back from body shop hell

[stepside454]

My truck was wrecked last spring while on the way to a car show ,as you may remember from earlier posts. I was sandwched between 2 other trucks. close to 12K in damages.
Its finally back, after over 3 months( was originally told would take 1 month). I had to have a tantrum to get anything done.When I finally got it back, I made a list of 14 things wrong & had to take it back. They made good, now its just a few little things left for me to do.
It looks pretty much the sameas before, that was the idea. the only visual changes on the outside are the tail gate stripes, I really didnt like them so much before. & also my friend greg hand painted the pinstripe art on the speedbump in the bed.
I also decided, that while the inner wheel wells were out, it was a good time to get rid of the junk factory AC that didnt work & replace it with a vintage Air Sure Fit unit, man that thing works great.
here are some pics taken recently, Im pretty pleased with it, just wish it wasnt in the shop all summer. john

[stepside454]

Heres another of the "Speedbump"

[62 short step]

Truck looks awesome!!

[bigblock79]

nice truck

[killthewabbit]

I agree, it looks great. Nice going! Did you leave that rubber on the ground underneath the truck in those first two pics? If so, my congratulations...

[stepside454]

who me ? now would I do that ?

[bigblock73]

John, truck looks sweet as ever!!

I get mine out of the body shop later this month...I am soooo excited and anxious! Mine is very similar to yours (style wise).

[stepside454]

LOL Yep must be a Minnesnowda thang LOL. We both have trucks that think there muscle cars.
cant wait to see it. John

[ChaseDale3and8]

John your truck looks sweeeeeettt!!! I really like the color scheme on it. What color are the stripes?Is the white a factory white or does it have some pearl in it? I really like the old school look with the wheels that you chose. I think it looks much better this way than with the 20s and bigger that seem to be so popular these days. If I ever get back up to St. Louis again, I'd sure like to stop by and see your truck in person. I personally think that it's one of the best looking trucks on this website, and I'm a diehard 4x4 guy!

It sucks for you that it took so long at the body shop with not being able to cruise in it at all this summer, but the end result looks to me like it was worth the wait. I only wish that my 86 K10 looked so good! ...Joe

[stepside454]

Thanks Joe, when you get up this way look me up.
The colors are GM Bright White, the stripes are Candy Apple red over Silver.
Thanks for the remarks, greratly appreciated, its not nearly as detailed as some Ive seen, but I do drive it, & I dont have deep pockets.
As far as the old school look, I was after a muscle car/drag race attitude when I built it, I think I was succesful with its outcome. John

[boatpuller]

looks great.turned out nice...........vintage air is awesome isn't it?..i love mine.

[stepside454]

thanks, it really is nice, & really for the money, not bad considering all envolved to create it. It would have cost over 700.00 to replace everything wrong with the factory unit & get it going, for 400.00 more I got this nice unit that really cleaned up the engine bay & probably works better than the factory unit.

[ChaseDale3and8]

You definately nailed the look that you were after John. Next time I come up to St. Louis I'll pm you for directions because I just have to see this truck in person! ...Joe

[Slonaker]

I really like it. If money were no object, my ultimate truck would be a white stepside with a bigblock or a mega cubic inch Cadillac engine.

Your friend the pinstriper is talented.

[stepside454]

Hope to hear from you Joe.
Slonaker, yes he is, you should see his other work,this is nothin.
In the 70s he worked with Ed Roth & he does alot of RatFink style art, lots of cool HotRod Art. he'll doodle like that on anything. hes got a beautiful collection of blades from old cieling fans that hes painted, as well as toilet seats, old gas cans, a radio flyer wagon, he just cant leave anything alone.

[old Rusty C10]

i like that truck!! and nice job on the bed !

[stepside454]

thanks Bob, heres a better pic of bed, from when we first built it 2 years ago...before the wreck

[68GMC454]

wow,,it turned out great...you did a great job bringing it back from the wreck,,, great job on the paint..

[impala_631]

looks good, props on the clean ac too

[Bishops Trucks]

Looks real nice, now take it out and get it dirty!

[stepside454]

LOL Dirt ?

[knightlife]

priceless....

[N2TRUX]

Dude you know I love it. Glad to see it finally back in action...

[72BlckButy]

The truck looks great! I bet you're more than happy to have it back!

[stepside454]

Yes I am glad, Thanks. Even more glad about not having to fight with the shop every week to get something done, or fix what they did do wrong. LOL