sweet 80s custom short bed!

[PurdueSD]

I snagged a square today. Not sure what i want to do with it yet. The price was right and it is a pretty nice truck. Thinking about leaving it exactly as is, cleaning it up a bit and enjoying this fall... Then maybe either start modding it or just move it along.

It would look pretty nice with a white top and white stripe imo.! and of course some new wheels.

87 gmc, 350, new radiator, fresh heads cold AC It drives really nice.

I need a burgundy bench seat, craigslist doesn't have any so i guess ill hit the junkyards.

[Malo83]

Nice truck! but it would be even nicer if you ditched the body kit, rails and 80's rims, get her out of the clouds and you would be set
Just my $.02

[RandyP]

Dude! Far out.

My glory days were the 80's, so it looks right at home to me just the way it is. Only thing it's missing is the fuzzy dice on the mirror, a roof visor and one of those cab extenders with a small spoiler on top.

Good lookin' rig though, nice buy.

[TKCR]

Nice looking truck!! My .02 cents would be lose the billet grille. Can you post some interior pics, would love to see the inside of that thing.

I'll keep an eye out for a bench seat too. I'm starting to look for bench seats and have them restored and reupholstered. I have a local guy that has a upholstery shop and is very reasonable.

[PurdueSD]

Hah, in case you missed my sarcasm.... I know this truck is a hot mess. Its so bad its almost good. I think it was one of those conversion companies that did it for a dealer. Its got a 8 switch panel in the headliner, one of em marked air horn...Hah! Trucks got so much potential, but i kinda hate to mess up its vibe. Weird i know!

Funny you mentioned the visor, it had one. Ive got the holes in the roof to prove it. Ill have to weld those up an blend them in i guess. Hopefully there aren't too many holes behind these skirts, because there doesn't appear to be much rust at all.

Hah billet? This isn't the nineties.... this ones got a chrome tube grill! @TKCR

[PurdueSD]

mmmmm.... purple

[Bluestep]

That is a very cool survivor! It is my opinion that just restoring it would make more sense than "upgrading" it to the flavor of the month club specs. The way it is, it will get a lot of attention. More than if you make it just like everyone else's. Do you know who the coachbuilder was that converted it?

[MikeB]

I like it. Very retro. It is, after all, an 80s custom truck that doesn't need to look modern, IMO.

I'd work on the things that need to be fixed before spending money trying to make it look up-to-date.

[lilpoindexter]

One day it will be back in style. Don't change anything.

[PurdueSD]

Thanks for the input guys, i know what you're saying...but honestly I'm not sure what i wanna do with it. I bought it with the intention of ditching all the ugly, but it kinda grows on ya. Conversion van running boards on a short bed pickup is never a recipe for success though lol. If it were in perfect shape i would feel worse for changing it. But the above and below the stripe has been repainted to 10 footer quality standards so... I think i really could change it without feeling bad. Not like i can get the graphic redone, so it kinda is what it is, you know.

The conversion company is auto-form. -Never heard of em. And its pretty cheesy work.

[Flying Hamster]

Grow a mullet and drive it!

[PurdueSD]

Went back and forth on some decisions and still have a couple more I'm stewing on. Settled on ditching the bed rails, front panel rub rail and tailgate cap. Also got all the tinted removed 2 layers worth of 80s purple! Cleaning up pretty nice.

before:



during:



After:

[TheCougarine]

I think that did help it. I like how it looks now personally. Its cool to actually have something that was customized in the 70s or 80s. Theres people trying to replicate that kind of look all the time.

[pontgta]

I like it.. looks good as is. The billet grill is the only thing that is off to me. I. Would drive that truck like i was riding a 2016 sierra.

Oh and one other thing i would change would be the title from your name to mine...😁😎

[PurdueSD]

It's a tube grill, not billet...lol so it is "period correct" lol

Also it looks to have had the sport bumpers added later in its life. There's holes in the bottoms of the front fenders... I think it a had a sweet matching fiberglass chin spoiler/bumper originally.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by PurdueSD

It's a tube grill, not billet...lol so it is "period correct" lol.

Wether it's tube or billet, it just doesn't look period correct. What looks "period correct" is this, a stock grille. But what matters, is what you like, it's your truck. You do it the way you want it too look. I did have a billet grille, but I changed it to a stock grille and love the look. BTW , this isn't my truck, just found a quick photo to show a stock grille.

[TKCR]

I know you were looking for a bench seat. Found one here at this place, a salvage yard in Michigan.
Looks good even though it has a bunch of crap on the seat, but most of the wear & tear you see, is on the driver side. And it looks great.

http://stoneycreekauto.com

[PurdueSD]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Wether it's tube or billet, it just doesn't look period correct. What looks "period correct" is this, a stock grille. But what matters, is what you like, it's your truck. You do it the way you want it too look. I did have a billet grille, but I changed it to a stock grille and love the look. BTW , this isn't my truck, just found a quick photo to show a stock grille.

Originally Posted by TKCR

I know you where looking for a bench seat. Found one here at this place, a salvage yard in Michigan.
Looks good even though it has a bunch of crap on the seat, but most of the wear & tear you see, is on the driver side. And it looks great.

http://stoneycreekauto.com

Yes, i agree on the tube grill although i go back and forth. Its funny because I am not a fan of billet grills whatsoever, and this tube one kinda has the same look. But something about it seems to go with the old man style this truck has going for it. Ive had my eyes out for a stock grille but the GMC ones aren't as easy to come by.


That seat looks really nice, I'f it were local i would snatch it up in a heartbeat. I really want an 88-98 split bench. To me they are some of the most comfortable seats ever made.

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by PurdueSD

Yes, i agree on the tube grill although i go back and forth. Its funny because I am not a fan of billet grills whatsoever, and this tube one kinda has the same look. But something about it seems to go with the old man style this truck has going for it. Ive had my eyes out for a stock grille but the GMC ones aren't as easy to come by.

These are aftermarket, but:


http://www.truckandcarshop.com/trucks73_91/t73_002.html
http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...rts/g4171.html
http://www.usa1industries.com/1985-8...nt-grille.html
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=47

[PurdueSD]

Same goes for the wheels... It has these very dated progressive trios. But the are like 10" and have a deep lip that just seems to go with the paw-paw graphics. I actually have a set of rallys off an 87 suburban in my barn, that I've been considering swapping over. The tires are 275/60-15.

Not sure what do to there.

[PurdueSD]

Thanks guys! Stock grill it is!

does anybody have any experience with the cheaper stockish repops? it's like 50$ vs 200/300$ for the exact reproduction ones.

[LT7A]

Cool find. Totally get the dilemma. It's all opinions on this one so I'll throw in mine. There's a difference between nodding to the 80s and bowing to them. I think you can keep the 80s flavor but integrate it a bit. The 80s details are kinda choppy as they sit. I think what you've done so far is a big improvement. I'm not a huge fan of those body kits but it and the stripes go hand in hand. If you could find the front air dam you would be golden! Think A-team van and the Indy 500 support trucks (Indy Hauler, can Google). From there, I would pull the stainless trim at the fenders and rain gutters. Let the red flow. You could then drop it 2 to 3 inches to make that body kit come alive in the low and wide stance. 8 inch ralleys could fill the bill from there. I do think the Cuisinart wheels deserve a respectful retirement. I got other ideas on the wheels too. PM if you want, won't gum up the thread by making a list. I agree with you that the tube grill fits the era. I think if you got the smooth headlight bezels, without the horizontal band that sticks out, that would help. Knock down the shine on the grill with scotchbrite (brushed look) and it'll all come together. Same treatment beneath the doors on the shiny step strips.

No denying its heritage but not quite so blatant ;-)

[PurdueSD]

^Thanks for the input ltza! Though, I have to say I'm not a fan of converting back to a front air damn bumper -little too Miami vice for this guy, hah!

I have a square burb down my my barn (donor drivetrain for my 51 pu). that I stole these off of.

Feels kinda wrong putting a Chevy grill on my gmc though. Anybody have a gmc grille they would be interested in trading me?

-until just now, I had no idea the light bezels were different Chevy to gmc.

[UKNOWME]

Originally Posted by PurdueSD

Feels kinda wrong putting a Chevy grill on my gmc though.

Well you're already running a Chevy license plate so I think it'll be ok for awhile.

[PurdueSD]

Would love to hear some options about whether to run a chevy grill on my gmc, anybody have one to trade?

On another note, i noticed my passenger side front was missing the wheel well trim so i took the back side off also. Think it cleans it up a bit more, opinions?

With:


Without: