Guys, I need some honest opinions here. I have a car show coming up in August and to make a long story short, I need to have some body work done on the rear of the truck. I'm debating on keeping the setup like I have now or going back to a rear bumper with an exposed tailgate handle. If I went back to the rear bumper, the black plastic would be painted to match the rest of the truck. What are your thoughts on this? I like how I have the rear setup now but at the same time it just doesn't look "right".

Here is a pic of the rear.

 

I like how it is now, you definitely get points on originality and it looks good!
Tint the taillights!

 

Thanks. I was thinking about going with some '03 tails but that tinting might work too. Does the tint make the lens sortof dull looking? My brother's buddy did that to his tails and they have a hazy dull look to them now.

The reason I bring up changing the rear is because the guy I had do the body work did a horrendous job. If you look really close at the license box you'll see a blister in the paint where it's completely seperated from the metal. That's in addition to the rust that has already gotten a strong foot hold. I'm beginning to think he didn't prep it at all and just sprayed. I would've done it myself but I didn't want to buy all the painting supplies and tools for a one time deal. Maybe I should have in the first place.

 

Shouldnt look dull at all. The ones I had didnt look dull.

 

here is my .02
Smooth the gate - make the lis plate a flip down under the roll pan maybe off the one side - use a vac operated lis plate kit for street rods - they also make an electric kit
Smooth the roll pan and dump the exhaust just before and slightly under the roll pan
would clean up the rear of the truck
03 tails would be nice too.
Always like that color

 

If you were to do it over again, I would have the plate centered on the pan, and split the exhaust, one on each side of the plate. I like what you have there but it sounds like it was half-assed.

 

I really like the way it is now. Very cool. If you are worried about it, why not just take it to a good body shop and have it fixed. Im sure you are getting kind of bored with it by now, but I think it is awesome looking as is.
As far as the tails go, when I tinted mine they were real dull. I took them to the body shop and had them re-do them for like 30-40 and they looked great.

 

If you were to do it over again, I would have the plate centered on the pan, and split the exhaust, one on each side of the plate. I like what you have there but it sounds like it was half-assed.

 

You had to come back 15 minutes later and tell me my **** looks half assed again?

Anyway, I didn't center the plate on the roll pan with exhaust on the sides because that's what everybody else does.

 

Sorry, didn't mean to double post. Been having browser trouble.

I don't mean it looks half-assed, I think it looks damn good. Kinda has an exotic flare. I was mearly going off what you had said:

The reason I bring up changing the rear is because the guy I had do the body work did a horrendous job. If you look really close at the license box you'll see a blister in the paint where it's completely seperated from the metal. That's in addition to the rust that has already gotten a strong foot hold.

Anyway, just throwing out sudgestions.