Twisted, I am going to paint my daughters 83 shortbed in 1996 Chevy Truck Indigo Blue. I think that color, and the way it shifts hues will be slap gorgeous on a 73-87 Chebbie.

 

thanks for the imput, blue is still an option....ill check it out....work on the truck is so slow right now....i can't get a moment in my garage to work on my own vehicle, because everyone else i know is breaking down!....good money though, just want to keep rolling on this project, but i'm going to be fitting up the exhaust very soon after i get the transfer case shifter finished....then im hoping to build a fire in it and remotivate myself....always does a person good to hear that engine fire up, when hes spent days making it happen

 

looking good, what type of paint did you use on that block?

 

its just dupli-color engine enamel...and some VHT flame proof

 

wow i just posted a topic if anyone has done this then i saw your thread,i also have a 85 k20 heavy duty that i want to swap a 12valve into.i will be folowing this closely

 

could always go with a medium canyon red like the 1979 Lil Red Express!

 

lol im glad to see some more interest in my project! ill keep the posts up....ahhh bud....i already have one too many red trucks....

 

Very nice build indeed I am also planning to put a 12v in my 86 k30. Hoping to get started this summer.... I will be watching closely thanks for the write up

 

thanks for the comments!, small update the wiring for the engine is done, except for the grids.....i installed a new fuel tank and new 3/8 fuel line and new 5/16 return line....iv been sandblasting on the frame, underneath the cab.... here and there when the weather is warm enough i can take it outside....ill post up some more pics soon, if you have any questions just ask....

 

been getting big snows!!!! can't get out from behind a plow to get any work done on the truck....except for new brake lines...they are done!

 

progress is always good!!

 

The thing in post-nine is a dropping resistor more than likely for the grid heaters of the Chevy engine. That truck had a dual alternator system and 24 V for cranking and for running other military equipment. A friend had one while he was in Guantánamo, he said they were always burning out the grid heaters actually not grid heaters, the name slips my mind at this point.
You can get standard Ford starter relays and run battery power through them while controlling them with a pushbutton. I would suggest that you connect the trigger circuit through your ignition switch.

 

yep, your right, the word your looking for is glow plugs, they have one in each cylinder....and yes thats something like i'm planning to do with the grids but i don't really want to have at triggered by the key, because i'm basically only drive this truck in the summer, i won't really need them the majority of the time, so i don't want them coming on when i dont need them....i won't drive good trucks in the salt, I'm going to upload some more pictures right now so first chance i get i'll post them up!

 

Here is a simple wiring diagram of how I did my girds. I used the Dodge wiring harness with the fuseable links so I am not sure the proper fuse size for the grids, and I came off a fused circuit in the Ford wiring for my momentary switch. Your switch and relay wiring can be #16 wire, the grids are at least #6 or bigger. What others might call a solonoid, this electrician calls a relay so we might have a terminology difference. You will have to rotate the pic so you can read it.

 

here's a picture of my exhaust, the factory first gen exhaust works almost perfectly for my chevy, i had to cut an 1 1/2" out of the pipe directly after the turbo and keep the same angle to make sure the pipe would sit on the turbo properly....i also had to modify the "exhaust bellhousing mount" to give proper frame clearance but it looks great....





and one of my freshly painted frame, and one of my new fuel tank.....with new 3/8 feed line all the way to the lift pump...