My 85 build thread

[softballnrd27]

What's Up!! This is the build thread for my 1985 GMC 1500(that wears a bowtie). A little background on me: I have grown up on old Chevy Trucks, my 1st truck was a 64 3/4 ton I6 3 on the tree, never got it running before I sold it and bought a 71 LWB with an I6. That was the 1st truck that I actually modified. Since then I have owned 5 square bodies. In 2000 I joined the Marine Corps and up until about 3 years ago I was into Jeeps(being in SoCal will do that to you). I caught the bug again in 08 and it has been uphill ever since then(downhill if you ask the wife) This truck is my 3rd one since I got back into trucks. I am currently sitting in Afghanistan waiting to get back to work on the truck. Anyway on the reason for this thread:
This is what the truck looked like the day I bought it:

When I got it the motor was in the bed and there wasn't a transmission.
The PO pulled the motor out bc there was an underhood fire and had plans to install something a little better. This is the 305 that I got with it. It is slow and way underpowered, but I drive the crap out of it.








Front end:


Fire damage on the hood from the underhood fire.


Pass side door:


Driverside rear wheel well:


My son and I did alot of work and got it to this state:




Future motivation:


Right now the plans for the truck are:
Trans: built th400
Rear: Braced 9" w/Strange Center, Detroit locker, 35 Spline Moser and 3.50 gears
Usage: 85% street 15% strip(1-2 trips to the strip a month) 30" tall tire(DR for strip) will try to keep it under 6800 rpm. I want it to be reliable so I am not looking for 100% max effort. I would like to see between 6-800 rwhp and be able to run in the low 11s/high 10s(looking to beat up on an old man with a nitrous big block'd 79 Malibu, he currentlly has a best of 11.3 on a 100 shot)
6.0l Iron Block 4.030" bore
AES 390" Stroker kit 3.825" stroke, 6.125" rods, 4.030" CP piston -13cc, roughly 9.0-9.2:1cr
Pat G spec'd cam
317 heads(unported will upgrade to AFR later on)
Edelbrock Vic Jr w/6061.com elbow 90mm TB
I will be using the truck manifolds to build the turbo system.
FI Borg Warner ST80 Turbo(83mm turbine/80mm compressor)
TurboSmart 45mm Wastegate and Race Port BOV
2.5" hot side tubing and 3" cold side
I will run it through an intercooler, just have to see what fits and also have meth injection for the higher boost runs down the strip.
I am installing a 20 gal fuel cell with -8 feed and -6 return with Aeromotive fuel components.

I will have the truck up and running with the 390(N/A) by the end of the year and hopefully have all the parts to have the turbo on by the end of next summer at the latest.

[softballnrd27]

Once I get the motor/suspension/drivetrain all squared away then I will focus on the bodywork and give it a real flat black paintjob instead of a rattle can paint job.