A New Ride, A New Project, A New Adventure…

Today I’m writing about my “new” truck, just purchased a few weeks ago, finally “officially legal” per California SMOG requirements (a bit of an ordeal!) with a transferred title and insurance coverage!

Fair warning, I’m gonna nerd-out a bit here… If you’re not a “car guy/gal” or a gearhead, you might wanna pass on this one…lest you be bored to tears.

OK, where to start…  For the last few years I’ve been driving a pretty nice SUV, but it’s a little long in the tooth (model year 2000), expensive to maintain (if you’ve ever owned a European car, you know of what I speak!) and parts are becoming obsolete, making it even more expensive and difficult to maintain. But it fit the bill at the time, it was a steal actually, it drives great and still actually looks pretty darn good for being 24 years old with 142k on the odometer.  However, it needs brakes, it needs tires, there is a weird electrical gremlin causing an intermittent tail light malfunction… and frankly it doesn’t fill my needs in my new job, not to mention I was looking for rooftop baskets to hold camping gear and such because it is lacking storage space. The bottom line is I don’t want to sink any more money into this old rig, knowing I wanted to replace it with something more suited to my current needs.  The hunt began in earnest a few months ago.

I got a little methodical (and obsessive) after determining the criteria:

1. Pickup truck, minimum 6′ bed, 4×4

2. Capable of towing

3. Something common enough to have parts readily available and strong after-market support.

4. Cheap enough that I could pay cash, but could be driven away.

5. Something “simple” that I can work on myself.

After much searching on Craigslist,  researching forums and YouTube, I decided to find myself a GM GMT400 model – Chevy and GMC trucks produced from 1988 – 1998.  Currently known as an “OSB” (Old Body Style) amongst the rabble.

Now, I have some experience with these trucks… My father owned a couple over the years, a company I once worked at as their fleet manager (amongst other titles!) had a several of them and I had a ’97 GMC Yukon for a while that was built on the same platform, just in an SUV format, rather than a pickup.   So I knew these trucks pretty well and had a good idea of what I was getting myself into.  I’d driven half a dozen of them, at least, and wrenched on as many, if not more.  This was it, a decision was made.  Now to find one!!

There are still a bunch of these trucks on the road, but surprisingly few for sale (make of that what you will).  Of the ones for sale, they were either clapped out, beat up old work trucks OR exorbitantly expensive (I found a few asking between $17k – $25k!)

Then it happened, a UNICORN appeared!  I found a 1999 Chevrolet K1500, Z71 package, extended cab with a short bed, in BLACK no less! 

Now you might be saying, “you said from 1988-1998”, and you are correct.  What I didn’t know going into this search, was that ’99 had “carryover” models.  So it is essentially a 1998, but initially registered as a 1999. 

I may have overpaid at $4k, but considering what was in the marketplace,  I honestly don’t think I could have found a better base to build my “forever truck” from.  My research tells me these “OSB” models are skyrocketing in value these days, so the same truck might have cost me another grand or two had I waited another year to pull the trigger.  And it is loaded – all the creature comforts you could want in a truck, but it’s still an actual truck.

As an aside, my all-time favorite truck is the GM 1967-1972 model, and ten years ago you could pick them up for a few grand… Now I’ve seen guys asking $6k for one with NO motor, NO transmission and rusted out rocker panels and cab corners…  A nicely restored one runs $25k-$40k.  A fully customized rig could run you close to 6 figures…  So not only can I not afford one of those, they are way more of a commitment than I can make for a full on restoration at this time of my life.

So the OSB it is!  Honestly, after the ’67-’72s, the “OSB” models have been my second most favored truck since they were released.  I do like the Ford F-series trucks from the early 2000’s too, but I think in the long run, I’ll be happier in the GM, it just suits me.  I did have a 2001 F150 once upon a time, and I liked it, but even 6-7 years ago it was getting hard to find parts for it because there were so many changes made to the Fords every couple years.

My new truck has SUPER high mileage on it (301k!), BUT it had the transmission rebuilt about 100k back, the positraction rear-end was recently rebuilt, it’s got a new AC compressor, a new AGM battery and a newish high output alternator.  It’s got an aftermarket stereo with Bluetooth, a lumber rack and a tow hitch with electric brake controller.  There is even a hardwired DC/AC inverter installed in the cab,  so I can charge my laptop or tool batteries  from the comfort of the driver’s  seat!   And most importantly, it starts right up with no nonsense and runs like a top.

Now, it’s far from perfect…  The steering is REALLY sloppy.  Maybe it just needs a new steering shaft, maybe a new steering gear box…  It has nearly new AT tires on the front, but the rears need replacement.   The new tires are an odd size and not what I would have picked, but I’m going to throw on a pair of matching tires in the back and when they wear out in a year or two, replace the full set with the proper size.  The brakes are a little “soft”…  not horrible or dangerous,  but they could be better.  The body has a few dings and scratches, nothing major, but it’s clearly lived it’s life as a truck!

Other then that, it’s more or less good to go.  Not that I’m gonna stop there.  No-sir-ee!!  I’ve got BIG plans for this rig!

I priced out a 2024 Silverado,  similarly equipped and it was about $55k.  I decided my budget for this build would be 50% of that cost.  Minus the initial purchase price, that leaves me with a build budget of $23.5k.  FWIW, the sales tax ALONE would have been more on the new truck than what I purchased th ’99 for.  And my annual registration will be a tiny fraction of what a new one would be.  I know several guys with new, expensive trucks that have to shell out over $1k annually for registration here in CA, mine should be between $200-$300 per year.

The puzzle is how to make this an “all-in-one”, does everything I need rig?  I need this truck to be ready for:

Daily driving, construction materials hauling, off the beaten path surf destinations, camping trips and hauling musical gear around.  Oh, and it must function as a mobile office.  Off grid and self-contained.   AND, I want it to look good while doing it! No small feat.

I’m a fair-to-middlin’ mechanic and pretty well equipped with tools and whatnot, but I live in an apartment with no garage (and a picky landlord!) so this is going to be a SLOW process.  My B.I.L, Captain Karel, has been cool in the past letting me take over his driveway on weekends for mechanic work and I may be able to sneak in to my Pop’s shop on weekends for some of the necessary cleanup/cosmetic work, but there isn’t a whole lot I can do at home, unfortunately.

Now that the smog check thing is done (it was an ordeal, but thankfully now complete for only $120) and it is registered and insured I’ve started shaking it down to see what’s what and what the priority of needs is.  Then the FUN starts! 

After some initial preventative maintenance and a good scrubbing inside and out, the first big project I want to tackle is removing the rear seat and building in a custom storage box that matches the interior (part of the mobile office setup), and then some cosmetic stuff.  The truck is lousy with chrome plating and I’m not a fan… A new black grill is in order, removing the wheel arch trim, etc.  The chrome bumpers will go when I’m  a little more flush with cash.

But yeah, I’m really excited about this new adventure.   I hope to build the truck of my dreams and drive it ’til I can’t drive anymore!  Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by!