shark bit passenger dually fender painted and put on, get a stereo in it, and wire up the seats. The truck will be there, but I will not. I promised my old lady a trip up north that weekend

Now for the pics.

[slammed427]

Here's the Burb front and I just picked up the dually fender from the fiberglass shop yesterday.

[DblTrbl]

Sweet! Another white C30. Nice altitude adjustment. Did you slap a notch in there and cut the floor or knocking axle to frame?

[slammed427]

It's notched. There is a hole in the floor from a gooseneck reciever that I took out. I'm going back and forth about bringing it up an inch all the way around. It's almost too low to not be Bagged.

[DblTrbl]

Originally Posted by slammed427

I'm going back and forth about bringing it up an inch all the way around. It's almost too low to not be Bagged.

I ran that same drop with 215/60's up front and 235/85's out back...plus I cut a wrap and a half. The only thing I dragged occasionally was my headers since they hung below the frame. I had to run the little tires up front because I was hitting the fenders not the ground. I did have a fight with some railroad tracks once and my blower motor suffered...

[slammed427]

I've got 235/70. I'm going to figure out a way to make them work. I'm rubbing fender when I have a passenger. Time to get the cutting wheels out

[DblTrbl]

Originally Posted by slammed427

I've got 235/70. I'm going to figure out a way to make them work. I'm rubbing fender when I have a passenger. Time to get the cutting wheels out

That's the big block. If you're rubbing fender, you're only a hard bump away from taking out the blower motor. Be careful, or consider smaller tires.

[slammed427]

Originally Posted by DblTrbl

That's the big block. If you're rubbing fender, you're only a hard bump away from taking out the blower motor. Be careful, or consider smaller tires.

I think in my case, it could be the front spring, not doing enough. I'm planning to swap out the ones I've got in with my cut stocks, hopefully this weekend.

[slammed427]

Originally Posted by DblTrbl

That's the big block. If you're rubbing fender, you're only a hard bump away from taking out the blower motor. Be careful, or consider smaller tires.

I'm surethe bigblock has a lot to do with it, plus I think in my case, it could be the front spring, not doing enough. I'm planning to swap out the ones I've got in with my cut stocks, hopefully this weekend. Hopefully I don't have to change tires, I like they all 6 of my tires are the same.

[slammed427]

I've decided on a Colorado A/C swap for this truck. After looking at the firewall with the wheels turned to lock, that blower isn't going to survive long. I've heard about the swap, but never found a write up on it. Is there anyone that can point me in the direction of one? I'd love to go vintage air, but I don't have $800 plus to spend on it.

[DblTrbl]

I know there's a handful of shops down there that used to install aftermarket ac systems. My dad had one put in his 78 Chevy back in the early 80's. I'll have to ask him where he had it done. (Who knows if they're still around) It's a small unit that doesn't impede on the wheel well area. I grew up in Mesa. Went to Roosevelt Elementary School and moved away in '87. I've thought about going back several times. I HATE winter...a lot.

Just noticed that you have the wrong bumper on the front. That's from an older truck. Did you get a new one with the suburban grille?

[slammed427]

They're bothe wrong, lol. The bumper was on it when I got the truck, it hasn't made its way up the list to replace yet. The grille is from an 81 that I got my drivers fender and hood from. I have an 90 Suburban front end to throw in. I'll be doing that in the next couple weeks.

I ordered a Colorado A/C box yesterday, it's complete, minus the blower motor. Hopefully I'll have it soon. I'm going to use my Porterbuilt A/C delete panel from my 74 in this truck. Hopefully this project goes fairly easy. If it does, I'm planning on this swap for my 74 as well.

[Hankster]

Looks nice, I have always wanted a square dually.

[travlinman]

What and where can i find info/parts for this a/c swap?

[slammed427]

Originally Posted by travlinman

What and where can i find info/parts for this a/c swap?

So far, I have found exactly no info online for the swap.

What I do know, is that the first Gen Colorado's evaporator system is totally under dash, and its controls are cable operated, like our trucks. It is going to require custom a/c hoses, and a fair amount of figuring out. Hopefully I'll be able to make it work. I'll be doing a write up when I get into it. I still need to figure out if I'm going with a Sanden style compressor, or a stock style. My dually isn't a show truck, so I don't need to be too fancy. I got the A/C delete panel from Porterbuilt.

As far as where to find parts, I called around to a few late model dismantlers before I found mine. For hoses, I'll get a hot rod kit from speedway motors and have them crimped locally. I don't have my box yet, so I'm not sure about how to run the ducting.

[slammed427]

Originally Posted by Hankster

Looks nice, I have always wanted a square dually.

Thanks man! It's getting there. I'm hoping to be mostly done with it in 2016

[slammed427]

Due to a rather hectic work and life schedule, I haven't done anything to the truck except drive it and break stuff. Starting with the blower motor while pulling into QT last week. Then the steering box decided it was done, it blew the seal on the top, puking fluid when I turn left. I ordered a AC Delco steering box and pitman arm from rock auto, they should be here tomorrow morning. I also scored a set of moog springs from Summitt racing before they realized they were selling them for $8.97 instead of $88.97. Those will be losing a coil and be going in this weekend as well. If I can track down some sway bar bushings, I might throw my front bar back in as well. If I can't get the sway bar bushings, I'll do some work on the rear springs. The upper overloads will more than likely need to come out after the front spring change to level it back out. That will have the added benefit of giving me some rear suspension.

[DblTrbl]

Originally Posted by slammed427

Due to a rather hectic work and life schedule, I haven't done anything to the truck except drive it and break stuff. Starting with the blower motor while pulling into QT last week.

I hate to be that guy, but....I told ya so!!!

If you still have the pieces and the blower motor, you can pretty easily glass it back together with a little mat and some resin. Btw - what is QT?

[flashed]

QuickTrip ?

[ruffrida2005]

QT is a gas station! We have them in Texas.

[slammed427]

Originally Posted by DblTrbl

I hate to be that guy, but....I told ya so!!!

If you still have the pieces and the blower motor, you can pretty easily glass it back together with a little mat and some resin. Btw - what is QT?

Lol! You did indeed tell me so. If I could've made the time to swap the springs I might have saved it. I do have the pieces, and I'm going to try and glass it back together. I don't have a anything else to drive right now, so cutting apart the dash on this truck to do the Colorado box isn't an option.

That will get done on my 74 though.

I'm hoping my parts come in today, I'd like to get the steering box done. And get back in it. I borrowed my buddies truck to get to work today.

[slammed427]

Since December, I did the steering box and pitman arm until last Monday. I finally got motivated to work on it. The Moog springs finally got cut and installed, then I thinned the leaf packs and broke a brake line. Fixed the brake line, ordered and received shock extenders. Discovered I need to trim the extenders to make them work, or even better, drill new holes in them to make them longer. I think I'll do that before I trim. I had to trim my ubolts, since I thinned the packs, there is a lot more sticking out, and I couldn't get a deep well socket on the nuts to torque them. Somewhere along the way my gas gauge gave out, it was unreliable at best before. I'm trying to wrap it up in the next couple weeks ago I can start on my 74 again.

[LT7A]

s427, I like the rig. The total restos and customs on here are cool but my favorites are the fix-it-as-it-breaks, and upgrade-when-you-can threads. Nice work.

MMMDROP.... a Beastie Boys reference?

[tinydb84]

Nice and low. Looks good!

[daddyjeep]

[QUOTE=

MMMDROP.... a Beastie Boys reference?[/QUOTE]

I didn't catch that before, kinda like the Ted Nugent reference in the title of the thread too.