1992 GMC Sierra K1500 Shortwide Z71 Conversion

[Dub_X]

Picked up an '88 Chevy C1500 tonight for parts and scrap. Has a chrome brush guard on the front bumper. Opinions here: Think I should throw it on the '92, or my '88 work truck? It's a toss up. Lol

Looks about like this:

So, '92 daily driver, or '88 work truck?

Seriously, I can't decide here. :|

[Dub_X]

...Screw it. I'm putting it on my daily driver.

[lha1992]

I would put it on the 88 since its a 4x4.

[Dub_X]

Originally Posted by lha1992

I would put it on the 88 since its a 4x4.

It would be useless though I think. Because the '88 isn't tagged, or insured. All we do is move it around the yard; it's a yard dog. The '92 is my daily driver, so I think it would make more sense.

[Dub_X]

Brush guard will go in within the next few days Also, got some new mudflaps for Christmas. But, I wanna do some things before the pics go on. I'm gonna replace the driver's side front hub so I have 5 lugs again, and I'm also going to work on fixing my driver's side window, as well as install my speakers. So, once I have everything done that I want, I will take new pics!

[Palf70Step]

Nice thing is, if you don't like it on the 92, you can always shift it over to the 4x4.

[Dub_X]

Exactly, Bill. That's what I love about owning multiple '88-'98 trucks lol. Swappable parts! And, a lot of my friends drive them, so I already have the grille off the the '88 parts truck sold for $40 and my dad sold the trans for $250. So think here, we payed $350 for the whole truck. Trans is gone for $250. That leaves $100 in it. I'm gonna get the grille sold for $40. That's $60 left in the truck. We're saving the motor, which is a 350 with a blown head gasket, we're turning the back half of the frame into a trailer, saving the front suspension for parts, I'm gonna save interior crap, and the cab and middle of the frame are getting scrapped. By the time we're done, we won't have any money left tied in it. The engine we're gonna save for down the road to fix up and rebuild.

[Dub_X]

Can't believe I didn't think of this before! The '88 parts truck that I'm pulling the brush guard off of, has the original interior. My '92, has the Southern Comfort conversion interior with the wood. So, I'm going to strip the interior of the '88, and use it in my '92 and elminate the wood trim!

[Palf70Step]

That bench will make it more awkward to get in and out of the extended cab area. You going to eliminate the rear seat then too?

[Dub_X]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

That bench will make it more awkward to get in and out of the extended cab area. You going to eliminate the rear seat then too?

Lol, I'm not changing the seats. The bench in the '88 is a torn up vinyl. I'm just changing, well, I guess I should have specified. I'm getting rid of the wood pieces on the dash. I would just take the wood off, but then my dash is covered in screw holes. The seats, I'm gonna go to a salvage yard and get factory cloth seats. I guess I should have specified on that one. Lol.

[Dub_X]

Woo hoo! Got the grille guard on. Here's some pics for your enjoyment.

On the '88 parts truck chassis:


Sitting in front of the '92:


Grille out:


Bumper off:


And she's on!

[Dub_X]

Other goodies, started stripping the dash out of the cab of the '88 parts truck:

[Palf70Step]

Doesn't look to bad with the cow kicker on the front end!

[Dub_X]

Haha thanks a lot Bill. That's about 75% of the reason I put it there! Lol

[89chevsj]

Somthing I did when I ran a grille guard was mount it so it didn't stick out so far at the top.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dub_X]

Originally Posted by 89chevsj

Somthing I did when I ran a grille guard was mount it so it didn't stick out so far at the top.
Posted via Mobile Device

I just used the bumper the grille guard was already on lol.

[89chevsj]

cheater...

[Dub_X]

Originally Posted by 89chevsj

cheater...

Lol. Well, it saved me having to drill holes in a bumper, and now I've got a nice clean bumper I can sell. Lol

[89chevsj]

Smart cheater... Haha
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dub_X]

Yes, yes I know.

[Dub_X]

Got a few things done over the past few days!!!

Built a new pickup bed trailer out of that busted up '88 Chevy bed, and frame. Took out the stock rear end as a spare for my '92, that and the original truck springs are now under my dad's 2000 Z71. Anyway, we built and welded together a mini-frame, welded trailer spring shackles to that, and bolted in a trailer axle with a small 5-lug Ford pattern, and then welded that mini-frame to the chassis under the truck bed. And today we picked up an 8-lug 10,000 lb axle that needs a new spindle on one side, so we are going to fix that, cut it down a few inches so it isn't to wide, and find some 8-lug wheels. Also put stock tail-lights back in my '92. Anyway, here are the pics:



Stock tail lights:


Old tail lights out of my truck are in the trailer. Wheels under the trailer are 15 in. steel Ranger wheels, with 30x9.50/15 tires.

Always helps to add some strength. Center tongue, and a piece of angle iron for a cross-member.




Lol...it just looks like one long ass Chevy truck if you look at the right angle.



Let me know what you guys think.

[Palf70Step]

Nice job on the trailer!

[Dub_X]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Nice job on the trailer!

Haha thanks Bill, but I can't take all the credit. My dad is the welder, not me. So really, I was just helping out. But it did come out good. That 5-lug Ford axle won't stay under it, as I said we have an 8-lug 10,000 lb axle that we need to replace a spindle and bearings on, and then get wheels for, and that axle will go under the trailer. Our flatbed trailer is our car hauler, it's a 6-lug Chevy pattern, but we can't swap out hubs because has 2 torsion axles. Which we need for that trailer. This pickup bed is just for hauling short iron, but it's gonna get the 10,000 lb 8-lug axle to help with weight.

But, the flatbed trailer is also the best one we ever built. It's the back 16.5 feet of a semi trailer, and we completely re-enforced the frame and supporting, and made it a tilt bed.

[Dub_X]

Okay guys, I've been running a thought through my head, and I need an answer to a question. Will the shape of a '95-'98 door panel, line up with a '88-'98 dash, or will it look funky?

[89chevsj]

there is some pics on here somewhere of that. it doesn't look to bad IMO. most people would never notice. however anyone on this board would pick it up right away. not too bad looking though. why are you wanting to switch?