94 ECSB Overhaul, first truck

[94383Z71]

**In case any of you followed the "Rebuilding A Salvage Crew Cab Dmax 4by" thread,
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/...-dmax-4by.html
I am his son, and since the 94 383 Z71 is mine, we decided the login is too. His is now 036.6turbo. Same family, different guy/truck**

So, I'll soon be 16 and chomping at the bit to get this baby on the road, looking nice. (yes, I'm 16, but I make up my lack of knowledge in gusto and an inquisitive mind).

The truck is not wrecked, nor is it really all that bad. We know most of the issues since it's been my father's daily for so long, but as in all builds, surprises happen. But with no real rush, we decided to fix all rust and other issues, throw in a few personal touches, paint it, and drive it as a daily.


It started something like this










Yet, after a long snowmobile season and holidays, it's now closer to this







(yes, the hub is off on purpose)





Everything on the truck is almost fully undercoated, including the bed underside.

Not sure how much will be done today but this weekend the floorpans should be patched and covered in chassis saver.

The body/frame/etc have about 229k, motor's bottom end-54k, Top end-16k, Tranny-35k.

As for plans, I'm fairly limited with my part time job and school. I'm looking at the AVS shaved door handle kit w/alarm, already have a kit for tailgate handle.

Tires arent worn by any means, and I'm planning on taking the American Racing wheels and painting them black w/clearcoat to ease cleaning, and I like black rims.

Lifts-suspension lifts- are outta my pricing right now. I have been looking at pirating a 6.6 Dmax Turbo, considering the only 19 ci difference. I've read a few threads on here on that

[036.6turbo]

This truck was my DD for ten years, during that time up was upgraded to allow it to better haul our snowmobile trailer, modifications include;

1. GMPP 383H.T. crate motor.
2. GMPP TBI to Vortec intake, bored to 2.05" to accommodate 670CFM TBI.
3. 7.4L TBI.
4. 7.4L fuel pump.
5. Custom burned PROM chip.
6. Edelbrock tubular exhaust.
7. Magnaflow 3" exhaust, no cat.
8. Transmision was always the weak link, it has been upgraded with a "Beast" sunshell, Superhold billet servo, wide band, Redline Koline clutches, five roller planetary, lot's of other bits and pieces, basically any upgrades to strengthen a 4L60E have been done.
9. K&N airfilter.
10. Three gauge "A" pillar pod with trans temp, fuel pressure, and a wide band O2.
11. It has a complete interior from a 1998 truck (grey cloth), including the overhead console.
12. A Gentex rearview with temp and compass display.
13. Ten disc Sony CD changer.
And lots of other stuff I'm sure I am forgetting, when I list it all out like this, I'm not sure I should be giving it away .

Our plan is to get it all one color, again, with a few personal touches, that my son wants. Then as he goes along, he can decide what the next mods he wants to do are.
I told him the next thing I would have done, was to increase the gear ratios, to at least a 4:10. It still has the stock 3:42's in it, and with the bigger tires on it, it could use a little more gear.
He's excited, I'm just trying to keep up with him at this point. There is allot to do on it, but not near as much as my DMAX.

[1994Gmcsierra71]

cool project, i have a question, which 383 are you using, the vortec drop in one or the one made for carbs?

[1994Gmcsierra71]

is it going black again or something different?

[036.6turbo]

Originally Posted by 1994Gmcsierra71

cool project, i have a question, which 383 are you using, the vortec drop in one or the one made for carbs?

We did this install back in 2002, the only one available from GMPP at that time was the carb one. Thats why we used the GMPP TBI to Vortec intake manifold. We were not able to use the water pump that came with it, due to the fact that the serpentine drive, rotates in the opposite direction.

[036.6turbo]

Originally Posted by 1994Gmcsierra71

is it going black again or something different?

Yes Black.

[MudSlut78]

looking good, i would love to have a 383 in my 92 but that is whats next when this one go's

[94383Z71]

Floor's patched and covered, then I'll vacuum and completely cover it, because there were rustic paint bubbles I popped by going over the whole thing with a stiff-bristle wire brush.

I got my little Z71 rocker cover deals off, that was slightly difficult, that 2 way tape being so old, but having limited range to avoid damage the panels

anyways, pics up tomorrow. Get the bad cab corners off, hopefully rockers too this weekend. That's the goal. But we always know we want more out of every day's work

Pics tomorrow. Just tryin to keep on it!

[1994Gmcsierra71]

cant wait for the pics!!!!!

[Gopedxr]

Awesome project!

[94383Z71]

Originally Posted by Gopedxr

Awesome project!

thank you. Sorry for the thread move, after accounts switched, it wasn't mine anymore. But atleast you found it again!

[Griff4x4]

looks like a nice project, i know you're dad is there to help ya, but just stay calm and don't rush. i was 14 when i started my '86 build, and its taking me a while, im 16 1/2 now, and its nearly ready for paint. jsut keep going and take advice from your pa. (he really does know what he's doing, trust him!) lol..

[94383Z71]

Originally Posted by Griff4x4

looks like a nice project, i know you're dad is there to help ya, but just stay calm and don't rush. i was 14 when i started my '86 build, and its taking me a while, im 16 1/2 now, and its nearly ready for paint. jsut keep going and take advice from your pa. (he really does know what he's doing, trust him!) lol..

hahah yes he sure does. I've been learning from him on these things forever, and I sure as crap aint gonna stop.

with rushing, we learned that with the truck we built last your (link in post 1). Doin it right dont happen overnight. but thanks for the advice. I'm actually turning 16 at the end of the month

[94383Z71]

Sorry about the late update, had my bro in a bike wreck yesterday and all 5 littluns here today, so been too busy to tidy up and take pics

so here are the patched panels ready to be covered








and then after a thorough cleaning and 2 coats of chassis saver








as I said, bed is coated too, wells blasted and primered, needs work later









I have a total of three of these cancerous spots in the bottoms of the wells. We think that's actually the rhino lining showing through there.



This little thing, this is invaluable. Built out of tv antennae tower from your backyard I found, and caster wheels off my grandpa's old Heavy Machine Repairman toolbox he scrapped. It's amazing how useful it is, compared to it on sawhorses never ever moving.

So that's the stater it's in right now, just tryin to keep on goin

[1994Gmcsierra71]

so is that chassis saver a spray bomb paint or what? Where do you get it from?

[94383Z71]

Originally Posted by 1994Gmcsierra71

so is that chassis saver a spray bomb paint or what? Where do you get it from?

Well the chassis saver that I used on the floor in the cab is a paintcan deal with the lids you pry off. It's a brush on application. We bought it at a local auto body supply guy, so I wouldn't know where to find it in your area, except another auto body place by you.

Then what I used on the frame, front end and bed underside is just called Undercoating, it's some rubberized deal that is a rattle can application you can get at Advanced Auto, etc.

[1994Gmcsierra71]

Any updates?

[GreaseDog]

hurry up and dig in to those cab corners. i'm gonna have to tackle mine soon.

[036.6turbo]

Originally Posted by GreaseDog

hurry up and dig in to those cab corners. i'm gonna have to tackle mine soon.

Had to find some new nozzles for the mig welder, our welder is a 1981 Hobart Beta Mig 200. Good, reliable, heavy duty machine, but its it take alittle looking to find parts. They are now on order, and should arrive Monday.

Going north with the dirtbikes tomorrow, will be back on the 94 Sunday afternoon.

Just a side note, 94383Z71, deserves kudos, he was selected by his Auto Shop Instructor to represent his school in a regional competition for Automotive diagnostics. This instructor has first and second year students, Jake is a first year, so to be one of four selected, is pretty cool. I'm proud of him.

[GreaseDog]

Originally Posted by 036.6turbo

Just a side note, 94383Z71, deserves kudos, he was selected by his Auto Shop Instructor to represent his school in a regional competition for Automotive diagnostics. This instructor has first and second year students, Jake is a first year, so to be one of four selected, is pretty cool. I'm proud of him.

you should be proud! congrats Jake!

what competition is it? Ford AAA? VICA?