1988 chevy k1500 shorty rc

[88chevyshort]

thought id make a thread of my truck rebuild. i have basically made a thread for it on car domain but id like to hear comments an get help if possible =]





1st off anyone know a good way to post multiple images fast?

[88chevyshort]

pic of it when i got it after the snow was gone.



chrome was peeling on grill so...

peeled the top an bottom chrome off and painted it gloss black..



bolted new body parts on from donor truck. which was my friends 93 gmc v6 5spd 2wd reg cab shorty.

post more of the picks. but is there a faster way? i used tinypic an uploaded 1by1

[88chevyshort]

more pics.

jus some painting to make it all one color again

[88chevyshort]

more pix.

pulled out the motor

cleaned up the motor for paint =]

doesn't look clean i know..




sunlight made the paint look metallic

and motor is back in


rattle can lined the inner bedsides and bumpers..




her current state

[88chevyshort]

got these for freeee =] same rims as my current ones but paintable and same tires the the 1/2ton load range instead of 3/4ton witch is currently on it

they are all going to be black like this

[88chevyshort]

ok so now that i got the jist of the progress pics up.

the vbelt will bolt right on its has a flat belt and a vbelt i just dont know how to tighten the vbelt that goes from the bottom pulley to the power steering wen the a/c is on it another vbelt wraps around it an the power steering to the bottom pulley so as of now im confused till i go check it at the junkyard again

[88chevyshort]

so no comments on my thread with is kinda saddening. well i got the pulley system an have started to strip the paint off everything to make everything nice and clean. i have already bought shorty headers awhile back =] shouldnt be too long before shes up and running, still needs full exhaust done, tune up, new belts, run all new front brake lines, and put new door bushings in, passenger side is fine but driver side top of the door has a terrible gap an allows rain and snow onto my seat =/ ill take pics of the engine after i got everything painted and bolted on

[89muscletruck]

Hmm, somhow I missed this one.
I like what youve done to your engine, I alwasy thought that panting the engine black was GM's only mistake on these trucks.
But did I see that you painted the area where the water pump seals to the engine? would that affect how the pump seals down to the block?

[88chevyshort]

thanks i definitely like the orange way better. yea i did paint where it seals but i scratched it off with a knife before putting the pump on

[88chevyshort]

took this pic yesterday its not current tho. i removed the water outlet cause it was oxidized very badly so got a new one and a new thermostat, the new outlet is cast iron.. didnt really like that fact. other than that only thing left on the motor to do is fabricate 2 spacers to mount my power steering pump properly. probly going to do the front brake lines in a day or so then alls left is my dual exhaust =]

[scotts62]

Cool, looks good!

[89muscletruck]

looking sharp!

[88chevyshort]

thanks. ill get a new pic up here 2maro. went to start on doing the brake lines an pulled the wheels off the front an everything was in bad shape so i had to go buy new everything including what i needed already: rotors, calipers, brake pads, flex lines, line 3way junction, 2 different length lines, new front shocks they were completely toast, new shock bolts and nuts, p/s pump belt, 02sensor, and antifreeze. so it all costed me like 320-340 =/ i hadn't planed on needing the calipers or rotors so that was more money out of my pocket =/. anyways i got the shocks on 2day an cleaned up and painted the front spindles. i will hope fully get the calipers an rotors on 2maro and start finishing running the lines

[88chevyshort]

forgot to take a pic 2day. painted my calipers red an put the rotors calipers brake pads and flex lines on. got to buy 3 lines 2maro to finish the job then all i need is exhaust

[88chevyshort]

after awile and after i have other things done to my truck after im driving it i want to do an 8 lug sas and any info would be greatly appreciated especially how to run the steering. thanks

[88chevyshort]

probably wont do an sas ill just buy me a square body for offroad use =]

anyways. i got me a bull bar at an auction said it was from a 95 chevy/gmc. went to mock it up to my truck and there's like i 3in gap on each side of the frame so im like ok.... wtf? i managed to find the original parts decal on it an searched the part number to find out its for a 94-01 dodge ram you can imagine my disappointment. so now im goin to have to fab my own brackets to make it fit and pic of how the right bullbar fits on an 88-98 truck would be helpful, id like to know the mounting points it should have.

[BIGphillip79]

oh well huh? That what welders are for, Make anything fit.
SAS is not too bad. The kits are about 500 bucks and all you got to do is source axles and springs. They are actually pretty easy to make if you capable. Just a matter of spring mounts.

You gonna leave those fender flares white? They would look black or sprayed with that spray can bedliner.

[88chevyshort]

yea only problem being i dont have my own welder. im going to try getting one later on cause i will definitely need it.
id really like to do the sas it would be really kool but with all the money it will cost to do it how i want i mite as well buy a whole square body truck an keep this one a reasonable daily driver but still capable of decent off-roading.

as for the flares I have thought about painting or lining them black but im not decided on if i want to or not. it looks really nice how it is

[BIGphillip79]

Oh by the way, that motor looks good. Too bad its all but impossible to keep them that clean. I had a friend that worked for my uncle and every few months he would pull the engine out of his Nova just to clean it. A bit excessive for a daily driver but it looked good.

[88chevyshort]

yeah i know ha which really sucks. im gna stay out of the mud for maybe a week after shes on the road but thats probably a lie haha it'll probably be a day and ill be like hells yea lets go mudding haha

[67-72crazy]

nice truck i am still in the primer process with mine.

[BIGphillip79]

Originally Posted by 88chevyshort

yeah i know ha which really sucks. im gna stay out of the mud for maybe a week after shes on the road but thats probably a lie haha it'll probably be a day and ill be like hells yea lets go mudding haha

I gave up on mud. Before I got my pickup I had this sweet little 93 Isuzu Amigo 4x4. It was like brand new when I got it. First thing I did was put a 3in lift and some mudders. The thing was a beast at the mud pit cuz it was so light. I ruined that thing. The mud made it junk. I should've taken care of that thing. So I've decided no muddin til I get somethin to play with. The only time my truck will get dirty is for hunting, fishing, and camping. 4x4 will be just to keep from gettin stuck or gettin unstuck. This things got to last. Thinkin about getting an old trooper or something cheap to cut up and get dirty. Always wanted an Bronco II: Cut the top off, take off the doors, big tires and get dirty.

[purcell747]

Awesome truck, the motor looks great and the trucks in great shape. a sas is easy from other people have said. im looking at putting a dana 44 6 lug in mine with the 14 bolt sf i have. it'll handle 35-37 pretty easy

[88chevyshort]

Originally Posted by purcell747

Awesome truck, the motor looks great and the trucks in great shape. a sas is easy from other people have said. im looking at putting a dana 44 6 lug in mine with the 14 bolt sf i have. it'll handle 35-37 pretty easy

thanks i just saw yours on another forum looks sweet. love your flares. where did you get them?
i have the 14bolt rear in mine too

i want to do the sas really bad but if its too difficult for me i mite just save for a square body as a last resort. i really want to put the dana 44 up front to but then you got to change t-cases also an make a bracket for that. if you do yours send me pics and any need to know info thanks.

if i get it sas'd, awhile after i have it done ill probably switch to a dana 60 front and dana 70 rear

[88chevyshort]

Originally Posted by 67-72crazy

nice truck i am still in the primer process with mine.

thanks. got any pics of her?