1986 Chevy Silverado Shortbed Build-Up (Lots of 800x600 pictures)

Instead of copy/pasting from my other log, I figured I'd give you dudes (And chicks!) your own write up!

The truck will be getting a 12-bolt/10-bolt combo, 6" Lift kit, and 35" tires (Still deciding) for the frame-down.

Running it will be a 6.5NA HO diesel, Muncie 465 Transmission (Four-Speed 1st=Granny:1 4th=1.00:1), and a NP208 Transfer-Case. Exhaust will be manifolds into 5", into a 6" stack. I am painting it flat black. Flat black says "Hey look at that old rusty primer-mobile." Where as a bright flashy color says "Hey pull me over, I must be a trouble maker!" Plus, ever since I saw Death Proof...


The body will be the factory body with the complete dash out of another Silverado. As the truck is currently missing the steering column, I have another to put in it. The seats will be from a '06 Silverado. The inside of the truck is gutted of its extras. In place will be a floor mat, and bed liner for the metal.

The front-clip, and doors are from a 1991 Suburban (1991 was the last year of the third generation. They lasted a couple more years then the pickup). Has a more modern headlight, and the doors have a different mirror design.

Bed is the factory six-foot bed. Not a whole lot to say. When I got it, it had a plastic bed liner in it. I was dreading taking it out. Anybody who knows plastic bed liners knows they rust beds out. They rub the paint off, then trap water under them. I got EXTREMELY lucky! When we took it out, the bed only had some slight paint rubbed off with a little surface rust around screw holes. No dents, or dings either. I have a set of fancy tail lights I've been saving for years. Haha!

The mill is simply a 6.5 N/A from a GMC van. It is a L57 code engine. I'll be keeping it a N/A for now. I'm gonna turn the Injection pump up a little, and tweak the timing a little. As well as a propane injection. For those moments when you need a little extra go. Normally I'm not into adding extra crap, but I'll cut the short-stroke 6.5 a break! :D

Finish on the truck with be flat-black. Most likely Kirker Hot-Rod Black. I've used Kirker paint before, shoots good! Everything will be black on the truck! I plan on contacting a local powder-coating company about doing my bumpers, and wheels in black. The only part that won't be black is the motor. Which will be Alpine Green.

Getting back to reality, here is a quick to-do list.

• Drag truck into shop (Done)
• Remove front-clip (Done)
• Remove drive Shafts (Done
• Remove transfer Case (Done)
• Remove transmission (Done)
• Remove bed-liner (Done)
• Remove motor (Done)
• Torch bed bolts (Done)
• Lift Bed/Sit on picnic table (Done)
• Inspect Frame/Repair any rust (Done)
• Remove Axles (Done)
• Drag 12-Bolts Into Shop (Done)
• Bolt axles onto truck/Remove cover/Check gear ratios (Half Done)
• Clean/Paint Axles
• Fix frame where steering-box pulled through (Done)
• Connect steering/Plumb brakes (Steering Done)
• Remove 350SB from donor Truck (Done)
• Inspect motor/Clean motor/Paint motor (No need)
• Attach Muncie 465 to motor
• Install Motor/trans into truck
• Install Transfer Case/Driveshafts
• Install Clutch Pedal/Cut floor for Shifter (Clutch pedal in)
• Remove old Seat/Dash (Done)
• Coat door jams/dash/roof with Herculiner
• Wire Dash (Gauge Cluster, AC, Lights)
• Install Gas Tank/Hook Up Hoses
• Plumb/Wire Motor
• Details to get truck running
• Install new front-clip
• Wire Headlights/Turn signals
• Remove Old Doors
• Prep Truck For paint (Fix rusted rocker-panels, block sand truck, fix any dings/waves)
• Spray behind cab/In front of bed
• Bolt bed back on/Install new doors
• Tape truck
• Spray Truck
• Remove tape/Install Final Details
• Go for a drive, and work out anything I missed
• Plan future mods

Some details might be in the wrong order, plus whatever I am forgetting.

On September 2nd We got the Truck in the shop, and the front-clip removed.

On September 4th we got the drive shafts out, tranny mount out, speedo cable off, Transfer Case removed, and drained the oil in the tranny. Later I cut what was left of the exhaust out.

On September 6th we got the bed liner out, and Transmission out (The stock was a 700R4).

Next on the list is to pull the motor (The one in it is a 305). Then we need to get some Oxygen for our torch, and cut the bed bolts! One thing Chevrolet doesn't get right is bed bolts! Maybe they make them like that so people don't steal your bed? As well, I think they design the steering box to pull-through on the frame? Instead of using proper WASHERS they use these damn bushings! They do the same thing on the tranny mount! People try to say they are weak points on the frame, I don't buy it! Poor planning! So I now gotta pull the steering box off, and I am going to add new metal to the frame. Double up over the existing frame.

She has some work ahead, but anyone who knows rebuilding cars/trucks knows I got a solid platform! To get me around until this is done I still have the '97 2500 Cummins hauling 450hp 700ft/lb! After the Chevy is done, that Dodge will be getting some love as well. Need a new Torque Converter, and I want to put a shift-kit in the 47RE transmission. Plus it could stand a coat of paint! Also small details. Wiring problems. Cruise-Control don't work, my EGT gauge cuts out every time I use the turn signal (I have no idea!), and some other stuff.

Lemme know what you think about my old rusty, gas-guzzling, it-ain't-a-Ford truck! ;)

If this is to much for the Miscellaneous Projects forum, lemme know, I'll delete it, or have it deleted!

Excuse any typo's! I'm going back over to see what I missed!

excellent! I love the old chevy! I used to have a '79 3/4 ton and beat the hell out of it when i was a teenager. thing would do just about anything I wanted it to, completely stock. coulda used a lift on it, but thats ok, thats what running boards and an I-dont-give-a-rats-a** approach is for :P

This rocks man im a bowtie man myself i always wanted to do something like this myself bes t of luck will be watching this close.

The 350 is great, should try to find a 454 :D Good build!


Good luck!


Mike

I disagree with the 454. 350's are bullet proof, have tons of power potential, and are definitely more efficient engines. Yes, the 454 has MORE power potential, and can be equally tough, they just arent as plentiful as 350's. :)

Very true Luke!

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Originally Posted by rithunder916

The 350 is great, should try to find a 454 :D Good build!


Good luck!


Mike

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Whatcha mean "find?" I already have one sitting in another donor truck. :whistler: Haha. The 350 is a choice. For my needs it is perfect. Small-Blocks are rock solid, make plenty of power. You can run the snot out of them, and they will just keep going.

If you want to pay to put fuel in the truck though, I might be talked into running the 454! :D

Now if I could hunt down a 400 Small-Block! Then we might be able to talk! Or a 5.9 Cummins! Those are my top two motors! Then the Nailhead, and the Flathead Straight-Four.

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Originally Posted by altec

Now if I could hunt down a 400 Small-Block! Then we might be able to talk! Or a 5.9 Cummins! Those are my top two motors! Then the Nailhead, and the Flathead Straight-Four.

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You're going in the right direction with the Cummins, but the unrelated 5.9 gasser - the 360 - wouldn't be bad either (bored/stroked 318 ). Me, I'd settle for a built-up 225 'Leaning Tower of Power', just for the hell of it. Gotta be in an old Dodge, though, of course. Hmm, even a Dakota, that'd be something... it'd beat the K-car 2.5 that the base models got, though the 318 they wedged in would walk it for power.

Anyway, the '73-'87s are great. I've got a friend who's restoring an '83 longbed in calf-crap gold; he's not planning quite as much as you are, I don't think, but it'll be tough enough, based on his '84 Monte.

Wow didnt realise there were that many gear heads here. I had a '85 silverado short bed with a 383, 4 barrell holly carb, flowmaster glasspacks, 1 inch drop, dual 16 gallon tanks and a love for drinking gas like a dodge ball loves fat kids. It was chevys snowflake white. I miss it so much but Id ont miss feeding it $125 weekly in gas.

heh that truck brings back memories,

my first vehicle was an 86gmc sierra, which looks exactly the same with different emblems, mine was a long bed though, the 350 was fun though.

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Originally Posted by BerticusPryme

Wow didnt realise there were that many gear heads here. I had a '85 silverado short bed with a 383, 4 barrell holly carb, flowmaster glasspacks, 1 inch drop, dual 16 gallon tanks and a love for drinking gas like a dodge ball loves fat kids. It was chevys snowflake white. I miss it so much but Id ont miss feeding it $125 weekly in gas.

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Lol, neither did I! I knew we had a couple because I was talking about my Dodge with them before. I had either expected to get ignored, or caught...stuff for my old gas guzzling old truck!

I haven't even bothered putting the truck on off-road sites. I know all I'm gonna hear is how I "should" do things, and how they would spend MY money.

Here I sit. Pondering what I wanna do. Tomorrow (Sorry, today) I want to fiddle with SOMETHING! I am dieing to mod, create, or destroy something!

I am also fiddling with the idea of my next project. I have to talk my parents in to letting me keep the other three trucks I have sitting around! I have a 1983 C20 (2x4 3/4-ton) Scottsdale. It is the truck I'm getting the 350 from. But, I really would like to try to do a 4x4 conversion on it. I have another Muncie 465, that big NP205, and a 454BB. That would be CRAZY in it, and I get the long-bed goodness! The 4x4 conversion would be fairly simple. It is just a matter of making some brackets, and simple measuring.


Here is the truck. It is in great shape, it is just a two-wheel. Not much use for me as-is. I have a bed for it, just no front fenders. I might be able to use the ones off this project, but I don't know if I screwed them up when I chucked them out the door after removing them lol.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...s/100_4242.jpg

I guess I should finish the first truck before planning a second? :D

Edit,

I apologize for the grammar. I don't have tree trucks! Haha!

makes me miss my scottsdale. RIP good buddy, RIP.

my buddy is building a '69 ford f-100 shortbed that I will have to find pictures of. thing is a beast and will be sweet once he is finished. the best part is he is only 1000 bucks into the thing. found a shortbed for like 300 and a donor '73 w/ a 460 in it for 700 bucks. lucky bastard. haha

Today I'm hoping to get the bed off. After my Dad gets off work, we are gonna cut the bed bolts. Sadly, we are out of Oxygen for our torch! So we are gonna borrow a neighbors. If I am lucky, we will get the motor out while we are at it! Though, I'll settle for getting anything done! After we get the bed off I also have some work that won't take a extra set of hands, so that'll be good.


Also, last Sunday I made twenty bucks! Haha! Sold the wheels, and tires. The tires were a bit aged, and one of the wheels was chipped, so no lose for me. Saves me the trouble of getting rid of them, and I got money! :banana:

Sorry about not being a real update. Should have something tonight!

Guess my last post went flying out the window! :mad:

Been WAY to long since a update! Today we got the bed bolts cut, bed removed, axle removed, reclaimed the new axle from vines, and loosely installed it.

So we got the bed bolts cut. Before that though we asked a fellow named Justin to make sure the gas tank was shutoff. He spent a few minutes trying to find a gas tank that doesn't exist lol. ANYWAY! One oil fire, one grease fire, and one...wire fire later, and the bolts are out! Then cut the vent tube, and removed the brake light wires. After that, proceed to lower the truck, and with four people, we got the bed off, and carried over to a waiting picnic cable. The perfect fleet side bed holder!

Then we got the front shackle bolts off. You can't really get them off with the bed on. A easy way around that is to take a hole saw, and cut a hole in the back side of the hanger. The driver side one was easy, but the passenger took a bit of time. A bunch of time with a impact, breaker-bar, and a dream took care of it!

Before fully dropping the rear axle we used straps to hold the truck to the lift. The truck becomes extremely front heavy without the axle. Wouldn't want the truck flying forward like a retarded trebuchet.

After pulling all the drum brake parts off (Good for spares), we removed the E-brake, and brake lines. Then finished pulling the bolts out of the hangers. Hook it to a golfkart, and drag it out!

Then we went over, and started to drag the new axle out. That was not fun, but we got it! After rolling it over to the shop, we put it on jack stands, and pulled the cover. I was SHOCKED at what I found! A damn 3.08 gear! WTF is that? 3.08 on 35" tires? After that was over, we removed the old shackle bolts that were left on the new axles when they were torched out. That surprisingly went well!

Last, but not least we rolled the axle under, and stuck the bolts in.

Before anyone wants to tell me about how I should get leaf springs for it, and ditch the blocks... If you'll pay for a set I will! Otherwise, I don't have the money!

Tomorrow I am going to wire wheel the frame/axle/leafs. and coat it in a rust inhibitor until it is ready for a proper coating. Then on Thursday I hope to get the motor out at least.

I may stick a couple more leafs in the pack. The axle is getting a posi. I need to get new gears. I'm debating if I want to do 4.11, or 4.56. I'm leaning to the 4.11 just because the 465 ain't a OD transmission, and if I need a lower ratio, I can slam it in four-wheel low. This ain't gonna be a crawler...

cool

go with the 4.11 gears. might even go as low as 410 but you should be good there and the blocks are fine. god i cant wait to see this done. if i can find them i may throw some pics of my old silverado on here for ya.BTW it looks great so far. is that axle 1/2 or 3/4 i cant really tell. I wanna say 3/4 but i could be wrong

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Originally Posted by aintnothang

cool

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Thanks!

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Originally Posted by BerticusPryme

go with the 4.11 gears. might even go as low as 410 but you should be good there and the blocks are fine. god i cant wait to see this done. if i can find them i may throw some pics of my old silverado on here for ya.BTW it looks great so far. is that axle 1/2 or 3/4 i cant really tell. I wanna say 3/4 but i could be wrong

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Yeah, it should be alright with 4.11 gears. I may try 4.27 gears if I can find them easily enough. With my plan of 37" tires puts 4.11 a bit on the small side with a SB. Though 4.27=2520RPM at 65MPH, and 4.56=2692RPM at 65MPH. So it ain't THAT bad, just a little higher then I was hoping for. Here in Maryland we only have a handful of 65 roads anyway.

Post the pictures! :)

The old axles are GM 10-bolts. The ones going in it are GM 12-bolts from a K5 Blazer (The last post has the rear 12-bolt in the truck). They are both half ton axles. A future upgrade may be a Dana 70/60 combo, or a GM 14/Dana 60 combo. I already have a 14-bolt laying around, but a Dana 60 front is a bit out of my reach.

LOL.. right now I've got 3.43's in my S10, and I'm thinking, "Man, I need some 3.08's."

Of course, it's my commuter, and I regularly do 75-80mph for extended periods of time. Gotta love Alberta highways. :D:D:D

The little 2.5 with the 5spd behind it spins pretty high with the 3.43 rear end, so I should pick up some economy too.

Nice restore, looks like it shall be a very through build. I've got one slight problem with it though, it ain't a Ford.

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Originally Posted by chaksq

I've got one slight problem with it though, it ain't a Ford.

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... thats a good thing, we want it to work, not be found on road dead in a week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chaksq

Nice restore, looks like it shall be a very through build. I've got one slight problem with it though, it ain't a Ford.

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Don't you drive a Mazda? ;)

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Originally Posted by FuzzyPlushroom

Don't you drive a Mazda? ;)

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No, i actually own a Ford ZX2. Although I'm more of a Subaru guy anyways, which is what my main car is.

I just commented that because he specifically was anti-Ford at the begining, when it comes to Ford vs. Chevy I prefer ford.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chaksq

No, i actually own a Ford ZX2. Although I'm more of a Subaru guy anyways, which is what my main car is.

I just commented that because he specifically was anti-Ford at the begining, when it comes to Ford vs. Chevy I prefer ford.

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Mazda BG platform. Shared with Ford, of course. That's why I was taking the piss. :)

I gotcha now, don't worry. I don't have much of an allegiance either way there.

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Originally Posted by chaksq

I just commented that because he specifically was anti-Ford at the begining, when it comes to Ford vs. Chevy I prefer ford.

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When was that? I said "Lemme know what you think about my old rusty, gas-guzzling, it-ain't-a-Ford truck!" That wasn't specifically anti-Ford, or even vaguely anti-Ford. I'm sorry if you interpreted that way. The comment "it-ain't-a-Ford truck" was mainly aimed at my friends. They try to bust my balls about owning a Dodge truck, and Chevrolet truck('s). I myself try to stay out of that old debate. None of the companies are anywhere near perfect... Most of the time when someone goes off on some mind numbing rant about how "X" is better then "Y" they seem to "forget" about the problems that the company they are defending has.

Me? I know what I like, and I know what works for me. Old Chevy, and Dodge trucks work for me!



Back to the truck!

Wednesday I got most of the rear frame wire wheeled, and coated. Then Thursday we got the motor out, calipers off, and sway bar off. Then I remembered I'm a complete dumbass. Why did I think the front axle I was going to put in was a 12-bolt? It is a Dana 44. Because of this, I will be keeping the 10-bolt front axle. Taking the leaf packs off the Dana, and putting them on the 10-bolt. Maybe I'll throw the Dana up on Craigslist. See if anybody bites... If I can at least get enough money for plugs, wires, and belts, I'd be ahead of the game!

Relax man, I was just joking around. I think its a great project regardless who made the truck back in 1986. I hold no brand loyalty. I like restoration of old cars because it means less cars getting junked.

Well, since Photobucket is being stupid, and not letting me upload photos, I am forced to use Imageshack!

First we fixed the steering box. Welding thick ass washers over where it pulled though, and making a plate with two welded on sleeves to keep the back bolts from pulling through. Sorry, no pictures right now.


Then we got the Dana 44 over to the shop to get the tires off, and the leaf springs off.

I swear, it wasn't me!

After dragging it over to the side door, we rolled it in...After smacking the frozen calipers with a hammer to get the tires to roll.

Blurry picture of the axle with the tires, and leafs removed.

The leafs came off without a hitch! I was worried that the few years out in direct weather would have locked them up, but they came off no problem! After that, the old shackle bolts had to come off. Again, they came off without a hitch! Though the rear bushings sorta fell apart... Need new ones anyway.

After that the tires needed to come off. While getting a socket, I looked over and noticed the wheels had locks! DAMN IT! Wasn't a big deal though. Hammer, piece of 1" OD steel, and channel-locks took them off!

Now it was time to take the old leafs off. Although I had loosened the nuts a while back, the bolts didn't come off so easy. The back bolts came out no problem, but the fronts took a lot of hammer, breaker bar, and impact time! It took way longer then it should have!

Old leafs.

So now it was time to put the new leafs in (temporary). That went well! Gives a little insight as to how the truck is going to sit when I'm done. With the slightly smaller tires then what is going on it, and the lack of rear bushing at the moment even when the motor is in the truck, it will still sit pretty good.

Again, this is just a mock up. The leafs have to come back off. I need to be able to roll the truck out of the shop though.

Weight off the lift in this picture. It is 36" to the top of the bumper.

Next I need to ghetto rig up a way to steer the truck. Then the truck gets rolled out, and the '84 gets rolled in to have the motor pulled.

The truck got rolled out today. A stroke of luck was the steering shaft where it connects to the column is 3/4". That fit a 3/4 ratchet perfect! So we just pulled out a 1/2 ratchet, and a 3/4 adapter. Made steering a piece of cake!.

Here is a couple crappy pictures of the truck without the lift in the way.

I was digging around the shop, and I found a pair of Pro-Comp gauges. A in-dash 5" Tach, and Speedo. This will go with the 2" 5/8" Water Temperature, Oil Pressure, and Amperage Gauge (Looking on the Auto Meter site, I don't even see the amp gauge anymore lol). Now, because the tach will remove my fuel gauge, I'm gonna pick up a Pro-Comp 2" 5/8" one to put in the blank spot on the dash.

The dash I'll be using. The pad is a original, and ain't cracked. The instrument panel may get a coat of black paint on the stainless insert.

Here are the 5" gauges. It has been shelved for about five years. I thought I lost it for a couple of them years lol. It was out of a Blazer. Sadly, because the moron didn't have the proper clamps to hold the gauges in...he siliconed them in. So I gotta pry them out. Then I'm gonna do a little refurbishing. The black paint is chipping.

The truck was pulled out for two reasons. A bunch of cars need oil changes, and we need to bring the truck that has the 350 in it to pull that.

While the truck is out, I may gut the interior while I'm at it.

Where do I start other than I am in love.

More updates please!

This log is getting me excited about doing a rebuild on my '75 FJ40...

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Originally Posted by Snowman

Where do I start other than I am in love.

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Haha! It is just a truck! Though I will have a passenger seat to take care of that detail! :up:8)

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Originally Posted by Airbozo

More updates please!

This log is getting me excited about doing a rebuild on my '75 FJ40...

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Sadly, I don't have any. The last pictures you see, are what was done last. I may go ahead and start gutting the interior on the next warm(est) day. I am in need of a few sets of hands to get the motor out of the donor truck, and my Dad is either busy, or dead tired. :(

When you start on the 'Yota, don't forget a log! I'd love to see it! :smoker:

I second the log on the FJ :D

Good news! I'm not dead! Today being warm we were able to get the donor truck in the shop. Got that lifted up, drained the coolant and oil. Also got the converter unbolted. Tomorrow it will be time to pull the motor.

You have no idea how many times I wanted to thread res this and didnt glad to see you back at it.

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Originally Posted by Snowman

You have no idea how many times I wanted to thread res this and didnt glad to see you back at it.

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Haha. You could have. I wouldn't have minded. Honestly it is all done to timing, and weather. Finally things are aligning enough to get some work done. :)

I just got done doing my volkswagen, little bit more aggressive cam, lifters, if I sold it I could go pick up a scottsdale deluxe on 38s running a 454.. oh man if gas mileage wasn't a factor the volkswagen would be gone so fast.

I got a perfectly good 454 I'm not using for the same reason.


Good news! We got the mill out today. So tomorrow I'll be putting it on the engine stand and start tearing down. I'll have pictures tomorrow! I don't think porn is allowed, but Small Block Chevy nudes are worth the ban! :twisted:

Here we go. Today I got the mill up on the stand, and pulled some junk off of it. Intake, heads, and oil pan go next.

I've got a 6.2l diesel on my stand right now. 350 4 bolt on a cradle under the workbench.

Cool. :) I'm not a huge fan of the 6.2 though. Now if I could find a 6.5 I'd be ecstatic. But if I go diesel down the road I am going to try to find a wrecked Dodge to get myself a 5.9 Cummins. Or if I could find it, and afford it (Haha...) a 8v92 Detroit. Just because those things are down right insane. Although shoe horning that in to the truck could prove interesting...

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Originally Posted by altec

Although shoe horning that in to the truck could prove interesting...

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Isn't that what any modding is about? Liking this a lot. Making me miss my '68 C10.