My new project

Mickey_D

Mickey_D

Mickey_D

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Joined
9 Dec 2003
Posts
6,204
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Gone......
Well, I picked up a new project vehicle tonight.


90chev.JPG




It's a 1990 Chevrolet Silverado 1/2 ton 4X4 pickup truck. It's currently sans engine, but not for long. I've already got one or two in the works. Just a matter of getting the right year, as this one is the in-between model that doesn't have a carb or EFI, but half-way in the middle. It's got throttle body fuel injection, so it's a different computer than the multi-port EFI systems used in newer trucks.

As far as the rest of it goes, power door locks, power windows, A/C w/climate, tilt wheel, cruise control, 6 speaker audio (is currently only AM/FM/Cass, will add CD later), towing package including trailer brake controller, intermittent wipers, 122,000 miles.

Previous owner had a string of bad luck when the mains power went out last year and it was hovering around -40 degrees out. This meant the block heater was no longer working, so his antifreeze froze, cracking the block wide open. He took the engine out to see about repairing it and ran out of time/space/funds.

It has some minor rust around the rear fenders (repair parts $22.76 a side) and a little at the bottom rear corners of the cab (repair parts $17.85 a side). The rims need a little cleaning up to get rid of some surface rust, but the P275/65/16 BF Goodrich's that are on it have about 75% tread left. The interior is immaculate, no tears in the seats or headliner or door cards. The paint is in okay shape, but I'll be repainting it after I do the rust repairs.

I'm tickled pink with it as after I buy the engine, get the body repair panels, and repaint it I will have a total of around $600 into it and it'll be worth about $3,500. :D

I'll get some better pics in the morning when it's not snowing and my cheap *** camera doesn't freak out. Was going to wait until morning to get pics and tell you all about it, but I was just too excited!!

Johnny69 and all those doing resto's, I'll race ya'!! ;)
 
Are you familiar with TBI systems, Mick? All the work I've done on them is on my friend's 305 in his Firebird. It's a terrible hassle from what I can tell. It has all the problems of carbs with few of the benefits of fuel injection.

Would you or have you considerd putting a later model TPI motor in it?
 
Mickey_D said:
Johnny69 and all those doing resto's, I'll race ya'!! ;)
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Ive given up with an end date for mine....it will happen - sometime!!

Nice project Mickey :)

volospian said:
You can't beat a bit of insanity ;)
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Dude, you starting to scare me with your fondness for American blown engines :D
 
i thought in a earlier post a month or two back you wre going to use the engine from your current truck?
 
Chevvy....they make the LS1 engine right? :D You know you want to...

Sound like you picked up a real bargain there. Don't envy you if you have to work on it outside right now though!
 
Sounds good M_D.

What's left of the air-con with the truck being sans engine? Just the compressor missing, or did they remove more of the setup? If the previous owner kept the ruined motor, there ought to be something useable on it, unless that -40deg spell trashed more than just the block. You planning to stick with TBI, or are you going to plonk a carb'ed motor in for now?

Reckon you'll have all the rust beaten out of it before I even contemplate welding some new tin into the Olds :D
 
Sone said:
i thought in a earlier post a month or two back you wre going to use the engine from your current truck?
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I was going to do that, but the cost of a replacement 350 (which will get almost 1.5 times the fuel mileage of my 305) will be less than what I can sell my old truck for. So in the end the one pictured above will actually only have cost me about $200-$250.

JRS said:
What's left of the air-con with the truck being sans engine? Just the compressor missing, or did they remove more of the setup? If the previous owner kept the ruined motor, there ought to be something useable on it, unless that -40deg spell trashed more than just the block.
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He unbolted the compressor from the block and left everything hooked up on the AC, so it's still pressurised. I haven't investigated the block too far, but it's been sat for almost a year with no heads on it. The cost of rebuilding the block (bearings, rings, timing set, cylinder hone, etc) will be considerably more than just buying a replacement engine. I'm going to keep the block and tinker with it, but if I went to go rebuild it, I know for a fact I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to go the route that Velospian mentioned. And being out of work right now, I can't really afford it. The main point is just to get it running and on the road so I can sell my old truck.


But believe me, possibilities have run through my mind. The first that came to mind was inspired by Gibbo.... :evilgrin:
 
Mickey_D said:
I know for a fact I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to go the route that Velospian mentioned. And being out of work right now, I can't really afford it.
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I know how that feels (well, I'm working, but still can't afford to do what I want). I have a Stag sitting in my garage that runs fine, but 145hp is so feeble from a v8. I love the idea of slotting something around 350hp in there, but it costs a lot of money. It would need a BMW rear end conversion, plus a new 'box too, on top of any engine costs and it already wants some bodywork and a re-spray done.

I was looking into someother options too, until the missus scuppered that by changing jobs, meaning that I had to buy a car immediately, with whatever I could scrape together at the time (we used to work in the same office and so car shared). However, it does mean that any money raised from the sale of my GT6C can go on the Stag, so hopefully that's the suspension and gearbox sorted...
 
IainB said:
Dude, you starting to scare me with your fondness for American blown engines :D
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Bah, I'm just hankerin' for some proper power in my life. I've now come around to looking at the Stag, which I was treating as sacrosanct, but a few articles, a chat with the missus, and a few bits and pieces here and there have made me start to consider pleasure and fun over originality. I do have the GT6 cash (when I sell it) to put towards it, and then I'll just have to raise the extra few grand to do the necessary mods. Although, like most of my plans, it'll probably fail to come to fruition :( :D
 
Yup, it was a 350.

Now, you see. My old Supervisor has this old Chevy 1 ton Dually sitting there with the 454 in it..... (no, I have to stop. I need good gas mileage out of it :( )
 
Mickey_D said:
Yup, it was a 350.

Now, you see. My old Supervisor has this old Chevy 1 ton Dually sitting there with the 454 in it..... (no, I have to stop. I need good gas mileage out of it :( )
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sweet ;)

Pah, good gas mileage is for wimps :p
 
Ok, new pics as promised.

First is the gratuitous front shot;

90chev1.jpg


Then the side on;

90chev2.jpg


Then the arse end;

90chev3.jpg


Next is the dash. Slightly dirty. I haven't cleaned anything on it yet.

90chev4.jpg


And then the engine bay as it sits;

90chev6.jpg
 
Oh, and for those that have never seen the innards of a 350 cubic inch V-8. That's a 12oz. Dr Pepper can in the number one cylinder.

90chev5.jpg
 
thats a very nice looking project truck you got there, always have liked the silverados and the S-10's, so this is one im gonna keep an eye on, love to hear those V8's rumble
 
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