My Luxurious late model truck (not so much)

[ryanroo]

Looks fantastic. i really like the simplicity of the texas plates too, but unfortunately they conjure a bad instinctual reaction. every time i see one i naturally stomp the brakes and try to get off the road. it is a curious reaction when sitting at the computer.

hahaha

any other SW CO locals would understand...

[Tx Firefighter]

I understand you Colorado guys hate us Texans exactly the same way we hate Yankees. Go the "F" home and quit ruining our state right ?

Somewhere I was reading a thread awhile back by some Colorado guy who was building a 4x4. His words were "I'm not worried if it breaks down. I can walk 1/4 mile down any trail in Colorado and find some damn Texan with an expensive ATV to rescue me".

[68Timber]

You don't ever see that grille anymore. Looks great, well worth the effort.

[Palf70Step]

The grill came out great Kevin. really improved the look!

[ryanroo]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I understand you Colorado guys hate us Texans exactly the same way we hate Yankees. Go the "F" home and quit ruining our state right ?

Somewhere I was reading a thread awhile back by some Colorado guy who was building a 4x4. His words were "I'm not worried if it breaks down. I can walk 1/4 mile down any trail in Colorado and find some damn Texan with an expensive ATV to rescue me".

I've enjoyed the company of almost every texan i've met. great folks in that state. i'm a pretty amicable, so generally i get along with everone. its really not texans, its every flatlander. no matter what state, outside of the the closer rocky mountain states, the occupants all seem spellbound and lightheaded from lack of O2. i'm usually not in a hurry to go anywhere though, so when one of the other mountain states or another CO resident goes hauling past me like i drive some old stinky beater...i usually cuss at them too...

the deal with the ATV is true. its that or an ostentatious Rubicon, or finally... a rental. Haha

[83GMCK2500]

Wow! Where'd you find a new GMT-400, stashed in a fallout shelter? That looks GREAT! Very nice touch on the black upper portion, that was a spot-on choice. I think it visually connects to the core support much smoother now.

I know (in the past) you have added relays to your lighting harness, did you do the same here?

I have now been to San Antonio twice (still here for a few days) and so far I have really had nothing but positive and quality interactions with Texans. I went exploring to a few wrecking yards looking for random parts the other day and I didn't meet a single person who wasn't helpful in some way even if they didn't have a part.

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Rather than wait until I have the extra money for a condenser, I decided to clean up what I have and put the front end back together. It's no real imposition to remove one of these grilles so when it becomes air conditioning time, I'll pull it back out to swap the condenser.

So, a light fogging of Rustoleum, new loom for the wiring harness, new screws for the headlight retainers, re painted center support and dielectric grease in all sockets.





I'm glad I took the effort to mask and paint the top part. It looks more finished than if I had left it silver.

Man that looks good! Very good improvement! Keep up the good work!

[SCOTI]

The grille 'update' really highlights the emphasis of details on mods vs. just throwing money (a repop part) @ something & calling it done.

Well done my friend. Well done....

[TheBlueBomber]

Holy cow I can't believe I've missed this thread!!! Looking great Kevin! Love the grille. That was the first thing i did with my 96 was freshen up the front end and tail lights. The difference is astronomical

[TheBlueBomber]

Curious as to what kind of paint would be good to use on the fan shroud? Would that be something to use regular paint or something that binds to plastic better?

[Tx Firefighter]

I was telling Valerie yesterday that the secret to have a truck that looks kept is to sprinkle jewelry on it all over. You don't necessarily need shiny new paint to have a tidy looking truck. Shiny grille, lenses, lights, wheels and tires, and cleaned and polished chrome is enough. Even with shabby paint, if you do those things, it will look to the eye like the owner cares for the truck and keeps it in good repair. On the other hand, even the shiniest of paint jobs won't overcome hazy lenses and crappy wheels.

On the fan shroud, I like to use Goop hand soap. It cleans the plastic very well and leaves it shiny and new looking. Here is the fan shroud on my dually with the Goop treatment.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

You don't ever see that grille anymore. Looks great, well worth the effort.

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

The grill came out great Kevin. really improved the look!

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Wow! Where'd you find a new GMT-400, stashed in a fallout shelter? That looks GREAT! Very nice touch on the black upper portion, that was a spot-on choice. I think it visually connects to the core support much smoother now.

I know (in the past) you have added relays to your lighting harness, did you do the same here?

I have now been to San Antonio twice (still here for a few days) and so far I have really had nothing but positive and quality interactions with Texans. I went exploring to a few wrecking yards looking for random parts the other day and I didn't meet a single person who wasn't helpful in some way even if they didn't have a part.

Originally Posted by Hankster

Man that looks good! Very good improvement! Keep up the good work!

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The grille 'update' really highlights the emphasis of details on mods vs. just throwing money (a repop part) @ something & calling it done.

Well done my friend. Well done....

Originally Posted by TheBlueBomber

Holy cow I can't believe I've missed this thread!!! Looking great Kevin! Love the grille. That was the first thing i did with my 96 was freshen up the front end and tail lights. The difference is astronomical

I appreciate yooz fellas posting the encouraging words.

Devin, yes, the headlight relay deal is weighing on me. Valerie was asking me last night why I didn't do it. She doesn't know a relay from a realty but she knows I do it to all my trucks I build and was wondering why I hadn't done it. Then I put on a class about what a relay is and why we run them on headlight circuits. Now, she's relay certified. I think I'll sit down to Delcity today and order some stuff. I need some larger gauge wire and some more wiring loom. Sounds like a good reason to order the supplies to go ahead and do the H/L relay mod.

[likaroc13]

The grille looks even better installed! I'm kinda glad you stuck with it. It's just different, which can be a good thing if done right (like yours). Keep up the good work.

[whitels1]

Great work on the truck, you are flyin' along!

[Woogeroo]

oh yeah... looking good.

I like these kinds of builds, thanks for the updates.

-W

[chevyboy73]

love these kinds of build threads. looks so much better!

[Low Elco]

Plum purdy! It's amazing how all the little detail things really come together to make stuff pop.

[aggie91]

That grill rehab was the ticket. That looks good. I agree, it the "jewelry" is clean and shiny, the rest can be overlooked.

[Tx Firefighter]

Today's project. To try and salvage these old door panels with the hole busted in it.





I think the arm rest is beyond hope. There are four extra screws run right through it, with two of them being covered in black duct tape. That's hillbilly craftsmanship I tell you.





And Annie Dog is on a mission today to get that big green lizard that's been taunting her.

[98Murray]

This is great! You have the best build threads I have ever seen! You put so much time into it and you really know your stuff! Every time I read one of your threads it makes me wanna work on my trucks lol great stuff! That grille is killer!

We had a truck exactly like this, 1993 Cheyenne 2500. It was a pretty darn good farm truck too until the engine went.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by 98Murray

This is great! You have the best build threads I have ever seen! You put so much time into it and you really know your stuff! Every time I read one of your threads it makes me wanna work on my trucks lol great stuff! That grille is killer!

We had a truck exactly like this, 1993 Cheyenne 2500. It was a pretty darn good farm truck too until the engine went.

Thank you for the words. I hope my threads do inspire folks to work on their projects. I try to show that's its about 90% dedication and maybe 10% financial. You just got to put in the hours to get results.

[Tx Firefighter]

First, let me say the object of this exercise was to make do with what I have.

Let me give credit here and say I was inspired by a picture likaroc posted of his old conversion truck.



Remember, I have a similar seat to his with the center console wood trim.



So I hit upon using a wood trim over the damaged part of the door panel. I found me a little thin oak plank and cut me a couple of pieces. Stain and clear to match my center console.



Yes, I have enough rally wheels to stack up to the moon. There's worse problems to have.

Then I flipped the broken panel over and used a strong 2 part epoxy to bond a wooden toothpick across the crack to give it strength and keep it aligned.



Right about that time I heard a train wreck outside and looked out to to see Annie Dog smoked that lizard she had been chasing through my scrap pile all day. Dog 1, Lizard 0.

Then clean and SEM dye the door panels





Looks positive so far.



New door panel clips. They are Dorman brand and the part number is visible there. That's a box of 25. You'll need 22 to do both panels entirely. New door panel clips = a nice tight rattle free panel. Cheap and worth it.



11 clips per panel installed.







I still need armrests, but at least I can no longer say I need armrests and door panels. One step closer to finishing the interior. The end result isn't terribly stellar, and I'm still not a huge fan of wood interior parts, but it should crutch me through until fate delivers me a better pair of door panels.

[EightiesOnly]

Awesome! That wood looks dang near luxurious. Might need to drop the "not so much" from the title.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by EightiesOnly

Awesome! That wood looks dang near luxurious. Might need to drop the "not so much" from the title.

Thank you. It's still not a luxo cruiser, but I'm sure enjoying the build.

I pulled it over into the shade to try and get a better picture to illustrate how the seat and door panels tie in together now.



And, Devin, this picture is for you. Tomorrow's project....

[legendman]

Another great project thread, went through your other 2 threads recently and loved them both.
Trouble is, after reading your threads I want to do the same myself, now I need to find a GMT400 and a 74 (want a fleetside though) LOL.

I had a 89 K2500 exactly like yours but it was a auto trans and had a blue interior. beat the snot out of it plowing snow, never let me down.