Pearl, the inexpensive squarebody truck swap
10-31-2018, 09:01 PM
#1
Pearl, the inexpensive squarebody truck swap what's up guys, long time no-see 
I'm back with another swap of my own. Another squarebody!
Why a square? They're everywhere, they're inexpensive to swap and they're my second favorite GM truck bodystyle
This one is of 1979 vintage, a Chevy Cheyenne Short Wheel Base Fleetside
But first, no swap thread is official without the "dragging it home" pic
Yes that a ford dragging my new nugget home, but to be fair it has a 4.8/6l80e swap in it ...built ford tough with chevy stuff!
Once we got it on the slab, we needed to diagnose the cause of death.
Well it looks like some strippers spent the night inside the motor judging by all the glitter.
We'd better investigate further. YOINK.
Ah-Ha looks like Uncle Rodney cam a knockin
Off to my dad's house to be parts for something he's got going Shame. It just had new delco alternator, starter, and a JET performance q-jet
Onto the details. It was a fairly well optioned rig from the Fremont CA plant. 350/350 A/C, Tilt Column HD leafs in back and tinted windows. sadly the factory rallys are gone. Appearsto have had some dealer added stuff not listed on the rpo sticker, a warner trailer brake system, cruise control and hi-jacker springs.
I am very sad to not see a G80 code for a posi
But here's it after a thorough cleansing and power washing the gunk from the engine compartment.
Paint and body is a 6/10. No rust on the body panels (the battery tray has been vaporized however)
Couple shallow dents I might be able to PDR out. Very shitty Earl Scheib respray just falling off like dandruff
Interior is in pretty decent shape. Typical late 70's GM dash that has cracked into a billion pieces.
I have no idea what under the seat cover. Probably a quarter million old-man farts have turned the velour into dust.
But everything works, which is new to me.
So here's the plan this far. Keep it cheap. Add a 5.3 with flat top pistons, big valves and a hotcam
this rebuilt but very greasy th350 is getting a fairbanks 31006 shift kit and a mystery origin 2600 rpm stall converter
of course we can't start wrenching until we got the tree on the mirror
The plan is to make a simple, reliable truck for under 5k and then sell it so I can spend the profit on a bigger turbo for my blue square
I'm back with another swap of my own. Another squarebody!
Why a square? They're everywhere, they're inexpensive to swap and they're my second favorite GM truck bodystyle
This one is of 1979 vintage, a Chevy Cheyenne Short Wheel Base Fleetside
But first, no swap thread is official without the "dragging it home" pic
Yes that a ford dragging my new nugget home, but to be fair it has a 4.8/6l80e swap in it ...built ford tough with chevy stuff!
Once we got it on the slab, we needed to diagnose the cause of death.
Well it looks like some strippers spent the night inside the motor judging by all the glitter.
We'd better investigate further. YOINK.
Ah-Ha looks like Uncle Rodney cam a knockin
Off to my dad's house to be parts for something he's got going Shame. It just had new delco alternator, starter, and a JET performance q-jet
Onto the details. It was a fairly well optioned rig from the Fremont CA plant. 350/350 A/C, Tilt Column HD leafs in back and tinted windows. sadly the factory rallys are gone. Appearsto have had some dealer added stuff not listed on the rpo sticker, a warner trailer brake system, cruise control and hi-jacker springs.
I am very sad to not see a G80 code for a posi
But here's it after a thorough cleansing and power washing the gunk from the engine compartment.
Paint and body is a 6/10. No rust on the body panels (the battery tray has been vaporized however)
Couple shallow dents I might be able to PDR out. Very shitty Earl Scheib respray just falling off like dandruff
Interior is in pretty decent shape. Typical late 70's GM dash that has cracked into a billion pieces.
I have no idea what under the seat cover. Probably a quarter million old-man farts have turned the velour into dust.
But everything works, which is new to me.
So here's the plan this far. Keep it cheap. Add a 5.3 with flat top pistons, big valves and a hotcam
this rebuilt but very greasy th350 is getting a fairbanks 31006 shift kit and a mystery origin 2600 rpm stall converter
of course we can't start wrenching until we got the tree on the mirror
The plan is to make a simple, reliable truck for under 5k and then sell it so I can spend the profit on a bigger turbo for my blue square
Last edited by truckdoug; 10-31-2018 at 09:07 PM.
10-31-2018, 10:28 PM
#7
we'll see. I have a nice tubing bender now so I can cage it if I still have it in the spring.
I actually haven't had much interest in it. Couple nibbles here n there. Would like to sell it and build a really nice 60-66 era truck.
I actually haven't had much interest in it. Couple nibbles here n there. Would like to sell it and build a really nice 60-66 era truck.
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11-01-2018, 08:55 PM
#9
I should tell the wife what you said, maybe I can convince her she doesn't need an old truck. On second thought that would be talking myself out of another excuse to build a cool project and do an engine swap at the same time and I can't do that. Hahaha!
11-02-2018, 11:07 AM
#11
Launching!
Dang I wanna see it! For some reason, the pictures are not showing up for me. I would love to have a 70s squarebody, but I think I would keep it basic with a carb'd 350. I actually miss tinkering with carbs for some reason.
My best bud from highschool has a 1966 Chevy shortbed stepside. The thing was beautiful in highschool. I think I loved cruising in that thing more than I liked cruising in my Chevelle at the time. Anyway he had one of those plastic fuel filters that melted and the 66 went up in flames. The engine was done and the hood was burned up but the truck was saved, well it could have been saved... This incident happened in 2005 and its been sitting in his backyard since then and is now sinking into the sand. It breaks my heart every time I see it. I tell him if I ever strike it rich im going to pull the truck out of the sand and restore it for him.
My best bud from highschool has a 1966 Chevy shortbed stepside. The thing was beautiful in highschool. I think I loved cruising in that thing more than I liked cruising in my Chevelle at the time. Anyway he had one of those plastic fuel filters that melted and the 66 went up in flames. The engine was done and the hood was burned up but the truck was saved, well it could have been saved... This incident happened in 2005 and its been sitting in his backyard since then and is now sinking into the sand. It breaks my heart every time I see it. I tell him if I ever strike it rich im going to pull the truck out of the sand and restore it for him.
11-02-2018, 03:04 PM
#12
TECH Senior Member
You love tinkering with carbs because when you are done, it runs better AGAIN. With injection, it runs better ALL THE TIME. lol
11-02-2018, 04:13 PM
#13
for all the time I spent perfecting my q-jet tuning skills, i don't miss it at all. no temperature or elevation comps. cant switch to corn on the fly.
I also have a '66, but it's a LWB. I've been thinking of cutting it down since it's actually my favorite bodystyle....and now I have a pretty straight short step bed for it.
I also have a '66, but it's a LWB. I've been thinking of cutting it down since it's actually my favorite bodystyle....and now I have a pretty straight short step bed for it.
11-02-2018, 06:05 PM
#14
Launching!
for all the time I spent perfecting my q-jet tuning skills, i don't miss it at all. no temperature or elevation comps. cant switch to corn on the fly.
I also have a '66, but it's a LWB. I've been thinking of cutting it down since it's actually my favorite bodystyle....and now I have a pretty straight short step bed for it.
I also have a '66, but it's a LWB. I've been thinking of cutting it down since it's actually my favorite bodystyle....and now I have a pretty straight short step bed for it.
I would cut it down. The guys on Hot Rod Garage cut down their 67 long bed with success.
I have a weird itch to cut up a 2007-13 short bed silverado and make it into a new style Blazer with inspiration from the 70s squarebody blazers.
11-02-2018, 08:08 PM
#16
Smitty454 that would be an interesting project. I agree on the paint but it would be even better if you could custom make some aluminum trim for it.
I've been away from carbs so long I can't even spell the word anymore! They always run... like crap, but they always run. Hahaha!
So Doug, you get this thing running yet? I mean it's been a whole three days.
I've been away from carbs so long I can't even spell the word anymore! They always run... like crap, but they always run. Hahaha!
So Doug, you get this thing running yet? I mean it's been a whole three days.
11-03-2018, 08:43 PM
#18
Money? You need to make money? What are you trying to do, eat or something?
You and I need better sponsors. On TV I thought the high dollar sponsor stuff was supposed to be delivered gratis right after the project car was revealed. Those slackers never seem to get that bit right. Hahaha!
You and I need better sponsors. On TV I thought the high dollar sponsor stuff was supposed to be delivered gratis right after the project car was revealed. Those slackers never seem to get that bit right. Hahaha!
11-04-2018, 12:53 PM
#20
Funny you mention Amsoil, the wife and I were just talking about them before I saw this post. Haha
That would be hilarious. I only use a few things from horrer freight, If I had more room I would grab one of their English Wheels to go with my sheet metal brake, tubing notcher, hydraulic press and bead roller. Those are all a fantastic buys for a budget home fabrication guy with a few simple modifications.
That would be hilarious. I only use a few things from horrer freight, If I had more room I would grab one of their English Wheels to go with my sheet metal brake, tubing notcher, hydraulic press and bead roller. Those are all a fantastic buys for a budget home fabrication guy with a few simple modifications.
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