RETIRED AND REBORN OBS | A Relatable Upgrade for Many OBS Enthusiasts

Chris Hamilton . November 08, 2021 . OBS Builders Guide

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Buying a brand new truck is a day some of us can remember and others can’t wait to do. For this particular OBS oldschooler, a life on the road was his calling, so his favorite truck just had to sit and wait for him to come home for a drive. It was garaged for years and well maintained as often as possible. Gary recently retired, and his big rig was permanently parked. Now the time has come to put some miles on the 20-plus year old truck, but she needs a few modern upgrades before she hits the road!

One major sign of the times that stands out on this ‘98 GMC Sierra are the 16-inch wheels and big bubbly tires. They may ride smoothly, but they look ancient and have no style benefits. This is one of the easiest upgrades you can make, and online shopping is actually fun to do for custom wheels! Wheel Pros is generally the go-to “off-the-shelf” wheel distributor and they handle most of the major brands in the industry. This truck was screaming for some chrome and our sales rep recommended the new Fuel Hammer wheel design in a 20-inch tall x 10-inch wide size. We looked them up, Photoshopped them on the truck, and smiled with excitement. They are perfect! For tires, we choose the new Toyo Open Country R/T in size 275/60R20. Built rugged for any terrain, this powerful 4×4 tire offers excellent off-road traction, durable construction and aggressive styling. Their ability to tackle dirt, sand and rocks is inspired by the legendary Open Country M/T, while its quieter ride is a nod to Open Country A/T III.

The final touch to this weekend warrior project is a trip to National Parts Depot in Ocala, Florida. This company specializes in ’88-’98 Chevy truck OEM replacement parts, and the prices are just in our budget. We picked up a new chrome front bumper, rubber impact strip and a few other misc pieces. Last thing to do is get it all back to the house and swap out some parts. This is a super fun project for any level of shadetree mechanic, even you!