Allow myself to reintroduce.... myself....

[redz 1970 K5]

Thanks for the compliments. Hey, that's an interesting perspective. Basically the white steelies have been out of the mix long enough to be cool again? You're right, I'm going to hold onto the white steelies.

In regard to these American Racing wheels, I've always been such a fan of the slotted mag wheels. One of my favorite wheel designs. I still remember the slotted mag wheels on my mom's old 70 Corvette. Dang they looked good. A lot of the era correct vintage mag wheels I would want are 16.5" and those are getting too hard to get tires for these days.

Modern wheels are by in large just way too busy for these old trucks.

[Joesjunk]

It would look good with an old original set of 16.5 slots on it, or factory steel wheels and dog dish hub caps. Just my opinion, but the new wheels you show just don't go with the truck. Firestone makes a nice looking 9.50 x 16.5 highway tire that looks good on the 8.25" wide slots

[toms68cst]

Very nice survivor you have there. That's my kind of truck all the way.

Silver steel wheels would look very sweet IMO with original chrome or 68-correct painted hub caps.

I don't really mind the white wagon or other modern wheels you have either.

[toms68cst]

Here you go. Might be tough to find wheels that aren't split rims though.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by redz 1970 K5

I did a photochop of the American Racing slotted ansens on the truck. I'm on the fence. It might be a bit much with the black beadlocks. If it is too much, I'll just paint the fake beadlocks silver or have the black lip polished to match the wheel. The Ansen wheels definitely have that mix of vintage and modern. I am just unsure if it's too much modern.

My opinion........Do it, save the other set.

[redz 1970 K5]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

My opinion........Do it, save the other set.

Thanks! I also decided on the HD front coil springs that all the guys use to level the front of the truck.

I ordered these wheels Monday and they are already being delivered today. Amazon, right?

[35boulder]

Very nice truck and gotta love the history. Wish I knew the complete history of my truck. I like the white wheels...keep them IMO. Enjoy the truck

[Shinysideup]

I would drive it as-is. Those ricer wheels are goofy looking on that classic. Its only original once.

[redz 1970 K5]

Originally Posted by Shinysideup

I would drive it as-is. Those ricer wheels are goofy looking on that classic. Its only original once.

This is true, but the original wheels are long gone even though the wagon wheels are era appropriate. I am only going to add a few easily reversible modifications to this truck, rims included, just to get it a little of my personal touch. It's what we do, right?

[LongBox]

First, and most important: GREAT TRUCK, and the story behind it is the icing on the cake.

Now, on to the wheels: I'm interested in how you went from 8 lug with the wagon wheels, to 6 lug with the slots?;-)

And finally, opinion only--I'd go with stock steelies from the era, or else ralleys from the 73-87 series. But, it's your truck, and it's a beauty.

[71sierragrande]

Thats a dream truck, one of the nicest I've seen. If my granny gave me that, I'd sell my 2008 silverado and give her the money. I think the yellow/white combo is about as good as it gets(I may be biased), so I would put white era correct steelies on it. But the slots would look good, too. Hard to go wrong with that jewel.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Personally wheels is that one item there's lots of play. The original set-ups look awesome and generally represents an "original" truck, but something happens to one you're at square one for up keep. That and those slot mags have near period correct appearance, and they look awesome on that truck. I really like that truck. I had a 72 Malibu near same color and near same miles on the odometer. Coincidentally, I bought it out of Fallon, 1992. Beautiful car, but a lot of rust. Probably from Ca. coast.

[allchevy58]

Originally Posted by redz 1970 K5

This is true, but the original wheels are long gone even though the wagon wheels are era appropriate. I am only going to add a few easily reversible modifications to this truck, rims included, just to get it a little of my personal touch. It's what we do, right?

I would do the same thing. My grandma willed me her 1958 Impala in 1980 and I put a set Cragars on it and changed the single exhaust to dual exhaust. Kept the original wheels and hubcaps. Other than those two changes, it's like it came off the showroom floor. Have fun with it.

[redz 1970 K5]

Thanks again for all of the kind words. Again, it is very humbling.

Here are the actual wheels delivered today. I think they will look really sharp and be a fun touch.

[redz 1970 K5]

The stock exhaust piping has pretty much had it and has rusted through in several spots so that is next on the list. I think besides the wheels/tires, that is the only other aftermarket touch the truck will get.

No desire to run headers. I'm going to have a shop build me a dual 2.25" exhaust with an h-pipe from exhaust manifolds back through some magnaflows or other mufflers (still undecided). I am thinking rear exit with some nice subtle chrome tips under the rear bumper. Actually I think I will go no tips and just run piping to under the rear bumper. It's a good shop with a good tech and bender so they can build some nice stuff without getting carried away. They have scratch built me some exhausts that are still superb 6+ years later.

To bring in a little modern tech, I'll have em weld an O2 bung on the pipe so I can run a WB02 sensor (Innovate LC1) and log and see what that quadrajet is up to and dial it in a bit. I can just cap the bung when not in use.

[cruisinthe34]

Loved the history and you have an impressive truck. These trucks of ours can make almost any wheel look good.

[redz 1970 K5]

Ok, as requested here is the build sheet.



My favorite shop did a great job cleaning up and resealing the leaky rear diff.



For giggles I mocked up the wheels in front of the truck before I get them installed next week. I like it a lot.

[redz 1970 K5]

So next week, it's leveling springs up front (Moog 6450), alignment, new wheels installed and dual exhaust.

After that, I'm done with my initial barrage of changes.

[redz 1970 K5]

I spent about 3 hours doing some paint correction on the LH rear bedside. I couldn't believe how shiny that old paint got. It's gonna take a few hours a panel. This is with the 74724XP DA polisher and a Chemical Guys compound.

[redz 1970 K5]

I got the wheels on. The existing tires were like brand new treadwise, but they were 13 years old and the shop wouldn't unmount them. It seems industry standard puts tire life around 10 years, so the truck got some new 265/75R16 (32x10.50) shoes.

I do really like the wheels a lot. They do have the look I was going for. My only gripe is the black center cap. So, I ordered some of the more old school looking chrome american racing center caps. I think they will look more retro and brighten up the combo.





Retro center caps I ordered.



I'm thinking I should ask moderators to just move this thread to a build thread to chronicle my changes.

[redz 1970 K5]

For the exhaust I'm having built tomorrow, me and the shop decided on 14" body magnaflows for the dual system with an h-pipe with some tips like this. I am not sure to have the exhaust exit behind the rear tires or out under the bumper. What do you guys think?

[cleszkie]

I saw this too late to chime in. But those rims are available without the fake bead lock in a 17" diameter. Very nice truck.

[redz 1970 K5]

Exhaust is on.