73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Members Rides => Topic started by: got2haul on March 04, 2008, 06:31:20 pm
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305 4-speed granny. Original grille. 1973-1978 headlamp bezels painted Argent silver to match the grille, in the style of the 1975 and 1976 trucks. Lowered 2/4. 15x8 wheels up front with 245/60, 16x10 wheels in the rear with 295/50 and NOS hubcaps. Aftermarket AC. I wanted to keep it mostly stock-looking, 'cause I just like the look.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/08_02_08%20stepside/IMG_3106.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/08_02_08%20stepside/IMG_3112.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/08_02_08%20stepside/IMG_3168.jpg)
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very nice...long live the white tops
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Good looking truck (http://arhunter.net/forum/Smileys/classic/cheesy.gif)
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Sweet, clean truck. Its a beauty.
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I love stepside - Looking Good ;D
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Very Clean original looking truck!
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Very Cool Truck. If it had sidepipes and a big block it would be the same truck as from the 1978 movie "The Driver" with Ryan O'Neal and Bruce Dern. You should check that movie out.
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Usually I don't care for stepsides, cause they are generally off in looks to me, but you got a Great Looking Truck(Especially the Bigs N Littles Factory Style Steelies)!!! 8) 8) 8)
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oooooh... aaaaah... NICE! I like it!
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That is a sweet ride!
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Very clean. I like the tire setup. Mine is the same (except 15x10 in the back) and it gives it a nice fat tire look. The paint scheme is neat too. My first vehicle I ever owned, an 81 Jimmy 2wd had that same red lower, white upper/top scheme. Until I had it painted metallic black with GM slate grey top. Are the rims factory or repops?
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sweet truck...where did you get the wide rims? do you know if they make wide rallys like that?
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Thanks for the compliments. I had the wheels custom made by Stockton Wheel Service via mail-order. They take a factory center and build them however you want them, up to 17 inches in diameter and 14 inches wide along with your specific backspacing requirements, and can do the same with rallys. You can get aftermarket rally wheels in size 15x10 through Wheel Vintiques and Stockton Wheel, as well.
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Now that is a super clean ride! ;D
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I love the stepsides, and you wheel setup is really cool
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beautiful truck! even with the rake it looks stock...and gorgeous!
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SHARP SHARP SHARP SHARP Truck!!!!!
Is the step side bed the original 80 bed? What about the tailgate? My 78 shorty has
a wooden flat bed but I wanna go with a step side and like the way yours looks.
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The stepside bed and the tailgate are original, as far as I can tell. It even has what appears to be the original painted wooden floor -- it's in remarkable shape for its age. When I bought the truck, it had one small dent in the passenger side rear fender. I had a local guy who's what I consider to be an expert in paintless dent repair take care of it. You can't even see where it was. Even though the paint in the pictures looks great, its not without issues. There are quite a few small chips in the paint low and behind the front tires and on the leading edge of the hood. I can tell that the truck has been repainted at least once in it's life. I had the rooftop painted white just recently, after I installed the wheels and tires.
I spent quite a bit of time measuring for the correct backspacing and tire width/height to achieve the look I was after. I wanted a slight rake for the hot rod look, but also wanted the gap above the tires to match front and rear or at least be very close, so tire size had to figure into that. I made a pair of 9/16" lift blocks and installed them in the rear to bring it up slightly, but I may remove those now.
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that is one nice truck, looks like a magazine cover truck!
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Very Cool Truck. If it had sidepipes and a big block it would be the same truck as from the 1978 movie "The Driver" with Ryan O'Neal and Bruce Dern. You should check that movie out.
I finally got a copy of the movie The Driver and watched it yesterday. You're right -- my truck looks a lot like the truck in the movie. I enjoyed watching it, but hated seeing that great looking truck beat up like that!
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I'm glad you liked it. I think that movie is essential to any 73-87 fan because of that awesome truck, but for you, with the way your truck is nearly identical in terms of color, body style, and stance, I thought it would be extra-special. I'd take "The Driver" over "Gone in 60 Seconds" any day.
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Very great looking truck. How about some engine and interior shots?
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Here is a capture from the movie on Internet Movie Car Database:
(http://www.imcdb.org/images/010/051.jpg)
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Hey, Captkoas, great shot of the truck in the movie! As I was watching the scenes that featured the truck, I couldn't help but think that they had lowered the front but not the rear. Maybe they simply cut the coils? I loved the shot of the truck blocking the entrance/exit to the warehouse just as they turn the headlights on. Looks mean.
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It was probably a big block on small block springs, LOL. Also, for those that don't know, in that shot, he's slamming on the brakes after playing chicken with a Trans Am, so the rake isn't that pronounced. But it does have a good rake to it.
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Very great looking truck. How about some engine and interior shots?
The interior is in progress. I recently recovered the seat, patched the floor and installed new carpet and replaced the seat belts, but the door panels aren't in that great of shape. They are out of the truck right now and I plan to replace them this weekend. Except for a carb rebuild and a quick (and definitely not thorough) cleaning, the motor hasn't been touched since I got it. It's still a bit of a mess, and I'd be embarrassed to show you pictures. ... One day.
Here's what it looked like when I bought it:
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/08_02_08%20stepside/80_Chev_Stepside1.jpg)
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Did you notice in the Driver sometimes the truck is standard on the floor and sometimes it has a column shift...watch it and pay attention, it's pretty funny.
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Yes, check out this topic (http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=6868.0) I started a while back.
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man that truck keeps me drooling...
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that looks awesome! man i love the wheels. but where did you find the stock rear wheel that wide. anyway they look sweet. lets see the interior. ;D
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he was saying back on the 1st page that they were custom-built wheels. they are actually 17" wheels which looks pretty slick to me!
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The interior is finished (for now). Here are a couple of pics.
Original parts that I refurbished:
1. Dash pad.
2. Door panels.
3. AC dash plate on passenger side.
4. Floor mats (from a 1989 model).
5. Shifter and boot plates.
What I replaced with either NOS, reproduction, or aftermarket parts:
1. Carpet with insulation
2. Seat belts (I painted the retractor covers and various other parts to match the door panels and dash pad).
3. Instrument panel dash bezel.
4. Body to door weather stripping.
5. Seat upholstery.
6. Tilt steering column replaced with one from a floor shift model (when I bought it, it had a tilt column from an automatic truck).
7. Door sills.
8. Door arm rests (I painted to match).
9. Column-mounted tach.
I'm not crazy about the way the reproduction dash bezel fits, so I'm going to experiment a little with the solid black one that came with it and see if I can jazz it up to an acceptable level.
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Top notch work. That looks cozy.
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nice work. that looks like it's brand new!
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That is a sweet lookin truck. Color combo really works. White tops rock! :)
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Just an extremely nice truck overall. Thanks for taking the time to post the exterior and interior shots.
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got2haul ,
I just can't get enough of the wheels on that thing! I am checking into Stockton wheel as we speak! Where they reasonable to deal with? Both in price and turn around time? What did you get for back spacing on the rear? How much does the tire hang over the rim? And one more question, what brand tires are you running?
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Bowtieguy,
Thanks -- it's nice that someone else likes the "factory look" like I do! I paid $789 delivered for all 4 wheels. I waited about 2-1/2 months from date of order until they arrived. Stockton Wheel is pretty busy, according to the owner. I let them take their time and didn't bug them, even as I got impatient. I did ask for a progress report via email at one point (I think after about 1-1/2 months), but did not receive a response. They were very responsive prior to the order when we discussed options and pricing via email. Once I made a decision, I called them direct.
Front wheels are 15 x 8 and have 4" backspacing and the rear are 16 x 10 and have 5" backspacing. There is about 1" clearance between the inside edge of the tire to the inner bed side (remember its lowered, so it's up in the fenderwell). There is about 1/4" clearance from the widest outermost edge of the tire on the outside edge of the tire to the fender lip as it's curled under. These measurements are taken from the widest point of the sidewall, using a plumb line. The width of the 295 tire on a 10" rim is ~12.4 inches. Taking into account that the outside measurement of a 10" rim is actually 11" rather than 10", that's .7" overhang on each side, or about 3/4".
The tires are BF Goodrich Radial T/A front and rear. Size 245/60-15 in the front and 295/50-16 in the rear. With these tires and wheels, the track width is the same front and rear.
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Thank you for the excellent response! That is great info for me to know.
Did you send them your wheels or did they have some in their core that they used?
What did you use to lower your truck. I like the stance too. you commented 2-4 drop.
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They had the factory-style centers on hand, so I didn't have to send them my wheels.
To lower it, I used Belltech hangers and shackles in the rear, and Belltech 2" drop coils in the front. Factory-length shocks front and rear with shock extenders in the rear. (I had a pair of shock extenders that I bought for a late-model truck that I never used so I modified them to fit.)
Here's a link to another company that does wheel widening. They will even widen factory aluminum wheels. http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/Wide.htm (http://www.weldcraftwheels.com/Wide.htm)
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what paint did you use for the interior peices? looks very nice
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I thoroughly cleaned the door panels with dishwashing soap and a cleaning brush. I cleaned the dash pad thoroughly with Armor-All cleaning wipes, and then wiped it down a few times with a wrung-out damp wash cloth, rinsing the cloth after each time I went over the pad. After letting everything dry for a couple days, I then used Duplicolor Adhesion Promoter as the primer, following the instructions carefully. The spray paint I used was Krylon Satin Finish in the color "Brown Boots", I think it was. I bought the Adhesion Promoter at Advance Auto Parts and the Krylon at WalMart.
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awesome thanks...looks like they match pretty well to factory
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LOOKS GREAT SLAM IT
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dang that truck look great ;D Keep up the great work
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LOOKS GREAT SLAM IT
I thought about it -- and am still considering it...
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no way man, that truck sits perfect! However, if you go lower, I would be intersted in your lowering hardware ;D
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no way man, that truck sits perfect!
+1 She sits just fine right now.
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Yeah i dont like them lowered too much...mine sits just like yours(78 stepside) and i'm leaving it. Theres one up the road from me...most people say it doesn't look as good as mine...and mine's half primer!!!
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I agree. Looks great the way it is. Your truck has to be one of the picks for the calender.
I'm in the planning stages right now to give my truck a similar interior. Just brought it home 2 days ago.
what do they say about copying- the best form of flattery?
8)
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I agree. Looks great the way it is. Your truck has to be one of the picks for the calender.
I'm in the planning stages right now to give my truck a similar interior. Just brought it home 2 days ago.
what do they say about copying- the best form of flattery?
8)
Thanks for the compliments! I took a lot of high resolution pics the day the ones I posted here were taken, so if my truck becomes a contender for the calendar, I can provide them for numerous view choices. I do like lowered trucks, but I had this ride height and stance in mind when I planned this one. Although as I said earlier, I considered slamming it, unless I go with an air ride system for adjustability sometime in the future, I doubt I'll change it.
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Another picture... just trying to be a little creative.
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/08_02_08%20stepside/IMG_4084BW-2.jpg)
There's nothing I like better than a shapely rear end!
(Wonder what the 73-87 stepside bed would look like on a 2007+ Chevy regular cab short bed. The lines and angles on the stepside fenders might be close to the angles on the newer truck's front fender lines. Can someone photoshop one of these stepside beds onto one?)
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There's nothing I like better than a shapely rear end!
Ahhhhh Yeah!!!! Back that thang up!!! ;D Great Pic 8) 8)
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Awesome truck! I like the stock style too. When I do mine, I may mix and match parts from various trim levels, but everything will be stuff that was available from 73-87 from customs to silverados. Those caps look great on those wide rims.
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Those caps look great on those wide rims.
Yep, but I'm even more of a Sucker for them with trim rings(White looks clean don't get me wrong, but I like a Chrome/Polished Lip, if I'm gonna have to do anytype of wheel cleaning!!) ;D
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Yep, but I'm even more of a Sucker for them with trim rings(White looks clean don't get me wrong, but I like a Chrome/Polished Lip, if I'm gonna have to do anytype of wheel cleaning!!) ;D
I like the look of painted steel wheels with the thin, inner-lip stainless steel trim rings as well, and even ordered a set when I ordered these wheels. While I was waiting for them to be delivered, I browsed through the showroom brochures several times and talked myself out of using them so my truck would look that much closer to stock. I sent them back when they arrived. I see them in magazines on various vehicles, and still like them, especially on the 48-55 (first series) Chevy trucks. I think I made a good decision for my truck, though.
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I think I made a good decision for my truck, though.
I would have to agree.
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I STILL SAY SLAM IT ;D
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Nice Truck! I enjoy seeing stock trucks. Beautiful Job.
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hi i was wondering if you had to do anything to the bed to fit those 16x10 wheels under your truck? im gonna run 15x8 in front of my stepside and 15x10 in the rear (if possible) with a 5 inch flip kit in the rear and 3 inch drop springs in the frot thanks and the truck looks awsome
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Beautiful truck and great work. Awsome combination! It's the little things that set it off and not being overdone.
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hi i was wondering if you had to do anything to the bed to fit those 16x10 wheels under your truck? im gonna run 15x8 in front of my stepside and 15x10 in the rear (if possible) with a 5 inch flip kit in the rear and 3 inch drop springs in the frot thanks and the truck looks awsome
No -- I didn't have to make any modifications to the truck to fit the wheels. The diameter of the tires is 27.6", which is just over an inch shorter than the stock 235/75/15s. Here's something I wrote about in another thread that may be of some help:
"...I run 10-inch wide wheels with 5-inches backspacing. Tires are 295/50/16. The truck is lowered 4-inches in the rear. The tire is about 12-1/4 inches wide at it's widest point (section width) on the 10-inch rim. There is about 1-1/8 inch clearance between the sidewall of the tire and the bed side, and about 3/8-inch clearance from the sidewall to the inner fender lip (the fender lip is not rolled). Another 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch clearance at the fender lip could be gained by rolling the inner lip, allowing an 11-inch rim to be used with a slightly wider tire, provided I were to add another 1/2-inch backspacing."
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thanks for the info and your truck is awsome
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Had the truck out for a drive in nice weather Saturday and took a few fresh pictures. Thought I would share.
Drivers side interior:
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4660.jpg)
Passenger side interior:
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4659.jpg)
3/4 shot:
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4666.jpg)
And just some random shots:
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4701.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4681.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4715.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4736.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4740.jpg)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i220/pickuptruck_nut/04_04_09%20stepside/IMG_4743.jpg)
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I'm not sure if I have ever told you this but.....YOUR TRUCK LOOK'S SWEET !!!! 8)
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Those are some great shots. I'd hate to bring it up but do you have a light out(drivers side)?
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The more I see of it, the more jealous I become.
I just set the 3rd pic as my desktop background. Thanks for sharing.
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Those are some great shots. I'd hate to bring it up but do you have a light out(drivers side)?
You know, Rob -- I don't know! When I first read your question, I wondered how you might be able to pose that question since the lights weren't on, but after looking closely I can see a darkness inside that headlight in several of the pictures that might indicate such. I hardly ever drive this truck at night, so it's been quite a while since the headlights have even been on. Last time I checked (well over a year ago) they were both working fine. I'll check today to see! Thanks for bringing that up!
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The more I see of it, the more jealous I become.
I just set the 3rd pic as my desktop background. Thanks for sharing.
I have to tell you -- I sincerely feel honored! Thanks!
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That is a really nice clean truck, I am not that into stepsides, but they are growing on me.
Check mine out.
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Someday my stepside will be looking that good.Right now eh not so good lol..... ;D But i always said this quote TO MAKE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL IT HAS TO START OFF UGLY.So soon i hope soon to get it in 1 color.
thanks
oat
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That is one great looking truck!! I never get tired of looking at it. I just hope my stepside turns out half as nice as yours.
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That is a beautiful truck.
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Never can see enough of that truck. Love it!
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Those are some great shots. I'd hate to bring it up but do you have a light out(drivers side)?
You know, Rob -- I don't know! When I first read your question, I wondered how you might be able to pose that question since the lights weren't on, but after looking closely I can see a darkness inside that headlight in several of the pictures that might indicate such. I hardly ever drive this truck at night, so it's been quite a while since the headlights have even been on. Last time I checked (well over a year ago) they were both working fine. I'll check today to see! Thanks for bringing that up!
I checked all the lights -- all lamps are lighting, headlights are working fine including the high beams; however, there is a dark, cloudy film or something-or-another covering a good portion of the reflective surface inside the sealed beam of the drivers headlamp. I never noticed it before and I reckon I'll need to replace that lamp. It doesn't appear to be reducing the light output, but that's just a guess, I have no tool to check that for certain.
Thanks for all the compliments!
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Those are some great shots. I'd hate to bring it up but do you have a light out(drivers side)?
You know, Rob -- I don't know! When I first read your question, I wondered how you might be able to pose that question since the lights weren't on, but after looking closely I can see a darkness inside that headlight in several of the pictures that might indicate such. I hardly ever drive this truck at night, so it's been quite a while since the headlights have even been on. Last time I checked (well over a year ago) they were both working fine. I'll check today to see! Thanks for bringing that up!
10 4 good buddy!
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I know this is an old thread, but the way he did his wheels is exactly the way I plan on doing them on my 73 crew. Ultra sweet!