Restoring an old truck is a complex journey that requires meticulous planning and execution. Key steps include developing a plan, sourcing correct parts, documentation methods, and deciding to replace or refurbish damaged or malfunctioning mechanical and electrical parts. Prioritizing engine overhaul and maintenance is essential for a successful restoration.
Seat kits can be used to replace old seating with cloth, vinyl, or leather upholstery, while panels match the seats with new door and body panels for the same look and feel. Headliners can change out sagging old roof trim pieces. To restore an old truck, straighten the frame, as this is essential for driving openly on the road.
The journey to restoring an old truck begins with establishing a clear plan, inspecting the vehicle, and gathering necessary tools and parts. A detailed plan outlining budget, goals, and tools required is crucial before moving to the demolition stage. Before starting the restoration project, assess the condition of the truck by looking at the body, engine, and interior.
Tank restoration involves updating a classic, vintage, or antique truck for various purposes, such as safe driving, competing in a show, or displaying as part of a collection. Tools needed for restoration include safety glasses, dust masks, cloths, vacuums, wrenches, screwdrivers, welders, and razor knives.
Inspecting the interior carefully to assess the extent of wear or damage is essential for a successful restoration. Trust Velocity, stay organized, source quality parts, and provide proper care for your vintage car interior.
📹 Completely Restoring My 61 F250’s Interior For $200!
Fun fact, I can find third gear now 🙂 -Thumbnail photo credit: @ Garrettbrown20 on Instagram -FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM!
Will wd40 restore faded plastic?
WD-40® Specialist Silicone Lubricant can be used to restore plastic fading, making it safe for use on metal, rubber, wood, and plastic. It can also be applied to painted metal surfaces without harming the paint. WD-40® can be used to bring color and shine back to faded plastic patio furniture, among other uses. However, it is important to avoid using petroleum-based products on polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic, as they are among the few surfaces that should not be treated with WD-40®.
How do you restore sun damaged plastic?
To restore damaged plastic surfaces, use plastic conditioner. Wash the surface with warm water and a microfiber cloth to remove dirt and debris. If the surface is dirty, use a mixture of liquid laundry detergent and warm water. Dry the surface with a clean, dry cloth. Apply a coin-sized amount of plastic conditioner to the surface and wipe it off in a circular motion until the conditioner is no longer visible. Wipe off excess and let it dry.
For white plastic that has faded to yellow, use hydrogen peroxide to restore it. Tape off or cover colored areas with clear tape or masking tape. Apply a 12 hydrogen peroxide cream over the area, using a paint brush or foam brush. Seal the plastic item in a plastic bag to prevent drying. Place the item outdoors under direct sunlight but not on hot surfaces. Rotate the bag every hour until the white color is restored. Rinse off the cream before it dries with a damp rag.
Is it worth rebuilding a truck?
Purchasing an engine is generally more affordable than rebuilding it, as a planned overhaul is generally less costly. However, rebuilding can save up to half the price of a new engine. It’s important for your technician to be honest about the expenses involved, as rebuilding can cost as much as a new engine. IBEX Diesel Repair offers up-front, transparent pricing, allowing you to decide whether to repair, get a new engine, or replace your truck.
They can rebuild almost any engine type for upkeep, repairs, or performance standards. Specifications and recommendations vary depending on the type of engine, with a focus on light- and medium-duty trucks.
How to make an old truck feel like new?
To make your old pickup truck feel like new, you can perform power-cleaning, which involves cleaning any grime that may be hiding in the wheels, engine, and underside of the truck. This can be done by installing new protective covers, fixing any visible dents, and installing retractable truck tie downs. Up to 18 of the vehicles sold in the U. S. are pickup trucks, and even the most glorious of them can lose its luster over time. To make your pickup truck feel like new again, you can give it more than just a Sunday car wash, and make sure to clean any grime that may be hiding in the wheels, engine, or underside of the truck.
What brings faded plastic back to life?
To restore hard plastic, use soapy water and sandpaper. For hard plastics that haven’t been painted, fill a bucket with soap and water and dip 150-grit sandpaper into the soapy water. Rub the surface in a circular motion, covering every faded area 5-6 times. Most fading is due to oxidization, which causes the plastic to wear down and develop a rougher texture. To reverse bromine discoloration, use hydrogen peroxide. Vehicle plastics typically fade due to sun exposure, but can be restored with a rinse and a heat gun.
Scrub hard plastic with sandpaper dipped in soapy water and spray vinyl plastic with vinegar and water. For softer plastics, mix detergent, a household cleaner, water, and bleach and spray the area. Hydrogen peroxide can also fix discoloration. If none of these methods work, paint the plastic if nothing else works. For hard plastics that haven’t been painted, fill a bucket with soap and water, dip 150-grit sandpaper into the soapy water, and rub the surface in a circular motion. Cover every section 5-6 times before rinsing the surface off.
How do I make my truck look badass?
The article provides a list of top 7 truck upgrade ideas to enhance your vehicle’s appearance. These include adding an off-road bumper, refreshing paint and coating, installing extra lighting, adding side steps, buying new rims and tires, protecting and covering your truck bed, installing a truck topper, and choosing the best quality truck upgrades. Pickup trucks have outsold passenger cars in the USA for the first time in 2020, and their versatility makes them ideal for both work and play. These trucks are not only for moving cargo but also for off-road use.
How do I make my car interior look new?
To maintain a beautiful car interior, follow these steps: pick up and remove trash, vacuum, clean and condition hard surfaces like the dash, glove compartment, doors, seatbelts, and sideboards, clean upholstery, carpets, and interior windows, and re-vacuum if necessary. Use compressed air to reach tight spaces and vacuum the interior. Remember to clean the seams of seats, armrests, door handles, floor mats, and dashboard. A clean, dry paint brush is useful for vent cleaning.
Clean and condition hard surfaces like the dash, glove compartment, doors, seatbelts, and sideboards with an all-purpose house cleaner. Use an old soft-bristled toothbrush for hard-to-reach spots. If using a conditioner like Armour All on vinyl surfaces, use a non-glossy type to avoid causing glare and clouding the windshield.
Clean upholstery with spray upholstery cleaner for cloth seats and leather seats with a leather soap and conditioner for vinyl seats. Avoid conditioning products with silicone as they can stain clothes.
How do you revive an old car interior?
Pre-cut dash kits and vinyl wraps are popular options for interior restoration, offering a stunning result for adding a personal touch, layer of protection, or a pop of color. Pre-cut dash kits are bits of molded material made from various materials, such as aluminum, carbon fiber, wood, and vinyl. They cover areas of the car interior, such as the trim of doors, transmission, vents, radio, console, e-brake, and cup holders.
Flat kits are designed to fit specific cars, such as a 2008 Subaru Forester, while molded kits fit over curved consoles with a more 3-D shape. These kits come in various colors and materials, but the main difference between them depends on the type of car they are designed to fit. Flat kits fit over consoles with a surface area that faces forward, while molded kits fit over curved consoles with a more 3-D shape.
In conclusion, both pre-cut dash kits and vinyl wraps offer a unique and cost-effective way to enhance the interior of your car. It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of each method before deciding on the best option for your specific needs and budget.
How to restore faded interior plastic?
Car interior plastic restorers can be used to restore faded plastic parts to a new appearance. ColorBond LVP is a paint that bonds with leather, vinyl, and plastic while remaining flexible, preventing cracking and peeling. It is highly opaque and can be applied with a thin film thickness, making it suitable for spot repairs on assembly lines. Ford Motor Company has even used ColorBond LVP for spot repairs on their assembly lines.
A vintage Datsun 240Z door panel was discolored with age, and the owner wanted to retain the original panel rather than replace it with a reproduction unit. A specialist recommended ColorBond LVP, which not only allowed the door panel to be retained but also cost less than a restoration door panel. This method is effective in preserving the original appearance of car interior plastic.
Is it hard to restore a truck?
The restoration of a damaged vehicle, or “frame-up restoration,” is a complex undertaking that necessitates the involvement of a team of experienced mechanics with a diverse range of skills. Such an approach can result in cost and time savings, making it a prudent decision to engage a team in the planning stages of truck restoration and build planning.
How do you spruce up an old truck?
To freshen up your truck’s interior, consider adding new seat covers, floor mats, and a steering wheel cover. These simple upgrades can make a significant difference. However, bigger upgrades can significantly change the truck’s feel. Infotainment. com offers a variety of services, including repair services, repair services, wholesalers, and sellers. Verified installers can help you find the perfect fit for your truck.
📹 Classic Truck Interior Restoration – Is The Crew Cab Finally DONE?!
4 years in the making, closest to a “restoration” that’s been on the channel in awhile – The Cat Farm Crew Cab is finally done!
Greetings from Karlstad, Sweden! When i was in preschool my teachers husband had a Crew Cab (either way a Silverado) with mudders and extensions that she borrowed to work sometimes, you can imagine how thrilled and scared 8 year old me was at the same time when she took me out for a ride! 😅 Have loved them ever since that day🥰 Sweet home Alabama… 🎶❤🤍💙
Love the articles man just wanted to say thanks, thanks for being you. My mom has always loved the website you just being you make her smile the first article I showed her long ago was getting rocky running. I also appreciate you’re working on all makes and models I hope to see you and the family at an event thanks to you I’ve opened up to being a Car guy not just a Ford guy, thank you
Dereck, If you haven’t done it already. Make a cut on the back of the carpet long enough to shove all your wires through, and top sew the carpet back up with carpet thread and a heavy duty hooked needle. You can get that stuff at a carpet supply shop. Wish I was there to do it for you. The Crew Cab is lookin’ mighty fine!
The best part about this article that i can see is the absolute excitement from Derek about this truck being completed and drivable after so long! He’s like a kid in a candy store you can see from how giddy he is with finishing this build 😄😄 we’ve all been there before! Its the last few things to finish and you keep looking for more to do on it, but then its just time to take it out and enjoy it!! Congrats on getting her done @vicegripgarage
Incredible truck and even more with the family. I’ve never forgot my love for tinkering on old vehicles as a kid with dad. Life happened, but now perusal your show I’m always inspired to work on my inherited 1986 Dodge D15O 318 Royale SE from my grandfather with only 176,000 original miles. Thanks for bringing these memories back to me, and I look forward to many more great shows. 🇺🇸👊🏻
I’ve always wanted a longbed crewcab, jus think they are so cool. I learned how to drive stick in a four speed 86 dodge crewcab longbed, granny first gear, radio and rear seat delete custom. Top speed was 52 miles an hour down wind but it was ausome. Hope to see you guys driving through Indy. love what you and your family are doing
I have to chuckle and shake my head where Derick is juggling all that wiring for this beautiful build and I’m just trying to chase down a simple reason why my stupid horn on my restored 71 Super Beetle wont Meep Meep. Humbling I tell ya. I’m sure he’ll agree when it comes to automobiles if you don’t try you’ve already failed. Thanks for all the terrific content and love the new shop!
I’m guessing the crew cab factory color was the burnt orange of the interior my late brother had a 74 Chevy custom 10 long bed 350 2bbl no power steering, brakes or ac, and th350 long tail transmission but 4.56 12 bolt rear open diff. Truck was grey primer but the interior and under the hood and inside the bed and the sides of the tailgate were burnt orange.
To put those Vintage air plastic corrugated lines, I use a hair dryer!!!! Whoosh on they go and I use the best zip ties to hold them in! Voilà! Some guys glue? No no no. 🥸👍👍I love the young fellas concession stand!!!! Take it to the shows and sell stuff? Yep nice. Man one has to love your guys!!! 😄🤣😀👍👍🥸
I have a question you had a white close enough you spayed the body with it and you had all the interior out why didn’t you jam it out instead of only kinda matching the primed parts back to the old brown jam color. It would have made more sense to just jam it out in white to match the exterior and leave the interior the brown color
The Concession stand brought back alot of Great Memories . When I was Your Sons ages and Younger. I always loved it when someone in my Family, ( Mom, Grandparents, Or Great Uncles would get something new in a BIG BOXES…LOL…I was always building different things out of those Boxes. Its Great to see your kids doing the same thing….AWESOME…You and Jessica should be very proud of those boys. You have done a Great job raising your boys. These parents in this country should take lessons from you 2…Love to see this. One of many reasons why I love your website…I love your Squarebody..Ive always wanted one with 4 doors…And make it into a 4×4. Love it..Great job Derek and article..
Derick It’s Fantastic That Your Son Is Helping You It Will Be a Life Long Treasured Memory Have many Fond Memories of my Dad & I working on late 1960s & 1970s cars Enjoy it Also I have learned some things from you. The First article I Watched was you rescuing the 1970 Cadillac I keep up with your articles they are GREAT
I love your website, watch, like and share every episode and that includes vice grip lodge…perfect. I just gotta say it though, MIND BOGGLED! honestly man that is the correct expression, the other day I heard a guy on another website say mind bottled, I thought it was just you but now I think its an American thing? maybe….I don’t know. anyway its definitely mind boggled NOT bottled and suffice it to say if you ask the interwebs they are less than polite about those who get it wrong let me tell you. Keep up the good work and I love the articles on the expansion of the shop.
Coming from a feller who wishes his dad was around when he was a kid to teach him stuff, i love to watch you interact with your boys on different articles, teaching them different things an what not. All I’ve got is what I’ve got to teach my youngins, an I hope that’s enough. Keep doing what you’re doing, it’s a blast to watch!
Haahahahahahahahahahahaha OH MY GOD………SOME BIG FELLER and FELLETTE have the BEST LITTLE FELLER’S going!!!!!!!!! As Chopper use to say to Yakey Doodle………ISN’T DAT CUTE!!!!!!!! ADULT DRINKS………….WHAT A HOOT!!!!!!!! AC in the “Concesion” stand(NO FOOLS) THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!! Reminds us all how great it is to be a kid.
I could write several…several paragraphs about this build and how impressive it is, but Derek knows better than me how much effort went into it. Congratulations VGG (and friends) on whipping this epic project in the driveway! It’s been a real hoot and we look forward to seeing you and family piled into this rig and headed down the road for fun and adventure. Enjoy every minute!
I love that interior! Phenomenal custom work; gorgeous pattern and materials. I must enquire, however, about the decision to put carpeting in a work truck — replacement rubber-vinyl mats (like the Custom and Custom Deluxe had) are nice and heavy duty; easy to keep clean. Personal preferences and all… but, it’s your rig, regardless of my opinion. Life-long fan of 1973-c.1992 C/K’s (mainly, 1973-1980) here. Those trucks were everywhere when I was young (born in 1970)! I’m keen on the ‘3+3′ — lots of local (Los Angeles & Orange counties) municipalities had them in their fleets. Keep on keepin’ on, guys! I love what you do — most of all, I love how you involve your family (wish that I had a dad like you). Hope to meet you and yours some day.
Exhaust dumps by TPS. So, you can AUTOMATICALLY dump the exhaust to full LOUD PEDAL MODE the first time you’re climbing a grade next to a highway patrol officer. You YouTube guys think of everything to get clicks! Imagine the subscribers a couple nights in lockup would bring! Ha ha, Maybe manual control would be better. P.S. I’m so proud of you for noise, vibration and heat insulating the cab. Don’t forget to vapor barrier the doors!
Matchbook fix, LOL. I remember my dad broke off toothpicks and shove them in the vents. We put lots of miles on his ’84 Blazer driving on I-30 from Dallas to Mt Pleasant TX. For him to pick me up from my Mom’s on every other weekend. I wouldn’t trade that time for the world. CCR or ZZ Top, 2 hour mix tapes playing. Just living. He always had the answers to my questions, I learned a lot just rolling down the highway.
This episode has a guy a might bit stressed… I’m perusal you do pert-near everything I’m going to be needing to do to my ‘75 Burban. Yikes, “That’s way too much…” 😑 Oh man, I was just about to offer you money for that steering wheel – mine long ago turned to goo. Now I have no doubt that Bradley and Bailey are fine young men, but I’m gonna say it again: Bentley is just a special guy. Someone raised him right. 🏆
Stumbled upon your website a month or so ago cause my boy said hey, I saw this cool article…go check this vice grip guy out, and have been hooked ever since. Enjoy perusal Little Grip vid’s as well. You guys rock!! Keep up with the awesome content!! Stopped by the merch store and picked up some stuff as well 😁 Be well all!!
Bro.. I LOVE that freekin’ WHEEL man! When you talked about Jessica grabbing some stain I was hollerin’ “POLY… POLY!!” then you said you’d put some Poly on I was relieved. You can shine it up like a pool stick man with just a few coats and some of that 0000 steel wool and a wipe with mineral spirits in between till yer done
Love that old school rig. Rare 4 door in those days. My uncle bought a late 60’s dodge 3/4 ton, 4 door truck (in the mid 70’s) that was first owned by the forest service where we lived…(it was forest green in color) He bought it at an auction for a few hundred dollars . Amazing as it sounds, it had less than 20k miles on it .. It also had a PTO that may have been added (not sure).. He drove it literally til it fell apart.. The box side dangled & the tailgate no longer stayed on when he scrapped it… I’ve often thought how cool would it be to find one today… We spent many hours in that old rig .
I laughed when you couldn’t fit the door card on and you called it “Gerber”. For years if something I’m working on isn’t going well, I’ve called the offending part “Gerber”. I really like that you’re explaining how and why you’re doing a certain process more and more. Helpful, enjoyable and very worth the viewing time.
Derek, thank you for reminding me that I need to go full bore on my truck tomorrow. Was saving all the hard work for celebrating finally getting my license, and that happened on Monday. Took me 9 years longer than my friends, but I did have a wheelchair and loads of surgery in the way. Time for some quailty time, just me, the Ranger, and my many, MANY detailing tools and supplies.
You have become a household name. My entire family including my 60 year old mom love perusal ur newest venture. Thanks for showing us all that it’s possible to have a nice going to town rig for next to nothing and also knowledge that will stay with us forever. I’m down here in the bleep bloops just bc I felt the need to let you know I’m in NC and everyone i know knows who u are and we need u at some events out here
Pro tip on that tonneau cover. Instead of unsnapping it, and rolling it up to haul big stuff, and fighting to snap it back on and breaking half of the buttons… If you disconnect the lifters from the top (flat head screwdriver, they’re quick disconnects), and stand the tonneau and frame straight up at the cab, the whole unit lifts out of the pivot track. Whole thing maybe weighs 45lbs? However, you can easily do it yourself. Whole process takes about 2min.
got one of these for 1/40th of the current going prices,2years ago on a flatbed going to the scrapyard brand new crate 6.2 diesel,alter,starter,injection pump, glowplugs, i mean everything under the hood in there brand new, clean title dont give up folks solid square are still cheap, ish. only 2 small floor holes by the front cab supports, oh yeah shes got a seized master cylinder but it’ll come around, love all the content Mr. and Mrs. Bieri!
Love the truck. Interior is awesome. Since you have four doors on that rig – when a fella gets back from the PT vacation – go ahead and show us how to adjust on the square body doors. Seems like they never fit quite right. Have fun. Hope to get my 79 square on the PT some day when it gets back towards MN.
Been binge perusal you on TV so not able to Subscribe till now when on a computer. Really enjoy perusal you not giving up when you set your mind to getting it done. Been in maintenance all my life and quiting is not an option, all it really means is someone will come behind you and do what you failed to do. Your opening article is killing me, just drives me crazy! The caption for Vice Grip Garage ends all wrong. Vice grips, website locks, crescent wrenches are designed to grip in the opposite direction your turning them in. In the article that you removed the cover for the master brake cylinder that was under the floor you gripped and turned backwards. when turned in the wrong direction they will actually cause opening of the jaws and slip off under enough force. when turned correctly they will be forced to grip with more force. unless it is for comedy flip the article vice grips for proper teaching of there use. Great show!!!!!
Got the ole gal look’n pretty spiffy there Derek, if I do say so myself. Surprising what a little time and elbow grease will do even if you didn’t throw in the new parts and just cleaned up the old ones. What you said early on about the rims is the thing that got my attention,, cuz anytime I look at a vehicle I’m interested in buying, I always see in my mind what a couple of new pairs of shoes will do for it. Along with the right tire selection and like magic it’s entirely a different vehicle than what anyone else was looking at, including myself. 😎✌️❤️
I left your website a few years back. It popped up and I thought I’d look see. Anyway I left because of all the crazyness and nationalized hate that used to be here. It looks much better, but I still can’t do it. I wonder how many of these folks were saying other things a while back. Anyway good luck with everything.
Damn son nothing like another last minute rush to get everything done but that’s the story of your life. Always good to see the little ones out there helping you after all they are the future of VGG. Of course it’s a pleasure to see the lovely Miss Jessica out there too putting the polish on the old girl she definitely has a little more patience not going nuts with the old lanolin pads cutting swirly marks in that fine patina paint. You definitely learned the finest touches bringing back the old paint jobs. Now time for me to catch up on the Power Tour article action. Got me thinking back on my 77 crew of course mine was a big block dually but it was cool looking with the 4 on 6 drop with a 90 front.
that’s quite the young men you have raised you and Jessica have done a wonderful job so next to my own dad of course and my mother while she hasn’t spoke to me in 20-something years. you guys are awesome family love you articles and to all the the Sons & Daughters out there tell your mom and dad you love them everyday my dad is 70 I’m 47 I tell him everyday that I love him cuz you never know when they’ll be gone sending all my love from Newfoundland:_coldsnack: