Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Well guys, it has been a while since I have posted anything worthwhile on here and I suppose it's time I start an "Official" build thread for Audrey.

History: Got her as a Senior in High School after trading another truck plus some cash at a car lot I worked at. Started out with 68k original miles, now has 79k and is being, well, torn apart and restored how I want. Originally a 350/400 and 342 rear end lowered 5/7 and original mandarin interior.

Planned Build:
-Scotts Hot Rod's 73-87 Custom Chassis
-6 spd Super Magnum with an LT Gen V motor
-Switch over to low back buckets covered in leather as close to the original mandarin as possible.
-Interior will have a redesigned retro, vibe, keeping the original dash but wrapping in leather, door panels will be redesigned and updated but keep some original parts.
-One-off cab trim, billet grille (stock design), and all trim will be done in a brushed nickel.
-Bumpers smoothed, narrowed and done in brushed nickel.
-Bed rails filled, bed floor raised ~4", metal border in bed with central gas fill, dark wood and brushed nickel strips, flush tonneau cover with gas shocks, tailgate altered with gas shocks for opening.


More to come later. Will post more later and update with pics.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Some ideas

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Chassis is 95%. Will be at the Raleigh Goodguys show on display and also the Nashville show on display for Scott's. Looks like it came out good. Will be picking it up at the end of May.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

One wild chassis. I have always loved your truck. Can't wait to see the new tweaked version.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Diggin' it! Love the wheels and tires.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Locked and loaded for getting the frame tomorrow from Scotts

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Got the frame home. Gonna be some mock ups soon

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Loving it, keep it coming please.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Cab is sitting on new frame. Still need to do some bed mods to let the bed sit down.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

On the ground. Metal work to come.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Little fender and bed floor mock up to see how everything is fitting. Found out the front core support mounts are a couple inches too far back and will have to cut and weld them up further. Also will have to fabricate/modify front lower center bumper brackets.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

I usually dont care for brown but that color is cool! I dig the new wheels too.

Re: Audrey: My '78 Silverado
 

Not much progress since I've been working on Emma (the 79). I got the core support mounts that were welded in the wrong place cut out and will be putting the nose back on this weekend after a little firewall grinding.

I did manage to finally get a rendering done. 24x15's out back. 22x8's up front. Raceline Sonoma wheels. Projected power plant is LT5/6spd with the S-1 Sequential shifter. Gonna take me a few years with the cost of it but we'll steadily be working on it when I can. Reached out to Mar-K for the bed kit, waiting to hear back.