Author Topic: Another guy from TX  (Read 9654 times)

Offline OldGray

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Another guy from TX
« on: January 27, 2016, 12:59:38 pm »
Hello -

Just bought a '79 Bonanza.  Looking forward to getting a lot of tips here!

OldGray
« Last Edit: January 27, 2018, 10:55:31 am by OldGray »
1979 Chevrolet Bonanza / 305 / LWB

Offline zieg85

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2016, 01:25:41 pm »
Welcome from west central IL!!!
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
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Offline LTZ C20

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2016, 02:52:32 pm »
Welcome from California. Truck looks good!
LTZ Cheyenne C20

Offline OldGray

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2016, 02:57:18 pm »
Thanks! 

Yeah, the body was in such good shape I couldn't pass it up.
1979 Chevrolet Bonanza / 305 / LWB

Offline Captain Swampy

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2016, 05:39:57 pm »
Welcome! Very nice truck. Since you don't have to spend a ton of time and money on body work, how about 502 big block?!!! LOL
1987  350TBI 700R4  4X4  4.56 gears  33" BFG All Terrain


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Offline OldGray

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2016, 06:29:59 pm »
Welcome! Very nice truck. Since you don't have to spend a ton of time and money on body work, how about 502 big block?!!! LOL

My original plan was to buy a compact truck so I could haul stuff occasionally.  I had my sites set on a 4cyl Ranger/Mazda/Toyota., because I wanted good MPGs.... HA HA HA... looks like good MPGs are not in my future.

Spent months on Craigslist looking and then I ran across this old Chevy.  Rebuilt 305, rebuilt trans, no rust, no dents, and hardly even a rattle going down the road.  I decided that the money I spent on gas would be saved on any repairs, since a good buddy of mine knows Chevy very well and also has a '79.

Gonna replace the carpet with vinyl floor, cap the old dash with a molded plastic cover, install dual exhaust (it's at the shop right now) and go for something in the Ratrod category.

I was able to repair my door panels which were broken and had holes in it.  I have a trick for repairing ABS that I will share in a thread soon.

Anyway, so it begins...
1979 Chevrolet Bonanza / 305 / LWB

Offline cvbear

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2016, 07:21:48 pm »
Welcome from DFW
1984 SWB Silverado fleetside, 350 crate engine, 350 trans

Offline AZ87V10

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2016, 11:24:49 pm »
Welcome from Northeastern AZ! Good looking truck!
1987 Chevy V-10 Silverado short bed, 350TBI, 700R4, NP208, 3.73's, 31's
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab 4x4 short bed, 5.9L V8, Auto, 5 inch lift, 35's, 4.56's

Offline blazer74

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2016, 01:46:56 am »
Great!

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2016, 07:20:27 am »
welcome from maryland
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

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Offline gunrac

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2016, 08:33:53 am »
Welcome, from Temple,TX......backround in your pic, appears your also from around the hill country.
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Offline JasonD45

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2016, 06:01:57 pm »
Nice truck! Are you gonna polish it up at all?

Offline OldGray

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2016, 10:56:04 pm »
Nice truck! Are you gonna polish it up at all?

Nope - I'm currently deciding on the method of how I will preserve the "patina".  Was considering a matte clearcoat, but the first method I will probably try is wiping it with Gibbs Oil.  http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/

The Gibbs oil is apparently big with the Ratrodders for preserving old paint and even if I am not happy with it, I can still paint over it.  I'd really rather have the paint the way it is - it is darker than the picture shows and the Gibbs should bring it out more.  (when I do it I will post before/after pics)
« Last Edit: January 28, 2016, 11:38:01 pm by OldGray »
1979 Chevrolet Bonanza / 305 / LWB

Offline JasonD45

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #13 on: January 29, 2016, 11:40:21 am »
Cool. I used a polish on my truck, I'll try to post before and after pictures. The stuff worked great, and was real easy.

Offline OldGray

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Re: Another guy from TX
« Reply #14 on: January 29, 2016, 12:45:01 pm »
Cool. I used a polish on my truck, I'll try to post before and after pictures. The stuff worked great, and was real easy.

I did a lot of research on preserving patina, and there are a LOT of methods out there.  Wax, WD-40, Linseed oil, clear coat, oil/wax/thinner mix, etc etc etc.  My eyes were bleeding by the time I was done. 

Wax looked like a good option, I'd love to see your results.
1979 Chevrolet Bonanza / 305 / LWB