77 SWB Squarebody

[ProudSoul]

Not new here, but it's been awhile since i've posted although I do lurk on here daily. Figured I'd start a build thread for my "new" truck to help keep track of my progress and keep my motivated

Sold my bagged 63 and shortly purchased a fairly clean 77 swb in May.




I still has the original 350 with Rochester carb and a th350 trans. Like all projects begin, it didn't even make it all the way home, I stopped to get gas after driving about 50 miles and the radiator boiled over the instant I turned the key off.

First thing was to flush the block & radiator, throw on a new lower radiator hose (in case it was sucking closed), radiator cap, and a cheap temp gauge. The coolant was very rusty, mucky, and plain gross but she can idle in 100+ temps with ease and not issues at all.


Went ahead and put new fuel filters, pump, and hard line to the carb. I discovered the lines from the tank are cracked and weeping but I'll address that later That line was a pain to bend but I wanted it as far away as from the block as possible


Next up, some new 3 point belts


Changed the fluid in the rear end, to my surprise the old fluid wasn't that bad.


Tinted the windows, 5 percent up front and 2 on the back


Now I wanted to take the "easier" route on this truck so Im going with a static drop. I'm going to use 3 inch spindles, cut one coil for a total of around 5 inches of drop. I really love rally wheels so I am going to run 15x7's and 15x8s but they need to be cleaned up.



Took a lot of pounding, cursing, and bloodshed but I got the front end apart. Changed out the ball joints, tie rods, pitman & idler arms, shaved the bump stops, pressed in new races with bearings(never again).




Trimmed up the dust shields real quick


All together, still need to change out the sway bar bushings but the clamps/mounts are warped that I can't get a socket over the bolt.


Here's how she sits after all the front end work


Not sure what the back spacing on these aluminum wheel are but I think it's the same as the 15x7 rallys I have. I guess I have to use stick on weights. I also, need new tires. The 275/75s I have are way to tall and rub the inner fenders just pulling out of the driveway.


I ordered a flip kit and attempted to put it on but ran into some issues of course. The bolts holding the leaf springs in the hangers were stuck hard. It took an hour of persuading to get the right rear bolt out and the right front one I cut then thought I could pound it out of the bushing once I got the leaf spring off the truck...WRONG! I ended up burning and pounding the bushing out.


I ran out of time so I loosely put it all back together (no bushing in the front eyelet of the right leaf spring lol). I live and work about an hour away from where I keep my truck and tools (mom's house lol) so I only have the opportunity to work on it on the weekends. So until next time, this is as far as I've gotten