photographer: Chuck Lombardo, Jr.
Our beloved 1979 Chevy, affectionately dubbed Operation Retro Ride, is in the final stages of becoming a true rolling art form as we continue our series covering the older, classic sport trucks. Transforming our hunk o’ metal into a showpiece takes than simply bolting on the latest and greatest body parts. It takes hard, physical, manual labor to accomplish the next set of tasks we face.
Now is when many sport truck restorers lose patience with their projects because this is the bodywork and final body prep stage. Once these tasks are completed, the body will be lavished with several coats of PPG paint.
Follow along as we take you through these mind-numbing, finger-wearying tasks. And keep in mind that the more body preparation you do at the outset, the better the end result will be. All the effort spent at this stage will prove well worth the extra time.