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Project "Second Life" The '78

TC4x4

1/2 ton status
Joined
Sep 12, 2006
Posts
888
Reaction score
22
Location
Michigan
I first saw this truck when i was doing tree work for a customer. I noticed it was a one ton and was rust free. I asked the guy what engine it had and he said a big block. I asked if it was the 454 and it was. So I was joking around with the guy and said well we are going to have to do some tree bardering. He said I'll tell you what, you do my tree work and pay me another $700.00 bucks and its yours. So I did the work, paid the man, and drove the truck home that night.

This '78 Sierra 35 only has 92k origonal miles on it. It has never seen winter in all its life. It was only used to pull a camper in the summers. The bed hardly shows any sign of anything being placed in it.

So this is where this build/resto begins. I am going to clean this old girl up a little build and update her here and there. I am also going to wake up the engine just a bit.

That is where YOU all come in. I am going to need your help....

Pictures are on the way, I cannot get them to load, maybe because i just renewed my subscription.

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dayum, that thing is clean! nice score!

plans?
 
As far as my my plans go

The eingine area I am going to clean up and beautify, I want to wake the engine up a little hope to get it around 350-400 hp.

The body is going to remain the color it is as an origonal color for the year. I want to under coat the bottoms of everything with rust bullet black, it is rust free now but it is that grey color fadded paint and old under coating. I want to switch out the old bent white bumpers with chrome ones from LMC. I am planning on changeing the wheels and tires.

I am getting some supper 44's for the dual exhaust and it will have a full 3 inch exhaust, not sure if i want headers due to them leaking easily.

I am not sure what to do with the interrior, it is SO origonal but does show wear, so i dont know yet, I am open to suggestions.

That is the rough outline I have as of now, I got the truck for such a good deal that i have some $$$$ to work with.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR GUYS SUGGESTIONS AND OPINIONS ABOUT THE TRUCK.

It does have the Sm465 trani so its not a 5 speed or anything...
 
How wide are those rims? They look wider in pictures than the stock steels on my 1987 3/4 ton which are 6.5 inches wide.
 
Hold on a second.. You found that truck in michigan? I didn't think finding a rust free anything in michigan was possible. I like it.:waytogo: I would leave it stock and drive it.
 
The wheels are 8 inchs wide i beleive, and as far as leaving it completly stock, that is tempting, it only has 92k miles, but i know i will drive it on sundays in the summer.
 
The wheels are 8 inchs wide i beleive, and as far as leaving it completly stock, that is tempting, it only has 92k miles, but i know i will drive it on sundays in the summer.

If those are 8 inches wide, and you are selling them, I want first dibs!
 
And most likely any part that is pulled from this truck will be boxed and kept.
 
These are the parts I am looking at getting for the first round of spending on this truck. I changed the intake from the performer intake, to the RPM intake with oval ports.


http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/60499/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/7561/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/2162/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/1411/10002/-1

Old idea for intake...
http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/2161/10002/-1

The guys at Edelbrock say that would add about 100hp putting it to 350 or so.
 
sweet find, i suggest a good buff and wax job, replace the dash pad and repaint the door panels, maybe a new carpet. Then tear into the 454 with a mild cam, heads, intake, carb, and distributor. That will get you one sweet truck!
 
I do have a question, I turn my key to start the truck and it does absolutly nothing, then the second time i turn it it starts, some times its the third until it starts, its like there is no power until i turn the key fast two or three times?
 
when that happens, do you have any power at all it the cab like lights, radio, blower?

could be a worn ignition switch or a starter on its way out.

one thing i would definately suggest is to clean up the battery terminals and cable connections. A less than perfect connection can cause all sorts of weird electrical problems.
 
I need a favor from you. When you get finished with that horse shoe, send it to me, lol. I cannot believe how lucky some people are. That was a sweet score!
 
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