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Old 06-28-2010, 11:41 PM   #1
bigblock73
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What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

I always get inspiration and ideas from fellow car/truck owners, which leads me to this question.

What are your favorite modifications you have made to your truck?
A brief description and picture of it would be nice. Don't hold back, share your secrets!

Here are a few of mine (in no particular order), all on Yeller.

Reworked factory radio with modern internals
Freshly chromed bumpers minus the bumper bolts
Subtle body modifications (shaved cab seam, stake pockets, TG handle, door locks, mirrors)
Fuel cell
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Old 06-29-2010, 12:43 AM   #2
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

moding the steering column to gain 2 extra inches and hid projector retrofit...and of course the 5.3/4l60e conversion
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Old 06-29-2010, 12:47 AM   #3
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

All that looks really sweet. I'm really interested in hearing more about the radio. From the looks of it, I have the exact same one right down to the strip of black tape on the top. Anyhow, how did you get the innards upgraded? Did you send it out or do it yourself? I've got the innards of a more modern radio that I am trying to retro fit into the case of the original but still have a ways to go and would love some tips.

My only cool mod was to hack a dual button garage door opener which is wired into the ignition rather than run by battery. I hid the unit behind the dash and then wired in two buttons (one for each door) located at the bottom of the dash just to the right of the steering wheel. There's some holes already there on my 86 that fit RadioShack momentary buttons perfectly. It did this because I always hated the idea of leaving my truck in the driveway with a garage door opener in it. Someone could break into the truck and get into the house with a push of a button. This way, the can't unless they turn the ignition on and then only if they realize what those odd buttons are for.

I'll get some pics tomorrow to post.
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Old 06-29-2010, 12:55 AM   #4
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

my stuff is minor... I want a fuel cell/blazer tank cause i hate saddle tanks especially with my flatbed... There is stuff i will do eventually like bucket seats and headache rack and make it a work truck more...

grill/headlight bezels....

before


after


and a lift and flatbed

(just before being pulled into the shop for 5 months...)


the first road worthy day


and the drivetrain was changed for personal liking...

from a old smokey 305/ slipping and losing reverse 700r4 to a very mild built 350 backed by an sm465 np205.... They say the first is the hardest and i believe it... the auto to manual swap took some "special" words... if i ever do another it will go smooth as silk..
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Old 06-29-2010, 12:59 AM   #5
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Tell us more about the radio upgrade!!!!


Quote:
Originally Posted by bigblock73 View Post
What are your favorite modifications you have made to your truck?
A brief description and picture of it would be nice. Don't hold back, share your secrets!

Here are a few of mine (in no particular order), all on Yeller.

Reworked factory radio with modern internals
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Old 06-29-2010, 01:46 AM   #6
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Mine would have to have been my lights that I installed under the dash and under the bed rails.
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Old 06-29-2010, 01:52 AM   #7
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

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Originally Posted by 87chevy.com View Post
moding the steering column to gain 2 extra inches and hid projector retrofit...and of course the 5.3/4l60e conversion
Please tell me more about your steering colum mod. I am fat and need more room. Lol
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Old 06-29-2010, 11:13 AM   #8
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

I would have to say that I put the most work into the bed of mine. That includes the shaving of the stake pockets, new wood, caddy tail lights, different tailgate, and roll pan...
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Old 06-29-2010, 11:23 AM   #9
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

lowering it is my fav mod so far.im going to start building a motor for it in a few weeks
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Old 06-29-2010, 12:11 PM   #10
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

My favorite is spacing out the letters on my tailgate.
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Old 06-29-2010, 12:15 PM   #11
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

I like my rearview mirror, dice and door sill plates. Oh, and my flowmaster muffler too! Heres a bad pic of my mirror...
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Old 06-29-2010, 01:37 PM   #12
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Cool thread Jeff!
I love the ´89 blazerface with the bigger headlights and the lowered suspension
that rides like a ´vette!
The shaved stakepockets and sportbumpers with welded bolts are great too!
But the mod i like best is the nice sounding smallblock 350 that puts out 243 horses and looks much better then the diesel i had before!
That makes the whole package just great and motivates me to go ahead finishing it and give it more mods in the future!
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Old 06-29-2010, 01:54 PM   #13
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

For me it would have to be building an engine with a stout bottom end and topping it with a blower. And since there a couple of blower cars in town, to be a little different, I decided to go with electronic fuel injection instead of carbs. Only regret is I couldn't afford to do this many years ago.

Before with a 377 and plate system


Now with a blown and injected 383
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Old 06-29-2010, 02:39 PM   #14
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Wiper trick...

I got tired of reaching for the wiper switch every time rain or snow or wet roads wanna just spit on the windshield. I needed something to trigger the wipers, from the steering wheel - or someplace more convenient.

Grabbed the voltmeter. Check the two wires to the plug on the wiper motor. And, discovered if you jumper these with the ignition on, you blow up Cleveland. Not really, but, the wipers will cycle.

So, I grabbed a old cell phone coiled charger cable, soldered on a red momentary contact switch, fashioned a small holder on one of the spokes of my Grant wheel, ran the cable down the bottom of the column and jumpered the two wires.

I now have a wiper button, convenient to my left thumb while driving. Works great. And, Some kid at A-Zone yesterday wanted to know where my NOS bottle was. I told him it was new BLUE liquid NOS and it's right here in this translucent bottle on the fender well.

Try this trick guys. Don't see why it wouldn't work on the dash, shifter, signal stem, or even a foot switch.

. . . sure hope Cleveland is ok.

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Old 06-29-2010, 02:46 PM   #15
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

for me, cowl hood and 90front end
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Old 06-29-2010, 02:52 PM   #16
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

well i dont have any pics, but mine favorite mods are, i welded the wholes shut in the ash trat, and thats where all and any switches will be hidden, also my 3/5 drop, the stake pockets welded shut on my stepside bedand a few otheres that arent done yet
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Old 06-29-2010, 03:02 PM   #17
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

I would have to say the 6.0/4l80e swap is my favorite.
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Old 06-29-2010, 05:17 PM   #18
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Filled stake pockets...no pics...I'm sure you can imagine it though...haha....
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Old 06-29-2010, 05:58 PM   #19
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

My steering wheel and stereo.

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Old 06-29-2010, 09:29 PM   #20
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Favorite mods have to be air suspension and my 24" rims. i know a lot of people disagree with larger rims i also have some rallys for it but i'm the type that believes why not go the next step.
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Old 06-29-2010, 09:53 PM   #21
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Mine would have to be my wheels. I went from this:


To this:
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Old 06-29-2010, 11:22 PM   #22
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Sweet usmc hub dude!
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Old 06-30-2010, 12:00 AM   #23
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Favorite mod - dump box conversion - it's a work truck.
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Old 06-30-2010, 12:13 AM   #24
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

Quote:
Originally Posted by softballnrd27 View Post
Mine would have to be my wheels. I went from this:


To this:
i hope the EGA's on your front and back wheels have their anchors facing inward!
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Old 06-30-2010, 10:03 AM   #25
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Re: What are your favorite modifications to your ride?

man thats a tough question cause I went from this

to this...

but I would have to say the air ride is my fav cause I live in a small town in alabama and there is only a handful of rides within a 100 miles of me with air ride...
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