"Carmine" '79 GMC K15

[LEEVON]

The lift went pretty smoothly considering the probability none of the suspension except maybe the rear shocks has ever been apart. The front shocks were original and completely blown. I replaced the drag link ends too. We started it at 9:30, took a break for sit down lunch and rolled out at 1:30. I still have some loose ends; steering stabilizer kit, brake hoses and front calipers and center caps. I also need to figure out how to mildly clearance front fender corners (any tips?).

It rides really smooth, I was thinking it would be a log wagon!

[OutlawDrifter]

Sharp pickup! I really like that color!

[LT7A]

That thing looks great! The perfect "Day 2" 4x4 squarebody.

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Sharp pickup! I really like that color!

Thanks, it's growing on me!

Originally Posted by LT7A

That thing looks great! The perfect "Day 2" 4x4 squarebody.

Thanks! That's the goal! KC Hilites will be on this truck too : )

[OutlawDrifter]

I think the GMC stepside in Hooper was Carmine Red...that one is in my top 3 favorite movie squares of all time.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

I think the GMC stepside in Hooper was Carmine Red...that one is in my top 3 favorite movie squares of all time.

What are the other two?

[OutlawDrifter]

Originally Posted by LT7A

What are the other two?

Blue short stepper from Red Dawn and the black dually 'burb from Twister.

[LT7A]

Copy and copy. LEEVON, sorry about the sidetrack.

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Copy and copy. LEEVON, sorry about the sidetrack.

No sweat! Speaking of movie trucks, check the opening scene of The Goonies (my favorite movie). When we got the truck, my son Tanner said "Make it look like a truck from the Goonies beach race" and I am right there with him.

Got some loose ends tied up this weekend! It needed front calipers BADLY, one was pulling hard and they were completely original, basically just balls of gunk. Along with the calipers, new front and rear extended brake lines from ORD. They make a nice stainless braided complete kit with the correct ends, really happy with that. Also installed the Skyjacker dual stabilizer kit and it definitely cut down on the bump steer. I don't think the original stabilizer was doing anything but collecting dirt haha.

[LEEVON]

Next up was the lack of tail lights or license plate light. I found the entire rear harness cobbled up under the truck and was able to take it out and make a nice repair on the bench. Since I had the headlight switch out for troubleshooting I went ahead and replaced it too. Now I can drive it to work and my son can drive it to school.

Since I had the bezel off I went ahead and installed the new radio from classiccarstereo.com. It looks great, is easy to use and has an add-on bluetooth module with an indicator light. I put new 6x9's in the rear cab corners with some heavy duty brackets I bought from Ebay I think. The old stereo barely worked and would stop after a few minutes, so it's nice to have some reliable tunes. It was so tempting to start the complete interior restoration at the same time but I had to stop myself.

I also received a bed mad from Holley, and man it really exceeded my expectations! They have the only long bed square body mat for about $145 shipped. It is very thick and extremely heavy. I think it will go nicely with the camper shell I picked up this week (surprise!).

[LEEVON]

One more glamour shot

[OutlawDrifter]

It's looking good!

Slotted mags and turbines just have the right "look".

[Low Elco]

Awesome! Don't forget Jon's GMC from CHiP's!

[LT7A]

That glamour shot is great! How big is your grin every time you climb into that rig now? And I mean climb, haha. I like the canopy too. I bought a parts truck with one that I told the owner he could keep, but he sent it with the truck anyway. Now I'm really glad. I decided to keep and build the truck and the canopy is the perfect accessory. Truth be told, I like yours the way the last photo shows it, but sometimes a canopy can be so practical.

One more mention of the movie/tv trucks that popped up on your thread. I started a thread about those here:

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...51#post9056251

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

It's looking good!

Slotted mags and turbines just have the right "look".

Thank you! I think so too.

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Awesome! Don't forget Jon's GMC from CHiP's!

I totally forgot about that truck. The inspiration for this truck is the opening scene beach "ORV Race" from "The Goonies" haha!

Originally Posted by LT7A

That glamour shot is great! How big is your grin every time you climb into that rig now? And I mean climb, haha. I like the canopy too. I bought a parts truck with one that I told the owner he could keep, but he sent it with the truck anyway. Now I'm really glad. I decided to keep and build the truck and the canopy is the perfect accessory. Truth be told, I like yours the way the last photo shows it, but sometimes a canopy can be so practical.

One more mention of the movie/tv trucks that popped up on your thread. I started a thread about those here:

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...51#post9056251

Man I can't tell you how much fun it is to drive and yeah I really need my tilt wheel conversion to be done because my large belly gets in the way of jumping in. My 5 yo forgot he was in a lifted truck the other night and stepped out into the abyss (gravel) face first and my 5-3 wife needs a hand getting in. In stock form the truck completely blended in, now it's breaking necks. My son Tanner is really stoked to drive it with the nice weather. He and I are both wanting the camper, I have a couple of camping trips this spring/summer and he needs space for baseball gear. I don't think it will be permanent though.

[Willowrun]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

I think it will go nicely with the camper shell I picked up this week (surprise!).

Sweet camper shell. I picked one up very similar last year for a square SWB that was made here in MI. Does yours have a manufacturer tag on it? I always figured there were people making shells all over the US for regional consumption but not sure since all I ever see are ones made here in the midwest. Looking forward to seeing it installed.

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by Willowrun

Sweet camper shell. I picked one up very similar last year for a square SWB that was made here in MI. Does yours have a manufacturer tag on it? I always figured there were people making shells all over the US for regional consumption but not sure since all I ever see are ones made here in the midwest. Looking forward to seeing it installed.

Thanks! No tag, it's missing. Have you put yours on yet? What did you use for a seal or cushion on the bed rails?

[LEEVON]

A little action this weekend in between baseball games. I bought one of those chinese wall-mounted pressure washers you keep seeing from the Facebook ads and have been foam cannon-ing everything I can get my hands on. This is the first wash since we got the truck believe it or not. She looking guuuud.

Tanner has been daily driving the truck and loving it. The other morning he woke me up at 5:00am with a wiper blade in his his hand. It was raining hard so I told him either improvise a repair in the rain or drive something else but don't scratch the glass! It was a good and simple lesson in "old truck problems". Well he ain't quite MacGuyver yet so he drove something else and I found on a solution. The blades they make to fit the bayonet style arms just don't fit well and the old stainless arms are weak. I found a Dorman arm that is a direct swap and uses j-hook blades. Great upgrade, nice firm contact and I can buy replacement blades for $1.99/ea. Dorman 42631 if anyone needs them.

[LEEVON]

Sorry TKCR I felt like I was cheating on you with this next one . I had do something about the seat belts, the plastics were completely gone and worse the webbing was distorted, dry and sun bleached. They just weren't safe and I'm afraid without a major commitment (many new parts, re-webbing etc) they're done for. I found a kit with the correct lengths for square body trucks and amazingly the correct carmine red. I'm happy enough with the belts function and look but I'm an original belt purist so this hurt a little. The install didn't go perfectly (more old truck problems) and we ended up removing the seat to cut a frozen bolt. Since we were there we cleaned the floor and interior and removed the seat cover to see what we were working with. We found the original seat in decent shape, at least nothing a little duct tape can't fix for now. It's all back together and safer for daily driving. We're looking forward to a complete interior re-do in the near future.

[OutlawDrifter]

Just keeps getting better!

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

A little action this weekend in between baseball games. I bought one of those chinese wall-mounted pressure washers you keep seeing from the Facebook ads and have been foam cannon-ing everything I can get my hands on. This is the first wash since we got the truck believe it or not. She looking guuuud.

Tanner has been daily driving the truck and loving it. The other morning he woke me up at 5:00am with a wiper blade in his his hand. It was raining hard so I told him either improvise a repair in the rain or drive something else but don't scratch the glass! It was a good and simple lesson in "old truck problems". Well he ain't quite MacGuyver yet so he drove something else and I found on a solution. The blades they make to fit the bayonet style arms just don't fit well and the old stainless arms are weak. I found a Dorman arm that is a direct swap and uses j-hook blades. Great upgrade, nice firm contact and I can buy replacement blades for $1.99/ea. Dorman 42631 if anyone needs them.

The truck looks great and I get a kick out of covering everything in snow foam myself, haha. Good tip on the dorman wiper arms. Do they also make the $1.99 blades, or is that someone else?

[LEEVON]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Just keeps getting better!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by LT7A

The truck looks great and I get a kick out of covering everything in snow foam myself, haha. Good tip on the dorman wiper arms. Do they also make the $1.99 blades, or is that someone else?

Ha, it's satisfying! Wipers are O'Reilly's house brand "Rainguard" p/n 31-160. I think retail is a little more, but that's my account pricing.

[Corts60]

Beautiful truck Leevon! It’s great to see the kiddos enjoying it and playing the “old truck” game. Haha

[Willowrun]

Originally Posted by LEEVON

Thanks! No tag, it's missing. Have you put yours on yet? What did you use for a seal or cushion on the bed rails?

It was an hour away when I bought it so I took my bombing around '05 to pick it up with some C-clamps to attach it knowing the '05 was plus or minus an inch or two in size from the square body short box. That was last fall and it is still on the '05 and has been very handy. I bought a roll of thick, compressible foam seal about an inch wide from Lowes but haven't put it on yet. My '05 also has cheap, stick on diamond plate bed rails that I would suggest as it protects the box.

Your truck looks great.

[TotallyHucked]

Beautiful truck! Love the transformation, I'm a sucker for slots and white letters lol