Need help with plans for the body

[softballnrd27]

I am trying to plan out my body work before I deploy and I have a few questions that i would like some opinions on. I can't post pictures while at work so if you need to see the truck look here http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=396753 this is how the truck sits right now.
1st- 73-74 front end or stay how it is now? I(and I am sure I am not alone) have used Ken's (N2Trux) truck as inspiration for mine. Awesome truck and if I can make mine look half as nice I would be proud.

2nd- I like the look of satin paint but if sometimes has the effect of "not looking finished" so I have thought long and hard and thinking of going with a "shiny" paint job. Opinions?

3rd- Mirror options, should I stay with the "dumbo" mirrors? Go with sport mirrors? Or go with the little peep mirrors that mount up on the door frame?

4th- With Ken's truck and a few others as inspiration i have come to like the look of the stock trim. The only down side is if I change to the 79 and older style I don't have the trim, is it worth it to install it? Should I just stick with the no trim style?

I appreciate any opinions and have always loved this board!!!

[Davidmichael]

I like the look of your front end.
I have always liked to "finish" the look with some chrome trim. That to me says finished with a flat black, or satin finished truck.
peep mirrors
last question goes back to #2. What may look good and give the fished look is some cab trim...just a thought.

[N2TRUX]

To start with, let me say "Thank you" for the personal sacrifice you give daily by serving our country.

If there is nothing wrong with the front clip you have, it's just going to be a personal choice on changing it. I really like the classic look that the round eye (73-80) front end gives our trucks. To me, the best looking of all those are the 73-74 grill.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when considering the conversion. The grill is hard to come buy, and no one makes the original bowtie. You can buy replacement 73-80 trim, but it's not quite the same as OEM trim.

As far as finish, if you want to stay with the satin look, there are several paints out there that will give you a true satin sheen and won't dull, blotch or stain. The Hot Rod Flatz is a common one used and comes in many colors.

Regarding the mirrors, the dumbos aren't that attractive but are truly functional. The sport mirrors aren't that functional, but do look much better. The peep mirrors look cool as can be, but are totally useless. I just had to have a set one time, and I can tell you from experience they are just for looks.

Good luck with it, and thank you for the kind words regarding my truck.

[softballnrd27]

Ken-Thanks for the support and input and as always beautiful truck.

That is my biggest concern with converting to the older style truck and trim package. It is not going to be intended to be a show truck but I want it to look nice. I plan to drive the snot out of it. I already have a body shop lined up and they do alot of truck and hot rod work. They are also very cool guys, we sat outside and shot the s**t for awhile and told me to stop by anytime bc they are always doing something at the shop. How does the trim mount on the older trucks?

[RandyP]

If I could find a nice front end from a 73/74, I'd swap either my stock 87 clip or the stock 91 clip, heck maybe both... Just to have the good 73/74 front end which has to be one of the most beautiful in my eyes.

I personally like the finished look when it comes to paint. Going with the "hot rod flat" leaves it looking uncompleted to me, same as you mentioned.

Moldings are a choice you'll have to make, and depending on which front end you go with. If it were me, and I had the 73/74 front end, I'd go with the factory race track molding and a nice two tone paint job. If I were to stick with the stock front end, I'd probably leave the chrome molding off on that truck, unless I wanted a two tone, then I'd put the stock chrome molding down the side like belongs on that year model.

All a matter of opinion and choice. No matter what you do it will look good to you and that is what matters most in the end.