93 K1500 Z71 RCLB

[BonestockK1500]

Using this thread to diary 93 Z71 (5.0L 305cui) project currently in progress. This may very well end up serving as a what not to do thread but we will enjoy it nonetheless.

Background is, I want to restore a GMT400 body back to as close to factory as I choose to finance, just because I want to. This will be my 3rd GMT400 body, and my 5th Chevy/GM truck in my life that I've owned. I have previously owned:
- '93 C1500 Cheyenne W/T RCLB (2wd 4.3L V6)
- '90 C1500 Sierra SLE RCLB (2wd 5.7L V8)
- '89 K3500 square body, 4-door crew cab dually (4wd, 454cui V8)
- '01 C1500 C1500 Silverado ECSS (2wd, 5.3L V8)

And, the current project: 1993 Chevrolet K1500 Silverado Z71 RCLB (5.0L 305cui V8)

Growing up, my dad and all of his friends had GM pickups. From my earliest recollection, my uncle's 1983 powder blue GMC High Sierra RCLB 2wd, and my dad's friends had 1986 GMC Sierra powder blue 2wd RCLB, 1985 bright orange K15 RCLB, 1988 K1500 4x4 Scottsdale RCLB, 1989 K1500 4x4 Silverado RCLB, 1993 champagne (light tan) C1500 RCLB, and the list goes on. I remember going with dad to buy his 1993 GMC C1500 SL ECSB 4.3L in dark blue, and when he traded that on a 1996 GMC C1500 SLE ECSB 5.7L in dark green / tan two tone. Then he upgraded to a 2000 Chevy C1500 ECSB 5.3L in gold, and finally a 2008 K1500 crew cab 5.3L in dark blue before getting out of the full size truck market. Several of these vehicles are still in operation or have been sold to other members of the family. For example my 1990 Sierra is still in service as a daily driver with my uncle with 300,000+ miles. And my dad's 1996 C1500 is still in service with a family friend as a daily driver with 300,000+ miles, after first being sold to my grandfather in 2000, who then sold it to my cousin in 2006, who then sold it to the friend who drives it to this day.

So my connection with chevy/GM trucks has been lifelong. Hope you enjoy the project and the pictures.

Here is what the project truck looked like the day I brought it home in April 2018:

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[BonestockK1500]

First things first, running boards, topper, window vents and cattle catcher must go if we're going to get back to being close to stock..

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[BonestockK1500]

Here's where the "this thread might serve as what not to do"...probably shouldn't get too excited and start to redo the interior before the exterior. The new headliner, visors, tint, stereo and upholstery shampoo came out nice...but...it still has to go into the body shop and get pulled apart and dusty. I knew I should've waited, but with a new toy you can get ahead of yourself..I would not do this again with hindsight (and this is common knowledge in restoration that I ignored due to the excitement of small/easy progress on interior..

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[BonestockK1500]

The tailgate band was in decent shape with only a few blemishes, but once the bumper and paint are refreshed any blemish will stand out, so the factory band will be removed and replaced with an LMC repro. The bumper has rust, and so does the frame, so the cab and bed will come off for a brush down and POR-15 coating.

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[BonestockK1500]

On the ride to the body shop - spotted this clean square body in traffic and figured it was worthy of sharing for fun..

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[BonestockK1500]

The cattle catcher came off the project truck and was installed back on my buddy's 96 Sierra (formerly dad's truck, then grampa's truck, then my cousins truck, now my buddy's daily driver).

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[BonestockK1500]

Coverlay dash cap arrives, delivered to my office

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[BonestockK1500]

And the madness begins, the online ordering has commenced and parts start rolling in..she will get 4 refurb as new factory spokes with new center caps and will run 265/75/16 BFG ATs (not yet ordered at this point in project). I will take the 4 existing factory wheels and refurb myself using the paint stripper, sand, polish, clear coat method that is widely described online. One of the originals will become the spare.

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[BonestockK1500]

New side mold door badging arrives. Since the OEM badges have tabs for inserting into the OEM body molding, I've purchased the adhesive backed no tab version. The new LMC pre-cut body side molding will not have tab inserts, so we have a dilemma...where would you locate the adhesive badging? Obviously anything other than on the molding will not be factory spec - but minor deviation will be acceptable. Options are, in the indention on the door just above the side molding (some of the WT models and later models did have the badge located here) or above the two tone stripe higher on the door, more like a 2000+ model placement. The issue I have with putting it in the indention is that I fear that is a real culprit for collecting moisture and dirt. Right now I'm leaning toward higher up on bottom of door....stay tuned

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[Oldblue98]

Welcome, what part of Fl you in ? Nice touches, just removing steps, topper etc made it look 100 % better. No offense to the guys that like that stuff.