I bought my 1985 GMC 1500 Sierra Deluxe in 1998 for $7000. It had a 6.2 liter diesel engine. Diesel fuel was $0.99 cents per gallon at that time. I drove the truck as a diesel for 10 years and watched fuel prices go up and up. I started looking to trade in for another truck similar to mine, a ½ ton longbed single cab, but was unsuccessful. It was way too much money. My wife said, “Why don’t you just fix up your truck because you always need a project of some kind?”

In 2008 I started disassembling down to the frame. I first took the windows out, and then took off the hood, doors, fenders, bed and radiator support down to the frame. I took the 6.2 diesel out with the 700R4 HD transmission. I put the motor on craigslist and sold it in 10 days for $700. I threw in the Hydroboost brake system and put a vacuum boost brake and master cylinder on the truck.

While I had the motor and transmission out, I power washed the firewall and frame and then painted it with POR-15 black rust fighter. I changed everything over to gas! I put in a fresh small block motor to accommodate the 700R4 HD transmission with a Boss Hog 2000 speed stall converter, which I purchased at Advanced Automotive Speed Shop in Cape Coral, FL.

I took out the dual diesel tanks and replaced them with a single 16-gallon tank on the right side, which I purchased at LMC Truck. After I put the engine and transmission in I ordered the hood, doors, fenders and inner fenders, drop spindles, window regulators, windows for the doors, rubbers for doors and cab and weather strippings with rubbers for the windshield and back window.

For the outer parts and interior parts, LMC Truck is where you start to finish! Thanks to LMC for making it happen as well as money, if you have it. If you’re on a budget, its all good!