1987 Chevy 4x4 Extreme Makeover

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Very cool wife for finding you a new truck Mike. Did the tranny put in its 2 weeks notice before going out?

You know its a good thing you guys are going to do a makeover on the truck becuase those before pictures in the other thread could get you banned....

[Mike Phillips]

That's a sharp looking truck Mike, congrats on the purchase!

TBI 350 / 700R4?

Thanks... and yes, it has the original TBI 350/700R4 except they are both completely rebuilt. Engine has all new parts, the transmission is rebuilt with a TransGo Shift Kit and a Billet Torque Converter. And even though it's just a 350 small block, with the shift kit and 4:88 gears it barks the back tires when it shifts from first to second. So far I'm not a big fan of the TBI Fuel Injection but it does seem to work really well.

Down the road the small block is coming out and someone else can have it as I plan on installing a carbed and cammed BBC just for the raw torque, horsepower and most of all... simplicity...

Oh yeah... the air-conditioning blows cold thanks to a little freshening up by my buddy Carlos and his son...


I tend to like the earlier body styles like my last Jimmy...




Same truck after a little work at the Johnson Valley Dry Lakes Bed...




This was my very rare 2-Wheel Drive 1973 Blazer...

[Mike Phillips]

Very cool wife for finding you a new truck Mike. Did the tranny put in its 2 weeks notice before going out?

It gets better... she wants a Jeep... and she wants one that already has the 350/350 conversion.

As for the tranny in the Jimmy? No notice, just a whimper and then full on slush-box...

You know its a good thing you guys are going to do a makeover on the truck because those before pictures in the other thread could get you banned....

Yeah it's kind of ironic that the truck I buy has what I always call horrific swirls...

No problemo though... she be shining tonight...

[boomer1649]

Mike, friend of mine just called and needs some help. Not sure I'll be there tonight but I'll try. Den

[dpscoupe]

Thanks... and yes, it has the original TBI 350/700R4 except they are both completely rebuilt. Engine has all new parts, the transmission is rebuilt with a TransGo Shift Kit and a Billet Torque Converter. And even though it's just a 350 small block, with the shift kit and 4:88 gears it barks the back tires when it shifts from first to second. So far I'm not a big fan of the TBI Fuel Injection but it does seem to work really well.

Down the road the small block is coming out and someone else can have it as I plan on installing a carbed and cammed BBC just for the raw torque, horsepower and most of all... simplicity...

Oh yeah... the air-conditioning blows cold thanks to a little freshening up by my buddy Carlos and his son...

The Chevy TBI setup isn't a power maker, but it is stone reliable. Whoever built the truck had their wits about them as nearly no one goes through the diffs and upgrades the gears. Not to mention cold A/C! Wow!

Im not a chevy guy by any means, but I do have a soft spot for 67-72. One of the best looking trucks ever made. 81-87 SWB is #2 as far as bowties go

[DARK HORSE]

Here's the deal... you can hire the BEST PAINTER in the WORLD but it's the guy that does the wetsanding, cutting and buffing that makes or breaks the end-results.

Very true!!! I did a job for a guy awhile back that unfortunately had the same issues as the guy you bought your truck from. He also sought out a very reputable painter to repaint his truck (he was doing a full restore on). To say the least; he was extremely unhappy with the way the truck was returned to him. When he called, he told me he didn’t think the damage could be undone, and he thought he would have to have it repainted again. This is how his truck was returned to him right after a very expensive paint job, (and how we returned it to him…I think we made him very happy... )

















Hope you don't mind my piggybacking on your thread, I just wanted to re-emphasize your point…it's the guy that does the wetsanding, cutting and buffing that makes or breaks the end-results.

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

Since I am missing this one, not by choice, what products you guys using tonight?

[Mike Phillips]

Mike, friend of mine just called and needs some help. Not sure I'll be there tonight but I'll try. Den

Looks like we have plenty of people but I hope you can make it.

Pizza is ordered and there are cold beverages in the cooler as I type...

The Chevy TBI setup isn't a power maker, but it is stone reliable.

It's new technology to me as pretty much everything I've ever owned has a BBC and a Carburetor on it by choice. I'm getting use to it though...

Whoever built the truck had their wits about them as nearly no one goes through the diffs and upgrades the gears.

Right now we have a lot of really hot projects going on behind the scenes, kind of why I'm not on the forum much, just poking in once in a while. As soon as thing slow down though I'll probably post some detailing write-ups showing products and techniques and along with it more parts of the truck.

I kept the 454 out of the Jimmy and after a fresh rebuild and a set of adjustable valve trains it's going in and the 350 is going away...

Not to mention cold A/C! Wow!

That was Stacy's requirement...

Im not a Chevy guy by any means, but I do have a soft spot for 67-72. One of the best looking trucks ever made.

81-87 SWB is #2 as far as bowties go

Yep... I agree...


Time to head out to the studio and ramp up for the buff-out...

[Mike Phillips]

Since I am missing this one, not by choice, what products you guys using tonight?

It's going to be a Tool Free-For-All

I like to let the regulars pick the tools they like the best as I completely trust them... new guys to these events I start them out on the DA's like the PC, Meguiar's and Griot's.

I've already tested an area and the swirls and whatever the wacky staining problem is in the paint are all coming out with a medium cut polish.


Have to go...

[sproketser]

Love these BBC engines ! Great Blazer shine .