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-   -   My wife calls her princess.... (http://www.indianatruckscene.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60)

Red91 10-09-2012 10:20 AM

My wife calls her princess....
 
Well the title kind of says it all. I bought the truck a little over 2.5 yrs ago. She was Stone Stock but super clean and straight especially for a true WI Truck.
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...d%2091/208.jpg
Yes that is all GM sheetmetal. I got it with a 2" thick stack of reciepts and various pieces of documentation and I recieved a memo pad that documented every dime the previous owner put into it INCLUDING GAS!!! He is a regular at all the local shows with a small collection of Trans Am's and this was his daily baby. After rocking it stock for awhile I started to get the itch and started collecting parts for a 4/6. Well this summer I put some new 225/70s up front and 255/60s out back.
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0100.jpg
It took me way longer than it should have but I wanted to do it un assisted. http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0103.jpg
While I did the front I also did all the standard wearables, Ball joints Tie Rod ends, sleeves, and sway bar end links. I found out the hard way that I have 1.25" brake rotors as well. It could have been easily avoided if I did a little more research but lesson learned. So after I bought the right spindles I put it all back together.
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0108.jpg
Only one problem...
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0138.jpg
Enter 454!!!!
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0150.jpg
After that I flipped her around
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0155.jpg
The leaf spring bolts were frozen solid in the bushing sleeves. With a little coaxing and some heavy equipment the rear leafs came on out.
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0161.jpg
I obviously had to do new bushings so a little propane, swazall and ball joint press later.
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0163.jpg
So I shot the springs with a little satin black krylon
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0162.jpg
They turned out pretty good. Actually had a tire guy ask me if they were new. So I pulled out a little backwoods engineering and got the new bushings in
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0164.jpg
After a little assembly some more black Krylon and one "sick" day at work
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0167.jpg
Like I said it took me way too long, but I could only work on it 2-4 hours at a time. That and I have a dd so it didn't hurt me to have it down for the summer. Either way I learned a few things 1. You can never research enough something will always bite you the first time around. 2. I loath press in ball joints 3. I am never doing spring bushings AGAIN! Either way after all the work, money, and time the first time I drove it made it all worth it! :D
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0173.jpg
Well after that I got the rear wheels swapped over too the 454s, then 2 weeks before her first show I got an exhaust leak.... :mad: Soooo I said screw it and ordered....
http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0176.jpg
and threw in a new y-pipe. But to add insult to injury the y-pipe didn't seat well so I have a little "Pop" leak when I get into the throttle. Either way I took the hit in stride and showed her anyways. This was my first show as an entrant. http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/...1/IMAG0182.jpg
I have absolutely gotten hooked on showing it since I just wish it wasn't so late in the year! I am now "stuck" I feel like I have writers block I can't seem to plan my next move. Suggestions?... Lol

Devs93 10-09-2012 10:25 AM

94+ mirrors and updated lights truck is looking good

dagen_1 10-09-2012 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devs93 (Post 312)
94+ mirrors and updated lights truck is looking good

95+ (94 is still dumbo mirrors)


i REALLY LIKE this truck! great job!

dagen_1 10-09-2012 10:32 AM

an inexpensive upgrade i would look into is the jeep XJ steering shaft and 95-98 wiper arms. the wiper arms are straighter and have a heavier duty spring. they also have the hook-style end connector instead of the pin-type.

Devs93 10-09-2012 10:34 AM

I do to even the old style grille

Red91 10-09-2012 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devs93 (Post 312)
94+ mirrors and updated lights truck is looking good

Yea I couldn't/can't pick between the 94+ or the 454 mirrors. I am really hesitant on lights because I don't know if I want to go smoked, blacked out, or clear or whether to go with 94+ GMC grill or rock the older one. At least I am on the right track! Lol Thanks for the input!

Red91 10-09-2012 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagen_1 (Post 321)
an inexpensive upgrade i would look into is the jeep XJ steering shaft and 95-98 wiper arms. the wiper arms are straighter and have a heavier duty spring. they also have the hook-style end connector instead of the pin-type.

THANK YOU!!!!! My wiper arms have driven me absolutely crazy since I bought the truck! Anything over 55 and the don't stay on the windshield. So frustrating!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagen_1 (Post 317)
95+ (94 is still dumbo mirrors)


i REALLY LIKE this truck! great job!

Thanks I appreciate it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devs93 (Post 323)
I do to even the old style grille

That seems to be the general thoughts for whatever reason everyone likes the old grill on my truck. But like everyone else I am getting restless! haha

dagen_1 10-09-2012 11:58 AM

there were comments made when i was looking to buy a new grille for mine just prior to getting the truck painted. the feedback i was getting was either 94+ chevy or gmc. but i stuck to my guns and left the pre-93 style in place, i just ordered a new chrome shell and billet inserts to dress it up a little. i like the older styles myself, not throwing off on the newer grilles, its just that it's been done time and time again. my truck is a 89 and i wanted "something" on the outside to reflect that.

Red91 10-09-2012 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagen_1 (Post 358)
there were comments made when i was looking to buy a new grille for mine just prior to getting the truck painted. the feedback i was getting was either 94+ chevy or gmc. but i stuck to my guns and left the pre-93 style in place, i just ordered a new chrome shell and billet inserts to dress it up a little. i like the older styles myself, not throwing off on the newer grilles, its just that it's been done time and time again. my truck is a 89 and i wanted "something" on the outside to reflect that.

Nothing wrong with that! The idea I keep having is to get a black grill and paint the GMC emblem like the 454ss emblems, Then enter my light deliemma.... I can't decide from there what I want to do. Either way I want to H.I.D.s

Bearcat91 10-09-2012 01:06 PM

I vote smoked...I think they look good on almost any car/truck. ALMOST


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