My "Official" Stepside Restoration Thread and LS Swap 2021

[Chevy305]

Chevy305 submitted a new Build:

My "Official" Stepside Restoration Thread and More

Welcome to My "Official" Stepside Restoration Thread and More!

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I'm assembling a table of contents so navigating this long build thread can be a lot easier. But first, a little story of my truck:

This truck is my first vehicle and I've had it since February of '05 before I even had my permit. When I bought it, it appeared to be in nice shape but a lot of cut corners and hacks by the POs quickly showed themselves after the winter of actually driving it. That coupled with some teen angst and inexperience lead to a rocky road build of set backs and lessons learned. But with everything I did, I learned from and as a result the truck has been through a series of mini-builds that get better each time I do them.

Initially, when I bought the truck it was a hodge-podge of parts from different trucks. My lack of experience didn't recognize it so it made runs to parts stored ummm interesting... It originally was a 305 HO from a Firebird, SM465, 208, with 3.08 10 bolts on an OLD 4" suspension lift with rear blocks and a 3" hockey puck body lift. Anyways, fast forwarding to the first post of this build: I replaced the whole suspension with a 4" tough Country all spring lift, installed polly body mounts, and regeared the 10bolts to 4.10s with a rear lock right. At that point the truck was mechanically sound, but the body needed serious attention and thus starts the build thread. See the first post below the Table of Contents.


Table of contents:

Post#/Description/Date:
17. Rocker Panel and floor Repairs. 8-22-06
43. New Paint job. 10-23-06
77. New Wheels and Tires. 1-16-07
94. Eastwood Chassis Coat Frame Painting. 4-21-07
125. Repro Core Support Cracks. 8-5-07
134. Photo shoot. 9-10-07
186. Core Support Replacement/ORD Engine Xmember install. 11-25-07
209. Summit Mufflers. 3-30-08
224. Wheeling Pics. 4-20-08
235. Extended Wheel studs. 9-26-08
255. Headman Headers Installed. 11-4-08
235,272+. Ez-Wiring Harness Installed. 2-13-09
347. New Bed, 14bsf, New Engine Bought. 9-13-09
353. 14bsf 8>6lug conversion. 10-10-09
360. Bed Removal. 11-2-09
397. Front Lock Right Installed. 11-26-09
400. Weld in Steering Box Brace. 11-29-09
411-439,524. 355 Build. 12-8-09
489. A Pillar repair and bed and fender paint. 3-7-10
505. Wheeling Pics....

Read more about this build here...

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[Chevy305]

So I got the majority of the other parts from Classic Parts of America aka(Chevy Duty). They have great quality parts too. I recomend then to anyone. Check the pictures:

Check out the shine on that door handle







The one thing I wasn't pleased about is the grill filler panel I ordered from LMC. The sheet metal is paper thin and I doubt the holes will line up.

 

[Chevy305]

Now check out the damage

so my driver side floor is pretty bad along with the rocker panel.

 

[Chevy305]

More Damage!

These next 2 are of my driver side side step after I removed the majority of the bondo holding those bastards on.






You see this is why I hate bondo over rust . Sure it looked good when I bought the truck 2 years ago but now it sucks.

I've got my work cut out for me...


Feel free to flame/comment away.

 

[NoReGrEtS]

cool to see some one putting sheet metal on and not cutting it up

 

[diesel4me]

get er done!..

Been there,done that!--TOO MANY TIMES!..now I'm older,and I'll be shopping in Arizona for my vintage vehicles ,should I feel the need for another!--then I'll STAY there,so they will never look like the first photo !..

I'll have to look into those stepside steps--wonder if they make them for the 8' bed too?..mine are getting a few holes,and I covered them with some peices of diamond plate aluminum running boards,"custom" fitted.. --a bit cheesy looking,but better than rot!..they are crusty underneath,I give them another year before they wont hold you up if you step on them!..

Keep the pictures coming!--we need to show the southern states and west coasters just what we have to deal with as far as rust up here!..lots of members are probably doing,or are about to be,doing just as you are,and pictures= 1000 words!

 

[Chevy305]

cool to see some one putting sheet metal on and not cutting it up

Yeah I know what you mean. What I'm trying to do is get thing as rust free as possible. I have already done all the lifting, gearing, and engine work needed to make a pretty nice DD/weekend worrior. Now working on the asthetics.

BTW: currently the whole in the driver side rocker panel goes all the way up throw the kick panel so when I splash through really big puddles water sprays through.

Also more pics to come!

 

[Chevy305]

I am pissed at my welder!


The bastard blew me off to go fishing!


So I will have words with him when he gets back tonight.
He is supposed to be doing all the welding needed on my truck. Like the rocker panels, cab corners, ect.

 

[Chevy305]

Update*

So my welder reached an agreement. I am handing the truck over to him on Thursday morning and he will take care of the rocker panels, cab corners, floor boards, and kick panel. Should take him a few days.

Also I taked to a few body shops. They all said the same thing that I should bring the truck back with all the new panels already installed inorder to give me a good estimate for paint.

I'm happy this is all coming together

 

[Cricket]

How is year one pricewise in comparison?

 

[Chevy305]

How is year one pricewise in comparison?

Compared to Year One, Chevy Duty is cheaper. But not by alot. I would recomend them to anyone who needs quality body parts.


I should hold my tonge though because I haven't checked the fitment yet.

 

[hawkeye649]

Yeah I know what you mean. What I'm trying to do is get thing as rust free as possible. I have already done all the lifting, gearing, and engine work needed to make a pretty nice DD/weekend worrior. Now working on the asthetics.

BTW: currently the whole in the driver side rocker panel goes all the way up throw the kick panel so when I splash through really big puddles water sprays through.

Also more pics to come!

We need to hook up for a beer. I just recently did the same thing to my blazer, all my parts were LMC though. Some I was happy with, some I was not.... Same thing happened to me though. My truck has no bondo on it as far as I can tell but it looked good to me when I bought it but within 1 week when I gave it a really good bath I found some rust bubbles in the rockers. Within a year I had a fist-sized hole where the "cab corners" would be, and then my 6" rise had holes about the size of my body once I cut back the rust to try to curtail the rot.

 

[Chevy305]

We need to hook up for a beer. I just recently did the same thing to my blazer, all my parts were LMC though. Some I was happy with, some I was not.... Same thing happened to me though. My truck has no bondo on it as far as I can tell but it looked good to me when I bought it but within 1 week when I gave it a really good bath I found some rust bubbles in the rockers. Within a year I had a fist-sized hole where the "cab corners" would be, and then my 6" rise had holes about the size of my body once I cut back the rust to try to curtail the rot.

I'm always up for beer

 

[hawkeye649]

I'm always up for beer

papasmurf1990 at hardcore4x4.com

There are a bunch of you mass-holes down there that went muddin without me, maybe we can even get that kid bigblaze443 out again with us. Lets plan this thing. And as always, at the end of every trail ride should be a campfire and beer.

Also do you need to be a member to look at your pics? They aren't working for me....

 

[Chevy305]

papasmurf1990 at hardcore4x4.com

There are a bunch of you mass-holes down there that went muddin without me, maybe we can even get that kid bigblaze443 out again with us. Lets plan this thing. And as always, at the end of every trail ride should be a campfire and beer.

Also do you need to be a member to look at your pics? They aren't working for me....

Well problem may be that both bigblaze443 and I aren't 21 yet but that hasn't stopped me before.

I agree with that campfire and beer thing.

Also I'm not sure bigblaze443 really wants to go wheelin after what happened to his truck the first time he went wheelin with DirtyJim and I. Some real carnage...

About the pictures, if I copy-paste them into the thread then you can see them, but if I attach them then you have to be a paying member to see them.

 

[hawkeye649]

Well problem may be that both bigblaze443 and I aren't 21 yet but that hasn't stopped me before.

I agree with that campfire and beer thing.

Also I'm not sure bigblaze443 really wants to go wheelin after what happened to his truck the first time he went wheelin with DirtyJim and I. Some real carnage...

About the pictures, if I copy-paste them into the thread then you can see them, but if I attach them then you have to be a paying member to see them.

I understand I have to pay to see attached pics, usually they show up as a link at the bottom in their own little box, not as red X's. Werd. I had/have all the parts to fix his truck but he can't pay, not that I could have as a kid his age either. From what I did read about him breaking his truck sounds like all his troubles could have been fixed before hand with $10 worth of hose for his breathers.

 

[Chevy305]

*UPDATE* Metal work done!!

I am wicked happy the way the truck turned out with all the welding done.

WARNING PICTURE WORING IN PROGRESS!


You guys can't say I'm a noob for I have cut my fenders


Had hack this piece out to get access to the rocker panel behind it.


Look at the bubling on the thing


Look! A patch piece of metal bondoed on there no wonder why its bubling

 

[Chevy305]

Here is the new sheet metal on there:

 

[Chevy305]

More pic woring...

 

[Chevy305]

Yup I got more...


This hole is still there so I can access the body mount bolt under the floor. I have a small piece of sheet metal that I will screw on top of the hole so I can still access it if need be.


All new sheet metal for the floor.





The welder used some type of sealer after he weled everything. And no its not bondo.


Also I am currently hurculining the floor I have 1 coat down and will soon put the second one on. Pics to come soon...


Also I got my radiator support today, I'll be installing it tomorrow with the new fenders, and as many body mounts as I can fit in the day light.

I am really happy it is all coming together!