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Decided to sell my nova, been wanting to build a nice driver, esp. a short bed, so I guess its time.
At 72, kind of leaning toward comfort vs speed, pretty much realize hitting the track just isn't going to
happen. Although Drag Week 2019 is on the radar, esp being in my backyard next year, lol.
Anyway, starting with an 86 short bed, from Georgia, dam near rust free, needs one cab corner, under
carriage is perfect. Couple dents in the doors, so paint, body work, stripping off ugly paint.
It will be a semi budget deal (remember that one, lol). I have a gen 3 6.0, used 4.005 forged pistons,
Scat rods discounted off Ebay. Scored new LS3 take off heads, intake. Looking at the Summit stage one
turbo cam, KB Racing log manifold, VS billet 78/75. Already have the engine back from the machine shop,
just have to put it together. Prob use another Holley HP, sep. controller for the 80E trans. Truck will be
lowered, but not laying on the ground, lol. I know what I want in the basic build, but will be kind of
fluid based on what deals I get-nice to have friends in high places, lol.
nice it looks pretty unmolested. full options, power windows and such.
you gonna keep a/c? even up here in the great white north I wish I had it.
things I would have done different is leaving the leafs in it and just adding cal tracs. instead of slamming i'd do a nice 3/5 drop and some rallys or turbines.
cool trucks. i'm a child of the 80's so all my memories of road trips are from sitting on a cassette storage case in between my folks
I plan on keeping the AC, leafs, prob like ya say, 3/5 drop-not sure on dropped spindles or just springs.
I know Tejays has mounts that keep the truck comp. for the AC-be nice to rem. the AC box on the firewall
and go with an aftermarket, but i'll see where the money goes, lol. It came with a 305, 350 trans, open 273
rear, but has an unknown SB, 400 trans, and 3.42 posi rear. But they kept all the AC stuff hooked up, pressure
still on the comp. Always good to hear from sim. builds, past mistakes, I know I have had my share, lol.
Loved my '87 Silverado! Great trucks! I'd keep the LS a/c compressor set-up and notch the frame if necessary. Have hoses made locally and rock on. Looking forward to another one of your builds!
Getting started on the build, pulled the bed, power washed the frame. Got my 6.0 block
back from the machine shop, bored to 4.005, rods/pistons pin fitted, new cam bearings.
I got some LS3 (crate motor) take off stuff, heads, intake, VC's, etc. Sending the heads out
to have checked and springs installed. Got dropped spindles for the front, 4" drop kit for the
rear, new cab corners. Have Tejays engine and trans mounts coming, thinking of switching
to Vintage air If there's money left, lol.
Making some good progress, some reason pictures may or may not post, not sure why, but engine is together,
1987 twin tanks with the baffle for FI, I used the 87 sending units and added Walbro 450 pumps. I have a brass
marine valve I will run the tanks to, I can switch tanks, or run both if needed. Using the stock switcher for the sending
units. Got the 4" wider tubs for the bed, look pretty easy to install (not as easy as the 67-72's though, lol). Main thing
I am working on now is stripping the paint off the body, terrible job, lol, but needs to be done.
Progress kind of got slowed up, fell off the garage roof and got a little dinged up, but back at it.
Had a buddy come over and work on the doors, couple broken ribs wouldn't let me do the work, lol.
Finished up the fenders, painted the interior, now its time to epoxy, prime, block, paint. Just getting
paint on the cab will be huge, then I can move the truck out, switch places with the bed, and really roll
fitting the engine, trans, putting windows in, etc. i'll have to trial fit the engine to get a location for the
turbo drain, using the truck pan-kind of a pita step, lol, but need to test fit the mounts anyway.
On the engine the linkage on the 90 mm TB hits the WP, the LS3 intake kind of tilts upward so
the hit isn't as bad, I think I can clearance the pump enough. If not i'll have a buddy make a thin spacer
for it-down side to cl. the pump is if I have to replace it, have to rem
. that, lol.
Finally got the truck primed (epoxy, then primer), shot the inside of the fenders, and the firewall,
now I have to block it out, hopefully paint the cab and fenders next week-Getting the cab painted will
will be huge, then I can swap places with the bed, work on painting the bed while putting the cab together,
trial fitting the engine, turbo, etc. Cured my problem with the water pump and linkage, used a 1/2"
spacer.
Its called Cranberry, one of Eastwoods intermix paints. Its a gold met, and a red pearl,
you mix them 1 to 1. Covers good, its a single stage, but I will clear coat the exter.
You get like the 2 gallons, 2 qts. of hardener, bunch of buckets, etc. Its dries quick, so best
used with a slow reducer. It almost looks like a 3 stage paint, rich mets.
Lays out pretty good, but I hear ya on mets-silver is prob the worst for me, but the darker
colors are a little better. With the 2 stage, prob easier to fog the last coat, but if you keep
the single stage wet you can fog them if needed. I shot my Buick with the Eastwood Molton
Red met, 2 stage, came out nice (well, for my abilities anyway, lol.) The clear tries quick though.
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Winter build, 86 c10 short bed 
