Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Lots been happening the last few weeks and time has been tight...so I've been doing things instead of updating this build thread.

First is I got my frame back from the sandblaster.

I think it looks pretty good. I still need to pull apart the front axle and get some of the pieces touched up before I prime and paint it....

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Oh, I forgot to mention....my motor and tranny showed up the other day.

Do they look familiar to anybody? Anybody??

Both are 2003's...Tranny has 14,000 miles on it, motor has 40,000 miles on it so I'll freshen them up only, no total rebuilds on these needed yet.

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

sweet looking project man. like the way you showed attention to detail, very nice work.

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

that is effin sweet, 6.0L?

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

You betcha!

LQ9 6.0L & 4L80

We are going to see exactly how much these swaps cost in Canadian dollars....:canada::dohh:

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Be sure to post lots of pics for the engine swap! Going to be living vicariously through your build, I so want to do this in my 94 one day.......
In the mean time It will definitely be a good thing to know the cost in CDN$
Where did you score the engine from, and what was its original home?

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

awsome build! good to see another canadian on hear to hahah. what are you thinking for ride hight are you going lower or stock?

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

I finally feel like I'm done the first chapter of this build --- tear down is now complete (other than the front axle).

It is down to the frame which will get primed tomorrow if I can get the temp up in the garage. The photo is on my deck and that's what we are getting up here today.... it's -15'C here and dropping ---- don't ask me what that is in farenheit cuz I have no clue! Around 5 to 10'F ????

The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB 6.0L LQ9 & 4L80
 

Little bit more done today....got the frame in primer. Looks okay....

And the tires showed up! Thank you TireTech.com!

Bought online for $91 & $92 apiece, up here they wanted $192 & $211 apiece, plus install & balancing!

Crazy price differences between the States & Canada!

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

ya i love the look of just a hanger/shackle combo there is a truck just down the road from me with a drop like this and a nice little spoiler on the front bumper all have to snap a pic and post it up. its kinda sad tho he parks it out side all winter.

Re: The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB 6.0L LQ9 & 4L80
 

nice steal, how much was it to get them shipped up here as well?
It seems that every time I find a deal like that the shipping makes the cost of buying the part from a local store nearly the same as the internet deal....
Plus this last snowfall has taught me that it is time for new tires! I almost didn't make it up the 105th street hill last night.

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Here's what I did today....good news is the old bushings came out after only about 4 or 5 minutes in the fire so the metal wasn't too overheated....and everything is going back to the sandblaster tomorrow to get cleaned off!

Re: The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB 6.0L LQ9 & 4L80
 

Here's the total from the invoice:

Tires: $366.00
Prov Tire Tax: $16.00
GST: $20.10
Brokerage Fees: $20.00
Freight: $140.57

Total: $562.67 USD

Installation at the shop I go to: approximately an additional $125 to the tire cost, so all in all, I saved about $300 over buying the tires here.

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Lots been going on the last few weeks...including being out of commission with a bad cold / flu this week.

But, I still got some things done. Finishing up painting the frame and alot of the bits and pieces. Some things arrived in the mail like my speaker holders, gauge brackets and my engine mounts from Dirty Dingo.

Will take more pics but the goal this weekend is to get the painting finished and bolt on alot of this stuff so I get some room back in the garage to do work!

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Been doing a bit on it this week:

- bought some used rust-free powered doors that are pretty good shape
- got most of the major bits and pieces finally painted, so as soon as they get bolted back on I'll have more space around the garage
- Got the rear axle bolted on, started putting on the front axle

tbc...

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

... and:

- painted my power steering box the same way most of you on the board seem to paint yours ---- peer pressure got to me!

AND, I bought a set of used Foose rims. They are 22's and the tires are pretty good shape still, but may need to replace two of them.

They need a real good clean and polish, and I'm planning to get to them as soon as I can. I don't know if I will use them on this truck....If I do I'll definitely have to upgrade to a big brake kit and that's big $$$ out of the budget.

But what is really testing my patience is trying to get these Energy bushings back into the control arms.

I have a press, vice, sledge hammer, and nothing seems to be moving the bushings into the upper control arms.

I called a shop I dealth with in the past, they said they might be able to do them for me Friday, but I'll give it another go tomorrow just to see.

Any helpful hints on this?

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

cool progress, and nice score on the doors. Those are some weird mirror extensions though.

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

looking good bro!

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

So, I got a bit more done....I had to clean the rims better, so into the tub they went when my wife was at work Thursday!

Don't tell her about that though!

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Then today, I was trying to get alot done...

It's very hard to compress the springs to get the spindle on when there is no motor for weight on the frame!

Don't try this at home.:dum::dum:

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

But then I got the spindles on and the brake covers too.

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Next was the Belltech front and rear sway bars...not the easiest things to get on by yourself but they did get bolted up in the end!

Re: "The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" 1987 Chevy 2WD SWB
 

Got the steering box bolted on too...and then I called it a day for today...

Going to be working on the transmission tomorrow!

(I'm a few bolts short for the front shocks and a couple other things, will get those on Monday and finish the suspension then)