Trim Help

[KMSCD]

Can the trim on these trucks be removed? It looks like quite a bit of it is welded on. My headache rack is black and looks funny to me with all this chrome trim.



I ask because while I still plan on getting a crew cab truck in the next two years, I think I may keep this truck too. I fell in love with it when I went to test drive it and there are so many things I'd like to do with it (performance and looks) and I thought it would be a great project truck for me because I'd like to get into painting and body work one day.

 

[KMSCD]

And Lift Question!

If I want to lift the truck 3", let me know if there are any more parts I will need to do the job besides what is listed below:



- 3" pitman arm

- 3" front and rear leafs

- shocks with 3" of extra travel



With 3" of lift, what are the tallest and widest tires I can put on it? What are wheel bolt sizes?



I just can't help myself and I love this truck!

 

[Davey]

I just removed the chrome on my 06', and did it with fishing line to remove the badges/trim (kind of like flossing your teeth), then got a high pressure washer to take off most of the foam from the adhesive layer on the truck. Then I would highly recommend 3M Adhesive Remover as it works twice as fast as any other product I've tried. By removing as much foam as humanly possible it will significantly speed up the process. Still takes a while though.

 

[KMSCD]

I just removed the chrome on my 06', and did it with fishing line to remove the badges/trim (kind of like flossing your teeth), then got a high pressure washer to take off most of the foam from the adhesive layer on the truck. Then I would highly recommend 3M Adhesive Remover as it works twice as fast as any other product I've tried. By removing as much foam as humanly possible it will significantly speed up the process. Still takes a while though.

That kind of trim is easy to remove and its actually even easier if you use a hairdryer to heat up the foam tape and then you can really remove all of it without having to use adhesive remover.



Unfortunately, on my '89 some of it looks welded on.

 

[Davey]

BDS sells a 3" kit with everything you need. (You don't need new leafs out back)

http://www.bds-suspension.com/php/ProductBase.php?kri=224H

 

[Davey]

Hair dryer/heat gun didn't work @ all. #@$%!

 

[KMSCD]

All I could find from BDS for an '89 is a 3" body lift for a gasser. Thanks though.

 

[AKimmel]

Can the trim on these trucks be removed? It looks like quite a bit of it is welded on. My headache rack is black and looks funny to me with all this chrome trim.



I ask because while I still plan on getting a crew cab truck in the next two years, I think I may keep this truck too. I fell in love with it when I went to test drive it and there are so many things I'd like to do with it (performance and looks) and I thought it would be a great project truck for me because I'd like to get into painting and body work one day.

Depends on what trim your talking about, but if its the body side moldings, they are held on by plastic clips, that are attached to welded studs on the body. You can romove the trim, but you'll be left with a bunch of nail looking heads everywhere the trim was.

 

[KMSCD]

Understood. I can deal with the lower body trim. My truck also has the trim above the doors (which I've seen photos of that trim painted the body color) and trim along the upper part of the truck (below the windows but above the door handles). Are there any holes or clips or studs behind the upper body trim?

 

[MotleyCrueCab]

Don't know about the upper trim, But i can tell you that if you want to lift your truck about3 inches i would definaly use gas springs. My buddy put a set a 4ich on his and it lifted it about 2. 5 in. It rides very nice, not as jarring. As far as i know, nobody makes a 3 in pitman arm, only a 2 or 4 or you could probally get away with no pitman and still be ok, they can always be added on later. AS far as shocks go all i can say is BILSTEIN. They are worth every penny and make all the difference in the world. Happy bombing... .

Mike

 

[AKimmel]

Understood. I can deal with the lower body trim. My truck also has the trim above the doors (which I've seen photos of that trim painted the body color) and trim along the upper part of the truck (below the windows but above the door handles). Are there any holes or clips or studs behind the upper body trim?

Trim above the doors? If you mean the drip rail moldings, they are just snapped over the drip rail, they are kinda hard to get off with out tearing them up if you are trying to save them. Most trucks came without them, so your just seeing the painted drip rail and not a painted molding. The upper trim on the door thats below the glass is held on the same way as the bottom, welded pins and plastic clips. If your wanting to get rid of the old moldings and clips I may be interested in them. Alex

 

[KMSCD]

As far as i know, nobody makes a 3 in pitman arm, only a 2 or 4 or you could probally get away with no pitman and still be ok, they can always be added on later. AS far as shocks go all i can say is BILSTEIN. They are worth every penny and make all the difference in the world. Happy bombing... .

Mike

Skyjacker makes a pitman arm that is for a 2'4" lift. Thanks for the input on shocks. I've heard that a lot about Bilstein so I think those are what I'll go for.

Trim above the doors? If you mean the drip rail moldings, they are just snapped over the drip rail, they are kinda hard to get off with out tearing them up if you are trying to save them. Most trucks came without them, so your just seeing the painted drip rail and not a painted molding. The upper trim on the door thats below the glass is held on the same way as the bottom, welded pins and plastic clips. If your wanting to get rid of the old moldings and clips I may be interested in them. Alex

Yea! I was having brain fart at the time I posted that - drip rails! There is chrome trim over the drip rails but I've seen one truck that had that painted to match the body. If the upper trim on the doors is held on the same way as the bottom and would leave visible studs behind, I think I'll leave it on and just have those painted too. I saw a site last night that had trim on it, I'll have to see if I can find it tonight for ya. Thanks.