Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Hi guys, here is my new projet that I picked up last week, The plan is to trick this old Girl up and use it as a daily driver. So Im going to convert it to Right Hand Drive with the help of a buddy of mine who has done them before in the past.
In Ausraila we drive on the Left so our Cars and Trucks are RH Drive, altho the Law dose alow us to keep Classic Cars and Trucks older than 1989 LH Drive if we like, but thats a pain driving the thing every day like that, so it's get swaped over.

In the 70's C20 and C30's where Build here RH Drive by GM ,but we didn't get the C10's. There are lots of C10's here but they have all been Imports. and lots of Parts if you know were to look.

This one came out of Sacramento. Im very happy with it, very clean, it's got 125,000 Miles Run's great only a small amount of Rust and No Bondo.
The Forum has been great so far, I have been able to find out heeps of info that I needed to know about these Trucks and how to do Mods to them .
Along the way I will post up Photo's and try to keep you all up to date and Im open to feed back ,good or bad, Im up for it.

Over the last week Iv'e Odering Parts to get me going. Got a Roll pan from Truck & Car and 4/6 Drop Kit off Preformance Supension. Also Ordered 20 x 8.5 and 20 x 10 Ridler Wheels with Tyres from JD Wheels.

Iv'e also picked up a Small A/C Kit that is going to make the Conversion much easier.

The other thing that I have to do for the Conversion is fit Jeep Wrangler Tailights, Chev Light just dont cut it by the Laws we have here.

More comming soon

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...05-2011019.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...03-2011002.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...03-2011004.jpg
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Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

looks like a good start man...cant wait to see more!

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

sounds like a plan, good luck with it...

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Another aussie! :) Your plans sound good....just picked up a GM delivered RHD C20 myself for daily driving.

Theres a bloke down in Hamilton that does RHD conversions to these old things. Dont have his details but can prob get them for you. I think it was around the 3k mark.
I'd be interested to see what you come up with for your power steering if your going to fit it?
Theres a tidy shortbed on ebay for sale at the moment if you didnt want to go with the stepside.
Good luck.

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

There a Easy Truck to do, You use a LHD Saginaw Steering Box out of a Camaro, I got one in the Deal when I bought the Truck.
I have tracked down a guy that makes a Fiberglass RH Dash. Superformance in QLD dose a Change over RH D rive Drag Link with Engineers Cer. As you know the Brake Master Cly and Steering Shaft are just Bolted on to the Fire Wall, There is Marks in the Fire Wall on the othere side from the Factory where it Bolts in
So I think I have it all Covered. But It wouldn't hert to have the guy in Hamlton's Info

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Should be a cool project.

Diggin that "Stink Bug" stance! Does the truck have rear 3/4 ton springs or something?

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Welcome to the board!!

Didn't know they had these in Melbs!! My wife is from Camberwell... 28 Regent St!

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

I know it High in the back,,, How can I tell if it's got the right Springs? I have got a Flip Kit and 2" Drop Shackles on there way. The plan is to drop as low as I can without going to Bags

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Shave your factory bump stops and brackets off and fit smaller ones on the rear. Move front and rear spring hangers up higher on the rail too. Cut the rivet heads off and rebolt on higher up. Your other options if you want it lower still, get your leaf springs reset, aswell as flip kit and or shackles. You may be getting close to having to C notch then.

Steering setup sounds good, didnt know superformance had pre engineered drag links. I'm heading down the XA-XF box path. Just waiting on my spacers to be machined and im set. I dont need to modify the drag link with this conversion.

I dont have the blokes number from Hamilton but John 0405 294 019 will be able to pass it on to you. John also sells a few chev parts.

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

truck looks to be in one piece man it will make a great project keep us updated and keep the pics coming.....

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Hz, I thought you said yours was RHD ? Your in Geelong, It's a small world ,Im in Corio, . Im ok with most stuff , Iv'e been dealing with Russell in Queenscliff, He brings in a few Trucks and has lots of Parts and He is a Approved Engineer. So I will be getting him to sign off on the Conversion once it is done. Iv'e also got the Engine and any other stuff covered as I work for VPW. http://www.vpw.com.au/

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Sweet. Is Russell in Wallington ? His name rings a bell - does corvettes / stangs etc ? I think he may have worked on my mates HX sandman ute and was bringing in a bunch of guitars from the usa for him. I'm actually from down that way, Ocean Grove.
I bet you get a nice discount at vpw then haha :)

Yeah mines RHD but manual steering. Converting it to power!
What sorta parts does russell have ?

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

I do ok on the Discount

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Finaly have some spare time to make a start on it this weekend. Got it all striped out and ready to pull the motor. I also droped off the Inner Skirts at the Power Coaters.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010136.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010134.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010137.jpg

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Depending how low you go your inner fenders might need modifying
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Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

or if you go low enough you won't need them at all!

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

I hope Im ok, I was just planing 2" drop sindles and 1" or 2" springs

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Got the Powder Coating back today and the New Ridler Wheels arived during the week. Very Happy with them . 20 x 8.5 and 20 x 10
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010143.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010145.jpg

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Engine and Dash out and ready to start Converting
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010155.jpg
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Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

wheels are nice man!

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

great progress man keep the pics coming.....

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Iv'e taken some time of work so I can get stuck into it, Cut out the Dash and Cleaned all the Paint ade Tar of the Fire Wall, My Great Clean Rust Frees Truck Ain't so Rust Free.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010161.jpg
Yep, thats Daylight
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010160.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010158.jpg
So Iv'e cut out the Top Half of the Fire Wall to get a better look and work out how Im going to fix it
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010164.jpg

I also has a little at the Ends, Just above the Heater Box and the Fuse Box Plug,, Not Biggy as both these area get Plated and Moved.
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010159.jpg

Heater Box Plated ,
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...P1010163-1.jpg
The Brake Boster Mounting Plate removed and the Fuse Box Hole ready to be fitted on to the other side of the Cab
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010162.jpg
and the Fuse Box Plug now coved
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/P1010165.jpg

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

Thats some serious surgery there.

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

I have been there before.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...ewcab005-1.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b.../newcab002.jpg

Re: Aussie 78 Stepside
 

yep that is some serious work your doing on the truck bro....i cant wait to see the results....keep up the good work...