Just showing off my truck!

[arveetek]

Hey guys, I just like showing off my truck every once in a while!

It started out in life as an '81 3/4 ton 2WD, with a 305, TH350 auto, and 3.42 gears. It now sports a 6.2L diesel, 700R4 tranny, and 4.10 gears. It has keyless entry, CD player, a/c, firestone air springs in the rear, on board air compressor for the springs, aux. fuel tank in bed, Rhino Liner, dual side pipes, an Autometer Pro-Comp EGT guage, and a lot of other stuff. It came from the factory as a Custom Deluxe, with auto and a/c as the only options. I have since added carpeting, power windows/locks, and am starting on other parts of the interior. This truck has been a constant project since I bought it in 1995. I have a turbocharger laying in the shop waiting to go on....hopefully this winter sometime. You can read about my latest idea in the C-20 to K-20 thread.

I've owned a bunch of Chevy trucks, but this '81 has been and will always be my favorite!

[arveetek]

Here's what it looked like in '98 before body work began:

[arveetek]

Another view:

[low 84]

still as cool as always. you and txtruck have the coolest deisles (sp?) i've seen

[BigRed]

Wow, that's a good lookin' truck! I can't believe all the stuff you have done with it. I'd love to see it in person. That gives me alot of incentive to keep going with mine. I am in somewhat the same boat as you were since mine is a Custom Deluxe base line truck and I plan on doing alot to it.

Keep up the nice work!

[brad2]

Wow, I had no idea you had done so much to your truck. Nice job!

[67_SS396]

Cool, nice rig you have! What part of SW MO are you in? I was just in Nevada and Lamar this last week for Thanksgiving. That's where all my family is. We have farm land in Lamar, Sheldon and south of Joplin.

[Razorback_Fan]

Yeap very nice ride you should be proud of that one.

[79BIG10]

Casey can you post a pic of the custom emblem you had made for the fenders? I remember loving them when I saw your truck in person.

[75stepside]

nice truck!!! looks like you've come a long way... just curious, are any of your fenders/doors aftermarket?

also, i see the fifth wheel in the bed: what'r ya hauling!??!?

[arveetek]

Thanks for the kind remarks, ya'll!


67,

I live in Granby, about 30 miles south of Joplin, just east of Neosho. When you're in the area again, drop me a line if you want to!


Brandon,

I'll take a pic of that decal and post it soon. The pics above were taken before I had them made. I've also changed the bug deflector since then as well. I probably won't take a pic for a day or two, until the snow melts off. Quite a storm we had yesterday!

75,

Fenders are original. The doors are off of an '82 Silverado. Far as I know, they're GM original. My bed has new aftermarket repair panels over the fender wells.

I own an RV repair business (hence the name....arveetek: RV tech). I also own a 29' fifth-wheel. So I tow large loads quite often. You can see a pic of my rig in my photo album (see link in my sig). I'm also building a cargo trailer out of a wrecked fifth-wheel. This will be used in my business. So I'll soon be towing a trailer several times a week. I'll have all my tools in it, so I can make service calls to the local campgrounds. It's a fun business!

[67_SS396]

Cool! My cousin lives not far from you I belive. Unfortunately, I have to make another trip back that way this Sunday after a camping trip. An Uncle I just saw last week, passed away, so here's to another last minute trip. I'd like to drop by, but maybe next time when I won't be hard pressed for time. I typically make the trip 1-3 times a year. I plan on another trip right around the new year. I'll keep in touch if so.

Ryan

[arveetek]

Brandon,

Here is the pic of the decal that I promised:

[arveetek]

And here is an updated pic with the "new" old style bugshield:

[swervin ervin]

As always, very cool ride Casey. I love the look. Real neat and tailored to what you use it for. Nothing overboard or cluttered. Very nice job of building it. I love it.

[arveetek]

Thanks a lot Mike! That means a lot coming from you!!!!

[J-Spec C10]

ok, so I'm not sure what it matters, but i also really like the ride. I hope you have a lot of fun in it, like we all seem to have.
L8's!

[Hooter]

Thats a cool truck!

[Prerunner1982]

can spin the tires too...

[79BIG10]

Thanks for the pic Casey. I'm with Jon and yes it can spin them for sure.

[Randy70C-10]

Awsome job on the resto!

[85Silverado]

I like the truck...it looks great.

This is just my opinion and maybe i'm just not used to seeing the headlights like that...they kinda look out of place to me. It'd be cool is if you made some headlight doors so that on one side would be a "panel" of grill that fits in with the grill you have and when you hit the lights it flips so the lights come out then. But that would probably be a bit of work.

Great truck tho

[arveetek]

Yeah, this was a Custom Deluxe with few options, originally. The 81-82 grilles had an option of quad headlights, but mine only had the dual. Prerunner1982 has the same grille as I do, but with the quad lights. I used to want to change to the 91-92 Suburban grille, but now the 81 front end has grown on me, and I like it the way it is!

Most of the 83 and later trucks have the turn signals below the headlights, or up in the grill somewhere. So I guess I can see why you would think this one would look somewhat different. 81-82 was the only years that they put the parking/turn signals in the front bumper (for this body style). They also did it in 71-72.

[arveetek]

Just checking something: