My 82 GMC 2WD budget sort bed conversion

[Edahall]

Edahall Thanks  did you post you cummins swap for the suburban
also are the casting #'s i found on both heads are these good #'s 0137567

thanks JM

Yeah, I've got 2 Suburbans.  The 1982 Suburban has the 6.2L diesel and the 1990 has a Cummins 6BT and 6 speed manual shoe horned in.  The 1982 Suburban was built for fuel economy and the 1990 with the Cummins was built for brute force towing.  The Cummins gets good fuel econonmy as well but not quite as well as the 6.2L.  However, it has a lot more grunt power when you hook up 10,000 lbs to the back of it.

There's actually not too much difference between the heads from various years except the precombustion chambers.  The newer the heads, the larger the precombustion chambers and more power it'll make but at the expense of fuel economy.  The older heads actually have bigger valves and crack easier between the valve seats but it can be easily fixed to not leak with some copper tubing.  If your heads have the larger precombustion chambers, you can buy smaller chambers and have them installed.

[slammed79]

Junkman this thing is turning out nicely. It makes me want to go through the work of shortening my stock bed when I shorten the rest of the truck. Plus having it still wear all its original skin is pretty appealing too.

[junkman.]

Hey thanks guys
shorting bedsides is a lot of work maybe not for a good body guy i have many hours in one side and its not done yet   JM

[junkman.]

Well here's an update
the beds back in one piece B&A shots also I've striped the inside and glass   JM

[big bear]

looking good man

[junkman.]

WOW look at the new format   hey guys  its been slow going bodywork and paint isn't my trade last time i did this was fifteen years ago and i payed a painter $150.00 to spray it
well here's some pic's

[junkman.]

also had to block and re primer the bed again  also still need to do the front clip
now just waiting  for some good weather before its to cold

[bigchevyc30]

hey man do you live around north carolina cause i have a neighbor that had sold a bed that looked just like the one you got

[junkman.]

No not me I'm in California

[69byrd]

Looking good! Keep up the good work.

[junkman.]

Thanks  i hope there's some more warm days so i can finish painting it  its 35 at might and 60 today

[junkman.]

hey guys finally my bed is done unless i decide to sand and buff it 

the paint i used is summits new two stage paint system its low VOC the sealer for cal. is an epoxy primer that is thinned and it can be sprayed over anything then base coat & clear coat  this is the first paint job Ive done since i was 17 and it was lacquer well i think it turned out pretty  good

all the pic's are from my cell phone there's not many adjustments that can be made

[bake74]

     You are doing a great job, I really like these trucks without the chrome pieces on the sides, I don't know why, they just look better to me.   

[junkman.]

     You are doing a great job, I really like these trucks without the chrome pieces on the sides, I don't know why, they just look better to me.   

ye me to over the weekend i removed the trim from the rear of the cab. the only trim that will be left is the wheel well pieces  tailgate insert  and they will be satin black i think i will also do the rain gutters black

thanks JM

[69byrd]

Great job!