Project Mothertruck

[Camino LS6]

Understood and noted.

[Camino LS6]

Maybe a pattern that mimics the Camino two-tone pattern:

[Camino LS6]

Looks like that donor truck is on CL again:

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2414231687.html

Edited June 5, 2011 by Camino LS6

[GMTruckGuy74]

Two suggestions for you to consider...

I like the white & dark (navy) blue color scheme, and though maybe boring, I like the this factory two-tone option (note NOT the colors, just the design):

If you have the white in the center, with the dark blue around it, and add in a white roof, I think that would be one sharp looking rig.

However, if you wanted to go for that custom two-toned look, here's another idea (substitute the red for a dark blue):

I like where you are going with the "matching the El Camino" styling you posted above, but I think that would work best on a regular cab pickup, not a crew cab like the Mothertruck. However, I do like the color combo of the copper and white for the Mothertruck

[Camino LS6]

I've been trying to make it work in my head, but I'm not there yet.

BTW: I had no plans to use the copper color on Mothertruck. If you look at the Camino, just picture the copper as dark blue and flip that scheme to the truck.

Couple things are getting in the way of making it work the way I want. One is the front marker light (gets in the way), and the other is the framed door glass.

I'd love to see some chops of various ideas.

[Camino LS6]

Just arranged to buy a set of original hubcaps for the Mothertruck, should be picking them up tomorrow morning.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Just arranged to buy a set of original hubcaps for the Mothertruck, should be picking them up tomorrow morning.

Hubcaps??? I thought you had a set of American Racing rims to use on the Mothertruck? What happened to that plan?

[Camino LS6]

The AR rims are still in the plan - just not in the winter.

I'm going to swap the All-Terrain T/As onto the original steelies and get some less agressive tires for the AR rims.

Got the caps, they aren't perfect but they'll do nicely for $35.

[Camino LS6]

May have found my parts truck:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2583298047.html

[BigPontiac]

May have found my parts truck:

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2583298047.html

So what would the plan be if this was the parts donor?

[Camino LS6]

I would swap the body panels and convert my interior from blue to gray as this truck has an all-new restored interior in gray. I would then sell-off the cab and chassis. Both are rust-free.

[A Horse With No Name]

Glad to see this project back in motion!

[Camino LS6]

I'm exploring another option as well.

[Camino LS6]

Lately, I've been seeing quite a few fairly clean 87-91 Suburbans going pretty cheap on CL, and that is giving me another perspective on this project.

I could buy one of those and give this truck a major upgrade...

[BigPontiac]

Lately, I've been seeing quite a few fairly clean 87-91 Suburbans going pretty cheap on CL, and that is giving me another perspective on this project.

I could buy one of those and give this truck a major upgrade...

What would that be?

[Camino LS6]

Cloth buckets and console, tilt wheel, PW, PDL, factory tinted windows in the rear doors, cruise,...

Lots of stuff this truck doesn't have is pretty standard on most 'Burbans of that era.

I would also use the fenders and doors for sure, and could use the updated nose of the '89-'91.

Everything would bolt right up.

[A Horse With No Name]

Would be really cool!

[Camino LS6]

It's an option.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Oh sure, put a '89-'91 GMC clip on the front... you just love teasing me with the Mothertruck, don't you

[GMTruckGuy74]

If the Mothertruck ends up like that above, we may have to do some talkin'

[G. David Felt]

If the Mothertruck ends up like that above, we may have to do some talkin'

Sweet Truck

[Robert Hall]

That gray truck is sharp...but something odd in that pic..unless it has air suspension, it looks like it's not going to fit through the garage door behind it.

[Camino LS6]

That's a good looking truck!

That one, and a blue metallic one I saw online last night have me re-thinking the two-tone idea a bit.

But I'm quite certain that all white will be too much.

Sorry about the "teasing" Roger, but planning out loud is all that fits the budget right now.

[SAmadei]

That gray truck is sharp...but something odd in that pic..unless it has air suspension, it looks like it's not going to fit through the garage door behind it.

Wouldn't surprise me a bit... a lot of garages built after 1975 are not well thought out. My fullsize '89 van BARELY cleared my garage door... if I unloaded it completely, it would hit... and the '95 Caprice wagon barely fits lengthwise. My GF's garage barely fits her '04 Corolla, width-wise... I was going to test fit my '99 Bonne, but the approach is so deep, no GM car I know of can negotiate it without tearing off the exhaust and grinding up the dirty bits. I would need to install hydraulics.

[GMTruckGuy74]

That's a good looking truck!

That one, and a blue metallic one I saw online last night have me re-thinking the two-tone idea a bit.

But I'm quite certain that all white will be too much.

Sorry about the "teasing" Roger, but planning out loud is all that fits the budget right now.

Don't worry about the "teasing"... all I can afford right now are free Internet pictures

I'm interested in reading about your two-tone idea(s)....

[GMTruckGuy74]

Here's some donors to consider:

http://philadelphia....2801529708.html

http://philadelphia....2826896639.html

http://cnj.craigslis...2798335186.html

Or you could keep it within the same manufacturer and use a '90 Chevy clip: http://harrisburg.cr...2801191653.html

(though I still prefer the '89-'91 GMC front end)

Edited February 1, 2012 by GMTruckGuy74

[z28luvr01]

In that pic, all white actually doesn't look bad. I'd probably put the silver molding on it (as on the charcoal GMC) to break it up a bit.

[Camino LS6]

I almost always prefer solid colors, but that is alot of white.

I've already seen most of the donor candidates, Roger.

And a few others besides.

If the one in Chester Springs is the one I think it is, it would be damn near perfect.

We shall see.

[Camino LS6]

I think this looks pretty sweet:

[Camino LS6]

Oh, and no GMC nose.

Sorry, Roger.

[GMTruckGuy74]

That metallic blue reminds me of the color I had on my 2001 GMC Sonoma SLS Highrider - Indigo Blue Metallic. I like it a lot!

Oh, and no GMC nose.

Sorry, Roger.

Hey, no problem! I like both styles anyway.

[z28luvr01]

I think this looks pretty sweet:

Yes it does...yes it does.

Metallics do wonders for this bodystyle.

[Camino LS6]

I also like the dark green used on the 89-91 Suburbans.

[67impss]

The blue is beautiful if I might say so & I think I know someone else on this board who'd think so too.

[Camino LS6]

I've been looking at lots of these trucks (and likely Suburban donors), and finding that I'm a bit torn on updating from the 1988 style grille and detailing. I like the cleaner look of the 89-91s, but I already have a new GM grilles, headlight buckets, emblems, and some stainless trim. I also like the older style just fine.

Stock, or upgraded/updated - that's the debate.

[Robert Hall]

Decisions, decisions...the best looking grille of the stacked quad light years of Chevy PUs IMO was the '83-84.

Edited February 5, 2012 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[GMTruckGuy74]

Is this the grille you have for you're '88, Camino? I know that there is the single headlight grille, but the Silverado trim usually have the upgraded (stacked) headlights. Having the body color across the vertical bar compliments the look.

As for being torn, I would go with your instincts. If you end up selling it, would it be a hassle for inspection to have the '89-'91 face? If yes, then stick with the stock '88. There's nothing wrong the Mothertruck looking like this:

Those are fine looking Chevies!!

[Camino LS6]

It's the 4-headlight Silverado grille.

And yes, those are fine-looking Chevies, really love that teal color in the last pic you posted.

Inspection would not be an issue with the newer nose.

[GMTruckGuy74]

Here's some more...

[Camino LS6]

Thanks for posting all of these, Roger.

That first pic is a pretty good representation of what I'd have if I went all stock and original.

[Camino LS6]

If I had the cash in my pocket, I'd go see this one.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/2800168955.html

[A Horse With No Name]

Interested to see where this ends up...

[Camino LS6]

Me too, Horse.

[Camino LS6]

Donor?

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/3131400072.html

[Camino LS6]

Another:

http://allentown.craigslist.org/cto/3173048404.html

[Camino LS6]

Green and cheap:

http://delaware.craigslist.org/cto/3190308962.html

[BigPontiac]

What's the Mothertruck market value once you fix it? Or is the intent to fix and drive?

[Camino LS6]

What's the Mothertruck market value once you fix it? Or is the intent to fix and drive?

Really tough to say, depends on what I do and how well I do it. It is a real 80k mile truck with a brand new engine and all the heavy drivetrain stuff all the truck guys love. I'd sell it when I'm done, but not cheap.

[Camino LS6]

I suppose that I could just do the minimum to get it back on the road and sell it that way.

[Camino LS6]

This one is too nice to be a donor.

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3213501787.html

Edited August 21, 2012 by Camino LS6