95% done!!

[philo_beddoe]

Is this in the right forum??

Well, since I bought my Bonanza truck last march, I told my wife I wasn't going to touch it, just drive it. That lasted a day. Since then, I have given attention to nearly every square foot of the truck: Here is what I have done since last march, in order,,well, mostly in order.

1. new exhaust system, all dual
2. replaced door bushings, pins, shims, strikers, window felt, painted panels, new arm rests, and new weather stripping
3. new padding, carpet, coated cab floor prior, new padding on back of cab wall
4. new dash pad, radio speaker, installed original am/fm 1977 radio, new wiring, fixed antenna, new oem gas guage, fixed speedo cable, painted bezel, repaired printed circuit board, all new bulbs, fixed automatic shift indicator, painted column, repaired visors, all new seat belts
5. new below eye level mirrors, coated truck bed, repaired tail gate assy, new fuel sending unit and cleaned up tank and coated with anti rust stuff.
6. installed oem 4bbl intake and rebuilt qjet carb., all new hoses, installed oem air cleaner assy, oem valve covers, oem oil dipstick and dipstick tube, installed new wiper washer pump, new stainless wiper blades
7. re-aligned front bumper, new bumper bolts, new parking lamp assy. both sides, new battery tray and side bracket, new eshaust manifolds and upper/lower heat stove and pre-heater hose assy.
8. installed new under hood padding, new push pins, coated with anti rust stuff prior
9. new shocks, ac-delco,
10. installed spare tire carrier assy and matching spare tire
11. all new oem rims, dog dish style hub caps, ww tires
12, new rear chrome bumper and mounting brackets, coated both bumpers with anti rust stuff on the inside
13. all new valve seals, spark plugs, spark plug wires
14. replaced every light bulb and hose throughout

Well, that's about the jist of it, all that I can remember anyway. Will post a couple of pics soon. I guess I'm sort of well, done.  When I retire in about 13 years, I will do a full body restoration. This is my ultimate goal for the truck. see pic.



And I told my wife I wasn't going to touch it, yeah right!!

[BBM3]

SNIP:
And I told my wife I wasn't going to touch it, yeah right!!

And you said you are 95% done too.

I said the same thing a couple of months ago.
Short of a nut and bolt frame off restoration I have come to realize I will never be done.
If your project is anything like mine you likely have 95% more to go.
For me these trucks are too rewarding restoring to ever say done.

[philo_beddoe]

Your are absolutely correct! Never done, always tinkering. I was thinking of posting who actually IS "done". In other words, who gets in their truck and drives it everyday and cant think of anything else to do to it?

[BBM3]

Exactly.
I can not imagine the day when I will look at my truck from every angle top to bottom inside and out and say done.

Sounds like you have a gem. Looking forward to pictures.

Enjoy!

[Scott M]

Any clue of how many miles are suppose to be on her? Motor is real healthy? Look forward to seeing some pics as well!

[philo_beddoe]

I bought it with 89k original on it. Got it from and old guy who never drove it much. I was surprised when i looked under it for the first time how clean it was. It didnt look like a 38 year old truck. No rust at all, which led me to believe it really did have 89k miles. Last and most expensive is the full body resto.

Oh, and yes, motor is very clean and healthy. It runs so smooth it makes me nervous. Almost like new, peppy for a 305.

[philo_beddoe]

Correction, 84k miles, which you'll see in the pics to come very shortly.

[philo_beddoe]

Well this is it until i retire in 10 yrs. I'm done, until i do a full body restoration.









More to come.

[blazer74]

Super Nice!

[philo_beddoe]

Thanks man!

[philo_beddoe]

[LTZ C20]

Looks good man, really good. I hate to be a negative nellie tho, I think you MIGHT have the wrong intake duct between the air cleaner and radiator support. I think the 70's trucks use the duct with a short length solid section at the rad sup. The 80's trucks used the ducts with the long solid section at rad sup.





Notice the flex section of your duct bows out towards the fender, I think this is because it's overall too long in length because it's the 80's version.

Notice: This could all be complete load of bull but I'm fairly sure.

[philo_beddoe]

You could be correct. I guess i'll have to research it. Either way, it does fit really nice, is in great shape and doesnt bow much. Thanks for pointing that out.

Thats it!!! I'm goin baaaaack on the grid!!

[zieg85]

Bumper looks sharp, completes the truck-- Very nicely done...

[philo_beddoe]