"New" Daily Driver Pickup "Project"

Just in case I didn't have enough projects and threads going, I recently ended up with another hopefully easy project. Back in August when I went to check out the 51 Ford I ended up with, the widow that owned the car told me about an 87 F150 that she also might be selling. So, after checking out the 51, I asked if I could see the pickup just out of curiosity. When she opened the door on the shop, I quickly learned that it wasn't an F150 but an 87 SWB Silverado with mostly decent original white paint and a very straight and rust free body. At that point, I walked around it noticing that it was obviously in the middle of a motor swap and brake job, sitting on jack stands in the shop. I really didn't pay much attention to it other than noticing that it still needed belts, hoses, etc. to get the engine installation ****oned up. When I asked what she might want for the pickup, she said that they had given it to her grandson and her husband was working on it as he could before he got sick and then p***ed away, so she would have to ask the grandson if he wanted to sell it.

So, fast forward about a month when she lets me know that her grandson would like to sell the truck since he lives in Kentucky, doesn't really know how to work on it himself, and has no good way to get it from Oklahoma to Kentucky. He would rather just have the money to go toward a newer Dodge pickup that he had bought. Anyway, having just bought the 51 and also a 54 panhead, I wasn't in the market for another vehicle or project. So, I told all my car buddies about the deal and a couple of them seemed somewhat serious about buying it but never followed through. It stayed in the back of my mind since I saw an 87 as just new enough to be a great and reliable daily driver with the OD transmission and TBI, but not so new that I would hate working on it.

So, a few more months went by and the transmission in my 99 F150 went out, my daughter totaled her late model daily that we had rebuilt a while back, and I was beginning to wonder somedays how I would get to work especially on cold or rainy days since about all I had for transportation was my Road King or the 51 Ford. Not that I don't enjoy both of those, sometimes it can be nice to just jump in something that you don't have to work on regularly with windows and a heater, etc. to drive to work or haul stuff. That's when this 87 Silverado came back to mind. I knew that I would be getting a possible year end bonus at work since we had done well, so I talked to my wife about maybe getting something decent to drive which might be a pickup since I hadn't had a decent one since I sold my 2007 GMC crew cab back in probably 2010 or so.

Well, the year end bonus came through on December 19th and was enough that I could justify getting this "new" pickup. So, I texted the widow and asked if it was still available. She seemed excited that I was even interested. I told her I would try to get over to check it out closer soon but it was a couple hours away. A few days later she texted and said that her grandson that owned it was in town for Christmas and could maybe answer any questions I had. So, I told her I would just come see it the day after Christmas. So, I took cash and a trailer to go see if I wanted to tackle this and just how much work I might have ahead of me to make it a cool driver. Upon closer inspection, the truck was very solid, no door dings, or other evidence of wrecks, etc. I did find out that the tailgate had been replaced then painted, but otherwise not so sure that it might not all be factory paint (other than the driver's door that seems to have something strange going on as seen in the pic.) I don't think the door had any severe damage, but looks like it might have had a bad repaint at some point. Interior is nice, etc.

Anyway, so I made a deal, loaded up the TBI 350 that came out of it, and now have another project that I didn't need to hopefully get going soon. Because I immediately have a vision for what something needs to be, I started looking for some other wheels even before I picked up the truck. A buddy sent me some almost new slot mags on Marketplace that I figured would fit the bill. Next steps are to finish up the engine install, look everything over good, lower it, get new tires, clean all the greasy handprints off the paint and see if I can make the paint look decent. I'm sure I'll find other things to do, but hopefully this project goes fast and I have a fun little daily driver pickup to get to work, haul feed, my car trailer, etc. soon.

Enough with the story and on with the pics. I need to get better pics and will as we go. But, figured I better start do***enting what I do now here. Lol

How the truck was sitting when I first saw it. I should have looked at it closer that first day.


Picking it up last Friday.


Where most of the work seems to be.


Starting to collect parts...wheels came with a free extra generic grille and headlight bezels.


Hard to believe that this truck is almost 40 years old. I'm sure like most of us here, these trucks still seem real new especially considering the years of cars we like most. It does feel strange posting about this here on the HAMB. But, I don't hang out anywhere else and don't fit in on forums that talk about trucks like this...lol

 

You're singing my song with this one! Nice score.

 

Hmm...that is exactly how I lowered the 67-72 pickups when I was doing several of those. Well, at least the front. The rear is similar in that you can just make lowering blocks and maybe swap the coil springs.

Anyway, how low does it end up cutting two coils? I ***ume a little rake with the 5" or so you get flipping the rear? Good that you spoke up before I ordered spindles that would actually complicate what I am doing. The 2.5" spindles will cause me to have to trim the lower a-frames some to clear the 8" wide wheels. My plan was those spindles, t******* the lips on the a-frames, then cutting some off the springs as well to get it where I want it. The only issue I ever saw with just cutting quite a bit on front springs on the 67-72's is that the tires seem to lean more when turning. They did wear good though.

Also, yes, it has a GM crate TBI 350 from Jeg's which I ***ume is just a stock replacement. I shouldn't have also drug home the old one, but figured it was worth $100 to take up space in my shop...

 

Yep, can't hardly buy u-bolts for that price.

 

Flip kit is on order... And, the more I am thinking about this being my daily, I decided to go ahead and get some dropped spindles so I don't have to worry about bottoming stuff out. I want the truck to have a slight forward rake, so figure the 2.5" spindles gives me some flexibility in how much I cut off the springs to get it just right making sure I don't limit travel too much. Anyway, those are on order too. I may have everything by the weekend to knock this lowering job out.

I guess I should also take inventory of what I need to make it run, not just look cool. Maybe I can get it up on the lift this evening since my oldest son should be home to help.

 

Decided to look up how much the engine cost that is in this thing at Jeg's since that is where they got it. WOW...have those gone up!!! Seems I basically got a free pickup with my new engine and brakes.

 

New Years Eve party getting the truck in the shop and up on the lift. Used my 1-ton to drag it across the yard and headed to the door, then my 4 wheeler to get it up right at the edge of the shop until it wouldn’t pull anymore, then a come-a-long to pull it into the shop and onto the lift. It’s heck working by myself anymore since my wife works evenings and all the kids are gone. Anyway, it’s ready to work on now. Has pretty decent dual exhaust and gl*** packs, so that should save me some money. It also has a Edelbrock Performer TBI so it should make lots of HP. Just trying to start figuring out where they left off and what to do next. I’ll probably double check everything since it’s tough to know how all the work was done, what’s, tight, etc.

 

Jeff this is going to be a really nice daily for sure!! Once again you’re inspiring me to hurry up and get my truck into the garage for a motor and paint

 

I just landed into some bed rails that would look good on there, but you are a long ways away. Keep up the good work.

 

Looks / sounds like an easy project. nice new daily driver for sure.

 

Looks like my 86 Shop Truck.

 

That looks like a nice truck! Mine should look more like it soon.

 

Great find Jeff!

I love me a clean square body, counting Suburbans & 1 ton duallys I have probably had a dozen. They are good looking, easy to work on & of course dependable. This will be a fun daily to replace your old Bird.

God Bless & Happy New Year
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

The perfect late model-ish truck, EFI + O/D. That was a hellofa score. I had an 87 long bed, it was a great truck. I too have a “late model” project.

 

I’ve had 3 of these short square bodies. They look great low, easy to work on, parts are everywhere, and they’re fun to drive. Make it yours!

 

That looks like a clean project as well! I have had a couple of those trucks too and like them.

 

Well, figured out why the fan shroud wouldn’t bolt up. The upper mounts were swapped side to side. Seems that is about the last thing they were working on because they replaced the radiator with a new aluminum one. At first, I was about to just order the correct radiator when I figured out the mounts were just on wrong. Anyway, I suppose I’ll try out the new aluminum radiator for now since it’s already there. Trying to get this going with mainly what I have…well, if you don’t count having to have parts to lower it and different wheels and tires.

 

Nice little daily project.
Spark plug wire looms?

 

Ya think? I was debating starting over all the way to verifying the distributor is stabbed right.

 

Watching! Slots look so perfect on these.

 

Working on the important stuff…lol. Now, on to the front.

 

Well, close but not tonight…. Still debating how much to cut off the springs to go along with the 2-1/2” spindles. And, also loaded and moved a 10x16 shed today so I have about had it.

 

What a nice truck! I remember when they were new.

 

Me too. I also remember hating the look of the 88’s when they came out. But, those finally grew on me.

 

Steve,
Married my 1st Wife in Aug. of '85 & almost bought a brand new 86 two tone blue 1/2 ton short bed with all the goodies a couple months later. Decided not to, because of not wanting to add that payment on top of all the other ones that went with marriage...I did love that truck though!

Jeff,
I felt the exact same way! After I bought my '97 though I softened on them as well. Ironically just sold that one back in April to a buddy who is still driving it with over 650K miles on it. LOL

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

If you have a true 2 1/2" drop, you may not want to cut the springs. They get stiffer as you cut them and these are already stiff. I cut 1 round out of mine with 2" drop spindles and did a flip kit in the rear. When my front tires were thesame size as the rear, it sat just slight.y raked, almost level. I put slightly shorter tires on the last go round to get the rake I wanted.

 

Good point. Although, I’m thinking I’ll start with 1/2 coil. One of my good friends just did this one and that is what he ended up with. I was sort of debating if I needed any more. But, since you can’t make it longer, I better start there.

Also, what size tires are you running front and back? I was also thinking a little shorter on the front to help with some slight rake.

 

Yep, I got my first one in 96. It started as one of those “Sport” trucks that looked like a 454 SS. Anyway, I had to ruin it right off.