How to Customize an Old Truck
Customizing an old truck can be an enjoyable hobby and a ideal way to bond with your children, especially if you let them participate in the decision making process for customization. You will probably need the help of restoration professionals while customizing your old truck to make sure the repairs and parts replacement are done with the utmost efficiency, especially if this kind of project is new to you.
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Instructions
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Take a "before" pictures of your old trucks interior and exterior. Load the pictures into a computer and print out several copies in black and white; lighten the image to a gray scale. Use these digital images and gray print outs to test out different customization options for your old truck.
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Complete a thorough check for rust. Inspect the old truck's under carriage, under the hood, around the doors (especially the hinges) and around the bumpers. If you find rust, bring the truck to a body specialist for repairs. Rust spreads and can ruin the old truck body.
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Hire a mechanic----one who specializes in old truck restoration---to inspect the truck for mechanical issues and oil leaks, if you don't have experience with engine rebuilding. It is fairly common to find oil leaks in an old truck, especially trucks that have been left sitting or not running for awhile. Oil leaks that build up on engine parts can catch fire when the engine is hot and running.
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Make a customization plan for your old truck. Use the free printable customization checklist in the references for a starting point for different individual elements that can be customized on your old truck. Think about the paint schemes and colors for both the exterior and interior of your old truck.
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Sketch, photograph, paint or draw your ideas for customizing your old truck's paint job. Be sure that you know the exact colors that you desire---different lighting affects a color's look. Hire a professional to paint your old truck and/or add the designs that you desire. One of the most popular designs on trucks are flames.
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Select and order all the accessories that you desire to add to you old truck. Chrome accessories are popular; for instance, chrome rims with chrome caps, chrome fenders, chrome steering wheels and chrome mirror covers. Order your chrome accessories and follow the installation directions or bring them to a restoration and customization shop to install all at once. Remember to select and purchase new tires to go with the chrome rims---restoration and customization shops can order new tires to fit your old truck and chrome rims.
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Decide whether the current seat and interior material is in good enough condition to clean and keep. If not, choose to either use covers on the seats or have the material on the seats and interior replaced. Hire a professional to remove the old material and replace the new material.
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Tips & Warnings
Plan and budget your buying your old truck accessories and customization schedule. Enter your old truck model year and make to quickly search for compatible parts and accessories. Don't fall in love with an accessory that is not an option for your old truck.
Don't neglect rust repairs and mechanical repairs---these should come before custom paint and accessories.
