[N0OS3]

So, i bought this piece of sh*t for $700. 218k miles. 5-Speed. I basically needed something to haul stuff with back and forth instead of using my bmw. I might modify it later on down the road if i can get the finances for it (i like modifying my bmw more than i would this thing). A few things i have in mind are satisfying the dents in the body (most likely buying a new bed for it) and just vinyl the whole truck matte black (i do vinyl work for a hobby - making a little money on the side)
So, all the things wrong with it [now]: The meter cluster doesn't work properly. No high beams. The bed is either bent off the chassis or some bolts are loose on it causing it to be crooked and one wheel poke out further than the other. No radio. Low compression (perhaps due to leaking head gasket?) with some white smoke. Steering wheel off of rotation. No horn. And it just generally looks like a piece of crap. lol
Looks like the alternator is fairly new so that's a plus...

Well, on with the pictures:

When i got the truck, i took care of the small stuff wrong with it, like a brake light out, no blinkers, and put in iridium spark plugs (one of the previous owners had the wrong type of spark plugs in it from the start), cleaned the air filter housing and put in a fresh filter... i got a few things on my list soon like flush the coolant, oil change, etc... the typical stuff... anything else i should probably look at?

I'm not a mechanic but i can get by with most things when it comes to maintenance and minor modifications. I'm mainly making my debut here to see if there's any other folks near Oak Harbor, WA that would like to help me out with replacing parts or modifying it along the way and teach me a few things about the truck and mechanics in general.

my bmw:

 

[richarddhoward]

If you weren't so damn far! love the bimmer, I'd love it if I had it lol. This truck is beat!

What do you do for vinyl? I am looking at doing a couple things in Vinyl myself, like the hood on the GMC, and the hood on my Ranger, then I'd like a design for the side of the Ranger, but that's a ways down the road, I think it'd be awesome to do myself but I have no idea where to start there.

 

[N0OS3]

Yeah, the truck is beat pretty hard lol that's why i was looking for advice online... i stay on E90post.com/forums constantly to get tips and fixes for the bmw so i figured it would be the same concept here on S10forums.

Applying vinyl isn't hard at all actually... it's like putting on a huge sticker.
What kind of vinyl were you thinking? Carbon fiber [black/white], matte black, white, etc? You can pretty much choose anything under the sun.
You can find tutorials and vinyl basics on youtube to get you started... there's also vinyl forums that suggest other tools you may need or come across during the process(es).
as for material, i suggest 3M 1080 series.

 

[moon509]

are you in the Navy, I live about 40 minutes from Oak Harbor up near bellingham. I dont have any body work experience, just introducing.

 

[N0OS3]

Yes, i'm in the navy.
Do you have any engine experience or 12v electrical experience?

 

[N0OS3]

btw, i do some detail work too... i'm working on perfecting my rock chip repair skills right now but i can take out swirls like a champ! ^__^

nvm about the engine experience lol i started reading through your awesome engine build - looks like you're pretty savvy at what you do.

 

[richarddhoward]

I'm a certified diesel tech, I love electrical work, it's a challenge, that makes it fun.


As for vinyl, looking at making the center's flat black, so I can cut down glare

 

[N0OS3]

the center's? Like, the center console? Or the center vents on your hood?

I'll have to restock on my vinyl supply for matte black... (most people dig carbon fiber and brushed aluminum these days). Just sucks you're like 3+ hours away (6-7hr round trip for me if i ride down there)... i would actually recommend a friend of mine to you instead... he is in Bellevue, WA (a LOT closer) and has been doing vinyl work longer than me: "Wu Wraps" on facebook if you have it... if not, let me know and i will get some additional contact info out to you.

 

[richarddhoward]

the center's? Like, the center console? Or the center vents on your hood?

I'll have to restock on my vinyl supply for matte black... (most people dig carbon fiber and brushed aluminum these days). Just sucks you're like 3+ hours away (6-7hr round trip for me if i ride down there)... i would actually recommend a friend of mine to you instead... he is in Bellevue, WA (a LOT closer) and has been doing vinyl work longer than me: "Wu Wraps" on facebook if you have it... if not, let me know and i will get some additional contact info out to you.

The center of the hoods yeah, and I do have FB, I'll look him up, but I'm always down for traveling if I have time, Oak Harbor is nothing to me, furthest I made it in one day, Centralia, to Bozeman, Montana. heading for Tennessee, 3 days solo by myself, I stopped for fuel, food, relief and that was about it lol And obviously sleep