SuperMax Shrink

(NARRATOR) REMEMBER GM'S SHORT BOX DURAMAX? NO, CAUSE THEY NEVER MADE ONE. SO WE'LL CREATE OUR OWN THROUGH METAL SURGERY. PLUS OUR DECKED OUT PROJECT WORKAHAULER GETS ITS DAY ON THE TRAIL. THAT AND MORE TODAY ON TRUCK TECH.

(LT) HEY GUYS, WELCOME TO THE SHOP. YOU KNOW THE FORD F-150 IS AMERICA'S MOST POPULAR SELLING PICK UP TRUCK, AND THEY'RE PLENTY CAPABLE RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT ROOM FOR UPGRADES. WE STARTED WITH A BONE STOCK 2010 MODEL, AND WE MADE A BUNCH OF CHANGES TO MAKE IT MORE CAPABLE ON THE WORK SITE. WE THREW ON A FOUR INCH LIFT AND BIGGER WHEELS AND TIRES FOR MORE GROUND CLEARANCE. THEN WENT DOWN TO OUR LOCAL TRACTOR SUPPLY STORE AND PICKED UP A BUNCH OF GOODIES, LIKE THIS TRAVELER 8,000 POUND WINCH AND SOME LED LIGHTING. MY FAVORITE WAS THIS MASSIVE 50 INCH CAB FIT LED LIGHT BAR WE INSTALLED ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD. (JEREMY) ALL RIGHT MAN, HIT IT! (LT) ALL THE PARTS ARE INSTALLED AND THE ONLY THING WE HAVE LEFT TO DO IS GET THIS THING OUT OF THE SHOP AND INTO THE DIRT, AND SEE HOW ALL THOSE UPGRADES WORK. (JEREMY) THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD! (LT) WHAT IS THAT? (JEREMY) YOU DIDN'T THING YOU WERE DONE DID YOU? (LT) MY GOODNESS, WHERE'D YOU GET THIS? (JEREMY) I WENT DOWN TO TRACTOR SUPPLY AND GOT US SOME MORE PARTS IN THE BACK, GOT US A NEW TOY, THIS MASSIMO 500 UTV, AND EVEN PICKED US UP A TRAILER SO WE CAN HAUL IT OVER TO THE PROPERTY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS TRUCK'S GONNA EVERYWHERE I WANT TO GO. (LT) WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THIS ALL? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, PUT IT IN THE SWAMP? (JEREMY) WE'LL GO DEEP IN THE WOODS. (LT) I GOTCHA! (JEREMY) THAT'S WHY IT'S CAMO'ED MAN. NOBODY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE US. THIS MASSIMO 500 UTILITY SIDE BY SIDE CARRIES A 471cc LIQUID COOLED OVERHEAD VALVE ENGINE. IT'S GOT ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND ON COMMAND FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TO GET YOU JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE YOU NEED TO GO. WHETHER IT'S TACKLING TOUGH JOBS OR HITTING THE TRAILS, IT'S ALSO PERFECT FOR HUNTING OR WORKING AROUND YOUR PROPERTY. (LT) WELL WE TOOK A WORK TRUCK THEME WITH OUR F-150 AND WE'RE GONNA GO THE SAME DIRECTION WITH THIS MASSIMO UTV. NOW I SEE HERE YOU PICKED UP SOME LIGHTS. WHAT ELSE DID YOU GET? (JEREMY) WELL I GOT US ALL THE WIRING HARNESSES WE NEED AND CLAMPS FOR THE LIGHTS. I ALSO GRABBED A 4,500 POUND TRAVELER WINCH TO GET US OUT OF TROUBLE CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA GET IN IT, AND A TOOL BOX FOR OUR TRAILER TO HAUL ALL OUR JUNK AROUND. (LT) WELL HEY, I KNOW YOU LOVE WIRING, LET'S GET STARTED ON THOSE LIGHTS. (JEREMY) NO, I DON'T LOVE WIRING, BUT I'LL HELP YOU. (LT) FORTUNATELY JEREMY THE TRAVELER WIRING HARNESSES ARE PRETERMINATED, MAKING INSTALLATION A BREEZE. WE'LL START UP FRONT BY REMOVING THE PLASTIC COVER TO REVEAL THE TUBE BUMPER. GET RID OF THAT. MAN THAT LOOKS TOUGHER ALREADY. THESE TRAVELER ALUMINUM MOUNTING BRACKETS MAKE FOR AN EASY INSTALLATION OF OUR LED LIGHT BARS WITH NO DRILLING REQUIRED, AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN MOST POPULAR ROLL BAR SIZES. (JEREMY) WE'LL KILL THE PLASTIC ROOF AND GO TO TOWN MOUNTING MORE LED ACCESSORIES, FROM THE 21 AND A QUARTER INCHER UP FRONT TO THE 13 AND A QUARTER FACING BACK. I'LL SECURE WITH ANTITHEFT HARDWARE INCLUDED.

(LT) THE TRAVELER 4,500 POUND WINCH FEATURES AN AUTOMATIC BRAKE, GALVANIZED STEEL CABLE, AND BLACK RUST RESISTANT POWDER COAT FINISH FOR A NICE UPGRADE. (JEREMY) AND WHILE LT RUNS WIRES FOR OUR LED'S, I'LL MOUNT THIS TRACTOR SUPPLY TRAILER TONGUE TOOL BOX. TRY SAYING THAT SIX TIMES FAST. ALL IT TAKES IS DRILLING FOUR HOLES AND SCREWING IN THE SUPPLIED HARDWARE.

(LT) THERE'S ONLY SO MANY ACCESSORIES YOU CAN BOLT ONTO YOUR PROJECT BEFORE YOU JUST GOT TO GET IT OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN WITH IT. (JEREMY) WE COINED THIS OUR "WORKAHAULER" F-150 BY SETTING OUT TO IMPROVE FORD'S ALREADY CAPABLE PLATFORM. THE BDS SUSPENSION COMPONENTS PROVIDE A STABLE HIGHWAY RIDE, AND OUR DUAL PURPOSE GENERAL GRABBER MUD TERRAINS ARE QUIET ON THE HIGHWAY.

(LT) BUT THE REAL TEST OF OUR UTV, TRUCK, AND TRAILER PACKAGE WILL BE OFF ROAD.

DON'T ROLL IT! (JEREMY) I'LL TRY NOT TO, NO PROMISES THOUGH.

(LT) ALL RIGHT, I'M EXCITED TO GET THIS THING OUT IN THE WOODS, GET IT DIRTY, AND MAYBE SEE IF WE CAN GET STUCK.

(JEREMY) BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES WERE MEANT TO BE IN THE WOODS. THIS MASSIMO UTV MAY BE SMALL BUT I'M FINDING OUT JUST HOW MUCH FUN 471cc CAN BE. IT PULLS A STEEP INCLINE WITH NO EFFORT, AND THE SUSPENSION ABSORBS ALL OF THAT ROUGH TERRAIN. SO THE RIDE IS QUITE COMFORTABLE, BUT MY FAVORITE PART WAS RIPPING THROUGH THE WOODS AT AROUND 50 MILES PER HOUR IN SOME PLACES. I MAY HAVE EVEN CAUGHT A LITTLE AIR. (LT) YOU KNOW WE'RE MOVING ACROSS THE FIELD AT A PRETTY GOOD CLIP HERE AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, THIS TRUCK IS JUST A BLAST TO DRIVE. THAT MAGNAFLOW EXHAUST JUST SOUNDS AWESOME.

AND OUR 8,000 POUND TRAVELER WINCH CAME IN HANDY TOO, CLEARING THIS LARGE LOG FROM THE TRAIL LIKE BUTTER.

(JEREMY) I COULDN'T STOP MYSELF FROM DROPPING THIS UTV INTO THE CREEK TO SEE HOW IT PULLED THROUGH THE MUD. THAT'S PRETTY DEEP. AFTER SWAPPING IT INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, NO PROBLEM.

(LT) IN THE END ONE WORK HORSE OF A PICK UP AND ITS SMALLER COMPANION, BOTH WITH TRAVELER BRAND ACCESSORIES THAT LIGHT UP THE NIGHT. (JEREMY) WHERE AM I GOING? (NARRATOR) AHEAD, CHOP, CUT, AND SHRINK!

(LT) YOU KNOW THE COOLEST THING ABOUT THE AMERICAN PICK UP TRUCK IS THE VARIETY OF CONFIGURATIONS YOU CAN GET. I MEAN FOR A CAB YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE FROM A REGULAR, EXTENDED, CREW, OR EVEN THE MEGA CAB. BEDS RANGE IN LENGTH ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO EIGHT AND A HALF FEET LONG. YOU CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO OR FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, AND YOU EVEN HAVE GAS AND DIESEL ENGINE OPTIONS. (JEREMY) BUT FOR SPORT TRUCK GUYS LIKE ME OUR HOLY GRAIL CAN BE ONE TRUCK AND ONE TRUCK ONLY, THE REGULAR CAB SHORT BED, AND WE'VE BUILT A FEW OF THEM. MOST RECENTLY OUR '71 C-10, AND OF COURSE PROJECT NIGHTRAIN. A SHORT BED AND STANDARD CAB IS THE LIGHTEST COMBINATION PICK UP, WHICH MEANS IT IS TYPICALLY FASTER AND HANDLES BETTER. PLUS I THINK THEY LOOK THE BEST. (LT) NOW USUALLY IN THE DIESEL WORLD GUYS TYPICALLY GO THE OTHER DIRECTION, AND WANT LARGER CABS WITH LONGER BEDS, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR RIG HELPS PUT BREAD ON THE TABLE, BUT BIG MEANS HEAVY AND HEAVY MEANS IT'S HARDER TO STOP AND IT WON'T HANDLE AS GOOD. WE WANT A RIG THAT BOTH THE DIESEL AND SPORT TRUCK GUYS WILL LOVE. THIS IS OUR 2003 REGULAR CAB, LONG BED DIESEL POWERED SILVERADO, BUT THIS WAS ACTUALLY THE SHORTEST CONFIGURATION OF 2,500 OR 3,500 SERIES TRUCK YOU COULD BUY FROM GM. (JEREMY) BUT EIGHT FOOT IS TOO LONG. TURNS OUT WE WANT TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT GM NEVER MADE, A REGULAR CAB, SHORT BED DIESEL TRUCK. SO IF YOU CAN'T BUY IT WHAT'S THE NEXT BEST THING? BUILD IT YOURSELF. (LT) THAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA SHORTEN THIS TRUCK DOWN TO MAKE IT ONE OF THE SPORTIEST DURAMAX POWERED SILVERADOS YOU'LL SEE ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD, AND WE'RE GONNA CALL IT "PROJECT SUPERMAX". (JEREMY) AND THE BEST PART IS WE'RE GONNA ACCOMPLISH THIS USING ALL FACTORY PARTS. SO WE'LL GET THIS BED YANKED OFF, SHOW YOU WHAT WE MEAN.

(LT) FIRST WE HAVE TO REMOVE THIS EXHAUST STACK THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER INSTALLED. THEN JEREMY CAN REMOVE THE ROLL PAN. THERE ARE JUST A FEW BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BED ONTO THE FRAME THAT HAVE TO BE REMOVED. THEN WE CAN DISCONNECT THE GAS FILLER NECK. THEN THE ENTIRE BED... YOU ALL CLEAR? ANY WIRES OR ANYTHING HANGING DOWN? (JEREMY) NOPE, CLEAR, GOOD TO GO. (LT) ...CAN BE LIFTED OFF THE FRAME. TO MAKE THE COMING WORK A LITTLE EASIER FIRST WE'LL ROLL THE TRUCK OUTSIDE, AND WITH SOME HELP FROM GUNK DEGREASER AND OUR PRESSURE WASHER, WE'LL CLEAN UP THE FRAME, REMOVING LOOSE DIRT, OLD PAINT, AND SOME OF THE RUST SCALE.

(JEREMY) NOW WE'VE GOT OUR FRAME ALL CLEANED UP AND WE'RE BACK IN THE SHOP. NOW YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FACTORY THERE'S A SEAM IN THE FRAME ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY BACK, AND THIS IS WHERE THE TWO PIECES ARE WELDED TOGETHER. NOW THIS IS WHAT WE'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TO CONVERT OUR LONG BED INTO A SHORT BED. NOW ON GM TRUCKS OF THIS ERA LONG WHEEL BASE FRAMES AND SHORT WHEEL BASE FRAMES ARE VERY SIMILAR OTHER THAN THE ADDED LENGTH RIGHT HERE. SO THIS MEANS WE CAN MODIFY THE FRAME AND MAKE IT LOOK COMPLETELY OEM. (LT) PROBABLY THE COOLEST PART ABOUT THIS WHOLE CONVERSION IS YOU CAN DO IT ALL USING FACTORY ORIGINAL PARTS. SO WE STARTED OUT BY GOING TO THE JUNKYARD AND GRABBING THIS 26 GALLON FUEL TANK. NOW THE DONOR VEHICLE HAS TO BE AN EXTENDED CAB OR FOUR DOOR SHORT BED HD SILVERADO. NOW YOU CAN DO THIS CONVERSION ON MANY DIFFERENT YEARS OF TRUCKS. JUST MAKE SURE THE DONOR HAS THE SAME ENGINE FAMILY AS YOURS. THIS IS AN LBSEVEN TANK, WHICH FITS OUR LBSEVEN TRUCK. THE NEXT THING WE NEED ARE SOME SPRING HANGERS. SO WE CALLED UP OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THESE ARE AGAIN FOR AN EXTENDED CAB OR FOUR DOOR SHORT BED SILVERADO. WE GRABBED THE HANGERS AND THE BRACKETS, AND OUR CONVERSION STARTS BY DISASSEMBLING THE BACK END OF THE FRAME. WE'LL PREP FOR SURGERY BY REMOVING EVERYTHING CONNECTED TO THE FRAME, INCLUDING THE SHOCKS AND DRIVESHAFT. THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK ARE REMOVED SO WE CAN DROP THE TANK AND PUT IT IN OUR SWAP MEET PILE. WE'LL REPLACE IT WITH A JUNKYARD FUEL TANK THAT WILL FIT OUR SOON TO BE SHORT BED FRAME.

(JEREMY) UNBOLT THE REAR SHACKLES... [ impact wrench spinning ] (JEREMY) ...AND THE SPRING MOUNT UP FRONT. THE AXLE IS LOOSE, BUT BEFORE WE ROLL IT OUT OF THE WAY THE LEAF SPRINGS HAVE TO BE UNBOLTED AND REMOVED. ALL RIGHT! (LT) WE'LL CUT OFF THIS HOME MADE GOOSE NECK HITCH SINCE WE DON'T PLAN ON TOWING THAT MUCH, AND QUITE FRANKLY WE DON'T TRUST THE RUSTED METAL. GOT IT?

CUTTING OFF THE FRONT SPRING HANGERS CAN BE A CHORE. [ saw cutting metal ] (LT) THESE ARE AN AFTERMARKET HANGER THAT SOMEBODY WELDED TO THE FRAME, MAKING OUR JOB QUITE A BIT HARDER. REMEMBER, ALWAYS WEAR THE PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THROW SOME SPARKS AND STICK WITH IT, AND THEY'LL EVENTUALLY COME OFF.

ONCE EVERYTHING IS REMOVED, GRIND ALL THE WELDS SMOOTH. (NARRATOR) NEXT IS IT MEASURE ONCE, CUT TWICE?

(JEREMY) WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DISSECTING OUR 2003 DURAMAX. NOW NOT TOO LONG AGO WE MADE A TRIP OUT TO THE JUNKYARD AND PULLED SOME MEASUREMENTS, AND TOOK SOME NOTES ON A SHORT WHEEL BASE FRAME. WE CAME BACK TO THE SHOP AND COMPARED THEM TO OUR LONG WHEEL BASE. TURNS OUT WE NEED TO CUT ABOUT 14 INCHES OUT OF THIS THING. NOW THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT CUT. SO REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING, MEASURE TWICE AND CUT ONCE, AND ANYTIME YOU DO ANY TYPE OF FRAME WORK LIKE THIS MAKE SURE THE FRAME IS SQUARE AND LEVEL. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO THE NEXT THING FOR US TO DO IS PULL A COUPLE OF MEASUREMENTS, MAKE A MARK, AND CUT THIS BABY UP.

I CAN MARK IT STRAIGHT!

NOT UNTIL OUR LINES ARE MARKED AND THE MATH IS CHECKED, WE CAN BEGIN DISSECTING THE FRAME. NOW WE'LL DO THIS USING FOUR AND A HALF INCH CUT OFF WHEELS ON ANGLE GRINDERS. [ saw cutting metal ] (LT) WELL THERE'S NO TURNING BACK NOW, WE'RE COMMITTED. (JEREMY) HEY NOTHING BETTER THAN THAT. (LT) WITH THE FRAME SEPARATED, NOW WE CAN WORK OUT REMOVING THE LEFTOVER PIECES FROM THE FRONT HALF OF THE FRAME. THIS'LL PREPARE THE TWO HALVES TO SLIDE TOGETHER EXACTLY LIKE THEY WOULD HAVE FROM THE FACTORY. TO GET THIS DONE WE'RE USING VARIOUS TOOLS. EVERYTHING FROM AIR CHISELS, TO RECIPROCATING SAWS. IT'S TEDIOUS WORK, BUT WHEN IT'S DONE PROPERLY IT'LL ENSURE A STRONG OVERLAPPED SEAM THAT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL. (JEREMY) LOOK AT ALL THAT RUST. I THINK IF WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN A HOLD OF THIS TRUCK, IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A VERY LONG LIFE LEFT. (LT) WE WANT TO CLEAN UP THE FRAME. SO THE WIRE WHEEL MAKES QUICK WORK OF THE RUST AND SCALE, AND PREPARES THE SURFACE FOR COATING LATER ON. AFTER GETTING OUR HANDS JUST A LITTLE BIT DIRTY THE TWO HALVES OF THE FRAME ARE CLEANED UP AND JUST ABOUT READY TO WELD BACK TOGETHER, BUT FIRST WE NEED TO MOUNT THE FRONT SPRING HANGER SO WE HAVE A REFERENCE POINT TO MEASURE FROM, BUT CHECK THIS OUT. THIS IS THE UPPER MOST BOLT HOLE FOR THE FACTORY LONG BED SPRING HANGER. NOW WHETHER THIS IS BY PURE LUCK OR JUST BY DESIGN, THIS BOLT HOLD ACTUALLY GETS REUSED TO CORRECTLY LOCATE THE NEW FACTORY SHORT BED SPRING HANGER, PRETTY COOL! THE FIRST BOLT IS SECURED SO THE REST OF THE HOLES CAN BE DRILLED. THIS IS SO EVERYTHING LINES UP THE FIRST TIME AROUND.

SLIDING THE TWO HALVES OF THE FRAME TOGETHER, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE OVERLAP'S JOINT WILL MAKE A VERY STRONG CONNECTION. (JEREMY) NONE OF THIS IS GUESS WORK. (LT) ALL RIGHT, WE'RE LOOKING FOR 63 AND A QUARTER. WE ARE 63 AND THREE QUARTERS. SO BUMP IT IN A LITTLE. (JEREMY) THE RESEARCH THAT WE DID AT THE JUNKYARD ON THE SHORT BOX FRAME REALLY PAYS OFF HERE, AND WE'LL TAKE OUR TIME DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECKING OUR MEASUREMENTS, MAKING SURE SHE'S LEVEL AND SQUARE.

(LT) I'M GONNA PUT IT RIGHT THERE, RIGHT ON THE MONEY! (JEREMY) PERFECT, WELD IT UP. AND ONCE IT SET, I CAN LAY DOWN SOME TACK WELD. OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU'RE DOING FRAME WORK LIKE THIS A PROPER WELD IS NECESSARY BECAUSE WE NEED THIS FRAME TO TAKE SOME ABUSE. NOT ONLY THAT, IT'S ALL ABOUT SAFETY NOW. YOU NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE WELDING TO DO A JOB LIKE THIS, BUT IF YOU DON'T THAT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. YOU CAN CALL YOUR LOCAL WELDING SHOP. THEY'LL SEND A GUY DOWN AND BURN IT IN FOR YOU. WELDING IS JUST LIKE ANYTHING, LOTS OF PRACTICE. WE'VE CUT A LOT OF METAL OUT OF THIS FRAME, WHICH GIVES US SOME MATERIAL TO PRACTICE ON, AND I ALWAYS DO THIS BEFORE MAKING MY INITIAL WELDS. NOW I SET UP THE WELDER AND MADE A FEW TEST PASSES. NOW ON THE FIRST ONE WE WERE A LITTLE BIT HOT. THAT'S WHY THE WELD IS CAVED IN. ON THE SECOND ONE I DIALED IT BACK A BIT AND WE GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER BUT I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THAT, AND ON THE THIRD ONE I SET IT UP AT RECOMMENDED SETTINGS AND IT WAS NEARLY PERFECT. SO WE'LL RUN WITH THAT. NOW THROUGH THE YEARS WE'VE SHOWN YOU GUYS A LOT OF WELDING TIPS AND TRICKS. SO IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE CHECK OUT POWERNATION TV DOT COM. NOW SINCE OUR FRAME IS THREESIXTEENTHS OF AN INCH THICK WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY WARPAGE, BUT I STILL LIKE TO RUN SHORT WELDS AND LET IT COOL AS I GO, AND FOR YOU GUYS AT HOME WITH A LITTLE 110 WELDER, PROBABLY NOT GONNA CUT IT ON A JOB LIKE THIS.

(NARRATOR) NEXT, A SHORTER FRAME NEEDS A SHORTER BED.

(JEREMY) WE'RE BACK ON TRUCK TECH FINISHING UP THE METAL SURGERY ON OUR SHORT WHEEL BASE CONVERSION. WE NEED TO REATTACH THE SECOND ROW BED MOUNTS. THEY'RE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF INCHES FARTHER FORWARD THAN THE ORIGINALS. AFTER FIVE INCHES ARE REMOVED FROM THE BACK OF THE FRAME TO CLEAR THE SHORTER BED, WE CAN BEGIN TO PREP IT FOR PAINT. ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT THE FRAME ALL WELDED UP, BED MOUNTS RELOCATED, FRAME'S ALL WIRE BRUSHED AND READY FOR A COATING. NOW FOR THAT I'M GONNA BE USING DUPLICOLOR'S RUST BARRIER. NOW I SHOWED YOU GUYS THIS PRODUCT LAST SEASON WHEN I APPLIED IT TO THE BOTTOM OF OUR C-10 CAB USING AN HVLP SPRAY GUN, AND I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW WELL IT'S HELD UP, BUT FOR THIS FRAME WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. DUPLICOLOR ACTUALLY RECOMMENDS APPLYING THIS PRODUCT WITH A BRUSH. NOW NORMALLY I WOULDN'T APPLY ANYTHING WITH A BRUSH, BUT SINCE THEY RECOMMEND IT I'M GONNA GIVE IT A SHOT, SEE WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT, AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY. ONE, THIS IS BY NO MEANS A SHOW TRUCK. WE DON'T NEED A PERFECT SLICKED OUT FINISH ON THIS THING, AND IT'S GONNA TAKE A TON OF ABUSE. SECONDLY, OUR PAINT BOOTH IS FULL OF PARTS. SO APPLYING THE PRODUCT THIS WAY IS GONNA CUT DOWN ON ANY OVERSPRAY WE'LL HAVE IN THE SHOP. SO WE'RE NOT MOVING OUT TOOL BOXES AND MASKING EVERYTHING UP. HECK WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO MASK UP THE CAB. THIS IS A VERY CLEAN WAY TO APPLY THIS PRODUCT.

THE FIRST THING I'M DOING IS WIPING DOWN THE FRAME WITH WAX AND GREASE REMOVER TO MAKE SURE THE FRAME IS CLEAN FROM ANY OIL OR DIRT. THEN I CAN BRUSH IT RIGHT ON OVER THE RUSTED BARE METAL.

IT'S A ONE STEP PROCESS. YOU DON'T NEED ANY RUST PREVENTATIVE OR TREATMENT, AND IT LEAVES OUR FRAME WITH AN IMPACT RESISTANT RUBBERIZED COATING. TWO COATS TOOK JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS. AS THE FRAME'S DRYING IT'S ACTUALLY LOOKING REALLY GOOD, AND THERE'S NOT NEAR AS MANY BRUSH STROKES AS I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE. THIS PRODUCT IS PERFECT FOR YOU GUYS THAT DON'T HAVE AN AIR COMPRESSOR, DON'T HAVE A PAINT GUN, OR YOU'VE NEVER PAINTED BEFORE. SO BRUSHING IT ON IS THE WAY TO GO. (LT) WE PICKED UP A SIX AND A HALF FOOT BED FROM OUR LOCAL JUNKYARD, AND WE'RE GONNA SET IT ON TO SEE HOW OUR REGULAR CAB, SHORT BED DIESEL LOOKS. IF YOU WANT ONE OF THESE ON YOUR OWN YOU'LL HAVE TO BUILD IT. (JEREMY) '73 TO '87 CHEVY PICK UPS HAVE BECOME SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR TRUCKS OUT THERE TODAY, AND FOR YOU GUYS RESTORING THEM YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO FIND AFFORDABLE RESTORATION PARTS. THIS IS A BRUSHED ALUMINUM TAILGATE BAND FROM LMC TRUCK. IT'S LICENSED BY GM AND IT'S AN EXACT REPRODUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL. INSTALLATION IS MADE SIMPLE WITH OEM STYLE MOUNTING CLIPS PREINSTALLED. SO WHETHER YOURS IS DAMAGED, MISSING, OR YOU JUST LIKE THE LOOK, CHECK OUT LMC TRUCK DOT COM. A POTENTIAL WEAK LINK TO ANY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SOLID AXLE IS THE FACTORY LOCKING HUB ASSEMBLY. YUKON GEAR AND AXLE FIXES THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR HARDCORE LOCKING HUB SETS. THESE PREMIUM HUBS FEATURE AN ALL STEEL CONSTRUCTION, A LOW PROFILE BEZEL TO REDUCE IMPACT FROM OBJECTS, AND A DEFAULT TO LOCK DESIGN, WHICH MEANS IF IT EVER FAILS YOU WON'T BE STUCK ON THE TRAIL IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE. FOR MORE APPLICATIONS CHECK OUT YUKON GEAR DOT COM. THANKS FOR WATCHING TRUCK TECH, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.