Finding a good truck to use...
Finding a good truck to use as a project truck shouldn't be a nightmare. Simply use common sense and make sure everything adds up.
When you decide it's time to build up a diesel truck into something special, it's time to make a plan. You can do it one piece at a time over a long period, or you can slam your way through the process in as short a time as possible. Actually, there is one more possibility and it's the one we took with our newest GMC 2500 project.
First, a word about buying a used diesel truck. Searching for a diesel is just like searching for any other truck with one big difference: you should perform a compression test on any vehicle you are serious about purchasing. The test only takes 15-30 minutes and you will know if you have a good motor or not. Take it from me, I recently bought a diesel and did not have a compression test done. In a matter of a couple days, I was blowing white smoke and the truck was having a hard time starting. I then had the test done, and found out the motor was garbage.
A few other questions-does the mileage match the wear and tear? Compare the miles to the carpet and pedals. Does the carpet show significant wear and the truck have low mileage? That could spell deception.
Next, look for overspray. When repairs are done quickly, the time is not taken to tape off critical areas. Check the inner panels, engine compartment, frame, and gaskets for overspray. Do the body panels line up? Are all the gaps equal?
After installing a bunch of...
After installing a bunch of cool parts, our project GMC was looking pretty darn good.
Was the truck used to tow? Does it have a hitch? Look at the wear of the hitch. Was the hitch installed properly, and does it have all the bolts installed? Does the truck have an electric brake booster? That can mean less wear and tear on your drivetrain and brakes.
Does the owner claim the truck has "new tires" or "new" something? This is a sign the truck may have a problem with whatever was fixed. Was the item installed by a reputable company, and is there a warranty on the new item? If the truck has new tires, there could be an alignment problem or steering problem.
When the seller is stating an asking price, take into consideration the cost of repairs. If the truck is going to need $500 in repairs, then use that number to negotiate.
The bumpers and lights made...
The bumpers and lights made a big difference in the way this truck looks.
If you still have worries, take the truck to a reliable mechanic. Tell him you are thinking of purchasing the truck and ask him his opinion. Many will not charge you because they want your future business. If you have to pay, a reasonable cost would be $50 to $100 to check the truck out. Lastly, think about a history check on the VIN number. Double-check the VIN number in at least two locations too.
If you follow these simple suggestions you should find a nice used truck. And now onto our project.
 We started out with an Amp...  We started out with an Amp Research Bed X-Tender. Tools needed included: Phillips screwdriver, Torx T-20 driver, drill, 9/64-inch drill bit, center punch, and the supplied template. This is a basic do-it-yourself job. There are advantages to using the Amp Research X-Tender-less wind drag with the tailgate open, additional square footage added to the bed when it is open, and when the tailgate is closed it holds items in a small area of the bed without sliding around. Once you have this installed, and have used it, you will wonder why all trucks don't have one. Also, the Amp Research X-Tender is very easy to remove if you have a large load. You will have to assemble both sides of the X-Tender. These directions are the same for both sides. |  We started by placing the...  We started by placing the three bent tubes through the pivot upright. You have to make sure you use the correct tubes. There are two tubes with a pre-drilled hole and four tubes that are all the same. It is important to make sure the ends of the tubes extend approximately 3/8-inch past the pivot uprights. |  Here we placed the strap latch...  Here we placed the strap latch assembly over the correct tube. Notice the placement of the pivot point on the pivot upright. One bumper upright was placed over the three tube ends and slid down. The placement was adjusted later, so there was no need to worry too much about it at this point. Next, the center upright was placed over the ends of the tube. This is where the center tubes later connected each side of the Amp Research X-Tender. |
 A large wedge and screw were...  A large wedge and screw were loosely positioned in the bumper upright. The adjustment was made later, so nothing was tightened at this point. We put the strap latch retainer over the strap latch. This protects the strap from wear and tear. The tube end caps were secured by firmly pressing them into the tube ends on the pivot upright side. We pressed hard with our palms. |  The three center tubes were...  The three center tubes were positioned in the first half of the Amp Research X-Tender. We then repeated the previous steps to assemble the second half. Next, we put the second half on the other end of the center tubes. The two halves can be pressed together because the center tubes slide inside the bent tubes. Amp Research requires a three-inch overlap of the center tubes and bent tubes on both sides. |  The loosely fitted (but completely...  The loosely fitted (but completely assembled) Amp Research X-Tender was moved to the open tailgate. The next step was to adjust the width to fit the width of the bed at the D-post. This determines the final width so the screws at the large wedges can be tightened. It's a good idea to make sure the bumper uprights are evenly spaced. The remaining screws and thru-hole wedges were then positioned at the center uprights and both pivot uprights. This will keep the tubes from sliding any further and makes the unit one solid piece. |
 This last part of the install...  This last part of the install was the tricky part. The kit came with two templates. After we maneuvered the final-assembled Amp Research X-Tender into position, we took notice of where the pivot points were on the pivot uprights. We cut out both templates and set each template on the D-post. This will reveal which template to use. Each template has a dotted line for bedliners. Our truck had a spray-in bedliner so we did not cut on the dotted line because the spray-in bedliner is not very thick. Only cut along the dotted line if you have a plastic bedliner. We taped the template in place and used a center punch to mark the three holes on the template. We drilled the holes using a 9/64-inch drill bit. We secured the mounting bracket to the D-post using three self-tapping Phillips head screws. Next, we repeated the steps on the opposite D-post. |  We placed the Amp Research...  We placed the Amp Research X-Tender in the mounting brackets. With the tailgate open, we moved it to the open and closed position. We made sure the bumper uprights landed on a flat surface. Next, we returned the strap latch assembly to the tailgate and adjusted the length of the nylon straps. This will keep the X-Tender from bouncing. We double-checked to make sure everything was tight, and we were done. | |