While I'm Waiting...

[MylilBowTie]

What size are the newer rims/tires?

[78 Chevyrado]

The rims are off of a 2001 Silverado2500HD The rim size is 16x(6 or 6.5). The tires are 265/75/16 And they are 10 Ply. I'm hoping to have enough money left when I'm done to get some spacers to move the wheels outboard 1.5 inches. On the upside, with the wheels inboard that 1.5 inches I get less rock chips down the sides of the body.

[ChaseDale3and8]

I really like that tailgate band that you are putting on. Do you know if one like that will fit an 81-87 tailgate? I'm thinking that they should fit but would like to know for sure. I just think that they are much cleaner looking than the 81-87 style. I looked on eBay today but couldn't come up with anything on a search for one that I did. What did you enter in the search window to find yours? ...Joe

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by ChaseDale3and8

I really like that tailgate band that you are putting on. Do you know if one like that will fit an 81-87 tailgate? I'm thinking that they should fit but would like to know for sure. I just think that they are much cleaner looking than the 81-87 style. I looked on eBay today but couldn't come up with anything on a search for one that I did. What did you enter in the search window to find yours? ...Joe

I'm not sure if it will or not. I'm guessing it would not just bolt in because the earlier tailgates' indent is more rounded whereas the newer tailgates have really straight non rounded indents, but it may not be too hard to make it work.

in ebay, try "chevy tailgate band" "chevy tailgate panel" chevy tailgate trim" or if nothing comes up, just use "chevy tailgate" and surf through about 1400 items. It takes a while, but will get what you want, if it's there to be had. Also I like to put in "chevy truck nos" and just browse through everything.


Here's today's pics, about the same as yesterday except today it's got 2 coats of color and 2 coats of clear on it. It's going to be awesome when its been color sanded and buffed! They didn't get the bed done today because the truck had to stay in the booth because it rained really hard all day.

[1984 swb chevy]

looks great

[78 Chevyrado]

Here's todays progress. Tomorrow I'm going to help take the bed off the truck; it won't go back on until the paints finished.



Better shot of the new rocker.

[78 Chevyrado]

Got the trim off the fender and removed the bed today. They're feathering everything out for primer tonight or tomorrow. The frame's dirty but there's barely any rust (except the leaf springs) so I'm going to leave it alone since it's just a driver.

[spudz]

really nice truck! Do you know off chance if those 2500hd wheels will clear a 4x4 axle.. Its a full time front axle so it doesnt really matter if its covered up..

[78 Chevyrado]

Thanks spudz! I've seen those wheels on 4x4's too. If you cut a hole in the centercaps where the bowtie is, the hubs won't look like they stick out much either. I think all the 8-lug chevy-GMC stuff bolts up from 1967-Present. You can still get those wheels on 08 models.

[spudz]

thanks man, yeah I work at a chevy dealership and run across them as take offs every once in a while. Never thought about them going on an older 3/4 ton.....THANKS FOR THE INFO!

[seanconnery]

Do you have any plans for clearance lights on the roof? I dig the F-150 too, and I'm not afraid to say I like fords. Hell, the best selling vehicle in the world for the better part of the last 2 decades (besides 2 or 3 years of toyota camry) is an F-150. They must be doing something right!

In any event, did I miss the description on how the door panels look so damn new?

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by seanconnery

Do you have any plans for clearance lights on the roof? I dig the F-150 too, and I'm not afraid to say I like fords. Hell, the best selling vehicle in the world for the better part of the last 2 decades (besides 2 or 3 years of toyota camry) is an F-150. They must be doing something right!

In any event, did I miss the description on how the door panels look so damn new?

I hadn't thought about the clearance lights. I'm not going to put them on. They usually look good on most duallys, but it's kinda hit or miss on SRW trucks, IMO, but they all look fine without them.

Yeah all the manufacurers have ups and down. I just buy the one I like the looks of the best. Right now I have a ford focus I drive most of the time since it gets a lot better mileage.

I had this above the door panel pic:
All the interior vinyl and plastic has been dyed SEM Firethorn Red.
I call it DYE, but the can actually says it's not a dye, nor is it paint; it's a flexable coating.

The only interior stuff that I haven't messed with yet are the seat covers, and the seatbelts themselves.

[SBTork]

wow, you're doing real good with this, I can't wait to see the finished product.

[MylilBowTie]

May want to replace the fuel filter sock for the pickup in the gas tank. It would be so much easier with the bed already off as well as any gas lines if they need replaced.

Where did you get the lift kit for the rear?

[78 Chevyrado]

I thought about doing the thing in the tank but I didn't want to mess with breaking the seals. I did get the hard to get to fuel lines replaced, first thing.

Originally Posted by MylilBowTie

Where did you get the lift kit for the rear?

I bought the kit from SuperLift. I think they are great quality and the parts fit really well.


Here's a few pics from today. They have the first coat of epoxy primer on all the bare metal where they did body work.

[84 400]

looking good.

[Cherub]

Nice build

[78 Chevyrado]

Thanks!
Here's my new (to me) tailgate band I got off of ebay. It's been stripped of all the old paint, cleaned and polished, and then sprayed it with a clearcoat. I'll paint the stripe and letters later. I will paint the perimeter stripe black, but the chevrolet letters will be a gold color that matches the letters on my silverado fender emblems.

Here it is cleaned up and sprayed with clear:

[rod86]

aww man that looks nice...
where are all them trims when im looking for one....

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by rod86

aww man that looks nice...
where are all them trims when im looking for one....

I know what you mean! I looked for this trim piece for more than a year and found nothing, and then all of a sudden there were 3 at one time! Now there's none again.

[78 Chevyrado]

My camera quit after I only got one pic today...

Here's a pic of the bed all ready to be painted.


They have both fenders and doors off the truck to paint the insides of them and to partially jamb out the cab. They will finish jambing out the cab when the fenders are back on and will paint it at the same time as when they paint inside the cab. They are also painting the underside of the hood. Should be all jammed out by tomorrow.

I got my tailgate band all finished except for repainting the brackets that go on the back. I had ordered a new set of fender emblems and I broke one messing with it, so I cleaned up the sun thingy and painted the rim black and filled the back in flush with epoxy so I could stick it with tape on the band.


more to come, it's getting real close now!

[78 Chevyrado]

Here's today's pics. They have the fenders and doors back on permanently. They already shot the hard to get to stuff like the hinges and such while the doors and fenders were off. They now have the cab wet sanded, and today it will at least get the sealer on it, but will likely get the color on it too. They will paint inside the cab, then the rest of the jambs, and then onto the outer cab, doors and fenders.



Here's a shot of the new color on the inside of the fender. It's a bit dirty from wet sanding around it, but it''ll give you an idea.

[Corts60]

Man that's looking real good...

[jrsmith_2010]

sweet thanks dude

[72BlckButy]

Great looking project, good luck with the rest of the build!