finally got the tailgate on.

[DetroitDan]

I really need to buy a welder! Had to pay a guy $$$ to finally get some work done on my bed, I bought it because the bedsides were perfect, but it had a couple big holes in the floor and the right corner where the tailgate trunnion mounts was completely rotted off. Hated driving around without a tailgate, it looked so bad! So now the tailgates on, which is a factory 1 ton tailgate, 87 I think. Has the 5 lights across it, which I love, and the aluminum panel and silverado trim. Unfortunately it had vinyl lettering above the lights so I'm in the process of grinding that all down to get it ready for paint. 20 year old vinly lettering has been a big problem with this truck, the doors I got had it too.

He also cut off the old rusty painted bumper and the ridiculous homemade reciever hitch. Somebody fabricated this outlandish hitch out of about 20 pieces, it extended all the way to the rear wheels and tied to the frame, but at the back it was only mounted to the bottom of the bumper. Looked really strong at first glance, but looking closer it didn't look strong at all. I need to feel safe towing my big camper, plus the ugly bumper had to go. So now I can get started on the next project, which is installing the sweet chrome wrap around Blazer style bumper and the regular reciever hitch that I scored for $70 for everything. Bumper has brackets and even the trays that go under the tailgate, and the chrome is mint. And the reciever hitch mounts on both sides of the spring shackle, which will add a lot of strength since my frame stubs are fabricated behind the spring hanger. It's nice and strong, but I wouldn't want the hitch attached only to the new stubs and not the other framerails too.

Can't believe how much taller it looks with the tailgate on, probably moreso with no bumper or hitch. I'll have to grab a pic to throw on here.

My friend the GM guru had me drive his truck that he just finished, well, finished except for paint. It was painted then sat for years before he got it, but he's a perfectionist so it will be perfect gloss black soon. He wanted to show me what a new truck is like. It's an 86 GMC crewcab dually 4wd frame off. You can see your reflection in the paint on the frame. All new rubber body mounts make a huge difference, shocks, springs, etc. Loaded Sierra Classic power interior. Fresh 454 with dual exhaust and rv mufflers, it's so quiet you'd think it was an electric truck. I was blown away with the ride of this old truck, easily comparable to a brand new truck, only far cooler. It's got 19.5 steel wheels on it too. I'll have to ask if I can get some pictures of his trucks. He's got a 74 2wd daily driver he's had for 27 years, a ten wheeler he built with a clever swap deal on the back, can change it from a ladder rack flatbed, to a fifth wheel, to a car carrier, to a flat bed with a hideaway wrecker boom that comes up out of the carrier bed. Also has a ramp truck/rollback with a huge steel bed, triple frame, scissor/ type lift so it goes up nearly vertical to dump, or works normally for towing cars.
Everything he owns is 454 automatic, black GMC. Only Chevy he has is his one-owner 72 Chevelle SS 454.