83/84 swb stepside long time build

[rip2174]

then I found this on my workbench. AWESOME

[rip2174]

leads to this in little time and so smooth finish for my 1 layer of rust paint.

[rip2174]

Got most the frame cleaned up yesterday. Still need to do a little sand blasting

[rip2174]

went out to mess with my new paint gun to see how it sprays. Dam compressor wouldn't overcome tank pressure and come on. Got test the gun a little. Seems to spray ok and user friendly for a beginner. Its a LVLP from spray it. Got it just for under coat, primer and cut in. I'll have someone else paint the truck.

[rip2174]

Got a phone call a week ago from the guy that has my 83 that was installing a LT1. Just a bunch of stuff and then told me engine was messed up. But, he said he had good news, he came across n LS1 from a 2006 with 85k on it. He said everything was going to cost the same. I said go with and he expects to be done in a few weeks.

[rip2174]

Today when I came in from the garage I saw this text.
Have to say I'm pretty dam stoked now.
Can any tell me what intake that is?

[tinydb84]

Holley Hi Ram

[aotte1]

The frame looks great. Your question on clear coating the frame, for me, is what look you like [e.g. show truck vs driver], along with how you want to drive your truck [ e.g. . Clear coat would make future repairs/changes more difficult to match]. I usually use a semi-gloss on the frame. I do like gloss finish for the under side of the hood, make cleaning easy. Good luck.

Thanks for keeping us informed on your truck.

Les

[rip2174]

Originally Posted by aotte1

The frame looks great. Your question on clear coating the frame, for me, is what look you like [e.g. show truck vs driver], along with how you want to drive your truck [ e.g. . Clear coat would make future repairs/changes more difficult to match]. I usually use a semi-gloss on the frame. I do like gloss finish for the under side of the hood, make cleaning easy. Good luck.

Thanks for keeping us informed on your truck.

Les

Thank you for info. It will be a driver for sure.

[rip2174]

Got the rust paint sprayed. Turned out pretty good. Went on nice with the cheap LVLP go I bought. Its a flat black finish.

[rip2174]

Let that cure for 2 days, hit with 320 and sprayed the chassis gloss black. Lot more humid and towards the end starting having some water coming out gun. Still turned out OK for the frame. I was running a small filter/separator with a descant ball before gun. Im going to scuff this with some 400 and and throw another coat on when im ready to spray the rear end this weekend. I bought a better dryer separator and a better in line strainer before gun. We'll see. Like I said it looks good for under a truck.

[rip2174]

Hope this weekend to get some grey/ silver on rest the suspension parts. Wife and kids are out town for 2 weeks. Will have plenty time next week to get the chassis rolling again if I can get paint done this weekend.

[rip2174]

Also spoke with the guy with the other truck this week. That is a 5.3 Vortec. He's working up a price to do a cam and springs as well as a turbo. Hopefully I can afford that. But, if not, it will be a nice upgrade to a 5.3 Vortec/ 4160 LE either way.

[tinydb84]

Turbo 5.3 will be fun! Frame looks good. I assume you mean 4L60E? If you get a turbo dont expect that trans to last long.

[rip2174]

I probably can't afford much engine upgrade right now. His tune will have to do for now. Ill just be happy to have it back and driving it after 12 years. LOL

[rip2174]

Here are a couple pics of the suspension parts after I cleaned and painted them with rust paint. Messed up that night and was cleaning one piece at a time and hanging and spraying with rattle can w/o a mask. Got pretty dam high by the time I was done. Messed up my head to where I missed work the next day. Wont be making that mistake again.

[rip2174]

Got a couple coats of the silver/ grey on the parts. It looked good when it was wet, but dried to a almost primer color.

[rip2174]

Here are the parts tonight after a couple coats of clear. Decided to hit these with clear because the paint was kind of flat looking. In the light they look silver but with garage door closed they darken alot and look almost primer grey with a shine. Not sure I like this, but not going to paint again for now. Assembly time.

[rip2174]

Got the framed unwrapped and off engine stands and ready to start assembly of the rear tomorrow. Hoping to get it back to rolling tomorrow.

[aotte1]

Very nice, you need your mask for your lungs too!

Les

[rip2174]

Here are a couple pics from Sat. little blurry. Sorry

[rip2174]

Played a round golf Sunday morning and came home to finish rolling chassis.

[rip2174]

aired out

[rip2174]

couple more

[jpnh]

getting closer. looks good-jeff