1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Well, this fell into my lap today I wasn't seriously in the market but couldn't pass it up, to me it's the holy grail of square body trucks. Black 1987 4x4 short bed w/ 700R4, air, power steering, power brakes, electric windows and locks. It's been a local truck it's whole life and it's very worn out but everything is there and good enough for a stock resto. For what we paid, I'm surprised it actually runs and drives (pretty sketchy driving though). My oldest son is 13, as long as he shows interest and stays involved and invested then the plan is to have this ready for him to drive in two and a half years.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

This is the goal:

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Nice truck

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Nice truck.
I’m surprised it has an early style tailgate.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Looks like all the pieces are there. Good solid project rig.

You have a 70's 30 series tailgate. Hopefully they installed the proper hinge pivots. I'd keep it and hook up the clearance lights.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

The gate's got a decent bow in it, not sure if I can pull it out. I wonder how the aftermarket gates stack up these days?

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Nice truck. Definitely a good truck for rehab. It also has an early style seat, 77-80 seat. By the way it looks when your son is sitting in it, it has some broken springs for sure. It will be fun fixing it up!!

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

IIRC there's at least one outfit that's making the dash pads with metal underpinnings now.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

We also got the original (worn out) seat with the truck fortunately.

I saw that. Last '87 I had the options weren't that great.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

I guess I should make this a build thread, because tear-down has begun! We stripped the interior and took inventory of missing or broken parts and notes about re-assembly. I was browsing some restoration sites for ideas about organization and saw the plastic containers. They're $3 from Harbor Freight and we got several for hardware storage. I also have coin envelopes, write-on plastic bags, wire tags, plastic tubs, and boxes. All this stuff is going to have to go to a storage unit while we build the chassis and do body work, so I'm trying to keep it organized while also teaching my son about the restoration process. He hasn't wrenched much but he's got strong hands, good eye for detail and seems to be catching on. One thing is obvious to both of us, this truck was rode hard!

We did find some live spiders and one crusty mouse carcass, I think that should be a right of passage for working on old trucks. :lol:

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Tanner (my boy) wants the truck to be orange and white. I was hoping to keep it black, but I also really like orange. So we made a deal, as long as it's 1987 Chevrolet Tangier Orange (which was an available option) and in the factory two-tone scheme with all the trim we're good! We also have a 75 K5 2wd that we were going to build, but it's blue and white. When I told him it would stay that way, he wasn't real crazy about it because he has his heart set on orange/white. So this truck is a bit of a compromise, and I can build the blue Blazer for myself later. :metal:

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

nice project....what about black....and orange?.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Dang that's nice. I'll see what Tanner thinks, we got plenty of time!

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Nice truck nothing better than a 87 square ( fuel injection)

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Tear-down is going slow due to teaching a boy how to use tools, a really crusty truck, my methods of organization and documentation, and having to travel to my shop. But we have a goal of having it down to the rolling chassis by the end of the month. I've decided we're going to do this complete and right, even it it means it will be too nice for Tanner's everyday driver and we have to find a backup beater. The cab is going on a dolly, frame is getting stripped etc. After looking at the cab further I think I'm going to tackle the rust myself. My plan was to have the body man do the rust rough-in. But I did cab corners and rockers on another '87, it wasn't that bad, plus it's a good excuse to buy some more tools and still "save money":lol:

I also learned something today. If you see a wasp nest inside a fender and it looks 100 years old, DON'T grab it. It may still be a wasp house!

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Wow. Super organized. Beautiful shop!

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Thank you! That's the money-making shop. I don't have one at home (yet) so we use a bay on the weekends, and have it cleaned up for Monday. Logistics are going more difficult in the next phase.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

sub'd

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Did a little parts scrounging with the boy today. We found a great seat from the rear of a this majestic graphic'd up 80's dually, just had to eat a little Texas oil field red dirt to get it. I've used crew cab rear seats 3 times now, they always have good foam and springs. So we'll paint the frame, use the foam, correct sliders and a black cover. I am working on finding a pair of good doors next, the dark blue crew has a set but he doesn't want to split them.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Crew cab rear seats are the best secrets ever! If that blue seat cover is nice i'd be interested in buying it.

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Nice find on the seat. Yes Crew Cab rear seats are the best!!

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

What do you have to do to get the rear seat from a crew to work? Just change the sliders?

Re: 1987 Silverado swb 4x4 rehab
 

Take the rear brackets off and put the front slide tracks on. It is the exact same seat, just different mounting brackets.