Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Just found this thread today! Loving the effort and detail you're putting into this beast. It's coming along great! Reminds me I need to get my project back together...

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Been a while since we've had an update. How progresses the truck?

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Devin,
He put the primer on this morning. The guy doing it has a body shop and I told him not to turn down any business, just get to my truck as he could so it's been a little slow. I'll see if I can get him to send me a pic of it in primer and post it later.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Well, still no truck, but I did say I wasn't in a hurry. I did pick up new cab lights and head light adjusters for it the other day.
Thanks for reading my thread and I'll be back on It soon.
A very Merry Christmas to everyone too!

Bummer!
Merry Christmas!
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Went to see what was up with my truck this morning.
I am pretty busy in the fall and most of the winter with hunting, work, and I plant a lot of trees this time of the year so I wasn't really worried about how long the paint job was taking till I tried to get in touch with the painter and couldn't get a response. He told me today he'd had surgery and was behind on everything, but he was working on my truck when I got there. The holes in the roof are fixed as well as the ones in the side of the cab. It's been slow, but it's taking shape.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

I'm used to posting with my Kindle. My phone apparently likes to post pics sideways.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Hey, there is some progress, that's good. Hopefully he's able to recover fully and not wear himself out trying to get caught up.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Well, I went and picked her up today. I've used this guy before and he has always been great, but somethings up apparently. Anyway, a setback, but not the end of the world. I may go ahead and finish the interior then find a new painter. I've got to go back in to work Thursday so I'll think on it then.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

That sucks for all that wasted time!

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Lol, I agree 100%! It's all good though. It looks a lot better with the bed on it at least though I'm sure whoever paints it will pull it back off.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

One good thing would be that you should not get any "drop back" or "shrinkage" in the work done already. It will give a good base for the paint!

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

I'm pretty sure I'm going to finish the interior first now. I've been getting parts here and there while it's been not getting painted. Have a set of black westin signature series nerf bars, cab lights, new door actuators, door handles, and got these in today! I've got to order another set to put in my rear doors, my sound deadener and carpet this week so I can get back to work.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

I have a very similar project I'm working on. I bought a '97 K2500 last summer that I've been rehabbing over time. I bought a power sprayer to help me cut through the layer of grime that built up over time. I've taken apart the dash although not to the level you have. I had an auto paint store mix me up a can of matching gray interior paint to touch up the dash parts. The pics you've posted are very helpful and of interest to me. One of the reasons I bought this truck was the PO claimed the engine was replaced with a crate engine 35K ago. With all the heavy duty parts I figured it made it worth it. One thing I wasn't ready for is that 7.4L engine parts are much more scarce than 5.7L parts. I wasn't ready for that fact. I was interested in your engine pics and I noticed you don't have AIR tubes. Lucky you. I need to pull the ex. manifolds and replace some of the manifold studs on the engine. I also plan to powder coat the valve covers on mine.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Another thing I want to add is that I found a local vendor that sells GM MetriPack and WeatherPack electrical connector kits. I bought two kits myself to cover a lot of the connectors I need to replace that are damaged in the engine bay. I had to replace the EGR plug and EGR solenoid that was melted on my truck.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Well, at least you found the connectors you need.
Glad you've enjoyed the build so far. It's not the most flashy, but I think it's going to turn out in the end.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

How difficult was it to pull the dash shell out? Thinking about it when I see this...Hmmmnnn....

I can see a lot of the same problems in mine that you're dealing with. I haven't torn in to the interior simply because I was rehabbing areas under the hood. I'll have to gut the interior and trash the carpet. Mine is probably worse than yours was.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Not as bad as you think. I took it out with the harness too. Look up easiest 97 dash removal on you tube, it may be GMT400.
There's just a few bolts to take out and drop the steering column out of the way and the dash pivots forward so you can remove it. Had to take at least one bolt out where the wiring harness goes in the truck to.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

I have my actuators hooked up and working again, I bolted mine instead of using rivits and that was a chore with the limited arm room.
Started putting rattle trap in the roof. I've got my carpet ordered so I need to make some headway on this project lol!

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

New parts, and who doesn't enjoy new parts?
I had my carpet and tow mirrors waiting for me when I got off work today. The mirrors are heated power with turn signals. Thank you 88GMC for the idea!

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Hey, I have been out working all day, got home and grabbed my dinner to sit down and see how the interior has come along...............what colour is the carpet?, what are you doing with the seats?..........come on its summer for you, no excuse!!!!

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Lol, I agree Terrick. The carpet is grey and for my seats I'm still debating. At the very least I'd like grey leather. I may look at what other seat options I have to swap out, it has the 60/40 front now.
I have the standard compass rear view mirror and I'd like the change it out for one with comp and temp if I can find one as well while I have this apart..
It's slowly coming together. I've been working 6 on 2 off for the past month so that, grandkids, and keeping up with the farm work has me stretched pretty thin.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Not a lot of time after a 12 hr shift, but I did get the rattle trap up on the front cab roof.

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

And just in case any other crew cab owners want to add speakers in their back doors, they come already wired from the factory!

Re: 97 3500 454 4x4 project
 

Mate, this is so weird, i bought a compass/temp mirror last month along with a set of new speakers. Was wondering how hard it was going to be to rerun the wires into the back doors. Thanks heaps. Keep the posts coming, your saving me weeks of frustration.