'81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

Well I've been saying I was going to start a build thread on the restoration of my truck and the time has come. I want to start by saying thanks for looking at the thread and I hope you enjoy it; I've had this truck since I was 16, got it from my grandfather who got it from my great grandfather and I love this truck and so naturally it means the world to me. Enough of the sentimental stuff, lets get down to business. My truck is a 1981 Chevrolet Silverado C10, 2wd, 305 with a TH 350. The trucks motor went out about three years ago and it sat until about 3 months ago when I finally decided to start working on it again. While I'm saving to get the motor replaced, I am working on getting the cab, frame, and everything else fixed so that when the motor is put in I'm ready to drive it. This build will probably be a slow one because I don't really have a deadline and I'm working on it between work, school, and when I have the money to do so. Also, like the title says, most of the things I'm doing I've never done before and so I'm just trying to take the bull by the horns and teach myself how to do everything and may have some questions along the way. Now here are some pics of the truck when I was getting started.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

Now, as you may have seen from the first few pics the interior is really clean. I took the carpet out due to some molding, but other than that I have no issues with the moldings or anything. I do need to get a bit of trim for the doors. Here are a few more pics of the interior.
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And here is a picture of my three vehicles. A 2006 charger, 1981 C10 <--- duh haha, and the big truck in the back is my 1998 GMC Z71. There will be more pics of it later on in the post, I'm also pretty proud of that one.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

The next set of pics are from working on the holes in the bed and sides of the truck from bed rails and trim pieces that I didn't want anymore. I've read on here that alot of people are pretty against using bondo, but I did use bondo to fill in the holes from the trim and bed rails. If anybody has ideas of how to better do this I'd love to hear some advice and techniques that I'll try on the other side.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

The next set of pictures are just further tear down on the inside. The largest problem of rust that I had was on the passenger side rocker panel. Those pics will be coming shortly.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

After reading around the boards on here I found out about POR-15 and decided to try it out on the cab floor and pedal assemblies. Also, when I pulled the carpet there was glue everywhere on the inside of this truck. They even put nails in the carpet which I have never even heard of. These pics are of the cab floor before the POR-15 and after, also of the pedal assemblies before and after. I think it turned out pretty good, oh and since I've never welded and needed to practice with my new welder I built a little weld cart to practice; the last picture is of the cart.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

Ok the next sets of pictures are of cutting and repairing the rusted through portion of the passanger side rocker panel.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

And a few more.
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As of now this is where I'm at. Tomorrow depending on the weather, I'm going to attempt to take the bed off so I can start working on the rear end of the frame.

Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

Ok, so today I finally got the bed off of the truck and the rest of the heatshield kit installed in the cab. Now I've gotta take the next two weeks off to get ready for NOPI :metal:. I'll be uploading pictures when the I'm done with that.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

awesome!

Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

Thanks, I like that red Z71 too. I'll put some pics of my Z here later once I get it ready for the show. It's pretty dirty right now from going to the dirt track racing a few weeks ago.

Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

Well as I promised, here are a few pics of my 98 GMC Z71. These shots are after about 6 hours of cleaning and detailing to get ready for NOPI.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

If you want advise on the bondo thing you better take ALL of that stuff out of them holes cause in due time that stuff will shrink and you will see them holes again.I suggust you regrind that crap out, clean them holes good and weld them shut.Then coat it with a good filler like USC all metal, then a skim coat of a high quality filler like evercoat rage gold and then a skim coat of polyster glazing putty.Prime with a good primer not a rattle can And then paint.

thanks
Pat

Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

Pat yeah thats what I was thinking. Now that I have a welder I'm going to just go ahead and do it the right way. I'd rather redo it now rather than 5 years after its already been painted and finished.

Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

Ok, well NOPI went really well. Saw alot of sweet looking cars, and the best part had to be when they called my name for winning my class. Only first place cars were chosen, one winner for every 5 cars that were entered. There were 39 entries in my class. Here a few pics of some of the trucks that I liked the most and of course my trophy.:metal: Oh and as a side note, that blue c10 was a drag truck with two bottles of NOS and was crazy fast. Smoked everything it went against.
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Re: '81 C10 Build Full of Firsts
 

trucks looking good. good luck