1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

I just got a 1981 Chevy Shortbed Stepside 2wd truck. I found it local in a marina. It's a 6 cyl truck but had a th350 and a 12 bolt non posi rear. The cab corners and rockers are rotted and the driverside floor has a hole in it. One of the previous owners patched the floor and tried to do body work to it and just caked on bondo wherever it was dented or rotted. Ive pretty much got everything out of the truck except the guage cluster. The bed is off and the whole nose is off and the motor is out. The frame was covered in about 1 inch of grease. A little degreaser did the job tho. The frame wasnt really rusty at all though and a little wire brusing cleaned it right up.

Not the best pics. I forgot to take pics before i stripped the truck. w.e

Future Plans- Weld in cab corners and inner/outer rocker panels patch floor, 3/5 drop with spindles in the front and flip kit in the rear

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

Here is a slide show of the pics not the best but ill get more!

http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/m...view=slideshow

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

what did you pay for it if you dont mind me asking.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

$1400 i think it was a little overpriced but i am only 16 and its my first truck i am building so i dont mind

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

Stick with it. nice stepper you got there and a 6 cylly too!!! Nothing is cooler then a cammed up sixer. Have fun with it.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

That's a good project you have there.

You have a plan and now you have to stick to it kid, And get it done and enjoy driving it.

Good luck with it.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

I am going to put a cammed small block 350. Nothing big just something to sound good for now.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

Nice score!

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

you have a good project on your hands

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

I ordered all my parts from Brothers Trucks. Everything is in my bedroom, just waiting for some warm weather!

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

1400 isnt bad at all i paid 3 grand for mine and pretty much just replaced everything that bolts up to the box on my stepside. Had to weld in new cab corners as well, they looked good when i first bought it but turned out the guy was a master with the bondo. But the truck is lookin good now and not a cancer victim anymore.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

do you have any pics of you replacing the corners?

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

1400 sounds like a great buy to me. good looking truck.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

would rustoleum be good to paint the chassis or does it pay to buy chassis paint?(glossy black)

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

I used Tremclad paint which i think is the same as rustoleum down there and its worked for me on a few different vehicles it depends on your budget i guess, If you want to spend more on that thicker frame paint then that is cool but ill stick with my tried and true, Im sorry i dont have any pics of me doing the cab corners but im sure there is a thread on this site of someone doing it, Its quite easy just make sure you keep a nice straight edge between the two pieces so you dont get gaps between them before you weld them and just take them in place first to make sure everything lines up. After they are tacked do a short bead in between tacks and then let it cool so you dont warp the metal. Biggest thing i can say is Take your time doing it dont try to rush or it will go bad in a real hurry.
Im bolting all my new stepside pieces on tommorow and bolting the box back down to the bed and then im gonna start working on the cab and keep pushing forward in my battle with the rust monster !!

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

after you dill with any rust, if theres a tractore supply in your area you can get there tractor paint for less than $40 a gallon with harder out the door, if you dont have a gun, the same stuff is in rattle can around $5, and if you have bare meatel spots you will need some sell etchin primer, which you might find in a auto parts store but its not cheap $20 for a rattle can for the good stuff

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

do you know the brand of the tractor paint to use. I went to a local tractor supply near my house upstate and they had all different brands. Are they all the same?

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

the brand is Valspar, black and green can

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

I saw that! Would you prefer to use that instead of rustoleum?

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

Rustoleum has a hammered finish paint that looks pretty good on chassis and suspension parts. You might check into that if you get a chance.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

If you can get tractor and implement paint it tends to last a bit longer then rustolium. At least that is my experience. Also to paint your frame and have it look close to factory try rustolium #7777.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

Here are some more pics of my truck.
Also i started to weld up the driverside rocker and cab corner.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...h_100_0640.jpg

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

lookin good im right down the southern state from ya in brooklyn any good car shows out that way in the summer?
my truck is rusting away i gotta do rockers and corners myself one of these years

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

Thanks, during the summer there are a lot of car shows. Every friday night there is one at Bellmore train station, this May 18th there is a car show/swap meet at the merrick fire dept race track, and there are others that ill let you know about.

Re: 1981 Shortbed Stepside 2wd Build
 

Looks great! keep the pics coming