1988 Crew Cab Build

[MrBeast]

Sounds like you have a project. Personally id go the Cummins route but this is only because I have owned 3 GM diesels, and that was about 4 too many...

[JPalmer81]

i may one day, but for now i am going to use the 6.2L, and gonna squeeze every bit of power i can out of it. I know its not gonna compare to the sooped up cummins, but i think it will do for now. Down the road, if i can find the right deal on a cummins i will def jump on it. and im going with a a OEM Plus theme on my truck for now, so need the GM motor for that. But i can say that it is very tempting and would be nice to have one in my truck, but after i get done with mine it should have more HP and tourque than a stock 89-91 cummins, hopefully......

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by JPalmer81

i may one day, but for now i am going to use the 6.2L, and gonna squeeze every bit of power i can out of it. I know its not gonna compare to the sooped up cummins, but i think it will do for now. Down the road, if i can find the right deal on a cummins i will def jump on it. and im going with a a OEM Plus theme on my truck for now, so need the GM motor for that. But i can say that it is very tempting and would be nice to have one in my truck, but after i get done with mine it should have more HP and tourque than a stock 89-91 cummins, hopefully......

I will be watching. I am working a deal to get myself into another 79 square right now. it is a 4x4 dually regular cab. I am thinking I am going to go with a big block though, so much easier to install, even if it is still a gas motor.

[JPalmer81]

After looking through all these other builds on here, i have been throwing around, in my mind about going to a 73-74 front clip, think they look sweet and mean. But that would really make this a project, right now its a pretty simple build....see how long it stays that way

[my4by2]

I've always been more fond of the 73-78 front ends - just look more "muscular" than the later models to me. And too many people upgrade to the Suburban or late model front end that it's getting harder to find nice trucks with the older look... Either way though - if it makes you happy, then roll with it!

[joe231]

73-74 is my favorite grill followed closely by the 89-91 deluxe grill, but the 89-91 work truck grill is growing on me lol

IMO, you can't go wrong with any square grill....
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[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by my4by2

I've always been more fond of the 73-78 front ends - just look more "muscular" than the later models to me. And too many people upgrade to the Suburban or late model front end that it's getting harder to find nice trucks with the older look... Either way though - if it makes you happy, then roll with it!

thats me i like the 73-80 fronts

[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by joe231

73-74 is my favorite grill followed closely by the 89-91 deluxe grill, but the 89-91 work truck grill is growing on me lol

IMO, you can't go wrong with any square grill....
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i like the later wt grill too prob cause it looks like a square headlight version of the 73-80 fronts...........i know i know 80s had the square lights optional

[JPalmer81]

Well, we will see, the body is going to be the last thing i worry about on this baby, got alot lined up on it. Got all the parts for a front and rear axle rebuild, got a new to me sm465 sitting in my garage as of today, and i have the over haul kit for the tranny, so between tearing the axles down and redoing them and rebuilding the tranny, which, i have never done, i ordered 2 books and a cd-rom for this!!, I should have it driveable before next spring with everything from the tires to the tranny all new. Then i will start on the engine mods, which with the 6.2L wont be very much, we shall see though. Oh and i think i changed my mind on the tire size from 265's to 285's, not much of a change but a little one. Cant wait to get home and get started and post some pics for ya'll!

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by joe231

73-74 is my favorite grill followed closely by the 89-91 deluxe grill, but the 89-91 work truck grill is growing on me lol

IMO, you can't go wrong with any square grill....
Posted via Mobile Device

I like the grill on your ruck, it looks alot tougher than the deluxe grille, need to throw some wide swampers on that baby with a huge heavy duty moose sheild running straight pipes so its loud as all get out!

[JPalmer81]

Well I have finally made it home on R&R and got to meet my new toy for the first time. I am very excited, here are some pics of the worst of the rust problems, the bed is in the worst shape, but still all together pretty straight and i am by no means dissapointed with my purchase.





And I took the camper off too....

[joe231]

Originally Posted by JPalmer81

I like the grill on your ruck, it looks alot tougher than the deluxe grille, need to throw some wide swampers on that baby with a huge heavy duty moose sheild running straight pipes so its loud as all get out!

I missed this before...

I'd love some swampers and I want to build a tube front bumper..

I'll pass on the loud pipes though, this is the family hauler now... The quieter the better

Originally Posted by JPalmer81

Well I have finally made it home on R&R and got to meet my new toy for the first time. I am very excited, here are some pics of the worst of the rust problems, the bed is in the worst shape, but still all together pretty straight and i am by no means dissapointed with my purchase.


And I took the camper off

Look good!!

Much better with the shell off!

My bed is in pretty good shape with only some surface rust, it may be available by the end of the summer
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[JPalmer81]

And here are some with the running boards taken off, without the camper and running boards this thing looks really long now!





Here is the SM465 that i recently purchased that will be going into the truck before too long...



And here is my beautiful family in beautiful Alaska, this is what it is all about, and my new crew fits all of us very nicely

[HarleyHauler]

Looks like the dog is camera shy!..great pic, thanks for sharing.

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by joe231

I missed this before...

I'd love some swampers and I want to build a tube front bumper..

I'll pass on the loud pipes though, this is the family hauler now... The quieter the better




Look good!!

Much better with the shell off!

My bed is in pretty good shape with only some surface rust, it may be available by the end of the summer
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I might be interested in it, I come home for good, Lord willing, at the end of the summer so it may work out just right. It looks so much better with all that stuff off it, just need to throw that lift on there and some sweet wheels and tires and i will be set!

[Stew_Magoo]

I like it with the running boards. I may start looking for a set like that for my CC.

[JPalmer81]

After going through this truck pretty thoroughly, I dont think I am the first one to get my hands on it, i think on of the previous owners did some customizing it setting it up for a bed camper, the paint on it is not original, the marker lights on the cab have been shaved, well not really shaved, just taken off and some make shift caps put on over them, but that makes re-installation easier. Also could see where the holes were for the 3+3 badges were welded shut, again making re-installation easier. The motor runs great and has plenty of get up and go, very happy about that.

[joe231]

Much better without the running boards!

My truck had some of those running boards also...
First thing I ripped off

Yours may have been an old alyeska pipeline truck as well...
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[JPalmer81]

Are there some tell tell signs that it is an Alyeska truck other than the running boards?

[joe231]

I dunno
Mine has manual windows and locks, dual spare tire holders in the bed, a big "9571" painted in white on top of the cab, dual steering stabilizers, heavy duty coolers in front of the radiator, spin on coolant filter on the passenger fender, dual gas tanks, spin on trans and oil(?) filters behind the bumper, battery blankets, freeze plug heater, oil pan heater, and it did have an oil per-luber (all that's left of it is a battery isolation dealio on the drivers inner fender and looped oil lines behind the front bumper).

They added on a bunch of stuff!

I also have a 84 Burb that I believe was an alyeska truck as well, but it has power windows and locks...
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[joe231]

I think I just saw you rolling south on the Seward highway before bird creek.

Truck looks good!
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[76Charlie]

that's a pretty truck

[Leedogg]

Looking good!

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by joe231

I think I just saw you rolling south on the Seward highway before bird creek.

Truck looks good!
Posted via Mobile Device

Yeah that was me, took the wife and kids and dog for a little drive along the coast almost all the way to Alyeska, we just kept driving, it drives very nice and smooth. The tires are about shot though so i cant drive it too much till i get some new ones on there.

[JPalmer81]

Originally Posted by 76Charlie

that's a pretty truck

Originally Posted by Leedogg

Looking good!

Thanks for the positive feedback guys, wish i could start on this thing and get some of the juicy pics on here.