My '87 SWB Project w/pics!!

[twoodson]

Jmuck, you know I recognize that '55. A lot of memories from when we were about 14 yrs old. That black truck with an LSI is sweet.. I took the hangers, shackles and leaf springs off yesterday evening. Will have the bushings removed tomorrow and take them to the powder coater. After I got the last leaf spring off, Thunderstorms rolled in like you wouldn't believe. I only have one pic

[twoodson]

Update: I only got a little done the last couple of days; The tank filler tube has been welded with a straight up piece of tube positioned straight up since it will fill thru the bed floor because the original was curved to the side. I got the bushings pressed out of the leaf springs and shackles. The leaf springs, shackles, hangers, sway bars (front & rear) and mounting brackets, U-bolts, Fuel tank, fuel tank straps, I think that's it, was delivered to the powder coater on Monday. Tomorrow I will start cleaning the back half of the frame getting ready for the Por15 treatment which should take place no later than Sunday. Here are a few pics not much. I will have more tomorrow and as I go along. Enjoy!!

[JohnC]

Progress is progress even if it's not as fast as you would like!

[twoodson]

The 1st pic is por15 marine cleaner sprayed on; the 2nd pic is the marine cleaner being washed off and the frame is dry; the 3rd pic is the por15 metal ready sprayed on.

[twoodson]

The first three pics are the frame after the recommended 2 coats of por15 Chassis Coat Black. The fourth pic is the rear end with one coat of por15 Chassis Coat Black. It came out pretty good I think. It's not a full custom show truck however I wanted something that would hold up and I can just hose it off and still looks pretty good. Weekend plans are bolting up the front and rear braces for the rear tank, remove the temporary brace and coat the spots were it was welded, apply a 2nd coat of chassis coat black on the rear end and start the cleaning process on the frame underneath the cab. Enjoy!!

[menace121978]

turned out looking real nice buddy. keep up the good work!

[JohnC]

Yeah looks good man!

[twoodson]

It's been about 3 months since I posted but I have been working on the truck. I got my new doetsch tech shocks (no pic) in, I finally got all the rear suspension back together minus the shocks which I will bolt on this weekend. All the leaf springs were powder coated black and the silver items were powder coated silver. All new grade 8 and some stainless hardware were used. I will get new brake lines and hopefully be able to order the rear disc brake from blackbirds in a couple. The drive shaft (no pic) is powder coated silver as well. I used all energy suspension bushings in the leaf springs, shackles and on the sway bar. Enjoy. I will post a pic of the drive shaft later tonight. Enjoy!!

[joe231]

nice work...it looks great!!

[JohnC]

Looks awesome man.

[LiveAnimals]

Looks great so far

[3r!c84]

what size rim and tire is that?

[twoodson]

3r!c84 - The rear is a 17x9.5 AR torque thrust II, and the tire is a 275/60 R17.

Here are some more pics. I did not get a chance to bolt up the shocks, I was at the NHRA Nationals on Saturday and was at Church on Sunday. I will not be putting the stickers on the shocks. I think it will look pretty good, I wish the bushings were black and not red, oh well, I also wish I cold have afforded the QA1 shocks. There is the drive shaft as well that is powder coated silver. Enjoy, Hopefully I can get the shocks bolted up tomorrow. My goal this week is to run the brake lines on the rear axle and mount the rear blazer tank which is powder coated silver as well & mock up the fuel lines. we'll see how it goes. Enjoy!!

[JohnC]

That driveshaft looks sweet man. Can't wait to see it on there.

[menace121978]

Yes... very nice bud!! i like how everything is getting powdercoated rather than just painted.

[twoodson]

Got the shocks on the rear end, doesn't look too bad. I will put in the blazer tank this weekend so I can route my fuel lines. Still trying to decide on which route to go for my rear disc brake kit. If I buy a complete kit it will be the Blackbirds. My buddy turned me on toe Speedway motors, I will call them tomorrow and see what's up with them. Here are a couple more pics. Hopefully I can start loosening the cab and raising it up so I can clean, por15 chassis coat the fram just like I did the rear. I will post pics as I go. Thank you everyone for your compliments, not to bad for a driveway/garage project.LOL

[Capcity82]

Are you going to lower the front? If so what size of spindle?

[franky69c10]

Looks good

[twoodson]

Capcity82; It is already lowered with 2.5" Western Chassis and 1" belltech springs. It doesn't look lowered in the latter pics because everything under except the engine block has been taken out.

franky69c10; thanks for the compliments. I am hoping to order by Blackbirds rear disc brake kit in the next week or two, then I will install the rear tank. until then. I am going to start unbolting the cab to clean up the frame underneath. Then por15 underneath the cab. I will keep pics coming as progress is made.

[GMC91]

What is that bar going over the rear diverental?

[twoodson]

The rear sway bar. You can mount it either over/under the diff which ever fits the best. It's a Hellwig

[mwooten92]

sweet truck man

[JohnC]

Looks good man. Keep up the great work.

[twoodson]

Good evening ladies and gents, the weather has finally allowed me to get back to work on the truck. Here are some updated pics. I have begun wire-brushing the control arms and other front suspension accessories which I will post pics prior to most of them going to the powder coater. I will rattle can some of them like the tie ends & spindles. I will post pics as I move along on cleaning up (por-15 chassis coat) the front of the frame as I did the rear and also cleaning up the firewall and re-loom the wiring, and painting the engine and installing all the accessories. The tranny will get a rebuild. Enjoy!!

[twoodson]

A couple more