Making some changes to my truck's appearance
 

After driving through a hail storm earlier this year, and hitting a deer about a month ago, I have been put into a position where I can make some alterations to my truck's appearance. I have a nice chunk of change to do so. I am currently sitting in the parking lot of the body shop that will be doing the work, where I plan to start putting together my list of changes with them tomorrow.

So, for tonight, and tonight only, I'm going to take suggestions on what changes I should make. I have just over $16,000 to spend (some of which will be going to fix the damage, but at the same time allowing me to make changes), and I have to spend it all, as the insurance checks are made out to both myself and the body shop. The shop doing the work is TA Truck Painting, near Milwaukee. They do a lot of show trucks here, and are responsible for installing the wing on my sleeper.

Pictures, both before and after, will be forthcoming.

Items that absolutely need to be replaced are the mirrors, the driver's side fender, the bumper, the driver's side headlight, the grill and surround, 3/4 of the hood, the visor, and the wing on the sleeper. I am more than likely going to be going with some aftermarket pieces, both to change the appearance and to save money over factory replacement pieces.

So my question for you is: If you had $16,000, and had to spend it on changes to my truck, what would you change?

By direct-deposit information to Twilight Flyer, care of the Bat Cave. :P

Get one of them BIG DROP DOWN bumpers with the lights all away cross the bottom.

The answer is train horns.

12 of them

In succession.

To be honest, I'd love to be able to simply return the truck to factory specs and use the rest of the money to pay down the loan on it, but that is, unfortunately, not an option. The money HAS to be spent, and it HAS to be spent here.

I pride myself on the fact that I have added no lights to this truck in the 2 1/2 years I've owned it (nor have I ever even needed to change a bulb). While I am no fan of extra lights, I am actually considering removing the horns from the top of the cab, and adding in two more marker lights in their place (for a grand total of 7 bullet lights on the cab).

My current idea for the bumper is this (minus the stupid lights on the ends):

http://www.worthless1000.com/bumper.png

Paint it Red to look like Steve's. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Complete with illegal gaudy green lights? :shock:

The visor I've been leaning toward is this massive bowtie one:

http://www.worthless1000.com/visor.png

Painted, of course. I also like the look of the painted mirror brackets on that truck. I'd like to eliminate as much chrome as possible, and am going to be shaving the emblems off the hood.

Rev,
While I was awaiting a citation at a Florida scale house I watched a truck pull in with one of those big drop down bumpers and he actually made it tilt forward from the bottom. I guess it was to allow a little more ground clearance when crossing the scale. Once he was across the scale he tilted it back down and kept on going. I am assuming he had a switch in the cab and the bumper was on an actuator. I thought that was pretty trick. The bumper in its up position was at about a 45 degree angle.

Chris

How about the old antique round headlight brackets & lights, instead of the rectangular? That has always been a great look on Pete's.

I'll do you one better. How about a set of Headlights from a mid-40's Chevy pickup truck?

http://www.worthless1000.com/headlights.jpg

Or perhaps from a mid 40's Dodge pickup truck:

http://www.worthless1000.com/headlights2.jpg

I'd like to use as little bolt-on stuff as possible in this project. In fact, I'm having a new hood handle fabricated from scratch.

louver grill

I'd go with the Texas Bumper, and single round headlights. (all though, they are very bright :evil: ) :P
Lights look good on bumpers. I would also get a chrome drop down visor.
Air cleaner lights. (the LED lights inside the top of the air cleaner)
Get lights under the doors, and blue lights behind the sleeper.
Might as well get a set of straights. :P

You're thinking like I am. I want to paint the surround, but leave the grill raw.

http://www.worthless1000.com/grill.png

:shock:

That's a future plan, when my pipes get worn out. I'd like to get a set fabricated eventually, and paint them flat black.

Black? Wow. I've never seen that. Would be interesting to see.

Why tonite only? I have tomorrow off, might need to kill some time.

I like a lot of chrome, but I also like the painted look just as much.
Nice visor, I like that.
I like that bumper too.
Double round headlights perhaps?
If you don't like lights you could have them put those tiny LEDS up top for marker lights. Almost invisible in the daytime.
Trains horns.......I don't know if I'd use the insurance money on them, but I do like them, hidden of course.

8" stacks, black chrome.....naa, that wouldn't look right with blue and white. Too bad you can't get a different color other than black or chrome.

Louvered grill?
Rear window?
Painted fuel tanks with chrome straps or painted straps.

I love spending other peoples money 8)

Damn, this threads moving too fast. I like those headlights in the top picture. From the dodge I think.

This 351 front end has some potential to work from. I like the needle nose.

How bout a set of full rear fenders like these ..........I like the front fenders too.

Oh man. Sharp truck.

I like those, too. The needle nose, butterfly hoods.

I am a huge fan of the needle nose Petes. If I could replace the entire hood with a hood from a needle nose Pete, I would. That Pete you linked to is awesome! If I could swing the money, I'd buy that in a heartbeat! It's even painted the right color already, lol.

While I like the double round headlights, I want to go with something that sets me apart from the pack, which is why I was looking into getting larger buckets from an old pickup truck. The Double JJ single rounds do nothing for me.

I had considered going with LED's up top, but I was told by the guy at the body shop that some of their customers have been getting ticketed by DOT for them. Depending on what headlights I get, I may have a set of bullet lights installed on the top of the fenders to act as turn signals.

No rear window, as I have cabinets there.

I actually have looked at those fenders before, but they are way too expensive. Approx $1700 unfinished. But I do love the way they look.

Can't afford the full rear fenders - the last time I got a quote on them, it was about $3100 finished. I have plans though for something that will look even better, thanks to Teal95KW.

The look I'm trying to achieve is an old 40's style pickup truck, rodded out. Eventually, I plan to replace the dash with a steel dash from an old pickup truck, painted the same blue as the fenders, with minimal gauges set into the dash. But not yet.

Speaking of....
Maybe you can find you a 359 Corvette dash. 8)

Beautiful dash. That's in the future, once the truck is paid off.

Yeah, I love those. I wished that Pete still had them in their trucks.

Are u gonna keep the truck till overhaul or get a new one after this one reached its peak?

I like your thinking on the headlights. Be different.

I have a picture of a front fender that I think is what you're talking about but it's in a magazine. I can't find it anywhere on the net. I'll keep looking. It would look good with those lights from the dodge in your other post.

I wish I had the extra cash for that 351 as well, but if I pull another truck in the driveway my wife will kill me. :lol:

I've had the truck for 2 1/2 years now, and it currently has 155,000 miles on it. If I keep this rate up, it's going to be another 13+ years before I even need to think about an overhaul.

To answer your question, I plan to keep it until it doesn't become logical to do so.

I found it. Click here, then scroll down to the black and gray truck. The name of the fender is "Lasalle." It's swept back like the old cars and trucks, but not turned down towards the wheels. Only 542.00......................a piece :lol:

Cool ain't cheap 8) :D

I like those a lot. Considering a stock replacement fender would run me a bit over $600 each, a $542 fender is a deal, lol.

Something like that would work well with the other idea I had to hide the front fender supports.

Good one, I like.

I like the idea for the dash. Bet that's gonna be pricey though. Minimal gauges is a good idea but you'd still want to be able to check on things, oil pressure, air etc..... So I wonder if it would be possible to have a LED display that stays hidden in one of the other gauges till you bring it up. With remote control, of course. :D or better yet, little buttons hidden on the back side of the steering wheel if that's possible.

oops the headlights I like from your other post is the mid 40's Chevy not the Dodge I kept referring to. :oops:

They would look sharp coming out of the Lasalle fender

I didn't say I wouldn't have the gauges. They just won't be in the dash. That's all I'm gonna say for now. :wink:

Old School flame job :D

Some very faint blue ghost flames is something I've considered, especially since most of the hood is going to be replaced and have to be painted anyway.

So...your not a fan of the old 50's style Pete light mounts????? :shock:

Not particularily. But I do like the cables coming out of the light.

suicide doors

I wish i had the money to pull something like that off. $16,000 is going to disappear fast.

OK just do one door then.

:lol:

Get a "Aussie Style" bull bar like they use on their road trains.... for your next dear encounter. Flat black would be killer and the dried blood wouldn't show.........

Oh dear, I can't spell deer. It's for Roos anyway....