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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:19:42 PM

Title: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:19:42 PM
Hello, new to the site but not to chevy trucks.  Here are some pics of my 1980 chevy.
Title: Re: 1980 chevy
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:21:16 PM
Interior and engine
Title: My Trucks
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:24:44 PM
Here is a picture of my 1987 3/4 ton.  It's my general summer driver.  I have had this truck for about 9 years.  Love the fuel injected 305 that actually gets 19mpg highway. 
Title: Re: 1980 chevy
Post by: choptop on March 06, 2008, 09:25:47 PM
very nice truck, welcome to the site
Title: Re: 1987 chevy
Post by: 78BBSTEPSIDE on March 06, 2008, 09:27:37 PM
good looking trucks, welcome to the site
Title: 1983 chevy
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:32:18 PM
Here is my last restoration I did last spring.  I am addicted to silver lake sand dunes here in Michigan and this truck was built generaly for that.  I drove this truck for 5 years at the dunes and was getting to rotted out to be safe.  The truck was originally a 85 but not worth saving but I found a 83 cab that was worth saving. 
Title: 1984 chevy
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:36:36 PM
This is my fiance's silver lake truck.  This one we did not restore yet but bought with the intentions of redstoring someday.  It has no rust on it, will be nice to have one with all the parts for a change when we do tare it down.  Won't happen for a few years though.
Title: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:38:20 PM
Thanks, bought a bare frame and a rotted out cab when I was 16 and did a full restore on it.  I will never do that again with a cab.  Not worth all the extra work.  Good 4x4 cabs are hard to find around here though.
Title: My Chevys
Post by: JRConnieK10 on March 06, 2008, 09:42:26 PM
Welcome, nice truck also.
Title: My Chevys
Post by: JRConnieK10 on March 06, 2008, 09:44:31 PM
WOW, Another nice truck.
Title: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:45:36 PM
couple more
Title: My Chevys
Post by: JRConnieK10 on March 06, 2008, 09:46:04 PM
Lost count whew nice looking trucks ya got.
Title: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:50:53 PM
couple of the box
Title: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 09:56:59 PM
Couple shots of the truck before retore.  The rust really started getting bad a couple of years ago, you can see why I didn't want to save the cab.
Title: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 06, 2008, 10:00:53 PM
Thanks, we have 7 trucks right now, lol.  We are really partial to the older body style.  I will never drive one in the winter again so we got a 94 4x4 to share and a 88 s10 winter beater.  I have never driven the 87, 80, or 83 in the salt and never will.  Oh, and we also have a 78, ha ha.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: VileZambonie on March 07, 2008, 05:10:54 AM
Very cool! Your blue one looks like mine. Your white 1980 looks like my white 1980 I had too minus the body lift and cab lights. I also had the older headlight bezels on mine. It's good to see other nuts so I don't feel so bad about having 948564890560 of these trucks! lol LEt's see some more pix of the black one. (meaning your fiance's truck)
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: JJSZABO on March 07, 2008, 08:09:10 AM
Nice Pics!! ;D
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: cjtimp on March 07, 2008, 08:40:30 AM
Man, I'm jealous! Great trucks and great pics.    ;D
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: 80stepsideguy on March 07, 2008, 09:39:33 AM
7 Trucks? Geez, i am having trouble building 1 an ya got 7 sweet rides i gotta say and welcome to the madness, great ta have ya here.  ;D

thanks
pat
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: Captkaos on March 07, 2008, 09:43:30 AM
Sweet rides.  Welcome to the site.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 07, 2008, 10:13:59 AM
Here's a couple more of my fiance's truck.  It is actually Midnight Purple.  It a really neat color and most of the time it looks black.  Especially at night.  She really wants a yellow and black truck though so someday that's what it will be.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: VileZambonie on March 07, 2008, 10:15:23 AM
Where do you guys live? I wish I could take my truck out like that!
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 07, 2008, 10:17:36 AM
We live in Owosso Michigan.  We are currently trying to move to Ludington Michigan which is right on the water.  We are about a 3 hour drive to the dunes.  When we move it will be about 20-30 min drive.  I spend way too much gas going back and fourth all the time. 
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 07, 2008, 10:27:54 AM
Here is a picture of the 78 hibernating and a couple of my white truck during restore.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: JJSZABO on March 07, 2008, 11:07:47 AM
It's amazing how well these things can be brought back  :D

Nice looking trucks ;D
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: Dragon on March 07, 2008, 02:02:46 PM
Truly Envious of all of you and your Fiancee's Great Looking Trucks!! :o :o 8)  You do Great Work!!!  Curious, what kind of a lift do you have on your White '80???  Trying to get some ideas for my '77....
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 07, 2008, 02:25:55 PM
It's a 4" rough country soft ride full spring.  I don't like using blocks.  It has a 2"body lift that I regret installing and will most likely take out when this truck gets another tare down.  If I can ever get resituated in Ludington I'm planning on having more room and a pole barn.  I have another truck I bought for the frame and years ago, bought everything I could from gm dealer such as spring hangers and crossmembers and plan on rebuilding this truck again on a new platform.  Crazy right? 
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: hotrod24 on March 07, 2008, 03:05:06 PM
did you swap your dash
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 07, 2008, 03:08:21 PM
did you swap your dash

In the 80 yes, it was so beat up and butchered I got a doner dash from another truck to swap out.  These cabs were so cheap and easy to come by back in 94 when I started this, don't know what I was thinking.  "kids" lol
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: hotrod24 on March 07, 2008, 03:20:18 PM
i am going to change my dash some one did the same thing to mine i do not know if you have seen my post yet but it is not nice what is there all to do to change it i know you have to drill out the spot welds and there is two bolts on each side of the dash
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: team39763 on March 07, 2008, 08:05:01 PM
Nice....Very nice.  I plan to have a fleet of trucks too.  I like how clean that one truck is under the hood(in the first pics).  I wish mine could be that clean.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 07, 2008, 08:16:46 PM
i am going to change my dash some one did the same thing to mine i do not know if you have seen my post yet but it is not nice what is there all to do to change it i know you have to drill out the spot welds and there is two bolts on each side of the dash


Like you said, the sides are simple 2 bolts on each side.  I didn't want to disrupt the window channel area so I cut down the front of the dash with a cut off wheel and then cut the doner dash closer to the windshield and overlaped the two.  Put the bolts back in, couple of clamps to light up the overlaped edges and welded in place.  All the welds are under the dash so I didn't have to grind or work the welds they are all covered up.  Worked out well in the end because I would have had a whole lot more work to fix the metal that was in there, very bad.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: hotrod24 on March 07, 2008, 09:05:43 PM
you have any pics of you doing this
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 08, 2008, 07:35:26 PM
you have any pics of you doing this



I may have some pictured burried somewhere, these don't really help much but is the only quick ones I could find.  If you really need to see them I can dig for them.  Let me know.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: hotrod24 on March 08, 2008, 07:44:41 PM
it came out nice yea if it is not much trouble you can show them to me to
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 08, 2008, 07:46:19 PM
Still new to the site and not sure if you guys like a lot of pictures or not, but thought I would post a couple more of the blue truck.  I saved up parts for this truck for about two years and took the first bolt out last year, March 17.  Took me two months to build it except the box that I got done in July.   So about 3 months total.  I was a zombie though, went right to the garage after work and didn't get much sleep but made it back to the dunes by memorial weekend.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 08, 2008, 07:47:05 PM
it came out nice yea if it is not much trouble you can show them to me to

Ok ,sometime soon I'll dig through some boxes and see if I can come up with any better ones.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: VileZambonie on March 08, 2008, 07:48:33 PM
We love pix! Keep em coming. The blue one looks like my blue one  ;D
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 08, 2008, 07:51:12 PM
couple more
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 08, 2008, 07:58:47 PM
Here are a couple of the cab I found sitting in the weeds behind a barn.  Cab came from Ok rust free but had been sitting for about 7 years and built up some rust and needed quite a bit of repair.  The underside however was saved by some original undercoat that was a pain to get off.  I was able to find some brand new genuine gm doors but as you can see, they both had some damage to work out but came out perfect in the end.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 08, 2008, 08:05:30 PM
Ok, I had to show this other truck.  My first trip to silver lake when I got it back together and look at this other truck at the dunes.  All weekend I we were getting flaged down by someone thinking I was him and vise versa.  I thought it was funny.  What are the chances ???
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: 80stepsideguy on March 08, 2008, 08:10:16 PM
Man that is a gorgeous truck, looks like i need to build another 1 after this stepside.Has to be a 4x4 as well to go along with my 01 ram sport 4x4  ;D

thanks
pat
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 09, 2008, 11:34:13 AM
Took the factory tape off the center stainless trim.  Takes forever to get all the goo off but they are already polished behind the decal.  Taped off some letters and flames and etched in with my blast cabinet.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: JJSZABO on March 10, 2008, 08:17:11 AM
That's cool  8)
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: bowtieguy on March 10, 2008, 03:34:51 PM
Man how did I miss this thread!  Sweet rigs man!  Lov'n it!
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on March 10, 2008, 05:25:02 PM
Thanks ;D
Title: I got a new seat
Post by: dunedigger on June 20, 2008, 11:51:56 PM
Got my new seat in.  So cozy.  I'm thinking about selling the house and living in the truck now.
Title: Re: I got a new seat
Post by: Unofficial on June 20, 2008, 11:53:59 PM
I want a seat like that where it's not just a big ol' bench. How much did you have to modify?

By the way, your truck is absolutely beautiful. I've seen your pictures at the dunes.
Title: Re: I got a new seat
Post by: dunedigger on June 21, 2008, 11:44:25 AM
It is a universal seat.  It came with direct fit brackets to fit the floor.  However, they somehow overlock that the welds on the brackets hold them out on an angle so they don't work.  I was going to drill new holes but the more I got measuring things up, I ended up with 3 washers as spacers between the seat frame and bracket to clear the welds.  It lined up perfect with the floor bolts that way too ??? The bolts they provided were then too short which was no big deal.  The only other thing was the jump seat would hit the back of the cab when it was flipped up so I had to drill new holes in it and move it forward to sit properly.  Again no big deal but so much for direct fit, lol.  I took it out for a spin last night and I am in love.  Nice seat.  I don't like the jump seat at all.  I am even thinking about modifying something in it's place.  The only seats I liked the jump seat, I didn't like the main seat.  Oh well, over all, I love it.  I got the lumbar support for adjustable back support, works well too.
Title: Re: I got a new seat
Post by: bigkountry on June 21, 2008, 06:20:45 PM
Very nice
Title: Re: I got a new seat
Post by: cubicdollars on June 22, 2008, 05:01:50 AM
Good Looking Seats !!!
Title: Re: I got a new seat
Post by: Fordeatinz71 on June 22, 2008, 07:37:09 AM
man those look nice!  love that style...
Title: Re: I got a new seat
Post by: VileZambonie on June 22, 2008, 10:25:17 AM
nice
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on August 01, 2008, 06:32:21 PM
Messing around with pictures in the garage.  I am really happy with this color. Anyone else need a pole barn ??? Sigh
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: JRConnieK10 on August 01, 2008, 10:48:09 PM
Nice pics you can sure tell the shine and depth in paint.
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: HellaHellaLowLow on November 20, 2008, 06:43:32 AM
couple of the box

i know this is an old thread now...but in one of the pics of your bed with blue paint on the underside, i see a laid out c-10 in the background...is that yours too??...any details on that?...i love your lifted trucks (my 77 is lifted 6" on 35's)...but my heart is with my 73 that im bodydropping to the doors...haha so that laid out truck caught my attention real quick
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on November 20, 2008, 11:05:48 AM
nice truck man!  I love the dunes pics.  I love that is fixed up really nice and you still play with it.  That's my idea of restoring a old truck!  Make it new again, then USE it!
Title: Re: My Chevys
Post by: dunedigger on November 20, 2008, 05:15:41 PM
couple of the box

i know this is an old thread now...but in one of the pics of your bed with blue paint on the underside, i see a laid out c-10 in the background...is that yours too??...any details on that?...i love your lifted trucks (my 77 is lifted 6" on 35's)...but my heart is with my 73 that im bodydropping to the doors...haha so that laid out truck caught my attention real quick

The guy that sprayed my truck is into lowered trucks.  He has taken two of the 70's trucks in on payment for other paint work.  He has big plans for them, they are both started projects from someone else they never finished.  He does killer work so I can't wait to see them done someday.