Top 7 truck upgrades???

[Andy4639]

gotmud, I have a brother that lives there, been there a couple of times, just a few hrs. south of us.

OK on to the post.
I can think of a few.

1. Nice Tires and wheels
2. Nice Interior
3. Door rubber's
4. Window Felts
5. Nice Motor compatment
6. Good brakes
7. Nice Stereo
8. A/C
9. Daul exhaust
10. Everything Billet!

[gotmud]

WOW! What a ton of feedback I got on this post. Thanks to everyone for the input and the ideas. I see that Ive got my bonus and tax refund spoken for ove the next few years now.
Guess a vacation this year is out of the question

[gotmud]

Andy I use to live in Irmo SC. I have to ask who is your aviator?????

[67chevemall]

Ya'll arre fergettn dee old Headlights up grade
So dee don't runn ofa dee old Dash circuts !!

:p

[stelth2002]

I think some of you have like the power brakes more than me, along with steering. I have both manual and i dont mind it at all. in fact i like it, but mine isnt a daily driver and im pretty strong in the arms. I would have to say
1. sway bar, not matter what truck you have.
2. I can agree with seat (buckets for me, BTW, i want to buy)
3. Ignition on engine(better milage, less emissions: msd, hei, etc)4. Headlights (anything is better than stock)
5. New rubber and felt components ( bushings for cab, etc)
6. Drivetrain (who wants to go slow?)
7. Paint
Mine are broad, but thats what ive did.

[Bill72BB]

For BB;

Larger Tires and Wheels
Late Model Steering Wheel
Headers
Late model Seat
Headlight Upgrade
Shoulder Belts
Gaylord Lid

[67chevemall]

Gaylord lids are sweeeet!!

$$

[spencra]

My top 7 (AHEM, 10)

1) 3 on the tree to 4 on the floor
2) Stock engine to 350 8 cyl
3) Definately 3 point seat belts
4) Stock radio to repro stereo with cd player and headliner with speakers
5) Would like to convert to power disk brakes with posi rearend
6) Convert stock 67 bench to stock 67 buckets
7) This list. Because 7 just isn't enough.
8) Definately new paint job (probably should be higher than #8)
9) Headlight bulb converted to halogen.
10) Tonneau cover to protect new oak bed.

[lewi]

Great thread! I see many that I've done and my wish list shows up on others, I suppose that's why we all like these trucks and want very simular upgrades.

[Slammed67]

Not in any particular order..........

1) Disc brakes (power or non-power)
2) Lowered springs/shocks/air bags
3) HEI
4) (edit) Internally regulated alternator
5) In-dash CD player and speakers
6) Relocated fuel tank
7) New stainless steel brake lines (including braided stainless steel hoses to replace rubber hoses)
8) Front sway bar

[stelth2002]

Slammed, im curious as to why you put externally regulated alternator? That means you cant use one wire.

[Slammed67]

Oopps! I meant INTERNALLY.

[BUXMAN66]

i'm surprised that no one has mentioned a tilt column out of a van!as many times as this subject comes up you'd think every body and thier brother would have one installed. enuff of that here's mine:1)full instrumentation using gmcpauls techtips!
2)frt.sway-bar w/ poly-urethane bushings
3)tilt column-mid seventies chevy van from junkyardjohn.
4)lowered 3"in frt. 4" in back w/ adj. tracking bar from ed at mothertruckers.
5)1 wire alt. purty chrome 100 amp.
6)shoulder seatbelts
7)healthy dose of sound material/padding on doors and all over floor area.
8)l.e.d. taillights/ h-4 headlight up-grade
9)radiator over-flow bottle on fender (by junction block)
10)assorted chrome goodies (ash-tray,threshold cover at door opening,radiator top cover,core support corners,etc...)
11)original style roof-line mounted inside rear-view mirror
12)original style s/s outside mirors
i'm sure i'll be adding more...(frt.discs sounds good....hmmm!)

[badpeanut]

Tx Firefighter mentioned "3. New linkage bushings in column shift trucks".

I assume this applies to automatic trucks? Where do the bushings go and where do you get them?

[Tx Firefighter]

No, I meant on column shift 3 speed trucks. New bushings make them shift properly again.

There is 1 bushing in the arm on the coulmn of auto columns. The rest of the linkage often wears out though, and you'll need to repair all of the slop by welding and re-maching the area.

[shuttermutt]

Top 7 upgrades, eh? Okay, I'll bite...

STUFF EVERYONE SHOULD PROBABLY DO
7. K&N air filter
6. 3-point seatbelts
5. Halogen headlights
4. More comfortable steering wheel
3. Gauges (if not already equipped)
2. Dual exhaust
1. HEI distributor

STUFF THAT PROBABLY COSTS MORE THAN $100
7. Late-model or aftermarket seats
6. Wheels and/or tires
5. Positrac (or equivalent) differential
4. Overdrive transmission
3. Air conditioning
2. Power steering
1. Power disc brakes

THE CHEAP STUFF
7. A flashlight JUST FOR THE TRUCK
6. Some form of cupholder
5. T.B.R. (Total Bulb Replacement). Replace 'em if they need it or not
4. A new gas cap
3. A spare belt (or three) tucked under the hood
2. Rubber bands wrapped around the sun visor to hold it together
1. A penny wedged in the vent window handle to stop wind noise

[GMCjunkie]

After market A/C (under dash)
New weather strip
New window felts
New brakes all around
New BFG tires
New T350 auto trans
Flow Masters
STOCK MANIFOLDS
I LOVE my original seats and steering wheel!!

[shuttermutt]

Originally posted by GMCjunkie
I LOVE my original seats and steering wheel!!

Of course you do! Just look at you! You're small enough to FIT behind that gigantic captain's wheel! For the rest of us, <ahem>, "amply-girthed" individuals, we've got to do what it takes just to get in the truck without getting romantic with the steering wheel!

[gotmud]

Originally posted by Tx Firefighter
No, I meant on column shift 3 speed trucks. New bushings make them shift properly again.

There is 1 bushing in the arm on the coulmn of auto columns. The rest of the linkage often wears out though, and you'll need to repair all of the slop by welding and re-maching the area.

Tx - WHere can you get these bushings? Ive looked at ChevyDuty and Brothers and cant see them. Mine are worn 4 sure.

[72c10step]

Don't forget a fire extinguisher! You would want your truck to burn down on the side of the road. Do you trust all that 30+ year old wiring?

[Tx Firefighter]

gotmud- GM dealer parts dept.

[Andy4639]

I have no idea who she is. I found her on the internet.
While I'm here, here are some more idea's.

1.Did the head lites with the truck wiring harness. Ran a relay in the switch out at the driver side head lite.
2. Installed LED'S in back with 3rd brake lite also.
3. Internal voltage regulater
4. 1993 Sub gas tank in bed
5. Factory tilt for straight drive, with Corvett S/W
6. Over flow tank for radiator
7. 134A ref.
8. 17" wheels
9. power steering with cooler
10. 700R-4 trans.
11. Electric washer pump tied into factory switch

List just keeps going.
12. Front sway bar with poly bushings and panhard bar with polies
13. 2" in front
14. 3" in back
15. Bed cover
16. Side sport mirrors
17. No vent windows
18. Billet grille
19. Front bumper with driving lites cut outs
20. Oh almost forgot 5.0 emblems on side 305 HO TPI

[GMCjunkie]

Originally posted by 72c10step
Don't forget a fire extinguisher! You would want your truck to burn down on the side of the road. Do you trust all that 30+ year old wiring?

I got one of thoes too, Thank God I havent had to ever use it!!

[bobbys1967]

I'm supprised no one has mentioned a painless wiring harness. I just put one in my truck and it is the best thing I've done to it yet. Plus that eliminates the need for a fire extinguisher. I didn't have one and almost needed one. That bumped the priority of the wiring harness up to #1.

[cc_bob]

Well I have lots of lists but here's 2 in no particular order

suspension/drivetrain
1) Disc brakes all around, with stainless lines, power booster, master and all new parts.
2) Go through ENTIRE front and rear suspension bushings, u-joints, shocks,body mounts, wheel bearings, etc...
3) Posi
4) Big block - rebuild
5) Go through rear end, seals bearings
6) 4/6 drop
7) Good tires all the way around
8) rebuild tranny
9) Abuse until something breaks and then make it stonger

Asthetics....
1) CST buckets
2) *****in' paint job - Black cherry
3) Stainless bed strips
4) new Oak floor
5) Rear roll pan
6) French antenna, tail lights into body.
7) Nice set of wheels

I could go on and on since everything on my truck needs upgraded or modified.