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1979 Dodge Lil Red Express Truck Restoration

If you don't want to learn their databases... then don't. I'm not about to post a link in this forum for every single part these two companies have listed on their website.
No need to get worked up, I only asked because you stated they had a part at a specific price, thought maybe a direct link was available to that part, and after looking at some of their website, it definitely would have saved time. I wouIdn't expect anyone to list all parts a company has available, unless they only make a handful. But one part, that's easy.

LMC is easier to digest, pretty straightforward on what they do and don't make.
 
I wasn't trying to be difficult. Sorry if I came off that way. Here's the link to the page that shows the running boards for both the 6' and 8' beds. The one for $35 is the 6' drivers side, but the most expensive of them is still less than $50.

PICK UP BOX. BOX ASSEMBLY. RUNNING BOARDS. STEPSIDE. 135 WB. 33. 115 & 149 wheelbase. 6 foot bed. 8 foot bed. w/o chrome.. For 1985 Dodge W150 Base Standard Cab Pickup Stepside 5.9L V8 A/T | Mike Brown Auto Group

I found that of the parts both companies carry... Mike Brown is substatially less expensive than LMC, but that LMC carries parts that Mike Brown doesn't and vice-versa.
 
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Here's the link to the page that shows the running boards for both the 6' and 8' beds. The one for $35 is the 6' drivers side.t that LMC carries parts that Mike Brown doesn't and vice-versa.
If only they made the chrome version... Thanks for the link.
 
If only they made the chrome version... Thanks for the link.

You're welcome.

It might be that you need to have a set chromed.

Chrome plating is an extremely hazardous, highly toxic, and very expensive process.

If you're on a budget... another option might be in silvering them (similar to the method used to "chrome plate" plastics). There are several companies making DIY kits... but there is an excellent article on how to "chrome" your own parts using 'off the shelf' components located at DIY Spray on Chrome Kit.

And while it's true this method is not chrome plating... if you add a bluing tint to the process who among us would really be able to tell the difference outside of a lab? You also open yourself to additional coloring looks... such as gold or copper plating. Also... this method can be used to "re-chrome" other parts (like your grille and headlight trim) instead of painting them matte black... like I did :banghead:.
 
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I have never understood the chinny steps anyway. Chrome stakes yes. But then I have never really cared for the step side bed.
 
But then I have never really cared for the step side bed.

I guess it's just a matter of personal taste really. Personally I never cared much for the swept-line look myself... or the 8' bed in either flavor. Nothing at all wrong with them... they just don't feel right to me when I look at them.
 
You're welcome.



Chrome plating is an extremely hazardous, highly toxic, and very expensive process.

If you're on a budget... another option might be in silvering them (similar to the method used to "chrome plate" plastics). There are several companies making DIY kits... but there is an excellent article on how to "chrome" your own parts using 'off the shelf' components located at DIY Spray on Chrome Kit.

And while it's true this method is not chrome plating... if you add a bluing tint to the process who among us would really be able to tell the difference outside of a lab? You also open yourself to additional coloring looks... such as gold or copper plating. Also... this method can be used to "re-chrome" other parts (like your grille and headlight trim) instead of painting them matte black... like I did :banghead:.
Thanks for the link to the Chrome Kit. I have one chrome step that might still work. Otherwise I have a couple non-chromed steps that I'll have to cut. But I wasn't sure of what coating I was going to go with.
 
Eight years ago this week I got my newly acquired Lil Red Express truck started for its first time in 10 years. Before I started the restoration.

This week I got it all hooked up and running. I’ll have to do a few things before I can drive it out of the garage, but it was an amazing feeling.

The next milestone is 11/5 to have it completed so I can recreate the one and only time I drove it for a while 2 minutes.

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This is the one and only time I got to drive the truck. It had no brakes, the exhaust fell off after this drive, and I couldn't get it running again after parking that day.

But I want to recreate this video on the 8 year anniversary (11/5/2011) of this video.
 
Drove it out of the garage...very carefully. Alignment is a bit off so the steering was sketchy and the brakes aren't at 100% yet. I'm hoping it'll stop smoking once the rings are broken in.
 
Found this on eBay, someone covered their steps with diamond plate which will work nice for me because I have one original step and a few non chrome ones . I’ll hand this over to my son to do at school.
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