1986 GMC Sierra Classic 4x4 longbed

[86HighSierra]

Hello everyone, I finally got the courage to start and show yall my project ive started. First i want to say im 31, electrician by trade and a father of a 5 yr old boy and 3 yr old boy girl twins, And married  That being said this will be a slow build. I dont plan on making a trailer queen or a super mudder, just a work truck that will go anywhere i need it to go or do. 
 The truck is a 1/2ton 4wheel drive regular cab longbed. I know some of you find it hard to believe that someone can own a truck and not tell you whats in it, as of right now i have pulled everything off to the frame minus the axels and wheels/tires.  It was a target 350 motor with a stock tranny and transfer case. The plan is to put a 1995 chevy tbi 350 in it. I have the complete 1995, frame was bent so inpicked it up for 400$, has a new to it motor. It still runs and drives just fine.
I have a couple pictures i can post now that are on my phone. First is what i started with and last is how its sitting now

[LTZ C20]

Welcome from California. Nice truck.

[86HighSierra]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[86HighSierra]

the cab i had put on it was a 2wd cab. Dad had a couple bolt in humps he was not going to use so i gifted them to myself.
my new shackle flip i hot from ORD. went with a 4"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[86HighSierra]

The truck had been sitting in my fathers impound lot for about 4 years, had to have it trailered home, was sad i didnt drive it one last time before the tear down,  while it was up there a mower shot a rock into the driver side window, you can see the glass on the floorboard. Most of the teardown took place on the weekends this past winter. Was working out of town during the week, 3 12hr days and 1 4 hr day then drove over two hrs home. Some how my wife agreed to let me work on it a couple hours each night friday and saturday.  Got a good woman. But her and I met in this truck and have alot of great memories in this truck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[86HighSierra]

These are the wheels I traded for. Gave a set of 6lug stock chevy rally wheels with centers and rings, the centers say they are M/T but have my doubts. As two wheels are different might put the matching ones on the same side so u will never know
The wheels need some cleaning. I couldnt wait so i went ahead and put my tires on. Wanted it for mock up. Tires are (sadly) junk! They were supposed to be sitting on concrete while in storage ,but since i wasnt paying, dad moved it to the dirt side. Dang dry rot! And they have so much tread left.

Any one have a good cleaning method they found for aluminum wheels? Not sure if i want yo polish or powder coat them, keep in mind im planning on s factory paint scheme. It was red with the white strip. Just like my first picture.
I had the idea of doing  plastidip ( so i see what it will look like before i pay to powder coat) like all black with a red bead or white?  something along those lines.? Dont want it to look ghetto,  just thoughts i had, i know it will upset some of you, but i dont know if these will clean up to be worthy, small pits and dents in wheels. Will post more close ups of wheels soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[86HighSierra]

Took some pictures today of tranny i pulled out of my truck. Everything from what i found its a 700r4.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[86HighSierra]

This is what i found on my T/C im think its at np208
The housing is aluminum.
This is what i found in the other half



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Engineer]

Aluminum slots. Man, now that brings back memories.

And I'd bet those are NOT Mickey Thompson wheels. Mickey Thompson didn't start making wheels until after the aluminum slot era had passed well into ancient history.

I'd give the aluminum slots my best effort at polishing them out. Painting wheels black is a fad that has almost played out. You'd be surprised at what those wheels will look like with only a little work, and they would be "period correct" for a build based on a mid 80s era truck. Buy one of those Mothers wheel polishing balls that you chuck up in a drill. Look in my build thread on page 3, or 4. I used the Mothers ball on some old mud truck wheels and the result was stunning.

[86HighSierra]

Thanks engineer, like i was saying before not sure what i want to do with them since they are kinda pitted. I will Try that now that im in town working again

[Don5]

I really like those aluminum slots. Engineer is right on the money about using a polishing ball. I told my son if I run on to a set that is what we are putting on the truck. I will not hesitate. He wants a set of American Racing Baja's or MT's.

[fitz]

  Welcome to the site.
Its sounds like you have a good game plan for your truck .
I'm a huge fan of aluminum slotted rims on our trucks.
Engineer is right on target with the info on these rims.
One of our members named Mike Phillips did a great write up a while back on how to restore aluminum slotted rims.
Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to post a link on my so called "smart phone".
If you google " Mike Phillips, old school aluminum slotted mag wheel extreme makeover" it will lead you right back to his write up on this site.

[86HighSierra]

Thanks Don5 and Fitz
I am for sure going that route of trying to restore these.
I came accross another set of these today on craigslist in wichita ks, if you are looking for them- not trying to break the rules im not the seller or the listing person, i dont know him or anything just thought id pass it on. If this is still wrong to do i appalogize. I love this site and wouldnt do anything to harm it or get kicked.

[86HighSierra]

Holy cow!! Looks like i have some materials to get. And need to get the tires back off again if im going to do this correctly. Looks like the next time i get 5-8 hrs of free time im going to take care of these bad boys! He made them look like they were fresh out of the box.

[Boonie]

MT did make some wheels called Challengers that looked like old school slots.  They were just a touch different though.  Nice wheels, I had a set on another truck years ago.