Silverado restoration in Finland

[MrFinland]

Here are a few pictures when we drove the last time before winter. The truck is now in the garage about for the next 6 months. We need to fix all the faults that came in the light during the summer.

[Dads79GMC]

Looks great! Finished just in time for the snow to fall! Mike

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Looks great! Finished just in time for the snow to fall! Mike

Thanks Mike! Fortunately, we were able to drive before the fall came. Hopefully, in the next summer, we can drive a lot more.

I would like to start renovating BMW but there is no room for both cars in my garage. I have to wait for Chevy to go to my brother's garage.

[Palf70Step]

Beautiful truck!


I am so glad I that I can run mine year round. You guys in them cold places.

[Dads79GMC]

It’s terrible!!

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Beautiful truck!


I am so glad I that I can run mine year round. You guys in them cold places.

Thaks a lot Bill! You are lucky guy Bill, if you can drive round of the year with your truck. Here in Finland is now so dark, cold, windy and today we got the first snow....I hate this weather.

[Dads79GMC]

Again, terrible weather!!

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

It’s terrible!!

I agree! I think that you have same "problem" in Iowa than we have in Finland?!? ...I saw a litlle bit snow in your building thread pictures.

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by MrFinland

Thaks a lot Bill! You are lucky guy Bill, if you can drive round of the year with your truck. Here in Finland is now so dark, cold, windy and today we got the first snow....I hate this weather.

That means, you are going to have to get another project truck

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

That means, you are going to have to get another project truck

Yes definitely I agree! We teased to our wives, that our next project is crew cab dually. But in our wives' faces we saw, we might not want to buy crew cab dually now...for at least a little while.
My next project is BMW and my brother´s next restoration project is old tractor (David Brown).

[LT7A]

Ilkka, I saw where you asked Mike (Dads79GMC) about wheel spacers. If I recall correctly, you need at least 3/4" thickness of material in the spacer to recess the nuts to bolt it to your axle. Then the spacer has studs that you bolt your wheel to. It appears that a 3/4 or 1 inch spacer wouldn't push your rear wheels out too far, but I'm just guessing, looking at the pictures. If 1/2 inch is really the right size, you may be able to just get longer studs and press them into your axles (after pounding the old ones out) so that you can install a 1/2 spacer plus your wheel and still have enough threads for the lug nuts to hold your wheel on safely.

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Ilkka, I saw where you asked Mike (Dads79GMC) about wheel spacers. If I recall correctly, you need at least 3/4" thickness of material in the spacer to recess the nuts to bolt it to your axle. Then the spacer has studs that you bolt your wheel to. It appears that a 3/4 or 1 inch spacer wouldn't push your rear wheels out too far, but I'm just guessing, looking at the pictures. If 1/2 inch is really the right size, you may be able to just get longer studs and press them into your axles (after pounding the old ones out) so that you can install a 1/2 spacer plus your wheel and still have enough threads for the lug nuts to hold your wheel on safely.

Thanks LT7A! Yes, I thinks so that 1" spacer is too much for our truck because we have 10" rear wheel and 295/50-15" tire. I tryed to install 1/5" spacer but it was too thin, but maximum what can use with original studs. I have to check studs (if I can install longer studs) when we remove rear end, because we have to change the seals to rear end.

[LT7A]

I'll bet longer studs are available. Let me know if you want me to check out anything in the States for you.

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by LT7A

I'll bet longer studs are available. Let me know if you want me to check out anything in the States for you.

Thank you very much LT7A! I'm really impressed by how friendly the people are here! Thanks to everyone and especially for you LT7A! I´ll let you know, if I don´t find those longer studs. I have to talk to my brother first, because he don´t want those spacer but I want...

[MrFinland]

I noticed that we have no picture of the engine bay. Something small still needs to be done before it is ready; for example stickers, air hose for the engine and jack...

[Dads79GMC]

Looks outstanding Ilkka!!!

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

Looks outstanding Ilkka!!!

Thank you very much Mike!

[mingoman]

Wonderful build and just a great looking truck! Keep warm up there!

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by mingoman

Wonderful build and just a great looking truck! Keep warm up there!

Thanks a lot, mingoman! We try to keep warm. 😉

[MrFinland]

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Same man who painted this truck, changed all truck rear end seals last week. Here are a few pictures when we drived it to the seals changing.

[MrFinland]

I found and buyed this Chevy full-size pickup brochure. In that brochure is pretty much information of Chevy pickups and of course a few fine pictures. Unfortunate this is -87 model year (our Chevy is -84), but hopefully we will found somethimes correct year brochure. Here are a few pictures of brochure.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by MrFinland

Thank you very much LT7A! I'm really impressed by how friendly the people are here! Thanks to everyone and especially for you LT7A! I´ll let you know, if I don´t find those longer studs. I have to talk to my brother first, because he don´t want those spacer but I want...

Happy New Year Ilkka! I can understand both sides of the discussion about the spacers. It was good to see you were able to sneak your truck out onto the road even though it's winter. Is Finland similar to Norway and Sweden in the type of cars? If so, your truck is probably very unusual there. And very big compared to the rest of the cars. I'm sure any one of us would be proud to have that truck. It is as if new, while being 37 years old. Even though most of the work is done it would be fun for us to see where you go and how you use it. I hope you will keep posting pictures.

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Happy New Year Ilkka! I can understand both sides of the discussion about the spacers. It was good to see you were able to sneak your truck out onto the road even though it's winter. Is Finland similar to Norway and Sweden in the type of cars? If so, your truck is probably very unusual there. And very big compared to the rest of the cars. I'm sure any one of us would be proud to have that truck. It is as if new, while being 37 years old. Even though most of the work is done it would be fun for us to see where you go and how you use it. I hope you will keep posting pictures.

Thank you LT7A, and happy new year also to you! It was very slippery to drive when we drove back home from the seals changing service. Because rear tire is so wide and no pins.

Finland is quite same kind land than Norway and Sweden is. And yes, this kind of car is quite different than usually here in Finland. There is too much boring cars in Finland roads (especially in winter), but in the summer there will see some nice cars. I will put more driving pictures when the summer comes.

It was a long time since last time when we did something to the Chevy. We have had a really busy autumn, but now is a bit easier, so now we have to do the rest of things in Chevy. Yesterday I went to the garage and did some small things. I have not a pictures of that, maybe later.

[Dads79GMC]

It all came together nicely Ilkka!!

[MrFinland]

Originally Posted by Dads79GMC

It all came together nicely Ilkka!!

Thank you Mike! I hope so.

Today I was in a few hours in the garage and the new rear corner strips are nightmares. Hope I can make them good?!?