Noob

Thanks for the add. I currently don't own a squarebody. I will retire in approx. 6 years and I want one as my "retirement" vehicle so I'm starting the hunt now in the hopes I can learn alot here and find what I want in the next year or two. I worked at the Chevy truck plant in Flint Mi in the late 70's. Since I built and/or painted literally 1000's of these trucks, they are near and dear to my heart. I graduated from high school in 1978 so my focus will be on finding a '78, though if the truck is right, I'll consider other round eye years. And as a last resort, I'll look at the later models with square headlights.

I'm not really set on 2WD vs 4WD. We'll see. I'm too old to do a frame off and a LS swap so I'll be looking for one that is either in good original factory condition or one that has been done. Or at least mostly done.

I'm not looking for show truck either. I will make it mechanically sound and clean under the hood, chassis and interior. If the paint has some patina, that's okay. I will actually haul stuff in it!

Excessive rust is no bueno for me. I can paint, but rust repair is not my jam. I can rebuild anything though I shy away from automatic trans and rear diffs.

I am kinda OCD. Perfectionist my wife says. When I touch something, I do it right. I don't cut corners.

And lastly, I am long winded but I will try to keep my posts as concise as I can. Looking forward to this forum!

Avatar is a facsimile of a truck I did back in the early 90's.

You may find you know who @Keith Seymore is, on a side note. You two maybe can share stories.


Also, welcome from NC.
Good luck on the hunt for that perfect 78!!

Welcome from the Texas Panhandle.

WFO said:

Welcome from the Texas Panhandle.

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Texas may be a location where I will look at trucks. We have a plant in Georgetown and I could combine business trips with some hunting! Plus I have customers in El Paso!

Whoa! Welcome -

I was at Flint starting in 1979, through about 1986. After that I moved to engineering and came back for new product launch and to work on assembly problems.

K

Keith Seymore said:

Whoa! Welcome -

I was at Flint starting in 1979, through about 1986. After that I moved to engineering and came back for new product launch and to work on assembly problems.

K

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I worked there after high school graduation in 78, then went to college that fall after I decided I didn't want to be a lifer. I worked there in the summers between college for a few years.

When I first got in after HS, I was on a wheel line. We took the wheels off one line and put them on another that led to the tire application point. We tripled up on that job; 1/2 hour on, 1 hour off.

The summer work was varied; utility man one summer(worked in ELPO, small parts take off, trim, body in white area, some I can't remember), P&G sprayer for a couple summers doing zinc chromate in that little room that stuck out on top of the plant. What a miserable place to work, lol. Then I got into a booth and painted the drivers side of the truck putting on the final coat before it went into the ovens. 13 colors at that time. I also did the "fog" coat over the metallics to help even out the flake.

My childhood friend whose dad got us both in after high school stayed. He is a Millwright. Been there ever since though he might be retired by now.

Welcome from the Buckeye State. Good luck on your search. 78 & 79 are my favorites.

Shorty81 said:

Welcome from the Buckeye State. Good luck on your search. 78 & 79 are my favorites.

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Yet no comment about my 79

Haha, kidding

Vbb199 said:

Yet no comment about my 79

Haha, kidding

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No disrespect on your build Vince, glad it's getting a new life. JMO, would rather see a stock refurbish.

Shorty81 said:

No disrespect on your build Vince, glad it's getting a new life. JMO, would rather see a stock refurbish.

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I certainly understand, it'll see new sheet metal, a repaint to its original cardinal red, and an overall restoration eventually. I bought it all original (minus the ****** burgendy paint), and DO want to keep it looking original as it possibly can, i just wanted to breath new life into it with a stout big block, automatic, and built factory rear end.


A 100% factory, non modded truck will be in the cards eventually.

My suburban has retained its original appearance AND specifications mostly.... it came with a tbi 350, 700r4, and 10 bolt on 1/2 ton suspension
Its got a HO350, (oem one blew a head), a 600hp 700r4 with shift kit (oem one lost 3rd and 4th), and a 10 bolt regeared with 4.10's and a grizzly duragrip (original axle housing and shafts) with 3/4 ton suspension all around.... wheels are factory also and the interior is 100% original, as well as the body.... i like original, i just cant honestly say my round eye hot rod vision involved a straight 6 and 3 speed (the 79)


Shamefully, the only square ive had that was a heavily modified shitbox is the 1990 k5 i had that was already chopped up and gutted, and its PO was sending it to the scrapper.


For this, i dont think some of the purists, like yourself (here) dont really like me, and that is ok.


Ps: you'll never see me swap an LS in any square i have, as long as im alive anyway

Vbb199 said:

I certainly understand, it'll see new sheet metal, a repaint to its original cardinal red, and an overall restoration eventually. I bought it all original (minus the ****** burgendy paint), and DO want to keep it looking original as it possibly can, i just wanted to breath new life into it with a stout big block, automatic, and built factory rear end.


A 100% factory, non modded truck will be in the cards eventually.

My suburban has retained its original appearance AND specifications mostly.... it came with a tbi 350, 700r4, and 10 bolt on 1/2 ton suspension
Its got a HO350, (oem one blew a head), a 600hp 700r4 with shift kit (oem one lost 3rd and 4th), and a 10 bolt regeared with 4.10's and a grizzly duragrip (original axle housing and shafts) with 3/4 ton suspension all around.... wheels are factory also and the interior is 100% original, as well as the body.... i like original, i just cant honestly say my round eye hot rod vision involved a straight 6 and 3 speed (the 79)


Shamefully, the only square ive had that was a heavily modified shitbox is the 1990 k5 i had that was already chopped up and gutted, and its PO was sending it to the scrapper.


For this, i dont think some of the purists, like yourself (here) dont really like me, and that is ok.


Ps: you'll never see me swap an LS in any square i have, as long as im alive anyway

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Awe shucks Vince I like you!! Just a large difference in age. Not purist per say, just don't wanna see an old truck thrashed and abused. Take care of him!!

Welcome

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