While I'm Waiting...

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by ChaseDale3and8

I really like that tailgate band that you are putting on. Do you know if one like that will fit an 81-87 tailgate? I'm thinking that they should fit but would like to know for sure. I just think that they are much cleaner looking than the 81-87 style. I looked on eBay today but couldn't come up with anything on a search for one that I did. What did you enter in the search window to find yours? ...Joe

I'm not sure if it will or not. I'm guessing it would not just bolt in because the earlier tailgates' indent is more rounded whereas the newer tailgates have really straight non rounded indents, but it may not be too hard to make it work.

in ebay, try "chevy tailgate band" "chevy tailgate panel" chevy tailgate trim" or if nothing comes up, just use "chevy tailgate" and surf through about 1400 items. It takes a while, but will get what you want, if it's there to be had. Also I like to put in "chevy truck nos" and just browse through everything.


Here's today's pics, about the same as yesterday except today it's got 2 coats of color and 2 coats of clear on it. It's going to be awesome when its been color sanded and buffed! They didn't get the bed done today because the truck had to stay in the booth because it rained really hard all day.

[1984 swb chevy]

looks great

[BarryB]

Nice Work truck . Did you cut the carpet for the console or did it come in a kit already made up? Looks good can't wait to see the end result.

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Nice Work truck . Did you cut the carpet for the console or did it come in a kit already made up? Looks good can't wait to see the end result.

Thanks!
I used the old cardboard liner. I took all the staples out of it and peeled the old felt liner off and attatched the carpet to the cardboard with contact cement, like this:


Then from the backside I trimmed the carpet to fit the cardboard, like this:


Then I restapled it like it came apart. I got the carpet from ACC I bought extra flat carpet that matches my molded set to do stuff like that with.



Well I got a little bit done today. I got the seat tracks on my buckets stripped, repainted, and regreased.
BEFORE and AFTER:

[78 Chevyrado]

Here's todays progress. Only stuff to paint is the front valance, ashtray, glovebox door and gas caps. Everything's in the sun. They have the cab sanded and buffed and will get to the bed later today. They should have the new windshield in tomorrow.

[Traction]

Looks great. I love silver on these trucks. Is it the exact color as before? It looks a little lighter in the pics...that could just be the lighting though.

Great job.

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by Traction

Looks great. I love silver on these trucks. Is it the exact color as before? It looks a little lighter in the pics...that could just be the lighting though.

Great job.

Thanks! No it's a different color now, but it's not too much different. It's "graystone metallic" 16U off an '08 silverado. There's two silvers available for '08, mines the darker one.

Here's a before pic shot to compare with the bed pic above. I think the old "saratoga silver" 17L had some green in it, but I'm not sure.

The new paint has of coarse black and white, but it also has some pearl, a very little bit of blue and like double the metalflake most paintjobs have.

[rod86]

man thats realy turning out well, great work

[youngin']

Nice F**kin' truck!!!

[78 Chevyrado]

Thanks guys! I think the body shop did really well on this one. They have everything color sanded and buffed and also got the new windshield installed this morning and it looks great. The photos don't do it justice. Tomorrow they should have the tailgate and bed sprayed with bedliner, as well as the bottom half of my toolbox. Then in 2 days I'm supposed to FINALLY get it back! The next pics I get should be on friday with it at home again.

[youngin']

Congratulations! How long did you have to go without the truck in order to get all that work done on it??? How much did it run you??? I ask because I may be getting stationed out there within the next 6 months, either Ft Benning or Ft Stewart don't really know with the Army!!! *sigh*

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by youngin'

Congratulations! How long did you have to go without the truck in order to get all that work done on it??? How much did it run you??? I ask because I may be getting stationed out there within the next 6 months, either Ft Benning or Ft Stewart don't really know with the Army!!! *sigh*

It took about a month, because they both worked on mine together until a small job came in, then it was just one at a time on mine. I also go up there frequently and everytime I go, I find something else to add to the "to do" list. The whole thing will be less than $5k and I supplied most of the parts. They pulled the cab and frame on the rack to straighten her back out. then They took the bed, doors and fenders off and painted behind it all. They painted the whole inside of the cab, between the cab and bed. They used a BC/CC system with two coats of each and a black sealer underneath. Then it was color sanded (not all the way down) and buffed and waxed. They also supplied the new windshield and installation, but I supplied the gasket (the glass man only had the plain rubber strip and I wanted the chrome trim). I had them do a bunch of little extra things here and there. Oh and they're spraying a bedliner kit in the bed, tailgate and lower half of the toolbox. It's not a super tough one, and I'll be using a bedmat, but it looks really nice (a lot better than just painting it) and beats a $650 bill at rhino/linex.

I guess I can post this, but if anyone's interested heres the bodyshop I'm using's website. I've seen several of there cars on the TV shows.
http://www.brownandbrownprocustominc.com/FRONTPAGE.html

[78 Chevyrado]

I got the truck back last night. It looks really good. All I can get is this pic for now, it was dark last night and has been pouring rain all day today. I had to do something though so I got the fender emblems and drip rails on it That's about it for today, there's no room to work in the garage i park it in.

[Palf70Step]

Nice! Shiney!!

[78 Chevyrado]

Here's the first assembly pic. I got a few simple things done today, since it was raining and space is limited inside the garage.

[grinch4om]

that ruck is just plain pretty! great job!

[78 Chevyrado]

Thank you! Here's todays progress...

A pic of the new bedliner, and sprayed bottom half of toolbox


Repainted interior stuff



Here I have the grille installed, undercoated the wheelwells, installed wheel opening trim and swapped my chrome wheels back on.

[Corts60]

Looks great man! Can't wait to see that interior installed...

[78 Chevyrado]

A little more progress. Got started on the side trim too.

[jrsmith_2010]

looks great dude!

almost there!

[Cherub]

thats a good lookin truck.

[78 Chevyrado]

Thanks!

I like it more and more every day

I havent gotten much done since last time, but here ya go

I got the trim on the tailgate:


I got the sound deadener installed inside the doors and cab corners as far up as I could reach. I'm truly impressed with the difference that stuff makes. I used elemental designs v.1 I think it's called. Works great, we'll see how well it holds up over time.
Here's inside the door, that thing is the window bumper in the bottom of the door.




Here's a little detail I added, I painted a black stripe in the new door handles.

[78 Chevyrado]

A little progress today...

Got the new band on the tailgate


Got all the trim on except the RH Upper fender piece.


New hood insulation and washer nozzles.

[78 Chevyrado]

Got the bumper back on it today, and started a little bit of upholstry.





It's not picture perfect, but here's the plate I made for the center dash 4x10 opening:

[78 Chevyrado]

Here's the plate in the dash:


Here's the dash back together again. Only thing new is the aftermarket guage bezel and wiper switch.