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#1 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
I've been lurking for awhile and, through the help of some good folks on this board, gathering hard to find parts. I wanted to share a few interior photos of the project with some explanation.
This is my Dad's 1978 K5 Blazer he bought brand new from Nehls Chevrolet in Marshall, TX. He needed a good truck to run around oilfield roads to check on the family's gas and oil wells. It's also the vehicle my brother and I learned to drive in. Dad hasn't driven it much over the past 20 years because it wasn't dependable anymore and it rode like poopoo. That's where I come in. We installed a Ramjet 350 in it about 10 years back. Now we're really gonna line it out. We're adding Offroad Design suspension components, restoring the interior to awesome and adding new paint. In the mid 90's he sent it over to a conversion van outfit over in Shreveport where they unsurprisingly made it look like a conversion van: super plush velour, high gloss woodtrim accents and shag looking carpet. It was new feeling, but they removed the center console in favor of a combo bench. They eliminated the flip-up passenger bucket and the ability to access the rear bench easily. It just was wrong ultimately. I wanted to restore the vehicle to 1978 like condition. But I also wanted to pick and choose pieces from adjacent years that spruced up the vehicle (like the mid-70s woodgrain stuff). Let's get started. Here's some woodgrain stuff. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Getting the carpet down. ![]() The truck originally came with the mandarin orange vinyl. The '77/'78 interiors came in blue, red, buckskin and mandarin. The first three had a custom cloth option, the mandarin did not. All you could get was the custom vinyl, I suspect, due to the low take rate of the mandarin interior. In fact, mandarin was only available for two years. ![]() I had one of the storehouses send me some pictures and samples. ![]() ![]() What I suspect is that the 7438 was designed to work for both the buckskin and the mandarin interiors. It just never was delivered in that combination. Well.......I fixed that. I'll provide updates as they come. Last edited by buffydores; 10-27-2017 at 11:38 AM. |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Here's something cool. I tried to restore the original mud mats, but they're just too oxidized. After some interwebbing, I found some super thick rubber that matches my interior color very well. I'm gonna cut to fit.
![]() Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:28 PM. |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Here's a factory accessory step I found on eBay (used would have been much better). Out of the box, they're kinda silly for a lifted truck (did I mention the 4" lift?). We modified the steps to be 5" lower and stick 3" out further. Then we powdercoated them silver. I forgot to photograph that, but I'll show the finished ones attached. Some won't like the look, but they're incredibly functional.
Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:57 PM. |
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#4 |
I know the pieces fit
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MONTGOMERY, AL
Posts: 5,523
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Sweet truck and congrats on getting rid of the conversion van interior.
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#5 |
Senior Member
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Location: sparks, nevada
Posts: 1,881
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Those are my favorite seats. I have two low back tan vinyl with orange plaid and two high back red/ red plaid. Yours look great.
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Paint is shaping up, and the new black stripes in the trim. The rear glass went in a few hours later. Needed to add some steering fluid and bleed it out.
![]() Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:33 PM. |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Test fitting the reworked GM accessory steps. The step now hangs halfway between the ground and the floor. There's the concern about being hit by debris, but Dad is 70. I'll pay for the repair. I'd much rather Dad be able to get in his Blazer safely.
![]() Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:35 PM. |
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#9 |
Senior Member
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Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Here's a nice touch Dad doesn't know about. He'll really like this. I had the glass etched with the old company logo.
![]() Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:36 PM. |
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#10 |
Senior Member
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Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Interesting tidbit. I purchased a replacement seal for the side glass, but after looking at the original for a bit, we realized it was in phenomenal condition. Not a single crack in a 40 year old seal.
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Posts: 465
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
You can actually get vinyl cut and it looks just like etched glass. Just for future reference. Killer looking truck!
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#12 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Thanks for the tip. Cool to know. But in this case, the whole point is to make it permanent. There was a sticker there for 30 years, but it had faded bad.
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#13 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
I soldered some resistors (460 ohms) on these LED dome lights I purchased to address the ambient voltage. I'll see if they work tomorrow. The LMC kit had some silly blueish LEDs. These are much warmer and brighter with some yellow light.
![]() To get a 34" spare to fit, we moved the whole bracket up an inch; however, we still need to move the hole for the carriage bolt over around 2". I'm gonna lift it another inch while we're at it. We're gonna use a triangulated plate of 5/16" to make it. Then paint it with the same black Imron. I wonder if any other clearance issues will develop on the bracket. ![]() Last edited by buffydores; 08-07-2017 at 08:03 AM. |
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#14 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
The LED lights work great now.
Updated picture of the door. The speaker screen is not an exact match, but good enough for now. ![]() Here's what 40 year rubber looks like. Wow! ![]() Dad's custom bumper from the 70s. ![]() Winch has been sprayed with Imron Black. Waiting on an old school Ramsey logo decal. ![]() Touch up paint on the emblems. Anybody know where to get that mustard yellow paint? ![]() ![]() Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:51 PM. |
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#15 |
I know the pieces fit
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MONTGOMERY, AL
Posts: 5,523
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Man that looks good. For emblem paint: http://squarebodysyndicate.com/sbs-formula.html
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#16 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
I like these next couple of shots of the interior. You can see the better Cheyenne badge on the dash. If you look close, you can see the new pedals.
![]() ![]() Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:45 PM. |
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#18 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
A company called Just Dashes in California will take the original and rewrap in new vinyl. Expensive, but it's an original dash.
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#19 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Wanted to show how wonderful the passenger side seat turned out. Found a great seat bracket on eBay that we retouched with satin black.
![]() Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:46 PM. |
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#20 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Anybody figure a good way to keep the seat belt up so it doesn't drag on the seat when lifted?
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#21 |
I know the pieces fit
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MONTGOMERY, AL
Posts: 5,523
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
I have a military Blazer, and somehow those are in great shape in my truck. They are not exactly like the civilian ones but they'll work. You might use a set of those if you can find some. There's several guys online that part out CUCV's.
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#22 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
I bought HDPE plastic binder at Office Depot. I'm gonna cut a slither of that and use it to prop the seat belt up with a zip tie. Semi-ghetto, but I'll do that until I think of something better.
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#23 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Pictures just don't do this LED light justice:
![]() Last edited by buffydores; 07-19-2017 at 04:47 PM. |
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#24 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 4,567
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
Quote:
__________________
AZPartsLocators on Instagram 1972 Cheyenne Super Short Bed big block "Blackie" 1977 Crew Cab GMC Short bed with 4BT Intercooled Cummins Diesel and a 4L80e "The Junkyard Dog" 1985 Crew Cab Chevy dually with 5.9 Cummins "The Big Dog" This is what my dad liked to be called by the grandkids before he passed so it seems fitting for his old truck. |
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#25 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 758
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Re: 1978 Russet Metallic 4x4
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