We all need some Redneck in our lives... GMC 1500 Truck
Discussion
It all started a couple of months ago, when a certain PHer (benny.c) posted up some pictures and a thread regarding a truck he just picked up, 'hmmmmm', I thought to myself, that looks like fun...
Not too long later, the very burgundy Redneck warrior came up for sale and in true petrolhead fashion, I decided to buy it over the telephone with no inspection, no service history, test drive, HPI check or any other thing that the AA, RAC and Watchdog tell you to do and got Benny to drop it off at my folks as I was out of the country. What's the worst that could happen?
The truck was described as being a bit battered, needing some work and having a few faults and 'don't expect anything amazing', however when I got home and finally came face to face with this piece of Yank goodness I couldn't have been more pleased! In the flesh it looks absolutely awesome, OK, it's missing it's door trims, has a few dings and scratches and needs a good polish but if you don't look hard it looks chuffing awesome!
The main selling point was obviously the Racing American Turbines AKA 'A-Team wheels', these give the old beast a great look. Even if it never worked again, it would look great just sat in the drive...
As you can see in the last two pics it is lovely and clean, though the chassis has plenty of surface but nothing serious. It also had some American style license plates fitted, which I thought I'd better swap over. Luckily Benny had supplied me with some new 'regular' plates, which I duly fitted.
I actually think the UK plates don't look too bad on it. It was a pain in the arse getting the rear plate on as I wanted to make it fit in the original hole (ooo err) and not put it to one side as a lot of US imports seem to have. I got there in the end and it even lights up nicely in the dark.
The truck is fitted with some Marshal 'Powerguard' tyres which look nice and chunky but seem to have zero wet grip, coupled with no weight over the rear and 350 cu (5.7 litre) Chevy small block makes for non stop entertainment (read the odd brown trouser moment when not paying attention) when it's mildly damp, I will stick something else on there in the near future.
The interior is nice and clean with a fine bench seat perfect for 'parking'. It is missing it's door cards but everything is available for the truck new and I will get some ordered in the next few days.
There are a few electrical niggles at the moment, I can't get the horn to work properly which appears to be down to a dodgy connection and the full beam headlights don't work, which again looks to be a fault with the switch on the stalk, again simple fixes that I'll get around to next time I'm off work.
One big issue I need to sort out are the seatbelts, currently these are completely ornamental and provide no restraint at all, my niece loves the truck and I won't take her out until I have some new belts fitted. Then she can ride out with her uncle and we can harass Prius drives together in safety!
I am also going to fit a modern stereo in the cab and hide it either under the seat or in the glove box as the original built in jobby is a bit crap, then I can look forward to a summer of cruising about, windows down, with Journey, Kenny Loggins or Styx playing as loudly as I can get it whilst I continue to harass those smug Prius drivers some more.
I did get a couple of cosmetic jobs sorted out though, the wing mirrors were rusty around the mounts so I took them off and gave them a good clean up respray, the results I got were actually pretty good.
Once I repainted them, the actual mirrors themselves looks a bit dull so I broke out the Autosol and a beer and spent half an hour bringing them up like new, I reckon they look the dogs danglies now.
All refitted:
I then decided to have a poke about under the bonnet. The 5.7 Chevy small block in this application is the least powerful version. It's all iron and knocks out a paltry 210bhp, at the moment and on 'those' tyres it is enough but as the truck is pre '93 I am going to get rid of the air injection system, catalyst and stick freer flowing exhausts and breathing on the engine, this should loosen up a few of those lazy horses and improve fuel economy. I also need to fit a new water pump, viscous coupling and hoses as these seem to have had their day, I am also working to clean up under the bonnet. My first job was the rusty looking air filter cover:
So took it off and did the same thing I did to the wing mirrors:
You can see that this little job completely improved the view under the bonnet. I am going to give the old girl a full service when I get my new engine bits, I also plan to paint the rocker covers a nice crackle red, the fan yellow, clean the inlet manifold up and fit some nice yellow plug leads, along with the new hoses it'll look awesome!
Mechanically the old girl is pretty solid, it runs and sounds fine, though I need to change the rear output seal on the gearbox and it needs a new pressure sensor on the brake master cylinder.
I intend to update this thread as I go along as I reckon it will be a fun rolling project and will keep me nice and busy over Chrimbo.
Apologies for going on for a bit too long, I think I may be getting carried away with the old beast...
Not too long later, the very burgundy Redneck warrior came up for sale and in true petrolhead fashion, I decided to buy it over the telephone with no inspection, no service history, test drive, HPI check or any other thing that the AA, RAC and Watchdog tell you to do and got Benny to drop it off at my folks as I was out of the country. What's the worst that could happen?
The truck was described as being a bit battered, needing some work and having a few faults and 'don't expect anything amazing', however when I got home and finally came face to face with this piece of Yank goodness I couldn't have been more pleased! In the flesh it looks absolutely awesome, OK, it's missing it's door trims, has a few dings and scratches and needs a good polish but if you don't look hard it looks chuffing awesome!
The main selling point was obviously the Racing American Turbines AKA 'A-Team wheels', these give the old beast a great look. Even if it never worked again, it would look great just sat in the drive...
As you can see in the last two pics it is lovely and clean, though the chassis has plenty of surface but nothing serious. It also had some American style license plates fitted, which I thought I'd better swap over. Luckily Benny had supplied me with some new 'regular' plates, which I duly fitted.
I actually think the UK plates don't look too bad on it. It was a pain in the arse getting the rear plate on as I wanted to make it fit in the original hole (ooo err) and not put it to one side as a lot of US imports seem to have. I got there in the end and it even lights up nicely in the dark.
The truck is fitted with some Marshal 'Powerguard' tyres which look nice and chunky but seem to have zero wet grip, coupled with no weight over the rear and 350 cu (5.7 litre) Chevy small block makes for non stop entertainment (read the odd brown trouser moment when not paying attention) when it's mildly damp, I will stick something else on there in the near future.
The interior is nice and clean with a fine bench seat perfect for 'parking'. It is missing it's door cards but everything is available for the truck new and I will get some ordered in the next few days.
There are a few electrical niggles at the moment, I can't get the horn to work properly which appears to be down to a dodgy connection and the full beam headlights don't work, which again looks to be a fault with the switch on the stalk, again simple fixes that I'll get around to next time I'm off work.
One big issue I need to sort out are the seatbelts, currently these are completely ornamental and provide no restraint at all, my niece loves the truck and I won't take her out until I have some new belts fitted. Then she can ride out with her uncle and we can harass Prius drives together in safety!
I am also going to fit a modern stereo in the cab and hide it either under the seat or in the glove box as the original built in jobby is a bit crap, then I can look forward to a summer of cruising about, windows down, with Journey, Kenny Loggins or Styx playing as loudly as I can get it whilst I continue to harass those smug Prius drivers some more.
I did get a couple of cosmetic jobs sorted out though, the wing mirrors were rusty around the mounts so I took them off and gave them a good clean up respray, the results I got were actually pretty good.
Once I repainted them, the actual mirrors themselves looks a bit dull so I broke out the Autosol and a beer and spent half an hour bringing them up like new, I reckon they look the dogs danglies now.
All refitted:
I then decided to have a poke about under the bonnet. The 5.7 Chevy small block in this application is the least powerful version. It's all iron and knocks out a paltry 210bhp, at the moment and on 'those' tyres it is enough but as the truck is pre '93 I am going to get rid of the air injection system, catalyst and stick freer flowing exhausts and breathing on the engine, this should loosen up a few of those lazy horses and improve fuel economy. I also need to fit a new water pump, viscous coupling and hoses as these seem to have had their day, I am also working to clean up under the bonnet. My first job was the rusty looking air filter cover:
So took it off and did the same thing I did to the wing mirrors:
You can see that this little job completely improved the view under the bonnet. I am going to give the old girl a full service when I get my new engine bits, I also plan to paint the rocker covers a nice crackle red, the fan yellow, clean the inlet manifold up and fit some nice yellow plug leads, along with the new hoses it'll look awesome!
Mechanically the old girl is pretty solid, it runs and sounds fine, though I need to change the rear output seal on the gearbox and it needs a new pressure sensor on the brake master cylinder.
I intend to update this thread as I go along as I reckon it will be a fun rolling project and will keep me nice and busy over Chrimbo.
Apologies for going on for a bit too long, I think I may be getting carried away with the old beast...
Powerrr said:
davegriff said:
Dammit! I really wanted this when it was for sale but just missed it. Amazing stance, excellent choice, and the bits you've done so far look great.
Please please let me know if you sell it......!
^ What he said! ^ Please please let me know if you sell it......!
Japveesix said:
Nice work with the mirrors and air filter.
Lovely truck too, I have no use whatsoever for one but I still want it
Just the kind of interesting and unusual vehicle I browse this area of PH hoping to see.
Cheers for the kind words, I love it because it's different.Lovely truck too, I have no use whatsoever for one but I still want it
Just the kind of interesting and unusual vehicle I browse this area of PH hoping to see.
When I'm home it's my daily driver and is actually marvellously practical.
bob1179 said:
Japveesix said:
Nice work with the mirrors and air filter.
Lovely truck too, I have no use whatsoever for one but I still want it
Just the kind of interesting and unusual vehicle I browse this area of PH hoping to see.
Cheers for the kind words, I love it because it's different.Lovely truck too, I have no use whatsoever for one but I still want it
Just the kind of interesting and unusual vehicle I browse this area of PH hoping to see.
When I'm home it's my daily driver and is actually marvellously practical.
smack said:
Powerrr said:
davegriff said:
Dammit! I really wanted this when it was for sale but just missed it. Amazing stance, excellent choice, and the bits you've done so far look great.
Please please let me know if you sell it......!
^ What he said! ^ Please please let me know if you sell it......!
I look fairly sober in that picture too, must have caught me on a good day.
VB said:
bob1179 said:
Japveesix said:
Nice work with the mirrors and air filter.
Lovely truck too, I have no use whatsoever for one but I still want it
Just the kind of interesting and unusual vehicle I browse this area of PH hoping to see.
Cheers for the kind words, I love it because it's different.Lovely truck too, I have no use whatsoever for one but I still want it
Just the kind of interesting and unusual vehicle I browse this area of PH hoping to see.
When I'm home it's my daily driver and is actually marvellously practical.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff