1990 Silverado Build

[rockin86ranger]

No progress yet, the truck is still 60miles from me and I have been busy with college stuff and this constant ice and snow isn't helping, and my brother is having a baby so I am trying to get something around for them for a gift, and the list just seems to never stop right now. Still waiting on my taxes to get back so I can buy some parts to get some real progress made, but they,are cutting my ole mans hours and threatening to close the shop so my taxes will probably be spent trying to make some profit to get a business going to sustain everything for the time being, my family always comes first.(doing research on licenses I will need, they ain't cheap looks like it will cost me about $3-5000 for licenses, insurance, plates, and membership fees to get a decent start) I figure though that I will be able to get it moving along in about a month once I finally get a transmission for it to actually put it together.

Still haven't finished the harness but both days I had school were cancelled this week so might try to get some progress made this weekend.

As far as head gaskets go I am going to run the stockers and worry about am upgrade later, going to run it na for a little bit to get all the bugs worked out before getting crazy with it, when I pull the heads to do a little port and polish work I will upgrade the head gaskets then. For two gaskets they are crazy high in my opinion so until I need to tear into the motor I am not messing with anything on it.

[festyfreak39]

Smart idea, take your time. Literally i have been building my "ultimate turbo festiva" for 3 years. All it takes is time. College comes first to.

School pays off though trust me I did 4.5 year business degree with an accounting major, and now I'm doing my CPA. Never looked back.

[rockin86ranger]

I am just waiting on a couple of things so I can button the harness back up, then have to get my mounts made and drop the motor in (once I strip the old engine harness out of the truck). After that I will get parts as I can, but I really need to try to get the motor and wiring harness out of my way soon. If I start getting in to selling used cars I will have to focus more on that and use my space for business stuff but the truck will get work as money comes in (even it means eventually putting it on the front line to sell to keep the business going but hopefully it won't come to that).

The exciting part is we are getting a roundabout near us about the time I am now figuring the truck to be done (turbos and all) and every roundabout needs a good break in (at night when no other drivers are out of course) lol

[rockin86ranger]

Well the truck is getting pushed back again due to financing but once my other truck gets sold things should pick up. My old taurus has had about all the road it can take and it's time to replace it so I picked this up from a friend for $1150 (she offered it to me for $1k when I showed up to pay for it but we already made an agreement and she needs the money anyways). It's a fully loaded 2002 Bravada (doesn't have the DVD player but I don't know if you could get that with the sunroof anyways). It's got a lot of highway miles but it was taken care of, needs a transmission rebuilt for it. I haven't even heard it run in a few months but I know they started it and let it run occasionally (they said the fan was shaking last time they started it which I didn't find out til later but that's no big deal I will get it figured out). It's got brand new tires (probably less than 1k on the tires) and dad has most of the parts to do a 4l60 from previous jobs so I am hoping to. Have about $1500 in it not counting our labor. I plan on eventually lowering it 3" in the front with trailblazer ss struts and lowering springs and readjusting the airbags for about a 4" drop in the bag. Do some custom decal work (something tasteful not some ricer crap) to make it stand out in the parking lot.

I am excited because this is hands down the nicest vehicle I have ever owned, this is really old pictures but nothing has changed from the picture. But once I get this on the road and get the other truck sold I will resume work on the silverado and try to get a carb on my ranger.

[rockin86ranger]

Well I was wanting to focus on this truck more so I said no more projects until I get atleast two more road worthy (this truck and the bravada). Well Thursday I found am ad for a truck at a junkyard that I had been looking for for close to 3 years so I went and looked at it Friday and Saturday I picked it up for $350 complete with title. It's an 84 Mazda B2000 that is getting a Courier conversion and if everything works out an FE3 engine swap from a kia sportage. This project once the donor kia is secured will go quick, it is intended to be an anniversary present for mom and dad (dad had a courier when him and mom met so it will replicate his old one with some modern touches). So far it has been kept a secret and hopefully will until it is done, with me and my brother both donating to this project it should be a speedy project (I want to get as much done as possible as soon as possible since he has a baby due in couple of months and will be tied up after that)

The bravada is project one the mazda is number two and the silverado will get work as I find parts, debating on selling my 56 ford and going to sell the Dakota. That will leave me with my ranger, the silverado, the bravada, the mazda, and I have a crazy low buck idea for my taurus once it is retired, (plus the typical floater projects I have been trying to get ownership of for years). Really need to clean up a little and get some focus on certain projects, so planning on selling out some stuff to allow more focus and help finance everything else.

Also been looking at employment options hopefully I find something soon (this whole working during summer and skimming by on savings, taxes, and school money is getting old). Just figured I would give an update.