The Stepside is just about done... so I am afraid.

[mountainexplorer]

It's all together, one color, and running. It's pretty much done, which means I am very afraid.
Afraid because any time I get something done or almost done, something happens. Like the motor blows up or something major breaks.
But for now, all thats left is to bolt up the winch, adjust the timing some more, and put on the light bar I traded for and a couple other lights up front.

Several days ago:

and even further back in time just over a year ago how it looked:

 

[Moose]

Looks great. Did you flat black paint it or have it done?

 

[muddybuddy]

what are the specs?

 

[mountainexplorer]

So far it's about 9 cans of Wal-Marts cheapest black spray paint. And I didn't even use masking tape. I still have a few areas to touch up with paint.

The Stepside is an '82 with a 454 bored .030 over, flattop pistons, Comp 270 duration/.516 lift cam, 98cc chamber heads, Pete Jackson gear drive, Holley intake and carb, headers, (I have a couple hundred bucks cash and alot of trading into the motor parts), SM465 4spd, NP205, Dana 60 front with Detroit, 14-bolt rear with Detroit and disc brakes, 4.10 gears, 4" suspension lift, no body lift, trimmed out fenders that retain the factory body lines, near brand new 37x13x16 Boggers on brand new 16x10 Eagle Alloys (cost me $700 for rims and tires), and soon to have a Warn 9000lb winch once I take it off my car trailer.

 

[OffRoad]

wow, that's sweet, good luck, i hope nothing breaks.

 

[cj7jeep81]

got any more pics of the fender trimming? I've got a '78 step side that I'm fixing up, and yours looks great!

 

[mountainexplorer]

Here's a couple side views.

If you want I could try and take and send you some more closer up shots. Theres was some massive inner fender trimming and welding to make it mold around the firewall. It clears 40" tires without rubbing.

 

[chevy wrangler]

that is awsome, now you are making me jealouse!!!LOL i wanna get a stepper side now

 

[Chevy305]

F*cking Awsome!!!!

Horray for stepsides

 

[chevyguybc]

nice truck hope it works out for ya.

can i see your inner fenders, i have lifted 52s up front and they flex beyond beliefe

im going with 39.5s boggers so lets see your ideas

 

[cj7jeep81]

i agree, more detailed pics of the fender trimming would be awesome. Also, did you leave your axles in the stock location, or move them forward? My stepside currently has a 1" body lift, and I want to fit 38's or 40's by using a zero rate (for an extra inch of lift and to move the axle forward), 4" lift springs, and fender trimming.

 

[mountainexplorer]

Unfortunately, this is my bought not built truck. I originally bought it to keep the 1-ton axles, the big block, and the other winch, and then was going to throw a small block and 3/4 ton stuff under it and re-sell it for what I paid for it.

I wanted to build a stepside myself since it was the only bodystyle I didn't have yet. So then I got this... started driving it, and figured... why strip this down, re-sell it, and then essentially re-build the same thing? So I just kept it. Sure, I could have put one together alot cheaper starting from scratch, but this one had a few things that I liked that were unique vs. the other stepside I was trying to get to build; like the cut out fenders that were done to retain factory look, the rust free body, it was a 4spd/205 already, etc.

The most I've done to it since I got it is 2 motors, cheap paint, change the seat, front bumpers, add the '85 grille, and small stuff. So it's my bought not built truck... which is ok since everything else I have is built not bought I suppose.

Axles are in stock locations, no perches or mounts were moved. It's just a regular 4" lift with stock shackles, and 4" rear blocks. I'll try and go and take better fender pics when I get a chance.

 

[mountainexplorer]

Ok so here's a few pictures of the fenders. And I spent a few minutes and was creative on the tailgate.

 

[muddybuddy]

nice!

 

[rdn2blazer]

the factory lip looks tough, I hated to remove mine but I did not want to do all the cutting and grafting to keep it. looks bitchen allen.

 

[tRustyK5]

Every fender I've put that much effort into I have smashed... The last set I just cut, no more than 30 minutes per corner and I haven't so much as scratched them. I just know if I put edges on em they wouldn't last.

Rene

 

[mountainexplorer]

I'm happy! I actually won money in it last night at the local mud races.

I actually won last night's mud bog in the Street class in the Stepside. So I got 70 bucks.

I paid $50 in entering both the Stepside in the Street class and the Truck Blazer in Modified class. The truck Blazer ran like crap and got eliminated. The Stepside beat every rig I ran against in the Street Class.

Next time around in the Stepside, it gets bumped to Modified they said after I got paid out.

But I was pleased with how well it did and how the pieced together 454 ran. Now... how long till it blows up?

 

[boggerless]

it looks great bro. just go for a ride around the block.then don't drive it for a few days. then maybe the first drive blues won't happen....

 

[eclipse]

good to hear you won after all the work you put into the stepside... good thing you got pics of it clean cause I dont think we'll see that black paint again

 

[mountainexplorer]

The mud hides all the spots I didn't touch up or finish painting yet.