[osrclint74]

Rolled it over January 21st 2021 drifting down Indian Hill in Lewiston, NY. I didn't hardly feel a thing, not even a scratch on me or any broken glass in my clothes. Had it towed home, pushed in the clutch pedal the next day, turned the key and it fired right up like nothing ever happened. That's why I need to fix it, she wants to drive again this summer.

I need a driver's door, driver's side fender and a cab that will work on an 84. Doesn't even have to be a full cab, pretty sure I can cut the pillars and weld a donor lid on because I don't see any damage even close to the window line. It's gonna be a project, but that's what makes it fun.

 

[osrclint74]

I need to add, that was my first rollover, and it better be my last. If the front tire didn't touch the shoulder, it would've never been upside down in the ditch.

 

[MyWorkInProgress]

I know it may not look like the rest of the cab is damaged, but I assure you there’s some warping somewhere or another after a roll. I’d get the cutting pillar idea out of your head, best just find a cab. I think you’d want to stay ‘87-, the firewall may have changed with the interior redesign and dash change in ‘88.

 

[Mostizzle]

The "drifting", was this intentional?

 

[oldeerslayer]

Lewiston is a little north of Buffalo. On a hill in mid January it likely wasn't intentional, but probably unavoidable.
In that neck of the woods 2-3" of snow is called flurries. 5-6" is a dusting.

 

[osrclint74]

I know it may not look like the rest of the cab is damaged, but I assure you there’s some warping somewhere or another after a roll. I’d get the cutting pillar idea out of your head, best just find a cab. I think you’d want to stay ‘87-, the firewall may have changed with the interior redesign and dash change in ‘88.

I found a 1988 full cab with all the glass, doors, seats, dash, interior, all wiring and it looks like everything else. Now I need to research and see if the firewall did indeed change. I know it will need some sledge hammer work to make the V8 fit but that's to be expected. It's down in Winston-Salem NC and the guy is asking $1000. Seems a little pricey but it looks rust free and straight. Might have to take the RV on a road trip and rent a U-haul trailer and cart that beast home.Waiting for him to get back to me. I miss the clutch pedal. My Chevelle is an ice cream getter, not a tire melter, I need to resurrect the S-10 soon, summer's almost here.

 

[Mostizzle]

Lewiston is a little north of Buffalo. On a hill in mid January it likely wasn't intentional, but probably unavoidable.
In that neck of the woods 2-3" of snow is called flurries. 5-6" is a dusting.

Thanks for not answering my question that was asked to someone else, and for the geography/meteorology/physics lesson.

 

[osrclint74]

The "drifting", was this intentional?

Wheelspin on black ice going downhill on a steep hill with tight turns. Western NY is not friendly to RWD light vehicles in winter even at slow speeds. FWD is even worse down that hill, turn the wheels, keep going straight on black ice.

 

[Mostizzle]

Gotcha. To be honest I asked because I've seen people post here looking for help and/or sympathy only to find out they were driving like an ass and it resulted in an accident. I live in Michigan, I'm no stranger to the conditions that you described.

Glad you're ok and I hope you get it fixed up.

 

[Jayhawke]

if you are fitting that cab around a v8 - the changes in the firewall will not really bother you as most everything was moved once already for your bigger mill.

 

[osrclint74]

I posted the pictures above that were taken the day after the rollover. I went out the next morning, pushed in the clutch, turned the key, and it fired right up. I truly feel like it spoke out to me and said "Please dont send me to the scrapyard, I'm a southern truck" So, after finally finding a donor cab from a 1991 that I could cut the roof off of for $100 and also got the sliding rear window thrown in for free. I managed to put the truck back together in a little under 2 weeks in the driveway. Welded the new roof on after buying a new windshield from LMC to make sure I had everything lined up(which I dropped because one of the suction cups let loose as I was ready to finalize the project) Had to buy another windshield, ugh!!! Managed to get a brand new door still in the box for an '82 for $100 about 60 miles away. Ordered a new front fender from JEGS for $104 with free shipping. Driver's door glass $80 on ebay with free shipping. New tail lights for $26 from Rockauto. $30 to get the argon/CO2 tank filled for the welder, and about 25 cans of Rust Oleum 2X grey primer along with a little bondo to cover the welds and fix a few dings. Fairly cheap job considering I did it myself aside from having wasted $250 on the first windshield.

 

[osrclint74]

 

[osrclint74]

I know it's not as pretty as most of the V8 S-10s on here, but this one is mine, and it will always be a work in progress. I have a wonderful girl who loves this little truck and doesn't mind helping to turn wrenches and totally supports every move I make. It can only look better from this point on.

 

[osrclint74]

So many pictures, I hope I'm not boring anybody too much.

 

[osrclint74]

I still need to do some bondo work and feather out where the welds are to tidy it up some. I'm really liking the shade of the grey primer and was thinking maybe when I'm ready for paint I should just wet sand it and clear coat the primer. After all, this is still a work truck I'm not afraid to throw broken concrete or stones, or mulch or whatever in the back of. Got a set of PONTIAC GTA rims I had on last year but melted the rubber off them, that's why the cheap stock 14" are on it now. Should have new rubber next week and have the better wheels back on it for inspection until I melt the rubber off them again. Definitely need to make myself a set of ladder bars because the wheel hop is annoying and I don't want to feather the clutch much more since it's still fairly new. Next step is side exit exhaust thru the panel between the cab and rear wheel on the passenger side.

 

[Rhotpursuit]

Pics are good...nice progress.

 

[osrclint74]

Pics are good...nice progress.

Thanks, still a bunch of work to do though. I'm so cheap that I even straightened out the bent antenna to save a buck

 

[osrclint74]

Need to adjust the hood a little bit to even it out. I'm definitely liking the black grille and headlight bezels much better than the faded chrome. Tomorrow I cover the old shifter hole so I can finally remove the wadded up towel that's been stuffed in there the past year to muffle the headers.

 

[TomA]

That didn't turn out half bad. Good job. I kinda like the primer look myself. Just clear coat it like you said so it doesn't rust.

 

[oldeerslayer]

The confederate battle flag on a truck that far north is a surprise. I grew up in Pendleton and we were all proud to be Yankees. And Yankees fans.