1989 GMC 6000 Pickup/Toy Conversion

[Bigdually]

That brings everything pretty well up to date on the truck build. I have driven it quite a bit and always get lots of waves and looks, and a few horrified stares. It runs and drives great, I even put it in the Christmas parade in my hometown a few weeks back!

My next steps are to wire up my trailer plug and install a brake controller. Then after that I really want to work on a set of steps similar to the driver side one, but stretched from the front fender clear to the rear one. Maybe out of polished diamond tread. I'd also like to either put a fuel tank behind those steps or somehow under the bed and maybe run the filler neck to one of the fuel doors in the bed. After that it'll be time for paint and lots of fun cruising it around and towing tractors/whatever else I need to haul.

[underliner6]

You are doing a killer job. Your efforts to make everything look as if it came factory is paying off.

[Sevens]

I am really digging this build; thank you for sharing!

Just out of curiosity, what kind of fuel (un)economy does that thing get?

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by underliner6

You are doing a killer job. Your efforts to make everything look as if it came factory is paying off.

Thank you! That is much appreciated! Although I may add a few touches of my own, making this look like GM rolled it off the line as a pickup has been and is my goal. I'm glad to hear folks say they see that coming to fruition in my build.

Originally Posted by Sevens

I am really digging this build; thank you for sharing!

Just out of curiosity, what kind of fuel (un)economy does that thing get?

Thanks for the compliment! It gets around 10 MPG, was doing about 7 before I switched to the Edelbrock. She loves the good stuff, and doesn't have much appetite for regular, likes to diesel a little when I run 87 octane. Seems very happy with 90 and up

[Pvmt-Pndr]

Clicking through this thread makes me want to get my truck up and driving the way I want asap. Have you checked your timing? I found playing with my timing a little made a big difference in start up and shut down on my truck running the cheap stuff.i assume your truck is already hei stock. Most of what I read the tall decks like 8 degrees of timing and that's on the high side. For some reason my truck likes (427) 10 degrees better. I also only have about 2 street miles on her since I went through the engine. My wife has a 366 and I don't recall what hers is at, she's also running an edelbrock (not a avs2) and has hei.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Pvmt-Pndr

Clicking through this thread makes me want to get my truck up and driving the way I want asap. Have you checked your timing? I found playing with my timing a little made a big difference in start up and shut down on my truck running the cheap stuff.i assume your truck is already hei stock. Most of what I read the tall decks like 8 degrees of timing and that's on the high side. For some reason my truck likes (427) 10 degrees better. I also only have about 2 street miles on her since I went through the engine. My wife has a 366 and I don't recall what hers is at, she's also running an edelbrock (not a avs2) and has hei.

I had the light on it when I was going through it doing the tune up on the carb, she's right on the mark at 8°. It's stock GM HEI. I'm really happy with how it starts up and runs, seems to really like the timing it's set at. I just think the crap fuel we have today is to blame for a lot of it.

I have read your build, I'm anticipating the day you get yours going too, it's a great truck!

[Bigdually]

Here's one I took recently from far back then zoomed in. I like it because it really shows how the bumper lines match the fender lines pretty well exactly. Kind of a Bob Ross happy accident, I noticed it several days after I'd mounted the bumper

[Pvmt-Pndr]

If I took a picture of my truck right now it would look almost identical to yours. From the woods, yard to the barn almost an identical shot.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Pvmt-Pndr

If I took a picture of my truck right now it would look almost identical to yours. From the woods, yard to the barn almost an identical shot.

Cool!

I'm missing driving mine, but with the salt all over the road and as good as the body is on this truck, she's not moving til some rain washes all that junk off the road!

[Pvmt-Pndr]

I'm in the same boat as you right now. My truck will sit there while I gather parts for it and wait for the weather to break. I did drive mine about a mile a few weeks ago.

[LT7A]

Good grab on the radio. I used to be so eager to swap away the factory radio in a car and now I get excited when I come across one I can use. I really like this truck and I'm glad that you're keeping it going. I think a traditional two-tone paint job would be really cool if you decide to do it. It might kind of help blend the big truck more into the pickup theme. Regardless, it's cool as it is now. Thanks for keeping us up to date.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Good grab on the radio. I used to be so eager to swap away the factory radio in a car and now I get excited when I come across one I can use. I really like this truck and I'm glad that you're keeping it going. I think a traditional two-tone paint job would be really cool if you decide to do it. It might kind of help blend the big truck more into the pickup theme. Regardless, it's cool as it is now. Thanks for keeping us up to date.

Thanks for the compliments! The plan is still so far a two tone job, just don't know how soon I'll get that done. I was hoping for this year but I went and bought a toy. My JK Rubicon is too big to go where I want it to, and a side by side just isn't my thing. A Mahindra Roxor fits my needs perfectly. Diesel, 5 speed, nearly indestructible chassis and suspension setup, and the same width as the big side by sides now days. Plus they can be made road legal here now. So as for the truck, I did get to use the truck to haul the Roxor home but it kinda hurts the funds for paint work

[Pvmt-Pndr]

It looks good doing work! I've looked at those roxors before and they look like a lot of fun. The radio looks great also.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by Pvmt-Pndr

It looks good doing work! I've looked at those roxors before and they look like a lot of fun. The radio looks great also.

Thanks! I'm happy with the radio and the Roxor both, had way too much fun lately exploring some trails I haven't run for years.

My future father in law bought a new tractor, and the dealership wanted a crazy delivery fee. I picked it up for him and towed it about 30 miles home. The truck did just fine towed like a champ. The need for either a) more power or b) closer transmission ratios is easier to see the more I tow, but for as heavy as the tractor was with the attachments I was pretty happy with how it did.

[STPETEBLUE]

Really love your build. I have wanted one of these for a long time. I do not have the skills, equipment, or space to do this kind of thing, so I contacted Mike at Big Ass Trucks. Neither of the trucks he had for sale or in progress had A/C, very important, down here, so he went on the hunt for one. On his site, under SOLD is my truck. It is the 1989 TopKick Ex-Ryder truck.

He left it for me to finish the little things, and I am curious. Where did you get the step bumper? Also, what is your source for the bed lights? I have only found one source for the fender clearance lights.

I would also like to know about the Christmas lights. Were they 12 volt or did you use a power inverter for 110volt? I'm assuming they are LED.

Thanks, and enjoy the ride. I know I am.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by STPETEBLUE

Really love your build. I have wanted one of these for a long time. I do not have the skills, equipment, or space to do this kind of thing, so I contacted Mike at Big Ass Trucks. Neither of the trucks he had for sale or in progress had A/C, very important, down here, so he went on the hunt for one. On his site, under SOLD is my truck. It is the 1989 TopKick Ex-Ryder truck.

He left it for me to finish the little things, and I am curious. Where did you get the step bumper? Also, what is your source for the bed lights? I have only found one source for the fender clearance lights.

I would also like to know about the Christmas lights. Were they 12 volt or did you use a power inverter for 110volt? I'm assuming they are LED.

Thanks, and enjoy the ride. I know I am.

Great looking truck! There's a TON of potential there, I really like it. I talked to Mike when I was beginning to build mine, he clued me in on a few things I'd run into and what height above the frame I would have to mount the bed to get it to line up. He was quite helpful and really knows these trucks inside out.

The step bumper was tricky, I hunted EVERYWHERE for a long time and could find nobody who had one or makes one for a square body anymore. I was out of town for a week and one popped up for sale on Facebook. My girlfriend's dad drove two hours one way to go get it for me. The fender clearance lights came from USA1 Industries. They were backordered forever but I did finally get them.

My Christmas setup was actually all incandescent lights, I ran them on a 2000 watt quiet Honda generator in the bed, you couldn't even hear it over the truck idling. I could have ran way more lights and this year hopefully I can.

Looking forward to more pics and a build thread on yours!

[STPETEBLUE]

Originally Posted by Bigdually

Great looking truck! There's a TON of potential there, I really like it. I talked to Mike when I was beginning to build mine, he clued me in on a few things I'd run into and what height above the frame I would have to mount the bed to get it to line up. He was quite helpful and really knows these trucks inside out.

Mike is a straight shooter. He was a fleet manager for Waste Management for 35 years, so yes, he really knows these trucks. He was in communication with me throughout the build, suggesting various things, along the way. He really kept me in the loop while he was building the truck.

The step bumper was tricky, I hunted EVERYWHERE for a long time and could find nobody who had one or makes one for a square body anymore. I was out of town for a week and one popped up for sale on Facebook. My girlfriend's dad drove two hours one way to go get it for me.

I don't mind the roll pan, but I think a step bumper would look even beefier, and I have always liked the style you have. Trouble is, I can't finish out the rear of the truck with a hitch until I get and mount the step bumper. Until then everyone behind me is looking up my ass end.
Did the bumper brackets line up with the frame rails pretty good?

The fender clearance lights came from USA1 Industries. They were backordered forever but I did finally get them.

I think that is where I saw them, too. The only set I could find has the chrome around them. I have always liked the simpler looking lenses without the bling, but I need a GMC tailgate band to cover the word "CHEVROLET", and all the trucks that came with the band had the bling light lenses, so . . .

My Christmas setup was actually all incandescent lights, I ran them on a 2000 watt quiet Honda generator in the bed, you couldn't even hear it over the truck idling. I could have ran way more lights and this year hopefully I can.

Well, I have that very genny so I guess I have that covered. I just didn't know if if there was something else out there that I should consider. The genny didn't tip over or anything?

Looking forward to more pics and a build thread on yours!

I don't really have a build thread, but I did post up a "progression", if you will, on my Facebook page. You can find it HERE.

Thanks for all the questions answered.

[Bigdually]

Originally Posted by STPETEBLUE

I don't mind the roll pan, but I think a step bumper would look even beefier, and I have always liked the style you have. Trouble is, I can't finish out the rear of the truck with a hitch until I get and mount the step bumper. Until then everyone behind me is looking up my ass end.
Did the bumper brackets line up with the frame rails pretty good?

That is exactly the same issue I had, I wanted a drop bumper to really finish out the rear end the way I wanted it to look. The bumper brackets actually lined up really well with the 6" channel sub frame I had to make to raise the bed high enough (7"). I believe your truck has a larger "lift" on the bed. My hitch is mounted directly to the truck frame and ended up coming out just below the bumper like a regular pickup.

Originally Posted by STPETEBLUE

Well, I have that very genny so I guess I have that covered. I just didn't know if if there was something else out there that I should consider. The genny didn't tip over or anything?

That setup worked really well for me, the unit was pretty stable even at road speed, and especially at parade speed never offered to tip. I had the hardest time keeping the huge inflatable snowman from blowing over

[sweetk30]

easy to make the step bumper but it just wont be chrome unless you spend crazy money to do it or get it super close with powder coat .

look here for pics http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=755514

post # 31 is the start on making it . then 40 / 43-46 and 48 .

[LynnB]

I love these c60 and c70 trucks built into pick ups. They used to look HUGE. But now, it seems it is barely bigger than the giant half tons everyone builds.

[LT7A]

I hope you're still having fun with this. I think you can get frost white from touch up paint dot com. You could go around it rattle canning, panel by panel to get it all one color for cheap it you wanted to. Kinda the rough and ready look for now. Regardless, I think it looks cool now and came together really well.

[TKDanYoung]

Just creepin on the various build threads on the forum for a bit, I normally stick to the 67-72 C10 stuff. But man, I am glad I clicked on this! Such an awesome build! Great work!

[truckfan]

Love the build! Thanks for letting us watch!

[Bigdually]

Life sure has a way of getting busy and next thing you know a couple years have gone by with no progress on your projects. I did get married and we moved into a nice home with a metal building separate from the garage that has tall enough doors for the truck to fit in! That's where it spent all of 2022 except one small outing. Fuel was sky high and my normal summer cruising at 8-10 mpg just wasn't feasible. I do keep the old girl started and moved around some though, and last week I started it and noticed a fuel fitting before the filter at the carb was leaking, I'll have to fix that.

As far as my next steps, I have found this old fire truck somewhat locally about to come up for sale (potentially) and if I can snag it for the right price the low mile 427/Allison AT combo would be SWEET in my truck. Time will tell...

[Darkrider]

Any Updates?