Author Topic: Fancifying my beater truck! DONE! Final pics! (Read 3623 times)

ColinMc · « **on:** October 16, 2009, 11:06:57 AM »

Well this past Spring I snagged an old NAPA delivery truck from work for dirt cheap. 2001 Chevy S10 regular cab, 2wd, auto, no options...driver side door hanging off because of the hinge sag problem...

So I went through and replaced EVERYTHING in the front end, balljoints, control arms, inner and outer tie rod ends, spindles, springs, shocks. Replaced the rear shocks, got a bench seat out of a junker to replace the stained torn bench seat that was in it. Got carpet to put in instaed of the rubber floor mat. Put a decent stereo in it. Oh and converted the driver door to suicide style since that was easier than fixing the factory messed up hinges and door latch assembly. Replaced the cracked/fogged headlights too, sprayed in a bed liner...all that good stuff.

Here's the truck as of the other day, plan on painting it this weekend. Cleaning up the doorjamb, installing the remote popping system. Then i'll finally have what amounts to a "nice" beater truck. So I can store my Mini Cooper S for the winter.

Before When I first got it:

ColinMc · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:12:49 AM »

here's pics I took the other day, yes one side of the truck is two toned...wanted to see how it would look lol.

The door swings open a full 90 degrees. Oh and the truck is lowered 4" which still makes it so I can run stock rubber with no rubbing, and it still rides nice too. 2" lowering spindles, 2" lowering springs in the front, and lowering leafs in the rear along with 1" blocks.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:24:32 AM »

Where is the hat that goes on top?
That was the coolest thing about those vehicles.

ColinMc · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:36:51 AM »

Lol it had one but NAPA wouldn't let me take it...plus they just use self tapping screws and destroy the roof putting them on...this one had nasty rust holes from that.

I wasn't going to lower it because i'm not a huge fan of "mini trucks" but i'll tell ya what, loading a bike into a truck 4" lower to the ground is SUPER easy! That's pretty much what this truck is for, moving crap and bikes around. Plus my gas mileage went sky high with it lowered lol.

The plan is to get all the bodywork sorted tonight, then primer tomorrow, block it down, then do a nice pearl/silver, then clear...good to go!

Steve F · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:53:22 AM »

Quote from: ColinMc on October 16, 2009, 11:36:51 AM

Lol it had one but NAPA wouldn't let me take it...plus they just use self tapping screws and destroy the roof putting them on...this one had nasty rust holes from that.

I wasn't going to lower it because i'm not a huge fan of "mini trucks" but i'll tell ya what, loading a bike into a truck 4" lower to the ground is SUPER easy! That's pretty much what this truck is for, moving crap and bikes around. Plus my gas mileage went sky high with it lowered lol.

The plan is to get all the bodywork sorted tonight, then primer tomorrow, block it down, then do a nice pearl/silver, then clear...good to go!

I see you replaced the NAPA "hat" with a helmet. Good move.

Steve F

ColinMc · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2009, 11:57:29 AM »

Lol, that's my old Bell helmet I use on super hot days for MSF course demos...wouldn't wear it for anything else...can't remember why I had it on the roof of the truck?!

Inigo Montoya · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2009, 12:40:48 PM »

I had a stripped out 95 s-10. that thing was all sorts of fun! 5speed too. Fun in the summer AND winter. Lets just say counter-steer was a way of life!

Pinhead · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2009, 04:42:55 PM »

I like the two-tone on the right side. You've done one helluva job!

ColinMc · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:32:42 PM »

Lol uh oh...you might not like that i'm getting rid of the two tone look...it's gonna be all one color, front and rear bumpers and everything. Mainly just because i'm trying to get this painted quickly and as easily as possible. I'm going with a 2008 Land Rover color called Spectral Light Blue Metallic paint code JFG. It has a crazy amount of pearl in it along with a slight goldish phase change metallic toner. Stuff is normally over 400 dollars a pint...I got a gallon of it for the truck at a VERY cheap price

bill440cars · « **Reply #9 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:37:47 PM »

Pretty cool truck there AND NICE job on the "suicide door" too!

Can't wait to see that paint job!

ColinMc · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:55:51 PM »

Thanks! Yeah I plan on doing the passenger side door, and I'm actually going to put handles on the outside at the front of the doors. But for now I just want it finished and looking halfway decent for the winter. Got ALL of the body filler work done tonight, bed dings and dents, as well as the driver side door jamb finally neatened up. Priming tomorrow when I get home from work, then hopefully blocking it down tomorrow night. I might wait until sunday morning to block it though...we'll see. Either way i'll get some progress pics taken tomorrow afternoon before I do anything else.

brett_bike · « **Reply #11 on:** October 16, 2009, 10:29:44 PM »

Suicide doors are rad. I was gonna put Lamborghini doors on my old Ford Aerostar, but she died.

bill440cars · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2009, 04:53:26 AM »

Once I had an old 68' Dodge pickup that I swapped an air compressor for (just the compressor, no motor or nothing) and it had a title and RAN as well!

I drove it about 150miles home!

I took and built a tilt frontend for it, picked up on an old Chrysler Imperial (440/automatic/Dana rear) for the power train and was on my way to built MY truck! Well, I got the frontend built and next thing I knew, we were getting ready to move AND I had to thin things out.

Still wish I had hung onto that truck AND finished it.

ColinMc · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2009, 08:50:01 PM »

Running behind as usual...all the filler is done but had to have a friend come over to help take the bed off. Man that was a PITA. Never knew 6 bolts could be such a pain. So after seeing the condition of the frame rails and the bottom of the bed I got out some POR15 and went to town. Replaced the fuel pump like I planned, and I might wait until later in the week now to prime since it's supposed to be 41 degrees tomorrow...and even with the heat cranking i'm not a big fan of painting in temps like that.

ColinMc · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2009, 03:21:21 PM »

Here's a few pics with the bed off anyways...

bucky katt · « **Reply #15 on:** October 18, 2009, 04:21:33 PM »

going to paint the frame?

ColinMc · « **Reply #16 on:** October 18, 2009, 07:41:52 PM »

Yup, already done. I had the truck out of the garage to powerwash it off. Got it back in the garage all dried off, and went to town prepping and then POR15ing the frame rails. The only bad part with that is...I highly doubt i'll ever have the cab off to do the rest of the frame lol.

Oh well...i'll tell ya what it's weird driving the truck around with no bed. I only took it up and down the driveway heh.

bucky katt · « **Reply #17 on:** October 18, 2009, 08:52:01 PM »

squirrely as hell like that isnt it? i drove my 92 isuzu like that for a couple of weeks back when i was having the topper fiberglassed on to make the entire bed all one piece.

DammitDan · « **Reply #18 on:** October 19, 2009, 08:29:23 AM »

I never knew the bed was held on with just 6 bolts... Is that a pretty standard deal across Ford/GM/Dodge trucks?

ColinMc · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2009, 09:46:22 AM »

6 or 8 on most trucks i've worked on...they are monster grade 8 bolts though and spaced out along each side. Usually pretty easy to get to. The hardest part is making sure all the wiring for the taillights is disconnected and whatnot...then finding friends to help lift it off lol. Oh and remembering to disconnect the fillter neck lol.

ColinMc · « **Reply #20 on:** October 20, 2009, 12:44:07 AM »

Nah, no plans for bags, just lowered enough so I can still run stock shocks with a decent ride and easily load bikes in and out. Still not much more progress...waiting for the warm couple days we are supposed to have tomorrow and wednesday.

ColinMc · « **Reply #21 on:** December 01, 2009, 10:49:29 AM »

DONE AND DONE! Didn't come out perfect but for a fancy winter beater it'll work. I might get a new/used bed in the spring...this one is pretty shot.

I'll get some daytime pics and show her off...looks freaken awesome.

bucky katt · « **Reply #22 on:** December 01, 2009, 10:52:55 AM »

i've been waiting for the conclusion Colin. i'm getting us a second vehicle in the spring hopefully and a compact truck is what i'd like to have.

ColinMc · « **Reply #23 on:** December 01, 2009, 10:58:37 AM »

Some teaser pics...

Before primer:

After the last coat of clear(notice the nice very unhealthy fog in the garage hehe):

bucky katt · « **Reply #24 on:** December 01, 2009, 11:01:10 AM »

looks nice.

ColinMc · « **Reply #25 on:** December 04, 2009, 08:29:11 AM »

Done and done!

Here it is parked at work today...about 5 minutes ago lol:

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #26 on:** December 04, 2009, 08:33:25 AM »

Looks kool but still no door handles

how do you get in ?

Sam.

ColinMc · « **Reply #27 on:** December 04, 2009, 09:21:50 AM »

Lol, remote. There is a solenoid mounted in the door that pops it with a keyfob remote I have. The handle on the inside does function too though so I can open it manually when getting out. The passenger side is still normal though lol.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #28 on:** December 04, 2009, 09:34:50 AM »

Looks good, could do with some fancy wheels now to finish it off.

Sam.

westondc · « **Reply #29 on:** December 04, 2009, 09:39:10 AM »

ha, looks awesome! now you need some safety door locks so no one opens the door at 65mph!

ColinMc · « **Reply #30 on:** December 04, 2009, 10:03:20 AM »

Yeah the plan is to install a rod system that locks in place when you close the door from the inside...for now it's just me using the driver side door...so as long as i leave the remote attached to the key in the ignition accidental opening should be avoidable. The passenger side is still bone stock (for now).

I have a set of 15" aluminum Camaro wheels i'm gonna put the snows on for the winter, and I have a set of 16" IROC camaro wheels for the summer time. I'm trying to invest as little money into this truck as possible with the best possible result lol. Just spending lots of time on it.

For now i'll just run 15" wheels year round since my snows are 15" brand new tires, and the summer/All season tires are also 15" and have plenty of tread left. When those tires wear out then i'll go from there.

bucky katt · « **Reply #31 on:** December 04, 2009, 11:54:17 AM »

want to come here and paint the saturn for me? lol i had an isuzu pickup with shaved handles and what i did in addition to the remote controlled solenoid is i ran a universal choke cable from the core support (where i could reach the knob through the grill) to the latch so if the battery in the remote or truck died i could still get in.

ColinMc · « **Reply #32 on:** December 04, 2009, 12:03:21 PM »

Yeah thats why I might just leave the passenger door stock...that way I can always get in on that side. So if the driver side gets frozen shut or the battery dies or something I can still get in. What I really want to do is suicide the other door and put 32 ford locking door handles on the front of the outside of each door...but that won't be until spring if/when I do that. I have to get crackin on my bikes now that the truck is driveable for the winter and my car is stored away.

ColinMc · « **Reply #33 on:** December 12, 2009, 06:25:32 AM »

Lighting sucks because the sun was going down, but here she is, not gonna touch another thing for the winter. Taillights are replaced, tailgate is back on, camaro wheels have the snows mounted and are on...spaced out 5/16" to clear the tie rods lol. Looks and rides pretty good!

74cb750 · « **Reply #34 on:** December 12, 2009, 06:36:31 AM »

How does this handle in the recent snows?
Looks good.

ColinMc · « **Reply #35 on:** December 12, 2009, 06:44:41 AM »

Well on wednesday when we got nailed...I didn't even have the snows on yet but I threw an AMC engine block (258 straight six) in the bed for some weight and it was fine with the cheapie A/S tires. Last year with the same tires on different wheels it was fine in the snow and ice. They are just firestone snow tires that I got on sale at Tire Rack for 48 dollars a piece last year.

edit: Of course now that I think about it...it's still no comparison to the beater 92 explorer I had with 31" tires in the snow...lol. But even as low as this truck is, it still doesn't plow snow like my Mini Cooper S does.

News:

Author Topic: Fancifying my beater truck! DONE! Final pics! (Read 3623 times)