Another 3rd gen build

[SOM]

I was trying to figure out why I got tagged in this post. "@ some time" ������

[TylerT/AZ28]

just a random thought about this build.
Let me preface this with... I really don't know what my goals are with this car. There I said it, its out in the open! I started out wanting to see if I still had it in me to do internal work/mods on engines. I used to do a bit of wrenching back in my yute. I always do my own maintenance/ repair work. And I have missed it. After I finished the Camaro I felt like I was a little lost without a project in the garage. So I formulated a plan after watching some youtube videos, I needed to build an lsx and dump it in a cheap car to fiddle with. Well then I started looking at S- 10's. and being tall-ish I need an extended cab.... and the flair side bed for.... well...... flair......
I think they make S-10's out of soda crackers .... they just friggin dissolve when they get wet! So I cant find any thing that's worth looking at under 3k. I don't want to go that high for a truck I am most likely going to destroy.
I remember at some point I saw a roller on craigs list. Well, you can guess the rest cant you? Joe sees a shinny car. Oooooohhhhhhhh Prettyyyyyyy...............


So, I don't know how far I am going to take this car. It is going to get repowered. That is a certainty. The interior is going to get fixed up. No doubt about it, gotta be comfortable. Would I like to do a full restoration to this car? Absolutely! It would be fantastic. But then I wouldn't want to take it out and have fun in it, what if something happens or it gets stolen?
So the plan should be to make this a safe, vehicle that performs well but may not have the fit and finish on its exterior that it could have. I don't have to worry about dings and road rash, or even washing it for that matter....
The sad reality is .... I don't know if I can help myself. And that's a problem because it is interfering with the sequence of events in this build. I am very close to being at a point that I can actually start putting some things together. I have to start mocking things up but at what point does the mock up just become an installation?\

I don't know, I just have to figure out what the end goal is. I know I would like to do it all, but is that going to give me the car I was trying to build in the first place? I dunno.

gimme a holler anytime, even if you wanna bounce ideas around. a roadkill car so to speak would be nice but id make it somewhat nice. sure ls power and a decent interior with a matte white paint job or something inconspicuous would be cool i agree, but like you said youd be worried if it was too nice, if you take the proepr measures a car wont get stolen that easily by the neighborhood theif, take the proper measures and youll be ok but i wouldnt worry about that. do it how you want and dont worry about the reprocussions of people because thats a crapshoot. if you want a decent paint job do the prep and take it to maaco oand get something sprayed on there decently, or paint it yourself. as you said your not in your youth as much and neither am i but ask darren and mike, im always down to lend a hand if i can.

[zeeman]

I was trying to figure out why I got tagged in this post. "@ some time" ������

Sorry bout that. I spell poorly @times

[zeeman]

Tyler, thats good food for thought , I will have to consider this further.

[zeeman]

OK, plan has been modified somewhat. I am going to go with the charcoal 4th gen seats I picked up on Thursday. The Blue stuff is for sale, but I think I am probably just stuck with it. I will be pulling out the interior and dash today and tomorrow to get things started. I need to weld a small patch below the heater box on the fire wall. Bit "o" rust.. then replace the heater core and air cond exchanger. I am going to have to bump the fender I was going to replace due to the lack of a vent in the supplied replacement. the replacement door is a gutted shell. No rust, but man that's a good piece of work!
I spoke with another guy that says he may have the parts.....Errrr well some of the parts I need, the wiring harness, console, console pod. dash pad, etc.


I picked up a set of eng. mounts from A junk 3rd gen today, eng. side. I have an idea that I am going to get some 5/16 thick steel and mount these plates to the engine . then I will install the mounts onto the plates. cant see why it wouldn't work.
The engine accessories are really being hard to find. while I am at it it let me just say I will not go back to Hermees and sons,(or however you spell it) I received no accessories with my motor, not even the truck stuff which I was supposed to get. I need some brackets of some kind.

[TylerT/AZ28]

OK, plan has been modified somewhat. I am going to go with the charcoal 4th gen seats I picked up on Thursday. The Blue stuff is for sale, but I think I am probably just stuck with it. I will be pulling out the interior and dash today and tomorrow to get things started. I need to weld a small patch below the heater box on the fire wall. Bit "o" rust.. then replace the heater core and air cond exchanger. I am going to have to bump the fender I was going to replace due to the lack of a vent in the supplied replacement. the replacement door is a gutted shell. No rust, but man that's a good piece of work!
I spoke with another guy that says he may have the parts.....Errrr well some of the parts I need, the wiring harness, console, console pod. dash pad, etc.


I picked up a set of eng. mounts from A junk 3rd gen today, eng. side. I have an idea that I am going to get some 5/16 thick steel and mount these plates to the engine . then I will install the mounts onto the plates. cant see why it wouldn't work.
The engine accessories are really being hard to find. while I am at it it let me just say I will not go back to Hermees and sons,(or however you spell it) I received no accessories with my motor, not even the truck stuff which I was supposed to get. I need some brackets of some kind.

us auto dide pull the accesories out, might have a center console i know i have lca poly bushings you can have if you want. i got a box of odds and ends.

[zeeman]

you wouldn't happen to have a floor in that box o parts would ya?

This thing has been sitting with soggy carpet for a butt load of years. The floor is swiss cheese. best $ I can find is 300.00 per side. I think its time for large amounts of alcohol.

[hoogiesngrinderz]

Nope, but I think I can get them for ~$170 a side. Find somebody with a discount at Sherman Parts (28 Mile and Van Dyke)

[zeeman]

And thanks to Greg, hes been trying to talk me down today too. I know a guy, and then I know a guy who knows a guy...a different guy than the first guy. Greg gave me a tip too.
Outer rockers are good, inners are ok there is some rot in the drivers , up front, easy patch. I haven't looked too close at the passengers side, Im afraid to. rear quarter is bad in the spare tire well. The jute fell down into it and soaked up all the water and just held it there. Whole bottom is gone. Then the front of that quarter is all Bondo.

That's enough for this week, I think Ill take a little break.

[mcalus]

7 pages and not a single picture? What kind of build thread is this?!

[zeeman]

Yeah, well after seeing the floor I lost my enthusiasm . I was going to shoot some pics yesterday but they were all full of rusty crud. Ill get some up soon. Before I start on the floor pans

[zeeman]

So I have a line on a good used floor pan. And the complete wiring harness that I was short. And a bunch of the other pieces I am missing.
I will have to fabricate some pieces to repair the rear quarter and spare tire well, welding yea!
I just need to finish removing the dash to check the cowling out. But I think it'll be ok now. I just need to figure out how to get the new pan in. I might have to cut it in half, then butt weld it back together.


found the 4th gen shifter from the ls donor, it still has the shift cable and the trans arm on it! Hell yeah!

[C2YT]

I feel so bad for you on the rust issues. I looked like a nice clean car in the few pictures! I guess its always a gamble with these thirdgens.

[TORN]

Cmon you know car guys we will stare at the rust too. Makes us appreciate ours alittle more, and the work you are going to put in to fix it.

[C2YT]

Sure makes me appreciate my thirdgen with 180k on the clock and not a spec of rust. I swear if I would wipe the mud off the bottom I could see my reflection.