When I was 15 I started working about 30 hours a week and in about a year I saved up $4,000 and bought a C-1500 90 Chevy Silverado. Even though it’s terribly old and has 205k+ miles on it and probably won’t last a few more years in it’s current state (minor engine problems because it has so many miles on it), it has a a lot of sentimental value to me. I plan to get a new vehicle with the next 6 months or so, but I am trying to get a plan in place to restore the truck.
I would like to start with the interior and engine. My uncle is helping with the engine, but I need some advice on the interior. It basically needs everything. Some of the interior stuff has been replaced and since they were put in at different times they are all faded different colors, they need work like with the locks/fabric on the inside, hinges, etc. My gear shifter diplay thing (D, N, P, etc) no longer works among some other small things. I would really like to strip the interior and put new or newer stuff in there.
Basically my questions are:
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I love the way the newer Chevy interiors are (I believe the year is like 95 to 97, or even newer if it would work). My experience replacing other things on the truck (like the grill, side mirrors) has been that the newer stuff just fits right in where the old left off. Would a whole new dashboard from the newer model just fit in? What about things like the bucket seats? I currently have bench seats, and I would love to get bucket seats with a console. Would new bolt holes have to be drilled?
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Where would you suggest I get this stuff and how to you suggest I find out what I need? Should I just start taking stuff out, once I get a new vehicle of course, and see what it looks like I need? Can I just find a junk yard and get reasonably good stuff or should I expect to buy new? Do junk yards allow you to walk around and pick up what you want? What kind of money do you think I would be looking at (or a website that sells the stuff and I can see myself)
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Is this stuff that the average person could do? I know very little about vehicles in general, but I am an engineer.
So I think I could use common sense and some logic/googling to do a lot, but I don’t want to destroy the thing. I just figured a body shop would charge an incredible amount to do all of this. Plus that would take away the fun of doing it myself. -
Anyone know of any books, websites, or forums that would describe this? My googling isn’t working.
I sincerely apologize that this is very stream-of-consciousness. I feel like I really neglected my truck through college and now that I have a job the idea of being able to restore it to its old glory is really getting me excited and pumped up.
Thanks for any insight, advice, encouragement (or discouragement if you have had a negative experience) you could provide.