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Offline longball

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89 K1500 Refresh
« on: November 09, 2017, 01:16:18 PM »
Like most of my machines, my 89 Chevrolet is in serious need of some TLC. It spent the first 22 years of its life in Missouri being covered in road salt before moving down south so its a rust bucket. The truck itself is pretty bare bones. 350, 4x4, 6" lift and 35s is about the extent of the fancy stuff. SM465 manual and no power locks, windows or other do dads.

We have an 8 week old that I keep on my off days from the fire dept and I am a tight wad so whatever improvements are made to this thing will take a while.

So, with these tires the truck is 75" wide. The 16' tandem trailer my back yard is 73.5" wide. Once again, I'm about an inch and a half short. :facepalm:

Waiting on the rollback this morning:



First order of business, Brakes. Last December while bleeding the brake lines I had a blow out above the fuel tank. Other than in the parking lot of a trustworthy mechanic, sitting in the driveway is about the best place I can think of to blow a brake line. I ordered a complete new set of stainless lines from Inline Tube and they arrived about 3 days later. That is not a job I can tackle myself at the moment so I am farming it out to my neighbor, along with a steering gearbox replacement. The truck has always had a slight whine coming from the power steering pump but I've burned through 3 power steering pumps in the last 5k miles (7 years). Hopefully the steering box will fix that problem.




As soon as I get it back I have a Sunforce solar charger waiting to keep the Exxide AGM topped off.


Initial List:
Stainless Brake Lines Done
Power Steering Gearbox On standby for now
Windshield Washer Motor Done
Replace/Upgrade Shocks Bilstein 5100 Done
Upgrade Steering stabilizer
A/C (this is Alabama afterall)

I also need to figure out what to do about a rear bumper/hitch option. The previous owner buggered up the mounting holes for the one that is on it so it gets out of whack every so often and has to be adjusted. I dont plan on towing much with this truck but I want the option should the need arise.
« Last Edit: June 03, 2018, 11:13:24 AM by longball »

Offline Nate

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2017, 04:55:10 PM »
nice
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Offline Sammconn

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2017, 06:03:48 PM »
Nice looking truck. Not near the rustbucket I initially imagined.

For the bumper, if you're even half good at applying sparks to metal I'd build one.
Make it mate to the messed up holes, or weld it solid if needed.
Other than time and patience (time is against you) it's an easy job so to speak.
I just don't want to wind up missing a digit or limb.  I can sometimes get in a hurry to get results.
Sam

Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2017, 07:05:21 PM »
I tried to weld one time, about 20 years ago. It did not go well. I may give it another shot when it comes time for a bumper though. I have a 0% chance of learning if I don’t try. I know that for sure.


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Offline TexasRedNeck

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2017, 07:32:42 PM »
Me likey Cant wait


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Offline Bob Smith

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2017, 07:45:11 PM »

Me likey Cant wait


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And it is red....

Offline TexasRedNeck

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2017, 07:48:07 PM »
Exactly!, Bob


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Online Flyin6

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2017, 08:21:15 PM »
Nice project
I use that same solar battery charger
I'm into year 7 on my two Silverado batteries,so far with no problem
I'm these modern times where new trucks approach the cost of a starter home, rebuilding makes so much sense
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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2017, 09:17:04 PM »
Nice project
I use that same solar battery charger
I'm into year 7 on my two Silverado batteries,so far with no problem
I'm these modern times where new trucks approach the cost of a starter home, rebuilding makes so much sense
Reading about your batteries a couple weeks ago is what reminded me that I needed one. Do you leave yours hooked up all the time? Some reviews said it should be unplugged when starting the truck.


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Offline JR

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #9 on: November 10, 2017, 12:09:09 PM »
Bumpers and gearing?
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Offline EL TATE

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2017, 12:57:22 PM »
JR, his trans, MUNCIE SM465 6.56 3.58 1.70 1.00. even if he had 3.42's he'd be OK w/ those tires. I'm betting he's got 3.73's or 4.11 though. a look at the RPO codes would tell the tale. Longball, if you have an intact Code sticker in the glovebox, see if you can post up a pic.
That's a great looking truck. Reminds me of Blaine's.
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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #11 on: November 10, 2017, 05:14:22 PM »
Gearing is one thing this truck has plenty of. It would probably be a lot better off with a NV4500 but I don’t know if that’s in the cards anytime soon. Although I’d probably be better off trying to find one now rather than later. They’re getting more rare every day. If memory serves me right this truck has 3.73’s. It’s done so hopefully I can pick it up tomorrow and I’ll check for a code sticker. I believe it’s still in there.


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Offline stlaser

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #12 on: November 10, 2017, 06:49:46 PM »
Sm465, heavy granny 4spd

I had a couple, stout trans......
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Offline JR

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #13 on: November 10, 2017, 10:09:42 PM »
My 77 had the 465 and 4.11s. Was great with big tires but an OD would have been great. The 465 is bullet proof!!
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Offline stlaser

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #14 on: November 10, 2017, 10:56:42 PM »
I always wanted a gear vendors overdrive unit but could never bring myself to drop the coin on it.....


465/205 was a great combo
« Last Edit: November 10, 2017, 10:58:28 PM by stlaser »
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Offline JR

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #15 on: November 10, 2017, 11:51:15 PM »
I always wanted a gear vendors overdrive unit but could never bring myself to drop the coin on it.....


465/205 was a great combo

Yes it is!!
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Offline Bigdave_185

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #16 on: November 12, 2017, 12:24:03 AM »
First and foremost.   Who doesn’t have a soft spot in their heart for a regular cab short bed pickup.  Add a step side to it and I am drooling.     Red is an absolute bonus and the lift and tire size lol I it

Idea for your bumper hitch. Maybe cut some plate steel out to the right hole size and use it as a guide or washer type on the inner C portion of the frame. Should locate holes well enough, keep your hitch removable which is s big bonus vs trying to grind around leaf springs ask how I know ;) and it wouldn’t cost much $


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Offline longball

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89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #17 on: November 12, 2017, 09:03:08 AM »
I still think a reg cab short bed is the best looking truck there is. Sadly, like the girlfriends I had in college, the best looking ones are the least functional.

I’ve been thinking more about the bumper and my desire to keep cost low for the time being. For the time being I may go to the LKQ (pick yourself) salvage yard and see if I can find a factory bumper and 2” receiver hitch. That would give me the ability to tow something if needed while keeping cost low until all the other problems are sorted out. I like the bumper that’s on it now, but I don’t think it will allow the use of a 2” receiver hitch.


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« Last Edit: November 12, 2017, 11:16:31 AM by longball »

Offline stlaser

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #18 on: November 12, 2017, 10:20:19 AM »
I still think a reg cab short bed is the best looking truck there is. Sadly, like the girlfriends I had in college, the best looking ones are the least functional.
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And there you have it, the truck quote of the decade........

As far as the bumper, if it were mine I would have a fabricator or welding/hitch place fab up a 2” receiver to come out under the bottom of that bumper. With lift & tires it should be doable not being too low. It will probably be less than new bumper and factory hitch.
« Last Edit: November 12, 2017, 10:23:37 AM by stlaser »
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Online Flyin6

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #19 on: November 13, 2017, 08:56:42 AM »
Nice project
I use that same solar battery charger
I'm into year 7 on my two Silverado batteries,so far with no problem
I'm these modern times where new trucks approach the cost of a starter home, rebuilding makes so much sense
Reading about your batteries a couple weeks ago is what reminded me that I needed one. Do you leave yours hooked up all the time? Some reviews said it should be unplugged when starting the truck.


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I just plug it in and forget about it. I don't know for sure if the solar cell is doing its job. Its the kind of thing that only time will prove out.
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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #20 on: November 15, 2017, 04:59:16 PM »
Got the truck back last night. Brakes worked great on the way home. Still have the sticker Tate.


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Offline EL TATE

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #21 on: November 15, 2017, 06:24:39 PM »
you've got 3.42 gears, NON limited slip there sir. You could change out to 3.73, not sacrifice too much top end and get a little more oomph out of 4th, but there really is no need to re-gear with that trans/motor/tire combo. unless you want to use it to tow on the regular.
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Offline KensAuto

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #22 on: November 15, 2017, 06:54:12 PM »
Is it one of the G codes Tate?
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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #23 on: November 15, 2017, 06:54:18 PM »
Huh. Sure didn’t see that one coming. Thank you sir.


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Offline EL TATE

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #24 on: November 16, 2017, 10:31:59 AM »
yeah, GU6 indicates 3.42. GT4=3.73 GT5=4.10... G80 posi as you all know, which I didn't see on the sticker.
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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #25 on: November 16, 2017, 01:52:50 PM »
Non limited slip? Bracket lift? I should change the title of this thread to 89 Pavement Princess.


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Offline EL TATE

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #26 on: November 16, 2017, 02:20:44 PM »
you'd need more chrome trim around the doors, windows, handles, tire valve caps, nuestra señora de la virgin de Guadalupe Francisco hanging as an air freshener from the rear view, but you could make that dream come true! I believe in you.
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Offline stlaser

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #27 on: November 16, 2017, 05:07:16 PM »
Non limited slip? Bracket lift? I should change the title of this thread to 89 Pavement Princess.


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Beware of the mulch beds, if questions ask Don......
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Online Flyin6

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #28 on: November 16, 2017, 07:18:43 PM »
Non limited slip? Bracket lift? I should change the title of this thread to 89 Pavement Princess.


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Beware of the mulch beds, if questions ask Don......
So true!

Down at my farm, I dug around the pond into the old road. It is a straight 12 foot drop off into icy water. Around the other pond, I removed the perimeter of trees which served as a protective barrier between the farm path/road and the water. That's gone, and the slippery road surface slopes right into the water. And I just mucked out that side, so, one inch into the water is a 6 foot drop off

And know what?

Those are not the most dangerous places on my farm!

It's the cedar chipper clippings I have piled up here and there!

Number of people/dogs/cars/trucks/motorcycles/side by sides, opossum/deer/turkey/coyotes/mexicans who have fallen in the pond: Zero!

Number of small boys who flipped over a pile of mulch: 2

Mulch actually causes the most injuries on my farm!
« Last Edit: November 16, 2017, 07:20:20 PM by Flyin6 »
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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #29 on: March 29, 2018, 01:44:18 PM »
There's finally some movement on this old truck. Not much, but some. This morning I ordered a set of Bilstein 5100 shocks to replace the wore out trailmaster junk. They are long past the end of their service life.

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #30 on: March 29, 2018, 07:14:59 PM »
Non limited slip? Bracket lift? I should change the title of this thread to 89 Pavement Princess.


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Beware of the mulch beds, if questions ask Don......
...Like quicksand!
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Offline Farmer Jon

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #31 on: March 30, 2018, 07:33:09 AM »
That is not a rust bucket. LOL that is a pretty nice truck.
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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #32 on: March 30, 2018, 07:33:38 PM »
She’s a 50 footer Jon. I’ll get some pics up close pretty soon so y’all can see the damage. It’s worse than you’d think.


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Offline Bigdave_185

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #33 on: April 02, 2018, 07:49:44 AM »
She’s a 50 footer Jon. I’ll get some pics up close pretty soon so y’all can see the damage. It’s worse than you’d think.


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Aren’t we all fifty footers?


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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #34 on: April 12, 2018, 10:30:12 AM »
Got some goodies in the mail.


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Offline TexasRedNeck

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #35 on: April 12, 2018, 06:29:26 PM »
That’ll help for sure


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Offline Bigdave_185

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #36 on: April 12, 2018, 08:37:03 PM »
What do those do?


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Offline TexasRedNeck

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #37 on: April 12, 2018, 09:17:43 PM »
heavy duty door lock actuators
Kids today don't know how easy they have it. When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag carpet to change the TV channel.

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Offline Bigdave_185

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #38 on: April 12, 2018, 11:33:56 PM »
Are the the hydrologic hood lifts?


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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #39 on: April 12, 2018, 11:42:50 PM »
You are both wrong. They’re for the rear hatch.


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Offline rpar86

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #40 on: April 12, 2018, 11:50:21 PM »
Beefed up intermediate steering shaft? ;)


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Offline Bigdave_185

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #41 on: April 13, 2018, 12:17:17 AM »
Rear hatch?   They the awesome new tailgate slow open set up?  Or maybe like the new ford push button tailgate latch?


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Offline JR

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #42 on: April 13, 2018, 12:36:53 AM »
That would go along with the manstep,,,,,,,,,,,,
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Offline stlaser

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #43 on: April 13, 2018, 12:43:15 AM »
That would go along with the manstep,,,,,,,,,,,,

I thought that was what helped H every time she stumbled? Calling Ken!  :tongue:
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Offline EL TATE

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #44 on: April 13, 2018, 10:47:41 AM »
That would go along with the manstep,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bazinga!
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Offline longball

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #45 on: April 14, 2018, 11:17:36 AM »
I’ll be ordering new shock mounting hardware. I bent a wrench trying to take once of the lower rear bolts out. It was a cheap wrench but the nut didn’t show any signs of budging.


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Offline longball

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89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #46 on: May 20, 2018, 10:51:02 AM »
Finally got the Bilsteins put on while at work the other day. The only thing I don’t like about them is how much beating it takes to get them in the mounts. The ones I put on my LB7 were the same way.


Also, I’ve got some good coworkers. I walked away to get something and came back to this. That’s my captain and one of our drivers.



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« Last Edit: May 23, 2018, 11:33:04 PM by longball »

Offline Bigdave_185

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89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #47 on: May 20, 2018, 11:59:47 AM »
I sure hope you save those billet wheels.  Man those wheels were the baddest things out when I was a kid!

What’s the plan for frame and rust stopper


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Offline longball

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89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #48 on: May 20, 2018, 01:17:32 PM »
Funny you should mention wheels Dave. Yesterday I picked up these that I found on Craigslist. The tires don’t have much left but when I lower it down I’ll need smaller tires anyway. I don’t know what I’ll do with the old wheels yet. The offset puts tires way outside the fender wells which I’m not a fan of anymore. But when I bought them in 98 they were the coolest thing ever.




As of now I plan to treat the rust with Por 15 or 3X Chemistry rust converter and put a set of fender flares on it. Not sure what to do about the lower cab corners. I’ll probably farm that task out to a body shop.


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« Last Edit: May 20, 2018, 01:38:31 PM by longball »

Offline Bigdave_185

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Re: 89 K1500 Refresh
« Reply #49 on: May 20, 2018, 01:50:48 PM »
☹️ I wanted to seem them all polished and pretty.     

The black does look really good.    I need to find a set of 18’s in Black because I can’t keep anything shining anymore


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