I guess I'll start a build thread since I'm finally getting my a$$ in gear with my '95 GMC, plus I'm hoping it'll keep me motivated. For those that haven't seen my intro thread, here's the truck...


This is from when I brought it home in March, and it's pretty much sat untouched since while I rebuild the parts fund and decide exactly how I want to build it.

The goal so far is to end up with a truck that I'm comfortable driving every day, have it just pretty enough to show it without having it in the "under construction" class, but not so pretty that I'll think twice about entering an auto cross with it. It'll retain all it's modern amenities, such as AC, power windows and locks, and cruise control. I'm going to add a decent audio system, but I'm limiting bass to either 2 8" subs or 1 10", just enough to have great sound inside. I'm undecided on seats right now, but I'll probably use some sort of factory sports car seat instead of full-on race seats. As I've mentioned in my other thread, the truck already has a full RideTech front suspension and an S&W coil-over rear suspension. I plan on replacing the airbags and coil-overs with the Titanium Series ShockWaves in the future, as well as revamping the air delivery/storage system with dual compressors, a 5gal tank and either braided stainless lines or stainless hardlines.

I decided to get the truck up on jackstands today so I could get a few pics underneath and measure the front suspension travel for new shocks...

Driver side

Passenger side

Anyone guess what's missing?

Rear suspension




It's hard to see, but the panhard rod is in front of the rearend, first time I've seen one there. Oh yeah, can you say "surface rust"?!

And here's the wheels I'll be running for now.
BOSS 338
20 x 8.5 front
20 x 10 rear

Tires will be Toyo Proxes S/T II
275/40/20 front
295/40/20 rear

So that's the beginning of phase 1 for the build, just fixing some little things to make it a driver while I stockpile parts and ideas. I can't promise daily updates, but I'll do my best to keep working and taking pics along the way. If anyone has ideas, please feel free to share, and also post pics of your ideas if possible.

 

Great looking project, and good luck with it. Can't wait to see the new wheels mounted.

 

Your suspension set up is just like mine. Air ride up front and ladder bars out back. Great start on your build. Good luck!

 

I was hoping to have 'em mounted by next week, but there seems to be a supply issue from Toyo. I've checked every local tire place and just about every online retailer, everyone says they can't get the 295s for at least a month. But, I did snap a teaser pic...



Thanks!! I might change it to a parallel 4-link out back, but I gotta do my research and see if the current setup is fine for a truck being built to handle first.

 

Truck arms are the way to go for handling for sure. Hotrodstohell.com offers their Centerdrive™ Truckarm kits that might be a way to go with some fabbing. Just a thought. Triangulated four links with a sway bar are also real good as long as there is adjustment at each end link. Parallel is ok but then a panhard is needed or a watts link and that just gets annoying. A guy here in my town has your body style and did a c4 IRS swap that handles great. Plus the vette irs is easily available in salvage yards and ebay for cheap and is super custom. Just some thoughts to muddy the waters...

 

Soon as I saw that style housing in the background of your pic, I knew it was Tucson lol. Another local!

 

Thanks, I hadn't even thought of the truck arm setup! C4 IRS has always been something I've wanted to try, thanks for reminding me. Yeah, now my mind is more uncertain on what I'm wanna do. Thanks a lot, Buddy! LOL!!

What side of town are you on? I'm hoping to move here soon, I want to get my *** back to Texas. I'm heading there on the 25th to take the entrance exam for Ft. Worth's police academy, so I'm hoping that goes well and gets me gone soon! Only bad thing is that means slower progress on the truck right now, I don't want to blast it apart and then try to move it while it's in pieces.

 

those wheels look good, i wanna see some pics with the tires on it!!

 

^ Trust me, I'd love to have that pic to show! But until Toyo gets this backorder issue figured out on the larger sizes, I'm gonna be waiting...

 

Looking forward to seeing more updates on this one.