Whats Your Truck Theme

[88fordf150]

I like the Gasser style but I guess mine would be more of restro mod or street rod by the time its done?

[CG]

Gonna be a cool truck when you are finished. I like the Garlits Tach

[Coley]

Theme?....hmm.
I think my theme would be to get/have my truck in what would typically be 3-4 year old equivalent condition in appearance...(and I'm not too far from that now) ie: clean, straight, original (mostly), good paint, interior....and in all of that, very useable and driveable.
I do not want and I can't use a 'show' type vehicle...its just too limiting for me.
On the flip side, a pure full house 500hp power/hot rod is equally useless for me for general use.
So I need to set things up for an easy, quick ride and possible multi-use day....but no 'hard work', like gravel hauling or abusive stuff.
I wouldn't mind a minor engine build (300hp-ish....but mostly for torque and driveability around the 1500-4000 rpm range) and maybe a very minor drop in suspension (2/3 or thereabouts)...but nothing that would affect parts, steering, braking, driveability, etc....because then, apparently, the 'fart around' factor starts to roll in with troubleshooting stuff that is out of alignment, tune, clearance, scraping, fit etc.
All Good
Coley

[James the III]

Originally Posted by Boog

You have my full attention.

Wanted something different.. and I While working at N.H.M.S.. I was walking around the garage and looking over the trucks, and was, Wonder what these would look like retro, And wala..
I do need to make engine plates , I blame one of my friends, as I was telling him how it be cool if they did a Talladega trucks thrown back..
And he made a quick and dirty photoshop of my year truck lowered, 80 truck steel wheels with yellow lettered good years, a metal bed cover and spoiler, front bumber with splitter, and Waltrip's mountain dew livery.. and was like,,
oh ya.. that will work.. bonus it have 88 on it..

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Coley

Theme?....hmm.
I think my theme would be to get/have my truck in what would typically be 3-4 year old equivalent condition in appearance...(and I'm not too far from that now) ie: clean, straight, original (mostly), good paint, interior....and in all of that, very useable and driveable.

We are on the same page there. I've built show queens, ground thumpers, perfect originals, but when it comes down to it I just love driving these trucks. I have also been doing that for a long long time and want to keep on doing it.

When I had several trucks, both 2wd and 4wd, I had a theme for each and this '67 GMC was to be a pro-street ground pounder. Now that I'm down with just a HD '72 4wd and a little SWB '67 I want the '67 to have nothing that interferes with it being a go anywhere truck. Like I said, my vibe is era hot truck. Like one you could have seen while these trucks were still fairly current. But not so '70s, more like a truck a guy had that goes farther back with hot rodding, and this is just his truck that couldn't help but have some hot rod flowing over into it.

In that time multiple carbs were what got you more power, and I wanted either dual quads or 3 2s. Back then they ran big/littles. Also, 4.10 posi was king. Well, all that restricts my intended use, so it will have a 325hp 4bbl 327, same size rubber all around (so I can rotate), and a 3.42 posi. Also no paint job that is hard to match if a repair is needed. I probably will get a pair of 10" wheels and mount drag radials for local fun or even haul to a run and mount up for the occasion.

[67ChevyRedneck]

"It still runs"

[outfield]

Work Truck!

The plan is to have a reliable hauler/tow rig that looks good, but I'm not afraid to use it. One I can take hunting or fire wood cutting, drive on snow days and just enjoy. And like B.W. said "Less is More, .crank windows, rubber floor mats, manual tranny".

[68shortwide]

I guess classic yet modern for the 68. It'll be a bit darker than the original 505 Dark Green and gloss white trim, tri power or 4+ pot induced 355, black bench seat or clean styled buckets, updated gauge cluster and lights all around. Just a clean classic daily that I won't be ashamed to take to a higher end show or cruise.

[Overdriven]

Theme? Classic stock looks. Paint chips be damned I'm gonna drive the wheels off it dead nuts reliable, ground pounding sleeper. Slightly lowered on wide steel wheels with dog dish caps. Interior will be freshly painted and spiffed up, no modern addons, all stock looking, period correct or hidden. Will be hard to hide the turbo LS (goal is 550ish wheel hp) when the hood is opened though. Not sure what to do about paint. Don't like fake patina too much and chips in shiny paint is depressing so somewhere in between. Likely either light blue tinted primer with white trim or scotch brite scuffed paint to dull the shine. Either way incan spray it myself without worrying about messing it up!

[CastIron]

My theme is mostly stock looks but with a little better stuff underneath.

outfield- I saw that pic of your truck and thought immediately that it looks like Oregon. Then I saw you're in Oregon. Was that picture taken up in the coast range?

[67chevy_hotrod]

Well the 67 and the 72 are pretty much dazed and confused. Only the 67 is a frame off and the 72 is all og minus motor. The 69 is like some sorta C.W. McCall convoy rig

[elf w/capital T]

This is one cool thread! I'm excited to see more photos of everyone's creations! Myself... I'm trying to stay within my 67-68, but minor (and major) upgrades but keeping it subtle and or even humble...only true c10 owners will know the era stuff I'm keeping.

[nlped]

Mine will be relatively original from the exterior, patina and all, but it will have a lower stance a set off 18" wheels and BIG Wilwood brakes peeking through. The interior will be fresh and new as will the steering (power R&P), suspension (Porterbuilt mild dropmember front & touring rear on AccuAir) & the bigger/better brakes. Haven't totally decided on the drivetrain yet...I have a low mile 2003 5.3/4L60e and I have a beefy 468/700r4 to choose from though. Just have to decide if I want complete reliability or if I want ground pounding rumble.

[LockDoc]

-
The theme of the truck I'm working on now is "Fantasy Truck". Like Michael's truck, mine is another that GM shoulda' built but didn't. It's a 1970 Chevy Longhorn 4x4 conversion with a mildly built 350/TH350, 3" lift springs, & 20" wheel/tire combo. If I was going to keep it I would go with 33x12.50 wheel/tire setup. I can't see spending the money since it will be going down the road....

LockDoc

[special-K]

Only one theme on my '72. It runth acroth the back of the cab woof

[outfield]

Hey Cast Iron - Your Spot on!

I run trails at Brown Camp in my Land Rover all the time, and have a spot where I take the dogs running right off one of our 4x4 trails. It's 45 minutes from home and the dogs love running off leash out here!!

Originally Posted by CastIron

My theme is mostly stock looks but with a little better stuff underneath.

outfield- I saw that pic of your truck and thought immediately that it looks like Oregon. Then I saw you're in Oregon. Was that picture taken up in the coast range?

[outfield]

Cast Iron. That's a great looking GMC in your profile pic!!

Originally Posted by CastIron

My theme is mostly stock looks but with a little better stuff underneath.

outfield- I saw that pic of your truck and thought immediately that it looks like Oregon. Then I saw you're in Oregon. Was that picture taken up in the coast range?

[Metaldoc]

Shinny side down.

[my56chevytruck]

Hey hamjet, that 348 with tri power really looks nice. To me a hot rod should have carburetors, very nice.

[hamjet]

Originally Posted by my56chevytruck

Hey hamjet, that 348 with tri power really looks nice. To me a hot rod should have carburetors, very nice.

Thank you very much!

[nlped]

Originally Posted by Metaldoc

Shinny side down.

Yepper! That's what I'm planning. Nice a$$ truck!!

[70cst]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

-
The theme of the truck I'm working on now is "Fantasy Truck". Like Michael's truck, mine is another that GM shoulda' built but didn't. It's a 1970 Chevy Longhorn 4x4 conversion with a mildly built 350/TH350, 3" lift springs, & 20" wheel/tire combo. If I was going to keep it I would go with 33x12.50 wheel/tire setup. I can't see spending the money since it will be going down the road....

LockDoc

Very nice

[special-K]

My name for what you guys are calling "Fantasy Trucks" is "Hybrid" or "Factory Hybrid". That's been my main common theme with trucks. This '67 is a hot rod and may be the first I paint a non-original color. That's because it's theme is also "built from spare parts", so more of a "back from dead" build with no one original color or anything. But, I like doing what GM could have done. One of those things where even people who know these trucks might ask, "Is that factory?", as if they'd be surprised if it was yet looks like it could be. I have some of those touches for the '67, too. It is 99% factory parts

I'm torn on my '72 K2500. I have everything to build a K3500 Sierra Grande Custom Camper hybrid from 1t axles to TH400/NP205 to hydro-boost to the emblems. I had a 6" lift and 35/12.50-16.5 mud tires mounted on white powder coated 8.25" steelies. I sold all that to keep it closer to stock. That would have been what I call a "Beefy Stock" theme. The hybrid look will be just a bit higher than stock with moderately oversized wheels and tires (285/75-16 on 8").

But, now that it has aged to a 45 year old original I may just keep it the K2500 it really is and have the same look. It's all interchangeable. Who knows, I like having options

[demian5]

Im going for the 70s so cal shop truck look with some corvette parts in key places like valve covers, steering wheel, plate frames...

[DarkFlounder]

The truck had kind of developed it's own Road Warrior aesthetic. But that'll change in the next few weeks (replacement bed and driver door, removing the bumpers for modification, repainting in white primer).

Granted, I have thought about cutting the roof off, putting in a boat windshield and truly own the Road Warrior look. It's even close enough to the correct paint color.