1989 GMC K1500 z71 - Restoration

[rvc9285]

I bought my dad’s 1989 GMC K1500 Z71 (5.7L with 97,000) from his estate. The restoration process started in May 2016 and finally got this back from the paint. The following items have been replaced or modified:

• Windshield
• Wipers and Wiper Arms
• Grille
• Headlights
• Front and rear lights
• Front and Rear bumpers
• Chrome mirrors
• LOW-HIGH beam mod
• Driving & Fog lights
  
• New Aluminum radiator with engine & trans oil cooler, stainless steel radiator top bracket
  
• 2 Electric fans (2500 CFM each) with shroud
  
• Upgraded A/C compressor, condenser and dryer
  
• Trans Cooler
  
• Windshield washer liquid and overflow containers
  
• Chrome Step rails
  
• 2015 GMC OEM 17”wheels
  
• TOYO tires - 265x17x70
  
• Fuel pump
  
• Paint – Indigo blue – 3 coats of primer, 3 coats of urethane, 4 coats of clear wet sanded and buffed
  
• Hood insulation and ABS GMC hood insulation cover
  
• Air Raid air cleaner
  
• Transmission & Engine stainless lines
  
• 2015 Sierra emblems (3)
  
• 2015 GMC Black emblems (front grille & tailgate)
  
• Dual horns 120 decibels
  
• Bilstein 4600 shocks
  
• Frame has been cleaned and painted with POR15
  
• Chrome door kick protector

To be done in the near future:

• Matching camper top is currently being painted to match
  
• Line-X bed liner
  
• Gibson Dual exhaust
  
• Big 6 upgrade (battery and ground cables)
  
• Interior carpet
  
• Pro Stop Tow rotors and brakes
  
• Replace all brake lines with stainless steel (Inline is great)
  
• Tinted windows on truck and camper top
  
• Bed interior LED lights
  
• Taylor sparkplug wires
  
• E3 Sparkplugs
  
• Corvette Servo
  
• B&M Shift kit
  

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[kennythewelder]

good story, and nice job.

 

[RevolverOwsla]

Beautiful job , i was just gifted a 1989 k1500 and plan on rebuilding it in a similar fashion hope I can get it done half as well.

Mind if i ask how much this set you back?

 

[rvc9285]

Beautiful job , i was just gifted a 1989 k1500 and plan on rebuilding it in a similar fashion hope I can get it done half as well.

Mind if i ask how much this set you back?

It is approximately $8,500 so far. The major items cost items were:

• Paint - very little rust on the truck - but went ahead and welded in new cab corners. $4,100 includes chemically striping truck to bare metal, camper top, and the fender flares that need to be installed.
• New 34x17 Aluminum Radiator ( for a 1994 Suburban) with shroud and dual 16" electric fans, and transmission and engine coolers - $459 from "Radiator for Less" in GA" - eBay
• AC compressor kit from Classis Industries - $365
• 2015 17" OEM GMC wheels $500 - eBay
• TOYO 265x70x17 tires $794 = eBay
• a lot of parts from LMC Truck and Classic Industries

future cost:

• Line-X bed liner - $400
• Gibson exhaust - $600 - though I might go with a single 3" custom stainless steel exhaust $1,000

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[CRF450R]

I bought my dad’s 1989 GMC K1500 Z71 (5.7L with 97,000) from his estate. The restoration process started in May 2016 and finally got this back from the paint. The following items have been replaced or modified:

• Windshield
• Wipers and Wiper Arms
• Grille
• Headlights
• Front and rear lights
• Front and Rear bumpers
• Chrome mirrors
• LOW-HIGH beam mod
• Driving & Fog lights
  
• New Aluminum radiator with engine & trans oil cooler, stainless steel radiator top bracket
  
• 2 Electric fans (2500 CFM each) with shroud
  
• Upgraded A/C compressor, condenser and dryer
  
• Trans Cooler
  
• Windshield washer liquid and overflow containers
  
• Chrome Step rails
  
• 2015 GMC OEM 17”wheels
  
• TOYO tires - 265x17x70
  
• Fuel pump
  
• Paint – Indigo blue – 3 coats of primer, 3 coats of urethane, 4 coats of clear wet sanded and buffed
  
• Hood insulation and ABS GMC hood insulation cover
  
• Air Raid air cleaner
  
• Transmission & Engine stainless lines
  
• 2015 Sierra emblems (3)
  
• 2015 GMC Black emblems (front grille & tailgate)
  
• Dual horns 120 decibels
  
• Bilstein 4600 shocks
  
• Frame has been cleaned and painted with POR15
  
• Chrome door kick protector

To be done in the near future:

• Matching camper top is currently being painted to match
  
• Line-X bed liner
  
• Gibson Dual exhaust
  
• Big 6 upgrade (battery and ground cables)
  
• Interior carpet
  
• Pro Stop Tow rotors and brakes
  
• Replace all brake lines with stainless steel (Inline is great)
  
• Tinted windows on truck and camper top
  
• Bed interior LED lights
  
• Taylor sparkplug wires
  
• E3 Sparkplugs
  
• Corvette Servo
  
• B&M Shift kit
  

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Wow that truck is nice

 

[cplanubis]

Did you go with the early wiper arms with the pin style or the later with the hook? One of the first things I did on my 92 was swap out the wiper arms and got some off a 98 that had the hook style and put on a set of Bosch icons wiper blades. Your truck looks great keep up the good work

 

[black90sport]

that radiator and e fan set up is really making me question just going ahead and buying that instead of building a mount for my ls1 fans. Did it come with a controller or do you have it on a switch?

 

[mars2878]

looks great


more pics please

 

[Biggershaft96]

Thats a sharp looking truck man, im in love with that color too.

 

[Blue91]

Your truck makes me wish i still owned my 88 rclb, great looking truck