How about some pics of 88-98 Part II

[Boog]

Originally Posted by 1badgmc

It makes sense on a '93 grille since it's the same grille as the '88-'89 trucks that came with the sealed beams. The '94-'98 grilles are also shaped that way, even though those grille styles never came with the quad sealed beams.

My 97 had that same feature on it which made the sealed beams look right at home.

[thenewminator]

[IMG]https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/w572/enewman1/275210819_4855323837921250_3338568718956951930_n.jpg
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/w572/enewman1/20180323_172520.jpg[/IMG]

haven't posted anything on this site for several years. not since the square body i had. anyhow..this is my recently "finished" 93 GMC. I bought it from the original owner 4 years ago. it was never intended to be a serious project, however within the 1st year i did do a few things such as lower it and go through the brakes and replace the exhaust with a single to a dual setup. in may of 2020 i set out to replace the front fenders and weld in a new set of rockers and cab corners. then possibly repaint it in a shade of satin close to the original color with some flames just for fun. the original plan was to have it back on the road in 6-8 weeks. well...once i go started i very quickly realized i needed to do much more than that to do things "right". long story slightly shorter i ended up with a frame off restoration of sorts. and the cool flame job i had in mind evolved into something a bit more budget friendly. you my be able to see in the before pic the hood and top and tops of the doors had peeling/missing paint and primer. so considering that and the replacement fenders didnt match i decided to have a bit of fun with bare metal. the lighter shade of blue is a rattle can rustolium color, and the dark blue is what remains of the original paint.

there were a lot of unexpected issues (and expenses) along the way. a six month winter delay, and working 60 hours a week all added up 18 months to get her back on the road.

[OutlawDrifter]

Different, but I like it.

[thenewminator]

Originally Posted by OutlawDrifter

Different, but I like it.

thanks outlawdrifter. I think a did alright considering my budget and what i had to work with. once i faced the fact that after all of the unexpected expenses, even a quick primer job was beyond my budget. so i had to decide do i live with mismatched fenders and surface rust and faded/peeling paint on the upper section, and primer over the new sheet metal on the cab....or think slightly outta the box and come up with something else.

[special-K]

You put together a nice cruiser there. Got the stance, tire/wheel sizes right, and good choice in wheels

[Russell Ashley]

Looks great, I like it. Now drive and enjoy it.

[thenewminator]

thanks guys. as mentioned, i never intended for this truck to be a serious project, but i did want to do something cool with it. the one thing i always had to keep in mind is that it still needed be used as a truck. so i had to stick with practical, realistic, basic and budget minded suspension mods and likewise wheel and tire combo.

[SCOTI]

Since I actually washed them both in preparation to do some work over the weekend, here's the latest image w/the entire package in the same photo....

[special-K]

That's a nice combo.

I had my utility trailer caps and wheels matched up to the Suburban. It turned out to be a challenge to find 15" wheels with the 4 1/2" bolt pattern and a center that accepted standard size hubcaps. I found 49-51 Ford car wheels at a swap meet. Typically, the 4 1/2" pattern wheels accept smaller caps, such as Mopar, and are 14". I ruined one of those wheels and discovered the LUV hubcaps fit the typical smaller center wheels. Now I need to paint the trailer wheels white

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by special-K

That's a nice combo.

I had my utility trailer caps and wheels matched up to the Suburban. It turned out to be a challenge to find 15" wheels with the 4 1/2" bolt pattern and a center that accepted standard size hubcaps. I found 49-51 Ford car wheels at a swap meet. Typically, the 4 1/2" pattern wheels accept smaller caps, such as Mopar, and are 14". I ruined one of those wheels and discovered the LUV hubcaps fit the typical smaller center wheels. Now I need to paint the trailer wheels white

I imagine that did take some sleuthing although I knew about the Luv caps being similar yet smaller than the 10" caps. My hunt was easier as it has the common 5x5 truck pattern.

I did the caps this way to better match the full covers on my dually. Since I've had this trailer for a while (20yrs), when I had Ralleys on my previous trucks, I did van Ralleys on the trailer & matched the cap style (73-87 or 88-98 depending on which truck it was @ the time). I still have the original modular steel wheels the trailer came with as they made good rollers or spares from time to time.

[special-K]

The caps do look like the cap GM wheel covers have in them. I had that trailer a long time when I decided to put steelies w/caps on it. I got three 5 on 5 GM truck wheels sandblasted and I painted them argent, to match my '92 when I put the Accurides on that. I always assumed that's what the trailer had. I had to laugh at myself for being stupid. Hey, at least I was smart enough to measure before buying tires! I end up needing wheels popular with old school rodders. I can get new 15" 5 on 4.5" trailer wheels that take caps. They'll get painted white and I have the LUV hubcaps.

[Just call me Sean]

Ranger wheels fit my trailer, pretty sure it's 4 1/2.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Ranger wheels fit my trailer, pretty sure it's 4 1/2.

They (steel ranger wheels) might be as hard to find as the earlier ford wheels. Most of the ones I see in yards have the aluminum option. Never realized how popular that combo was.

[Just call me Sean]

Mine has 15" steel wheels, but a different style and they won't accept that hubcap. I need tires for them. The spare is a 14" steel, but also doesn't accept that hubcap.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Just call me Sean

Mine has 15" steel wheels, but a different style and they won't accept that hubcap. I need tires for them. The spare is a 14" steel, but also doesn't accept that hubcap.

I had a couple of buddies that had Rangers back in the day (late 80's) w/the steelies + chrome caps/rings. I know their wheels were solid steelies but I never paid attention to the hub details. I can see on that posted image there is no 'nub' for the caps on the wheels w/the vent holes.

When I did the 5-lug swap on my old Fox body x-highway patrol car I used Ranger axles/drums for the rear portion of the swap so def 5x4.5 pattern.

[Just call me Sean]

I remember seeing a 60s Thunderbird on Craigslist that had trailer rims and tires on it.

[special-K]

My son had a '98 Ranger Flareside(?), like a Splash. We put 15" steel wheels like yours on it.

I think it's Dexter who sells new nub-type wheels in 15" with 4 1/2" pattern.

How about some pictures that I have saved? This truck was at a local Home Depot. I'd like to find one this clean

[special-K]

I snapped pictures and uploaded some pictures I dug up.

Here is the '95 I had, shown just the way I bought it in '98


After my personalization


Here is the '92 on the job at about 10 years old

[OutlawDrifter]

Those early composite headlight grilles are just so clean looking.

[Slow Build]

The big mistake. Sold the 89 regular cab and bought the extra cab. This was years ago but it's when I learned that concrete freeways suck when you're driving an extended wheelbase truck. I never noticed it in the regular cab but even my current 2005 GMC crew cab rides like crap on these concrete freeways.

[OutlawDrifter]

Sharp rigs!

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by Slow Build

The big mistake. Sold the 89 regular cab and bought the extra cab. This was years ago but it's when I learned that concrete freeways suck when you're driving an extended wheelbase truck. I never noticed it in the regular cab but even my current 2005 GMC crew cab rides like crap on these concrete freeways.

That's two beauties. I'm surprised that the longer wheelbase truck doesn't ride as well as the shorter one.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

That's two beauties. I'm surprised that the longer wheelbase truck doesn't ride as well as the shorter one.

I'm surprised, too. I guess on concrete hiways it's about the spacing of the expansion joints

Since we don't have a vintage pictures thread for these trucks (Do we?), here are some cheater shots of the '95 Chevy and '92 GMC. Cheater meaning just a blip of truck shown. All threes a good 20-25 years ago. Two on the job and one on vacation

[Slow Build]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'm surprised, too. I guess on concrete hiways it's about the spacing of the expansion joints

Exactly.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by Slow Build

Exactly.

I left out any comment on your trucks. Both are very vice. I really like the shortbed. Yes, both have short beds. I'm not an ext cab guy. I can appreciate some, like I do yours. But since extended cabs and crew cabs came along late in the game for me, I am used to there being only longbeds or shortbeds, with what they now call a regular cab. That all there ever was. To me, no mention of cab should be needed, it's just a cab. I just add extended cab or crew cab when referring to those trucks.

Here is a sharp '92 Sportside. The only thing I might add would be a diesel bumper for an added touch of aggressive.