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My "Official" Stepside Restoration Thread and LS Swap 2021

looks good Glenn! Maybe I`ll do mine when all my floors are torn out again:D
 
gmc4cw said:
so did you get a complete 2" body lift kit? Plastic body lift pucks suck to cut. they look like more crap then a standard one and its hard to get the cut perfectly straight.

If you buy a kit it will come with all the bolts too.

Yeah I cut the blocks down with a chop saw. And they are all dead on. I thought maybe I'd save a few $$ and just cut down the blocks that I had. So now I have a complete set of the correct sized lift blocks now. I will replace them shortly.

The only progress I made today was getting the new plywood for the bed and all the stainless hardware to secure it. Also I *fabricated* some stuff out of metal, I'll get pics tonight of them. All I can say is that I must be a master metal fabricator.
 
Chevy305 said:
Yeah I cut the blocks down with a chop saw. And they are all dead on. I thought maybe I'd save a few $$ and just cut down the blocks that I had. So now I have a complete set of the correct sized lift blocks now. I will replace them shortly.

The only progress I made today was getting the new plywood for the bed and all the stainless hardware to secure it. Also I *fabricated* some stuff out of metal, I'll get pics tonight of them. All I can say is that I must be a master metal fabricator.
pics, Glenn, pics!
 
Chevy305 said:
Yeah I cut the blocks down with a chop saw. And they are all dead on. I thought maybe I'd save a few $$ and just cut down the blocks that I had. So now I have a complete set of the correct sized lift blocks now. I will replace them shortly.

The only progress I made today was getting the new plywood for the bed and all the stainless hardware to secure it. Also I *fabricated* some stuff out of metal, I'll get pics tonight of them. All I can say is that I must be a master metal fabricator.

Glenn,

I'm sorry dude, but that is NOT SAFE! Those lift blocks are engineered to take on the weight of the body as designed. You've now broken the continuity of those blocks and created a weak point where you cut. They will flatten and could possibly crack, causing sheering effects and you could damage your rig, and possibly get hurt or have someone else get hurt. You need to ante up and get the lift blocks as designed.

I suggest you simply contact a manufacturer and ask them how much it would be for "x" amount of replacements. Not trying to be a downer. Just lookin' out for a bud!

Manny
 
manny, sorry I dont agree. I have chopped a 3 inch lift block, the perfomance lift brand or what ever its called.. I have seen other people do it as well. I am not saying it is the best way or the right way. I do not however see it as a big issue or a safety concern.

I will say that the hassle of getting new bolts and cutting the lift blocks makes just getting a new kit and selling the current one very appealing.
 
BIGBLAZE433 said:
pics, Glenn, pics!

Ok here are pictures of my master fabrication skills:

BedRestorationPart2001.jpg


BedRestorationPart2002.jpg


Can anyone guess what they are for?

Maybe this pic might help:

BedRestorationPart2003.jpg






Ok so here is the plywood I got:
Pressure treated 3/4 inch 48x78

BedRestorationPart2004.jpg


And for Manny:

Here are a few pics of the body lift blocks that I cut. I don't see them being a safety problem, but I appreciate your concern. In the first picture one of the cut ones for the bed.

BedRestorationPart2005.jpg


This one is the cut surface of the block, its a pretty clean cut.

BedRestorationPart2006.jpg




And as for Supersize75k5's comment about just buying a smaller body lift, If I do that then I don't have an excuse to use my power tools :wink1:.
 
Chevy305 said:
And as for Supersize75k5's comment about just buying a smaller body lift, If I do that then I don't have an excuse to use my power tools :wink1:.

chopper.gif
"Too funny dude!"
 
More Progress has been made!

Ok so I got a lot done today!! :D

I got the new plywood into the bed and I got the bed mounted back onto the truck!!! :D :D :D

I am so happy to have it back together again! Today was the most fustrating day as far as getting the new plywood in. But I must say that the bed looks pretty damn good with the new plywood! Also it actually lines up with the lines on the cab! I couldn't take too many pictures today because I just needed this done so I can drive to school tomorrow and also the lighting sucked because the sun cast a lot of shadows.

BedRestorationPart3001.jpg



This picture is the bed finally mounted into the truck however I should have used carriage bolts for the mounts so I don't have these huge bumps in the bed. Oh well, they work just fine and I am glad I finally have all 8 mounts in there with solid lift blocks that are the correct height.
BedRestorationPart3003.jpg


BedRestorationPart3004.jpg


BedRestorationPart3005.jpg


Ok and here is the best picture I got of my whole truck, what do think about it? And does it look better without the roll bar?

BedRestorationPart3002.jpg
 
Ok now for the body mount situation:

The plan is to use the C-channel thingy that I fabricated on top of the body mounts because the metal in the cab has settled and rusted and fatigued so it is punched in slightly where it sits on the mounts.

Here is how the body mounts look now:

Body mount.jpg

And the metal that a fabricated to fit directly over original bracing on the back of the cab. I think thats the real reason why the frame looks bent. Its all because of that metal that has punched inward a little bit. Oh and the metal pieces I made are from 16 gauge steel if that makes a difference.

BedRestorationPart2001.jpg


Body mount.jpg
 
looks alot cleaner with out the roll bar. your truck would look mean with some well executed non over done bumpers. nice job oin the body mounts repair for the cab.


whats up with the rusty parts on the body mount set up, is that the sleave part or???


truck is looking very clean, I have wanted to build a step side..but we all now what would happen to it:doah:

oh, just some ideas..the bumpers, simple sliders owdercoated to match the bumpers..and then a 95-99 stlye bucket seat upgrade and new carpet...tan oh..and tinted windows...

i really like your truck! hide the step sides in arizona please people please!
would be sweeeeeeeeet:D
 
i think they look better without the roll bar. i took mine out and havent looked back... Now where can i mount the lights.... hmmm
 
supersize75k5 said:
looks alot cleaner with out the roll bar. your truck would look mean with some well executed non over done bumpers. nice job on the body mounts repair for the cab.

whats up with the rusty parts on the body mount set up, is that the sleave part or???

truck is looking very clean, I have wanted to build a step side..but we all now what would happen to it:doah:

oh, just some ideas..the bumpers, simple sliders owdercoated to match the bumpers..and then a 95-99 stlye bucket seat upgrade and new carpet...tan oh..and tinted windows...

i really like your truck! hide the step sides in arizona please people please!
would be sweeeeeeeeet:D

Thanks for the compliments :D :bow:

Yeah those rusty things you see are little sleeves that aren't really needed. So I didn't really see the need to replace them.

I would love some bucket seats but every now and again I need to squeaze 3 people into the cab and it's easier access to any lady passengers :wink1:.

Sliders would be nice but I don't do any wheeling that I would need the extra protection. And plus the new rockers make it look cleaner.

I like the maroon interior. I pretty much redid the whole thing with a new dash, herculiner and diamond plate on the floor, painted the door panels to match, and new appolstry on the seat. Let me see if I can find some pictures of it...
 
tomford said:
i think they look better without the roll bar. i took mine out and havent looked back... Now where can i mount the lights.... hmmm

I was thinking the same thing...

No more roll bar and no more push bar, what do I do with my KC daylighters?
 
i can put mine on the push bumper thats "so 80's" oh well

maybe the roll bar will make it's way into my truck maybe...
 
No More Hockey Pucks!

Ok just posting this to remind myself to get pictures of what I accomplished today! :D

EDIT: See next POST!
 
Last edited:
No More Hockey Pucks!!!

I feel very happy and relieved that I got rid of those hockey pucks that I was forced to mickey mouse up uner the body. Still have the same size body lift but now for whatever reason the truck feels tighter and there are no more squeaks or weird unidentified noises. Also the cab sits more level thanks to those metal pieces i fabbed up. Still no 100% square but now its not nearly as noticable. Also the body lines line up better between the cab and bed and no longer does it look like my frame is bent or sagged! :D

So onto some pictures:

May 10, 2007 004.jpg

May 10, 2007 005.jpg


Ok so while I was in the new mount mood, I went ahead and replaced the very deteriorated transmission mounts.
I guess you could say those are bad :eek1::

(pic didn't load :crazy: :doah:)

The New mounts:

May 10, 2007 002.jpg

May 10, 2007 003.jpg

May 10, 2007 004.jpg

May 10, 2007 005.jpg

May 10, 2007 002.jpg

May 10, 2007 003.jpg
 
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