73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: gbskunk2006 on January 10, 2008, 10:02:21 PM
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Here are some pics of my restoration project which I started almost two years ago. Still very much WIP but at least I finally got it painted two days before Christmas. Hopefully, now the fun starts with putting it all back together again :)
Picked up this neglected p/u for $2000 in 2000 to use primarily as a "beater". Loved driving it so much I decided to give it some much needed TLC and a face lift.
NOTE: Had a lot more pics but my Webshots album was deleted so all my links don't work now. Attaching some before shots.
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oh man, she's lookin good! it's kinda cool to see some 4.3 classics running around. i really like that you added the silver at the bottom of the factory paint. i'm gonna start redoing my K1500 here pretty soon and i'm gonna upgrade mine to a "Sierra Classic/SLE" hybrid, lol. what are your other plans for it?
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wow that looks way better. i recently did the same thing to my truck. hopfully im going to paint it tomorrow or this weekend
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i no this might sound wierd...But do u have any pics of ur timing tab? my truck dont have one....And i have no idea on ware the new one should go..
Same engine as you 4.3 v6
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Excellent progress! Looking good.
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i no this might sound wierd...But do u have any pics of ur timing tab? my truck dont have one....And i have no idea on ware the new one should go..
Same engine as you 4.3 v6
Redneckchevy... As soon as I pull my 4.3L out of my 86, your welcome to my timing tab. Engine runs good but the block is cracked where the outside starter bolt goes in an I can't get a starter to work so IMO the engine is junk...
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...put it infront of a 4 spd and roll start it everywhere? ;D
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Well that would rock!..Just let me no when and how much :D
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Good clean look, should look pretty sweet when finished.
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...put it infront of a 4 spd and roll start it everywhere? ;D
It is a stick and that is how I get it going but in NW Indiana there is not enough hills to strategically park.
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Well that would rock!..Just let me no when and how much :D
No problem, it is my next project in line but it will be a few weeks before I start it.
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O no problem i went this long lol cpl more weeks wont hurt me at all
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Here's a shortlist of all the new/used parts I've collected over past couple of years that still need to be installed. If all goes according to plan, hope to get her on the road by this Spring.
Interior:
-sound proofing for the cab
-headliner and carpet
-headliner trim
-weather stripping for doors and all windows
-stereo and speakers
-vent windows
-rally steering wheel
-dash
Exterior:
-front windshield
-rear sliding window (got it tinted)
-black side moldings
-side markers and tail lights
-front chrome bumper (with guards)
-rear chrome step bumper
-bed and tailgate cap (diamond plated)
-running boards
-wheel well and front trim
-billeted front grill
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Looks very nice! What are you putting in it when you pull the 4.3?
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Looking good. Keep the pics coming. ;D
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The 4.3 is still really strong so likely won't be replacing it for a while. Long term plan is to p/u either a 350 or another 4.3 block and "slowly" rebuild it in my spare time. Since it 's going to be a "daily driver" gas mileage will be a big consideration.
Thanks for all the positive comments. Will post new pics once she's ready for the street.
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Cool - My friend tried the same but he found he was into the throttle so much with the 4.3L he ended up using less fuel with the 350 we finally put in. But you can beef up the 4.3L's pretty good too! Keep the progress pix updated!
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Good point VileZambonie, I've heard that before so will have to give it some serious consideration.
On another note, I was pretty surprised myself when I first came across the truck years ago to find a V6 under the hood however, I was sold once I took her for a test drive.
Since the V6 appears to be "rare" do you think the value of my truck will be greater by keeping the V6 or dropping in a V8 in the future?
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The V6 will not make the truck more valuable at this point in time, however I think most people favor the V8 and would want to tear the V6 out. If it came down to building it, I'd build a V8 and hang onto the V6 and you can sell it along with the truck if you ever chose to do so.
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yep, the 4.3 has to work a LOT harder to move that truck...although, you'd be amazed. if you look on www.73-87.com (http://www.73-87.com) and check out the road test where they tested two "identically" equipped '86 K1500 SBs (one with a 305 and the other with a 262) they were a lot closer than you think...and the 4.3 did better in mileage.
i guess a lot of times it depends on what shape your engine is in (tunewise and internal condition). normally though, a moderate V8 has to work a LOT less than a V6 so it will return better mileage if driven sanely...
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Well, here is the final product after almost three years!
Just got it insured yesterday, and today I took it for a long awaited drive in the country.
To enhance the rims I painted them with POR-15 (Silver) and exposed the factory chrome hubs.
(http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/43154/2843796810075465031S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2843796810075465031qCtAVY)
A little touch up paint and chrome polish helped make the emblems look like new again.
(http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/45204/2408941070075465031S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2408941070075465031IRhhkf)
A new billeted grill and bumper help finish off the front end.
(http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/33514/2231458350075465031S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2231458350075465031cGYFGy)
What difference sound proofing material, new carperting and headliner make for comfort.
(http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/44025/2055000790075465031S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2055000790075465031sXlqJx)
Wouldn't be complete without a new chrome step bumper. Rear sliding window sure helps with the air circulation.(http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/45480/2843818500075465031S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2843818500075465031sSQHQs)
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Wow She looks Great in that Color(one of my Fav Blues) 8) :o Congrats on the Clean Job, but Sorry bout the Marriage.... :-X A little WD40 sprayed on a rag, will help to freshen up those Impact Strips on your bumper guards, if they are faded....
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Awesome job on the truck. She's a beauty. I'm really wanting to restore my wheels and interior now.
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Misc pics
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Very nice work, looks great and enjoy.
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oh man that is a pretty Sierra! nice work man!
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You did a great job. These pictures are the best answer to the post"What is it that attracts us to these trucks?" They say it all for me.
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Thanks for all the positive feedback. Still have to take care of some minor details like spraying on the POW-R-Liner in the truck bed, take care of a leak around the back window, center the steering wheel, refit some trim pieces, etc.. Three most important things I learned about doing this project;
1. Don't rush it!
Near the end, I "hurried" some of the body prep work so there are some minor imperfections I wish I had taken the extra time to work on.
2. Get the biggest capacity air compressor you can afford before you start.
This is critical for running many of the tools that will make the job go smoother (e.g. da sander, ratchets, cutting, sprayer, etc.) I thought my 8 gallon would do but quickly realized the opposite. Eventually I bought a 60 gallon compressor and it made a huge difference.
3. Refer to point #1 :-)
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Looks nice n clean!
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how did you get that step bumper to fit so close under the bed???? Mine and many others that I have seen have a big gap b/t the lower part of the tailgate and the bumper.
I really need to know this or Im going to buy a regular stock bumper
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yellasldrboy_04,
You can tuck it where you want by modding the mounts or making your own. Generally you will have to redrill a few holes to move it around. I am not sure if that is what gbskunk2006 did, but that is how you can do it.
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To properly mount the step bumper they recommend you get a mounting kit like the one shown here.
http://www.autopartsfair.com/chevy-exterior_parts/catalog-item-31160.html
I know you can buy it separately (check out ebay) but in my case I think it was included in the price I paid for the bumper.
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Awseome resto!
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Awesome to see another very nice 73-87 in the 604 area (I'm in Chilliwack). Do you have any good used parts resources locally? I know JKL Auto used to specialize in these trucks but have since seem to gone under >:(
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Hey SUX2BU99, yes it is a very small world isn't it :-)
When I started my project the guys who did my exhaust recommended JKL but I never made it out there. I live in North Delta so there are a few wreckers along Scott Road to choose from. However, what I found out (and maybe this is because we live north of the 49th) was that to find anything in the 73-87 years was extremely rare so fortunately I didn't have to visit them too much. For new body pieces I found Pro Body Parts in Coquitlam to be very good to deal with. Overall, I searched far and wide for what I hoped were good deals. Here are some examples;
Headliner Trim Pieces - $20 for all at the local wrecker.
Rear Sliding Window - $35 at a swap meet out in Cloverdale couple years ago (had it tinted later).
Side Vent Windows - $15 (for the pair) at the same swap meet.
Dash - $40 on Ebay
Bed Caps - $75 on Ebay
Billeted Front Grill - $55 on Ebay
Running Boards - $15 on Ebay (brand new but still undecided as to how they'll look).
And the list goes on. This weekend I hope to get my shipment for the good folks at POR-15 and spray on their POW-R-Liner. I figured it'd would save me about half of what a dealers would charge.
Looks like you're making good progress yourself! Maybe we can hookup for a beer one day and compare notes.
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Right on, man. I keep my eyes open on Craigslist as it seems to be about the best resource for used parts. You can find some occasional deals on there and trucks that are being parted out. I just picked up an 81 12 bolt 3.40 posi for $150 on the weekened at a parts yard in Cultus, to replace the 2.76 open 12 bolt I have now. Other than that, I haven't had the need to scour the parts yards as of yet but what I'm on the hunt for is the newer 88-91 4-lamp Chevy front ends that came on the Blazers and Suburbans. I'd take a GMC too I think. Another difficulty I find is a good mechanic who knows his stuff for a decent price!
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Nice truck
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Where did you get the black trim?
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85ChevyJRF,
Sorry for the delayed response, haven't logged into the forum for a while.
I purchased a lot of my new parts, including the black trim through these guys
You might even want to do a search on Ebay as well.
Cheers
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Nice truck
good work on the resto
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Here are the results after spraying on my new bed-liner (a.k.a. Pow-R-Liner by POR-15);
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This is why I love my truck :)
(http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/43465/2243555450075465031S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2243555450075465031UTEIpY)
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Awesome to see another very nice 73-87 in the 604 area (I'm in Chilliwack). Do you have any good used parts resources locally? I know JKL Auto used to specialize in these trucks but have since seem to gone under >:(
Add another one to the 604 club! :D Do you guys know of any junkyard in the lower mainland or somewhere near here that has a stepside or two?
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This is why I love my truck :)
(http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/41116/2483747240075465031S600x600Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2483747240075465031mheNuh)
Now That's a Setup right there!8) 8) 8) I have been wanting to get a Bed Tent, since I had my Old '89 K2500, but Wifey doesn't care for Real Camping much :-\ :-[
Do you have a Bed Air Matress to go along with that????
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What did you end up paying for the bedliner kit? I'm thinking of wire-brushing mine off as much as will come off and redoing it. Also, what kind of gun did you use?
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SUX2BU99,
Think I paid $275 plus tax. I'm not sure if you can buy the kit through Lordco or Napa. I've dealt directly through the Canadian distributor and have had excellent service!
http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?grp=PLBK&dept=11
http://www.por15canada.com/can/index.htm
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Dragon,
No, I just laid down some plain old corrugated cardboard (cut to fit) and one of those self inflating mattresses. I hadn't "roughed it" in years, but definitely had the best sleep in a tent ever :)
BTW, I searched on Ebay but found the best price was through Costco online.
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Productgroup.aspx?Prodid=10309451&whse=bcca&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-CA
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Thanks for the info. I'll be buy Mopac tomorrow so I'll inquire. I see on the POR website that they give you a shutz gun in the kit. That's cool and I like that it uses a shutz gun rather than a regular paint gun to spray it out. Shows that it's thick like an undercoating. With the 1 gallon of product they give you, how thick do you think you could have done the bed floor, after you did the bedsides and tailgate? How many coats did you put on?
My truck has some kind of what I believe to be roll-on bedliner in it. It's sticking okay but some has scratched off and it's discolored some. It is 8 years old though. The tailgate was done in a different product it seems, since it's of a better texture and seems more durable.
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Oh, it's thick alright. I sprayed it on at about 40 PSI and really just had barely enough to cover the entire bed. It's probably only about 1\8 inch thick on my bed floors, but then again I'm not intending on abusing my truck too bad.
My only complaint would be that one gallon isn't really enough if you want to do a real thorough job. Another quart would have been nice.
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Was just looking through some of the other posts and found this.
They say that everyone has a twin out there, I guess the same holds true for trucks too :)
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb247/1985C10/angleshot_01.jpg)
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Thanks for the compliment, but my rig will need a little work to be as clean as yours.
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Well, my tranny finally packed it in and unfortunately it wasn't something I really wanted to monkey with myself. Took it to a local shop who specialize in transmissions, and they completely rebuilt it as well as replaced other misc parts. So far I'm pretty satisfied with the results although the cost did sting a bit :)
Also it's nice to know that my transmission is a TH400 so when it does come time for me to think about replacing the power plant, I'll have a lot of options available.
Here are some pics the shop took for me.
(http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/6952/2280958240075465031S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2280958240075465031vlWmbN)
Did some research and the shape of the pan also confirms that it's a TH400. The TH350 has a more distinct "square" shape with the corner notched out.
(http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/43738/2868225240075465031S500x500Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2868225240075465031fykLxN)
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like paint job nice and shiny
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Hello,
Have been offline for a few years so thought I’d just update “My Ride” with most recent photos taken last year. Here’s summary of upgrades since my last post in 2009;
1. Replaced valve guide seals. Sorry no pics but think I referred to some of DIY posts here for help. Messy job but well worth it since I’m no longer getting a big cloud of blue smoke when starting up. The 4.3 litre V6 engine still runs strong and will probably last as long as I own her.
2. Although I had painted with the POR-15 silver painted at the beginning, over time was noticing they were taking on an odd shade so I decided to repaint wheel rims to match the two-tone paint. Had some paint left over so just borrowed a paint gun from my friend who painted the truck. After a light sanding, I sprayed on a good base coat and then after allowing to dry overnight, sprayed on a couple coats of clear. IMO, it made a big difference!
3. Replaced the “DIN” radio with a “shafted” radio that was era correct. Tricky job b\c I had to use my MIG welder to add some plates back into the dash opening so I could properly mount the shafted radio. Not a hard job when the interior is stripped down but definitely more challenging when you’re trying to prevent sparks from burning the interior and/or causing a fire. Happy to report that after laying down a lot of wet towels, job completed w\o damaging my interior :)
4. Swapped out the front grill with era correct GMC grill which I got from my son’s 86 Sierra Classic short-box he had last year. Luckily I swapped the grill before he got into an accident that wrote off his truck :'(. Son was OK but it’s too bad about his truck b\c it was real nice and had lots of potential!
She’s still WIP but now I drive her sparingly as I’ve been taking her off the road for the Winter’s since 2009. All in all, still a very reliable truck as I won’t hesitate taking a full load to the dump, taking her camping, or if needed can be my daily driver while not emptying my wallet at the gas pump.
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Welcome back, she's a bute!!!
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Good choice for the calendar. Looks showroom new.
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Sweet GMC! Love that color and the wheels look great.
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Sweet GMC. Welcome back.
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Collector plate application shots.
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That looks right out of a GM sales brochure! Very impressive.
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Just a thought on insurance; if you can qualify for collector car insurance you can save a huge amount of money, something to look into anyway. I insure my truck with jc Taylor for 176 a year that is full coverage with no deductable and a 15k agreed value payout if i have a total loss with the option to buy it back. Standard car insurance may leave you underpaid if you have a total loss. standard insurance will use a "stated value" which doesn't guarantee the amount stated. The requirements can be difficult to meet, but if you qualify you could really save and keep it insured year round. Very nice work on the truck.
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The requirements can be difficult to meet, but if you qualify you could really save and keep it insured year round ...
1980c10 is absolutely right! More misc pics ...