A little advice from the pros (you guys)

[jpabberton]

I'm getting ready to restore this 1970 beast to original. I know the bumper and side lights are from a 1972. What would you guys do different to your trucks that you wish you would have done?

Heres what I would appreciate feedback on...

1. Should I rewire the truck? Whose harness should I buy?
2. Should I get the tank out of the cab?
3. I"m thinking about a new GM 350 crate motor.
4. Original color was Hugger Orange/White with wood grain molding. Leaning towards the black molding.
5. Since I' doing the wiring harness anyway, should I change out the instrument cluster and install all new gauges?
6. What's a good interior color for the seat.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

[1970blazin]

1. If it needs it...it's nice to rewire, but not a necessity
2. Yes out of the cab - get a blazer tank, or talk to "Fuelcellguy"
3. I have a GM 350 crate in my blazer - has 500 miles on it and runs GREAT!!!
4. I love the wood moulding, but on a hugger orange/white I think black moulding can look REAl cool!
5. If you don't want the stock gauges replace them, but I think the stock ones look cool! Do what you prefer at this point- It is more stock or "original" to keep your gauges stock.
6. I think the only interior color for an hugger orange truck is BLACK- I have seen orange or black/orange houndstooth and it just reminds me of halloween :-) Just do black!

BTW cool looking truck!!!

[Martin64]

"I'm getting ready to restore this 1970 beast to original"

1). If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
2) The gas tank behind the seat is original, so if you're restoring to "original" than leave it where it's at.

I'm not a OEM type guy so I have no problem moving things like gas tanks around. But if you're going for a true restoration, keep it original. If it still has the build sheet on the inside of the glove box lid it will say what it was originally. If not then you pretty much have a free reign to do what you want as long as it's original type OEM stuff.

Good luck, and that is a nice looking truck.

[jpabberton]

The truck needs to be rewired because the previous owner(s) cut and spliced the cab pretty good. Anyone used a painless harness? Are there better ones out there?

Since I live in Phoenix, I try to stay away from black interiors (too hot!). I'm thinking about white, except its so hard to keep clean.

Thanks for the input.