Adding trim to a plain sided 79

[Retoxtony]

Pretty simple question i guess, can i add the nice side trim that the two tone trucks have onto a plain sided truck with no trim?

I’m considering buying my friends 79 GMC High Sierra. The price is really good, the truck is in really nice shape, runs good, no rust, garage kept, etc. Pretty much exactly what I wanted for a project truck with 2 exceptions. 1st it’s a long bed which is something I can live with though I’d prefer a short, and 2nd it doesn’t have the nice side trim I like so much on 80 and older trucks. If I can add that on then it’s a no brainer to buy the truck.

Any help would be appreciated.

Tony

 

[Rusty Nail]

Sure you could add it. Reproduction trim is readily available. New!

 

[SASKCHEYENNE75]

Absolutely you can....lots of options for reproduction pieces and not crazy expensive either

 

[Retoxtony]

Sure you could add it. Reproduction trim is readily available. New!

Complicated thing or does it just stick on? I always thought the factory stuff had screw holes.

Would a kit like this work?

https://www.americanclassic.com/1973-80-Body-Side-Trim-Kit-Longbed/productinfo/62-572/

 

[Scott91370]

I don't have a 79 but that kit looks to be the correct one but it will require drilling for attachment. But don't let that scare you off.
Put down some blue/yellow painters tape where the trim goes. Measure all of your holes out and mark them. Use a drill bit with a good tip so it will cut through the metal easier or some type of spring loaded punch to mark the hole - I'd avoid a hammer and punch so you don't dent the truck. After drilling everything get some spray paint and spray it on a piece of card board and use a small brush to paint all of the metal you just exposed. Clip all the pieces in and stand back for picture that we will need to see after the project is complete.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Gonna have to make holes...i've seen muggs run pieces of GMT400 trim that IS a sticker though that's not likely to be what you're after.
What you posted looks to be a correct kit and would certainly be a very involved installation process to make it looks good and straight. I support your efforts and am rootin fir ya...but coff up some pix of yer truk huh?

 

[Grit dog]

If you don’t want to drill, you could do 80s style lower trim strip and upper pin stripe, but I much prefer the 70s style 2 tone/trim arrangement.

 

[82sbshortbed]

Pics are nice to see whatcha working with.

Welcome from Texas

 

[Retoxtony]

Pics are nice to see whatcha working with.

Welcome from Texas

these pics are from the net only and not my trucks. Just to show what I’m thinking.

here’s what the side looks like currently (no trim)

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Id like to add this style of trim to the truck.

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[FireTruck1984]

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Complicated thing or does it just stick on? I always thought the factory stuff had screw holes.

Would a kit like this work?

https://www.americanclassic.com/1973-80-Body-Side-Trim-Kit-Longbed/productinfo/62-572/

Yep that’s the kit you need, easy to install if you have some experience with trim.
And the trim looks great on non Two-Tone trucks also

 

[Goldie Driver]

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Yep that’s the kit you need, easy to install if you have some experience with trim.
And the trim looks great on non Two-Tone trucks also

Somebody needs to water those things so they can grow to their full 8 foot length !!

these pics are from the net only and not my trucks. Just to show what I’m thinking.

here’s what the side looks like currently (no trim)

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Id like to add this style of trim to the truck.

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I like both of those - especially the one with the wagon style OE wheels.

I don't think the lack of trim detracts from the looks.

Makes it more rugged looking.

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[Craig 85]

You can also run the trim like this without the lower. This was a friend and his '77 Cheyenne.

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[Lil'm]

It's all stick on and here's a good video on it--

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[Termite_Delight]

It's all stick on and here's a good video on it--

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That's for '81 and up... Not for '73-80


Had to drill some holes to install mine. Make sure you drill the proper size, practice on a scrap piece.

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[Powerhouse Ranch]

You can also run the trim like this without the lower. This was a friend and his '77 Cheyenne.

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i work with a guy that did alot of restoration back in his day (in his 60s now) tractors, trucks, cars, heavy equipment you name it. He brought a flipbook in and showed me some and he had done a ton of squares, said "they made me alot of money due to being all rusted out" (he likes Ford), so then for the entire Square community i took a crack at his 90s POS Furd Ranger and may have said some homophobic slurs BUT ANYWAY he painted them up and did the trim as pictured above. Numerous times in fact, didn't look bad