Best Spent $$ for Square Restoration

[mxer147]

So, I’m planning to start my square restore soon and I’m considering the interior first, then exterior. With so many vendor choices available, it would be valuable to know what and where I can get the most bang for my hard earned bucks $$. Would you please kindly identify vendor, part number and approximate price; and why you may or may not have liked that purchase?

For the interior, Im considering purchasing a new seat cover, carpet or rubber floor mat, tangerine orange paint, headliner and trim, dash top, sun visors, air conditioning parts, etc…

For the exterior, Im considering purchasing paint, sheet metal patch panels, visor, wheel well chrome trim, emblems, rubber parts, etc…

My goal is to turn the canary yellow truck into something similar to the two tone blue/white truck; however, since my truck originally tangerine orange, I’m going with either orange/black or orange/white two tone.

 

[FireTruck1984]

Shop around for sure, most Vendors get their parts from the same Supplier/suppliers.
I’ve had good luck with CJ Pony Parts, Truck Shop, JEGS, Classic Parts.
Order Early ! turn around time sucks now.. Sometimes many months

 

[midwest]

I've learned during my research that a lot of the aftermarket parts are either exactly the same, or almost the same no matter where you buy them from. There are only a couple places actually manufacturing these items and lots of places selling them. For example, a big majority of the places selling carpet is selling ACC brand carpet. So find the one with the lowest price and get it. Same thing with the aftermarket vinyl wrapped dashes. They all seem to be about the same quality. I got all my interior trim and headliner from LMC. I got my dash from Truck and Car parts in CA, and I got my carpet from Rock Auto. Again I went with the lowest price on each item.

 

[mxer147]

Good to know, thank you.

I went to the local junkyard this afternoon to look around, saw prolly half dozen squares, everyone was hammered, pretty much nothing left to pick over. I need an AC cover box which I saw two good ones but my back to sore to climb into the engine cavity to remove. Maybe another day.

 

[MrHorsepowerLSx]

I love the tangier orange and black theme. I had a 78 K5 that was hugger orange with white top loved it.

I like the both color combos equally. I think of them as a creamsicle or pumpkin

 

[mxer147]

Yea, I wish a bunch of pics were available so I can fully grasp what it could look like. I found a few on the internet but I don’t think it was a popular color combination.

 

[CalSgt]

Best money spent is actually things you already have, I've found that many things that people automatically replace are easily restored. A few of the parts I've bought were far inferior to my 40 year old clapped out and abused factory originals.

 

[Finkaire]

A fresh paint job will motivate you more, it gives a visual of the finished project

 

[Grit dog]

Personally I 100% go orange and white. White secondary IS the classic GM look with most any primary colors. Hell, I almost did the dark blue in white on our truck!
Personally I like the center vs lower secondary stripe a bit better. But either way I’d consider doing the roof white as well.

For top quality paint at a budget price, I’d look at Tamco paints.
I probably sound like a paid spokesperson but to put it simply, I bought EVERYTHING I needed with plenty of extra to paint the blue truck, 2 stage, plus a gallon of chassis black and almost a gallon more primer than I needed, for about the same $ as I spent on PPG, 30 years ago to paint the first car I painted!
And I bought far more materials for the truck.
This was just before the Rona, so prices are higher now but still a bargain comparatively.

 

[mxer147]

What do you think about black on the bottom, orange in the middle with a white top above the cab molding? Between orange and black, the classic chrome molding strip?

 

[Randy and Easton]

We agree totally with @CalSgt. DO NOT throw anything away… anything! Easton when he got rid of the old stuff it went into the trash. How little we knew about what we were about to do. When it came time to start buying things, having the old parts would have assisted in buying the correct part the first time and not having to pay to ship something back (several times) and many of the parts could have been refurbished and re used. We were stupid, but great lessons learned for a 16 year old when you’re on a budget.

Save everything you can.. pays huge dividends

Randy and Easton

 

[Grit dog]

What do you think about black on the bottom, orange in the middle with a white top above the cab molding? Between orange and black, the classic chrome molding strip?

I think it would look like a rotting pumpkin, honestly.
But it’s your truck. If you’re keeping it forever it matters not at all.
If you sell it, the nicest paint job you could put on it would be overshadowed by the fact that it looks like “yours” and nothing like a normal squarebody paint scheme.
JMO

 

[mxer147]

Or, it could be similar to pumpkin pie with some whipping cream on top.

 

[Ricko1966]

Best money spent is actually things you already have, I've found that many things that people automatically replace are easily restored. A few of the parts I've bought were far inferior to my 40 year old clapped out and abused factory originals.

Very very good advice I've told people for years I'll take a dent out of a factory fender before I buy repop,etc.etc. the usual response is but a new one is so cheap.Yep but they usually aren't the same quality.

 

[R Carnella]

I would consider doing exterior first, because keeping all that new stuff clean and nice while doing patch panels,bodywork and paint will be a challenge i promise. Sanding dust and over spray will find every nook and crany. Used Eastwood for my epoxy and primer,also agree with grit dog about tamco paints,great products and service. Great results.

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