Classic tucks mag.

[philo_beddoe]

Anyone ever seem this magazine?

[FlatBlack77]

yeah. at walmart

[philo_beddoe]

It has mostly custom classics, not too much factory original.

[AZ87V10]

I subscribe to it. I originally had a subscription to Custom Classic Trucks but they got bought out by this mag and then merged into one. They have lots of good useful info, but it was better before the merge. The old magazine had more stock restorations than this one. Sadly though, people doing factory restorations are in the minority of the aftermarket. Most people are generally customizing their trucks to some point to personalize them. Most people tend to restore the body to appear original and then upgrade the frame and suspension and make the interior more modern and put big V8's in.

[philo_beddoe]

You'r exactly correct az87v10, whenever i go to auto shows ir cruise nights, i see mostly chrome engines, lowered trucks and custom interior. There are plenty of factory stock vehicles as well, but definitely in the minority.

Sometimes i feel im the only one on this forum that prefers the factory stock look. In fact, i dont even recall anyone posting a pic of a factory stock truck. Sure would like to see one.

[Engineer]

This is where I'm at.

I'm building my '77 monster truck to have a body using all OEM GM body parts. It won't be stock for any particular year but will be a "stock custom" for the use of all factory parts. I'm settled on a "factory custom" interior since I believe, at this point, I'll be using a factory dash from a GMT-400 donor, and S-10 Blazer seats.

Now under the body, well, the only thing GM will be the engine and transmission.

I would love to have an all original 81~87 4x4, but at this point I don't care to buy someone else's junk pile and go through the headache of returning it to original without using aftermarket parts.

[AZ87V10]

My truck is a good 98% original. It still has decent factory two tone paint (although it's starting to peel off in places) my interior is 100% factory original unrestored and in great condition. The body is all original, the engine is a Goodwrench crate motor, but it's all stock. The trans is a rebuilt 700R4, but unmodified. All the rest of my drivetrain is original except for aftermarket parts on like normal wear items. About the only things not visually original looking are the wheels, tires, and rear step bumper. And the ugly tube grille on the front! I would love to put an original grille and back bumper on it! I bought the truck from a used car dealer three years ago that had it from the original owner as a trade in. It spent its entire life in the dry desert in the Phoenix area and is completely rust free and amazingly well preserved. I got lucky. I have pictures of it on my phone, if I could only figure out how to get them from there to my computer, I could try to post them!

[philo_beddoe]

Try hitting the little + button that will give you the option to select a photo from phone, if your using the tapatalk app. .

Anyway, its hard to get it "assembly line factory" but there is nothing wrong with a different gm part. My truck came off the line with a step bumper, but i installed the plain chrome one instead to match the front. It was an option then and now. My truck is 100% stock, meaning no modifications, of course i do have some quality aftermarket parts,....

My original seat belts started to erode to nothing, had to replace for safety,,,my dash pad was so cracked, i had to replace. The rear bumper i got from the site store, which is very nice quality. My air clnr assy is all gm, but a different style.

So, thats just the way it is, aint nothing wrong with a supped up chromed out truck, if thats what you like, me- i like all stock chevy gm, very plain looking. As far as lowering a truck where the bed is near touching the pavement, that i just dont get. I mean what if your moving yoir friends piano and you hit a huge pot hole??

[AZ87V10]

Yeah, I don't have Tapatalk on my phone. Might need to look into downloading it.
I'm like you and would much rather have an original looking truck that's as close to original as possible. Nothing wrong with a showy truck, its just not my flavor. You have a nice looking truck BTW. It's hard to find them that complete and in that kind of shape.
Lots of these trucks were installed with goofy looking step bumpers from the dealers after they left the assembly plant. The way to tell is if they have bumper bolts like on the front bumpers or the plain chrome like you put on your truck. I'm pretty sure my truck didn't have a rear bumper and an aftermarket step was installed at a later date.
I also don't understand the whole lowered truck thing. I think it's ugly as sin! But my truck is a 4x4 so it would never get lowered! Lol! I'm also on the fence as to whether I would ever lift it either. Right now it's sitting stock. Nothing wrong with it stock or lifted, but I don't think I want to put anymore stress on the frame than what's already there. I've already had to have frame cracks repaired. I have the traditional cracking around the rear shocks, but I also have it in the frame at the gap between the cab and bed front. Strangely though, my steering box is crack free!

[philo_beddoe]

I totally agree, my absolute perfect truck is one as if off the show room floor. There might be a handfull of them out there throughout the land. A professional frame-off resto could do it.

Graveyard cars on velocity channel does that with all the mopar muscle cars.  Very meticulous. I suppose it can be done with a squarebody, all comes down to cash.  Of course, one needs to match that kind of work with their lifestyle. Very expensive.

When i retire, i am going to buy like a 66 fully done, probably at mecum auction. Every tkme i watch mecum or barret jackson, guys steal these classic trucks, frame off resto's, all stock for like 14k!! Unbelievable!!