The History of 1badgmc

[1badgmc]

I've never really put it all together here, so I figured I'd give a little history of my truck from the time I bought it until now.

I graduated HS in '95 and went off to college...with no ride. My HS car, '72 Plymouth Duster 340, wasn't really up for the trip. I suffered for nearly 9 months without a vehicle. I wanted a truck. I wasn't super-picky on my requirements. It had to be a '90+ (composite lights), V8, a/c with power windows and locks. Longbed, shortbed, whatever...I just wanted a truck.

I was at home for the weekend and was out on a Friday night hanging out with friends. When I got home that night, my dad told me we were going to the dealership my uncle worked at the next day to look at a truck. Ok. Fine by me. We pulled up and there it was. I drove it. Loved it. Took it home that day. That was May 4th, 1996.

I did my first mod that day. Headlight covers! These pics were taken that day.

[1badgmc]

A friend of mine asked if I was going to lower it and put a rollpan on it and all that stuff. I went off on him. I'd never do that crap! That's stupid! If I only knew...

By the winter of '97, I had done a few other small things. I had a color matched bug shield, ventshades and slotted taillight covers along with a soft tonneau and my first limo tint job. I also had some 15x10 Ultra wheels and 295/50 tires.

For some reason I don't have many pictures of this stage of the truck's life. I know I took quite a few, but I can't find them.



March of 1997. My buddy shot this from his Porsche 944 as we were on the causeway to South Padre Island for Spring Break.

[1badgmc]

In the early spring of 1998, I bought my first drop for the truck. I bought some 2" Eibach coils and 4" BellTech leafs. I also bought my first rollpan and billet grille and installed it all around the same time.

In June of 1998 the truck made its first visit to the bodyshop. I had the steps and tailgate handle shaved, installed some sport mirrors, updated to a '94-'98 GMC grille with a 30-bar insert and smoothie front bumper with billet insert and had the entire truck repainted. It was done in the factory medium blue metallic with red, green and blue pearls mixed in the clear.

In August of 1998, I bought my first BIG wheels. 17" Weld Tomahawks. 17x8 fronts and 17x9.5 rears with 245/45 and 305/45 tires. Shortly after that I added a set of 3" DJM control arms up front and a pair of shackles out back for a 5/6 drop. With my staggered tire sizes, it didn't sit level, so I went back and added a pair of hangers for a total 5/8 drop.

This is how it looked in the fall of 1998.

[1badgmc]

Going into 1999 is when I really started doing shows. I joined Pleasures Trucks & Compacts from Oklahoma City.

These shots are from July of 1999. They were taken just outside our hotel in Austin when we went to Texas Heatwave.

[1badgmc]

One week after Heatwave, I was sitting at a red light when a guy decided to play with his radio instead of watching the road. I just happened to be in the way.

[1badgmc]

I had already been wanting a complete color change and that accident was the catalyst. I told my bodyman the color and he looked at me like I was insane. In the process, I shaved the taillights and installed the Precision Rodware LED taillights.





This was one of the last pictures taken of my truck with the stock front sheetmetal. This was at Dust Off in April 2001.

[1badgmc]

In June of 2001 this happened.

[1badgmc]

There's always a silver lining...

[1badgmc]

So, in August of 2001, it rolled out of the shop like this:

[1badgmc]

I was ready for more and the wife gave me the green light to bag it. So I did. By October 2001, it was done.

[1badgmc]

It still needed one more thing to finish it off...new wheels. Usually, when I decide I want new wheels, it takes me forever to look through all the catalogs and finally decide on the design I want. This time was different. I had actually seen the Haze in a magazine ad a while before this point and had decided then and there that I wanted a set. I felt that 20s all around were too big for my tastes, so I decided to go with 19s up front and 20s in the rear.

By the spring of 2002, I had them all mounted up to complete the look that you still see today.

[1badgmc]

There are still more things I'd like to do, but right now I need to get the a/c fixed and rebuild the steering. More than anything, I just need to get it out and drive it more.

[ABNeskimo]

Nice story, I have a feeling my truck will probably go through similar stages. This is my second silverado, the first was an 05 swb 2wd bought new with 286 miles, 5.3, 373 gears with locker but after some finacial problems she had to go, and man buying your first new truck and having to let her go hurt. But this one is paid in full and am getting great ideas from guys like you. Thanks

[Macedawg]

one of my favorites on here for sure..definitely one of the cleanest..glad you've managed to keep it this long

[ABNeskimo]

My 90 OBS I got in Feb 09 came pretty much stock and had 79xxx miles interior was in phenomenol shape, motor compartment was clean no oil leaks or even hardly dirt on the motor, the body shows its age with normal wear and tear minor scratches and typical rust (just surface)in the corners of the cab. I was told the orginal owner was an old banker that just towed his golf cart to the course and I believe it! The guy that I bought it from got it from his dad that got it from the orginal owner. The tires that were on it looked orginal cause they matched the spare and the spare has never been mounted on the truck. So far I have done 20% tint, lowering shackes, new tires and brakes, and serpentine belt. The guy before me put on window vents, I put on a half bug sheild cause cats were jumping up using the paint to claw on the hood. But it'll be work in progress as my daily driver and something to tinker with until...probably forever. But thanks again to the inspiration..

[96thebossgrnchv]

one of my fav's on here, I have quite a few pics of it saved on my computer from various threads

[Macedawg]

My 90 OBS I got in Feb 09 came pretty much stock and had 79xxx miles interior was in phenomenol shape, motor compartment was clean no oil leaks or even hardly dirt on the motor, the body shows its age with normal wear and tear minor scratches and typical rust (just surface)in the corners of the cab. I was told the orginal owner was an old banker that just towed his golf cart to the course and I believe it! The guy that I bought it from got it from his dad that got it from the orginal owner. The tires that were on it looked orginal cause they matched the spare and the spare has never been mounted on the truck. So far I have done 20% tint, lowering shackes, new tires and brakes, and serpentine belt. The guy before me put on window vents, I put on a half bug sheild cause cats were jumping up using the paint to claw on the hood. But it'll be work in progress as my daily driver and something to tinker with until...probably forever. But thanks again to the inspiration..

i hope u replaced that 19 year old spare

[CahtasZ]

nice thread and pics....also 1 bad azz gmc lol..

[Toadz]

Very cool. I like the way your truck turned out.

[BOTMAN]

There are still more things I'd like to do, but right now I need to get the a/c fixed and rebuild the steering. More than anything, I just need to get it out and drive it more.

You could give me a ride in it if you want to drive it. It would make my day..