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83' M1009 Rebuild to Civilian

Originally it was going to be a daily driver but as it's been going and my wife has had a better look at my resto she's decided that I shouldn't have to drive it everyday and subject it to that. She feels it's too nice to do that to it and wants to make it our new convertible. We currently have a 99' camaro convert. that we drive for our summer/fun/good mileage car (v6) that's got less than 60k on it. We will be selling that car and a canyon pickup I have to buy a new better MPG car that I can use mostly for my job.

My buddy at the paint shop has been doing a resto-mod on his cousins truck these past couple weeks getting painted and back together. It was in his shop when my blazer was there. Because the bed was off of it he didn't want to have my roof there because that would mean the roof and the truck bed that couldn't be moved around too easy. Well he called to tell me that he wants my roof down there next week to paint so hopefully it will be getting completely finished in another couple weeks.

Of course I take it out of the garage and drive it around my garage waiting for the roof to get done. Have gotten all my slips together so my appraisal can be done so I can get it insured for what it's now currently worth, not the actual cash value. Here are a few more pictures of it outside and in it's first snow! LOL I promise no more pictures until the roofs done. I apologize, I'm just happy with the way it came out after all that work as I really didn't think it would come out as nice as it did. Should have had more faith.

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Looks great!

Is you bed on that truck the same or shorter than the bed on my 1974? Looking at your pictures it looks so short like the bed and the front fenders are exactly the same length...giving it a shortbed look....:dunno:
 
Completely stock body length. Probably the angles the pics were taken at and the fact that I'm using a Black Berry to take the pics with. It does look short without the roof and I'm not sure if the color has something to do with it too. Yours is the older straighter hood and flat nose model so it might add to a longer look to. We've both done pretty much the same sort of work and I think both have come out really nice. How's your coming, are you almost done too?
 
Completely stock body length. Probably the angles the pics were taken at and the fact that I'm using a Black Berry to take the pics with. It does look short without the roof and I'm not sure if the color has something to do with it too. Yours is the older straighter hood and flat nose model so it might add to a longer look to. We've both done pretty much the same sort of work and I think both have come out really nice. How's your coming, are you almost done too?

almost...got the interior bed stuff and got to get the glass and stuff back into the tailgate, rear seat upholstery...door window seals...got some tracking problems with the door windows too...
now that I think about it...I got a ways to go...:doah:
 
almost...got the interior bed stuff and got to get the glass and stuff back into the tailgate, rear seat upholstery...door window seals...got some tracking problems with the door windows too...
now that I think about it...I got a ways to go...:doah:

I guess I'm a little further ahead than you right now. It's amazing how long these can take to go back together especially if you've had it apart for a long time. I took three trucks apart over the years starting about 8-10yrs ago and another one I just took apart this past summer. Huge amount of parts! Put the parts in boxes, took some pics as I went, and junked all the bad stuff. I thought I took enough pictures and saved everything important in all the right places but I wasted so much time looking for stuff when I started putting this truck back together. Not that stuff was gone or in a huge area. It was just so much stuff to go through and try to remember where it all was in all the boxes. Then, trying to remember the screws and bolts, and where, what went where. Drove me crazy at times. I finally started putting assemblies together so they could be easily found and installed when I would get to that point and that helped a lot.

It sucks being at the mercy of others at times. I really can't complain but waiting for the truck to be painted and now the roof really stinks. If I was a painter at least this roof would have been done a month ago.
 
Outstanding ride

Thanks Magik. I'm really happy and even a little surprised how well it came out. I do lots of stuff but have only restored two vehicles in my life including this one. The first one I was only 15 and I restored all the wood on an original Martin and Perry curtain side Huckster body Model T Ford my dad bought to advertise our family business. Even on that I didn't do any body or paint work. Did all the wood, part installs, wiring, and re-canvasing of the roof.
 
If you want it more as a family fun ride, why not buy a Softtopper for it? That's what I did and I don't regret it. I have the hard top but it's too much of a hassle and I haven't had it on sense I put the soft top on (4 years). Just a suggestion. That is a beautiful truck you have there:waytogo: Enjoy and don't be concerned about too many pictures.
 
Actually the wife had given me instructions to buy the soft top. LOL We will most likely use this vehicle to make trips to FL to see her mom during the winter months so I still want the hard top for that drive. We will also use it over the winter around our home occasionally and my wife is not big on the cold or impression of being more cold (canvas roof over the hard roof). Main reason for adding the heated seats. (which I might add are working great, really toasty in a short time) You know women, no matter what you tell, them they form their own ideas and it can be hard to convince them otherwise. I do have to say though, because of her and her interest in this truck, I have not had one issue when ordering anything for it with her. It was her who said it needed nice wheels/tires and the soft top. I am very lucky there, as we all know when it comes to spending money on things in the garage, it can be difficult for the married crew.

As far as the pictures go I made that statement because there's really not anything new in them, just a different angle, area, or light of day. Thought some might get tired of seeing nothing really new added.
 
As far as the pictures go I made that statement because there's really not anything new in them, just a different angle, area, or light of day. Thought some might get tired of seeing nothing really new added.

Nope.

Martin
 
Well guys had a small electrical issue with my truck this past couple of days. Was able to get it fixed with just a little work. You can see my posts on it in this garage forum.
Anyway, I realized I hadn't gotten any pictures of under the hood and seeing how you guys like pictures I thought I'd put a few up. While I didn't go for the spotless, brand new look, I wanted an original look but at least clean. Put the hood insulation on, new dryer receiver, and new A/C hoses. I picked up new bottles, one for the radiator overflow, and one for the windshield washer. I haven't even put washer fluid in it yet nor have I topped off the damn antifreeze to the cold mark in the over flow bottle.
Like you all can see, I didn't go crazy stripping and painting everything like the brake hydra-boost or even the valve covers. The brakes worked perfect and the motor had never been touched. I figured if it wasn't broke, don't fix it.

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It's not spit polished, but that is still a real, real clean engine compartment
 
Bolted the roof on today to take it to the paint shop this coming week. It's all stripped with the windows out of it. Top seems to not want to go down as well on the drivers side front for some reason. Will need to look at the metal where the gasket is attached on that side. There are two pieces of metal spot welded together and there is more spacing there compared to the other side. Not sure if that is what is causing the issue.

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you got gaskets on the underside where the top meets the bed rails? to keep your paint from getting scratched?
 
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