First of all.....dowhatchalike!
Don't build it to please anyone else on CK5. You have a vision of what you want, now execute toward that vision.
Are you planning to do all the work yourself, including the paint? How mechancially inclined are you already....do you know how to do basic tune-up stuff, change fluids, brakes, etc? I'm not being a jerk, just trying to get an idea how much you have done in the past. It will make a difference on where you start, and probably how successful your project will be.
For starters: Make sure the truck is in good running order....that means basic tune-up, fix any leaks, change worn belts, etc. This can be boring to do, but it will help give you more intimate knowledge of this new truck and insure that it will actually take you places without breaking down.
If you plan to do the painting yourself (and why not!
) maybe start with the interior areas to practice and make sure you have the color matched correctly. Scuff and shoot the rear floor area and inner bedsides. That will let you practice without fear of making a mistake. Most of that will be covered up with carpet or trim anyway.
It looks like you need to paint the Chevy emblem on the front grille, and the Brody K5 has what appears to be a painted bumper up front....another simple project that will build confidence and help you practice paintwork if it's new to you.
Take care of items like body mounts early on too. A 40 year old set of rubber mounts are dry-rotted and useless by now, and there's no point trying to set your body gaps correctly when the mounts are crumbling underneath. You'll never get it right.
Same rule for other rubber items like spring-eye bushings. The truck will drive a lot better with fresh rubber. Don't waste money on an alignment until the rubber is replaced. And yes, I'd go with factory rubber instead of polyurethane aftermarket stuff, especially on a "stock" build. It will be quieter, softer and it will drive just like it did when sharks first ruled the beach!
This is a cool project. There aren't many people here who want to build a truck that is so close to factory stock. I think it's going to be a fun build to watch.
