My Crimson Cruiser - 1996 GMC 1500 Project

This thread will have everything for my project truck I recently bought. I’m 19, and really only a driveway mechanic, but as I learn and improve it’ll become one tough street truck.

Pics of it for a good before shot:


The guy I bought it from locally picked it up looking like this. He cleaned it up real nice before I bought it, as well as replaced some front suspension (you can see how broken and low it is in the image). He also put a good set of wheels and tires as you will see.


This is how it was when I brought it home. Ignore the mess up front lol we were cleaning the garage out. She had some dents but she was real perty. Great frame that was just asking to become a full restoration. it’s the First time I had a box truck like this and I really love it.

I’ll continue to add some more pictures of it and progress updates with a couple how-to’s

Some beautiful scenery to accommodate it

Nice looking start to a project.
What are your plans???

Is this a 5.7 or a 5.0?

Drunkcanuk said:

Nice looking start to a project.
What are your plans???

Click to expand...

As my other post went over I’m first overhauling my suspension setup and restoring it. After that, I plan to do some little cheap cosmetic things, chrome delete, rebadge, redoing the interior, etc. big plans include dropping the truck a couple inches and eventually adding some power maker goodies. As well as some loud sound makers out of the back (or side exit??).

fancyTBI said:

Is this a 5.7 or a 5.0?

Click to expand...

5.7 vortec and I think these got the 4l60e. I Definitely want to swap to a limited slip diff.

I started working on it the day I got it. New oil, new filter, and A complete coolant flush and refill.


Gonna be ordering this soon for a more complete tune up.

Speak of the devil! Right as I make the thread, my steering shaft came in. This is a Cunningham u-joint setup that i will be running. I’ll include a full install with steps and any problems I run into.

Anyone know how I upload videos to this thread? I’d like to show yall the current state of my steering , and why I’m overhauling it.

I’ll be posting some interior pics soon, I did some radio work to show too.

The easiest way to upload a video is to post it to YT, copy the link, and paste it here.

Good looking truck!

fancyTBI said:

The easiest way to upload a video is to post it to YT, copy the link, and paste it here.

Good looking truck!

Click to expand...

okay I will be posting everything tonight

Sorry for the delay guys, had some family stuff to attend to.


This is the video. You’ll see me show off the 3 or so inches of play that I’m
sporting.

Like i said, truck drives straight , I have no torn joint boots or anything. It’s just all cracked and dried up.

This is the reason I’m including a Cunningham shaft and a red-top steering box in my front end rebuilt.