Project 66: Stickin' With The Stepside

[84GMC15tepside]

The Truck:
A few years ago I picked up my 84 GMC Sierra Classic C15. It's the highest model you could get, but with manual windows and door locks and the inline 6... Weird how people ordered their vehicles back then. But it was also ordered with an uncommon 4 speed overdrive called the A833 MY6. In its high day the thing was a sweet looking truck but wasn't taken care of by the previous owner.

The Story:
In the 1990s, my dad bought this truck from the grandson of the original owner. My dad took mint care of it and it was one of his favorite trucks he owned... I can remember riding in the truck when I was around 5 years old but when we moved to a new house, my dad had to sell it. One of his school teachers bought it who in turn sold it to another teacher from the same school. This is who we bought the truck from. The guy would drive it to work every day, even in the winter with the roads around here loaded with salt. To add on top of that, he never washed or undercoated the truck so it was a complete rust bucket. Before sophomore year of high school, I asked my dad about it so he called his teacher that it was sold to. He in turn called the other teacher who just so happened to be selling it. We drove to it a town over and decided to take it.

When my dad owned it:

[84GMC15tepside]

The Mission: Clean, Classy, Cool
It started as a "fixer-upper". But since I couldn't drive the truck when we first got it, I started taking it completely apart. This is a now a frame off restoration, with all GM panels. I keep everything I have in nearly perfect shape, so that is the level I am going to bring this truck to. It'll have a 350 and the stock transmission... I like stick shift in these trucks. It will be a darker gray than in the previous picture… I haven’t picked the exact color yet. Eventually I will probably lower it but I'll keep it stock height for awhile.

I am into rare cars and trucks, in particular vehicles that are not seen too often. And in my view, this truck was worth resorting because it is a stepside which is rare, and it has that interesting transmission. And most importantly, it has a history in the family. (It’s a GMC too)

[84GMC15tepside]

The Name:
I named this Project 66 because first off, I've been through hell and back trying to restore this thing. I have almost given up countless times because of the overwhelming amount of work this thing has needed (Luckily I’m on the right track with it now). But most importantly, somewhere down the production line when the truck was being made, the number 66 was written in marker on the underside of the hood, and the front bed panel in between the cab and the bed. Anyone know why that would have been done? I thought I would stay true to the truck anyways…

[84GMC15tepside]

The Build:
Originally I was going to fix just the necessities, small mechanical things and brakes, but one bolt after another started coming out and before I knew it I was in the middle of a frame off rebuild. First, I started by taking apart the interior... the insulation, seat and carpet were of course trash so they were thrown out and new interior parts were ordered.

Then it came to the core support and front fenders. All of these rotted through so they were junked.

Some pictures during the process:

[84GMC15tepside]

Eventually the engine came out, which was a grease case, and the bed was taken all apart. The stepside fenders were basically molded to the bed rails because of rust and bondo so they were cut right off. Then the doors were taken off... again rusted away and bondo like you read about. These were again junked.. The tailgate was dented beyond belief so that had to be taken off.

[84GMC15tepside]

By this time I had gone to my second spring Carlisle swap meet. In all I've gone to about 5 where I have gotten extremely hard to find parts for this build (at least for the New England area) : GM doors, GM dash with zero cracks, NOS GMC center caps for the wheels, NOS tailgate, GMC grille, trim pieces, among lots of other things.

[8lugnutz]

Originally Posted by 84GMC15tepside

The Name:
I named this Project 66 because first off, I've been through hell and back trying to restore this thing. I have almost given up countless times because of the overwhelming amount of work this thing has needed (Luckily I’m on the right track with it now). But most importantly, somewhere down the production line when the truck was being made, the number 66 was written in marker on the underside of the hood, and the front bed panel in between the cab and the bed. Anyone know why that would have been done? I thought I would stay true to the truck anyways…

Keith Seymour might know the answer to this question. Send him PM, he is very knowledgeable about plant operations and might be able to explain the "66".

[8lugnutz]

Originally Posted by 8lugnutz

Keith Seymour might know the answer to this question. Send him PM, he is very knowledgeable about plant operations and might be able to explain the "66".

Well, Keith actually answered that question in his own build thread. It's 28 pages long, and well worth the read! Here is his explanation take a look at post #117.

[84GMC15tepside]

Awesome, I read part of it but hadn't read that far. Just so happens my truck's build number was 66, pretty cool. Thanks for the help 8lugnutz.

More build updates coming soon!

[frog210]

I'm also curious mine has i think "28" on the firewall, i should take the bed off to see if its their like yours...

[84GMC15tepside]

Keith Seymour might know the answer to this question. Send him PM, he is very knowledgeable about plant operations and might be able to explain the "66".

Okay thanks, I will try to get a hold of him. It will be interesting to find out why..

I'm also curious mine has i think "28" on the firewall, i should take the bed off to see if its their like yours...

Looks like this is a common question for others too! (Looks like a 28 to me)


Brought the truck to the shop this week, here it is off the trailer:

[wwillmon]

Looks like you got a handle on the problems now. Im in college too so i know how frustrating it is to have to wait to go back home to work on your stuff. Looks like were in the same boat though, i have mine tore down to just the frame and cab as well. Good luck with everything, ill be watching your build!

[84GMC15tepside]

wwillmon
Re: Project 66: Stickin' With The Stepside
Looks like you got a handle on the problems now. Im in college too so i know how frustrating it is to have to wait to go back home to work on your stuff. Looks like were in the same boat though, i have mine tore down to just the frame and cab as well. Good luck with everything, ill be watching your build!

I've been watching your build for awhile, and just added some input to it! Good luck with everything on it. I am definitely thinking of going LS, I just have to plan out my build/set some deadlines for myself before I can commit to something like that. I don't want to say I am going through with it yet, but I'm on the verge of saying yes to it. Just have to think about it more...

[84GMC15tepside]

Time for updates, it's been awhile:
Cleaned up the trans some more, and shifter (pretty ugly before). Also engine pics. After contemplating an LS swap, I finally decided against it... I had the 350, the truck won't be a daily driver, etc etc.. It'll be good with the 350

[84GMC15tepside]

Here's the engine and the transmission. Shifter is now on the transmission and the engine is being put together as of now...

[Hankster]

Nice looking build you got going! I like the story!

[walkerb]

Just found your thread. Nice work

[84GMC15tepside]

Alrighty, Haven't posted here for awhile, some updates:

My main focus this summer has been to get the engine/tranny in the truck and test run it by the end of the summer. So I got many parts from summit, local shops, etc to button up the engine. I think I have more pics but this is currently what I have: Engines in!

[84GMC15tepside]

Definitely posting updates soon, engine is close to running. I also bought suspension bushings, balljoints, etc. I decided on lowering the truck with spindles and cut springs up front and a flip kit in the rear. Slowly but surely getting there.

[84GMC15tepside]

I am putting the finishing touches on the fuel systems, installing the rubber connection lines, and now I am working on the cooling system. Mocked up the core support to test fit the fan shroud.





The fan shroud seemed to fit really well with half of the fan in and half of the fan out. Nothing has been bolted down, ordering proper hardware from LMC this week.

Will get in some updates on the suspension once I take pictures of course

[gmclowsierra]

what are the measurements of the fan shroud. height wise or do you know what size your radiator is?

[84GMC15tepside]

Originally Posted by gmclowsierra

what are the measurements of the fan shroud. height wise or do you know what size your radiator is?

It is a v8 blazer fan shroud. Backside:



Measuring the "box": 27.5"width at the top X 20.25"height. On the backside, from top to bottom is 21" for height.

I am temporarily using (trying to at least...) a new 1 row (6cyl) radiator that I got for the truck when it had the inline, and did not install before tearing down the truck. I am having some problems configuring a v8 shroud and a 6cyl radiator, more explaination here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=663011 . I may need to just buy a v8 radiator and call it a day. I don't want anything to look like a hack job.



Radiator measurements, not including the plastic ends: 28"width X 18.5"height

Let me know if you need more measurements.

Originally Posted by NewType72

Looking forward to the engine fire video! Someone must be excited

Absolutely! It's been a long time coming. My plan is to get it running within a month.

[84GMC15tepside]

Originally Posted by gmclowsierra

what are the measurements of the fan shroud. height wise or do you know what size your radiator is?

I remeasured the radiator according to the LMC guide. My radiator measurements are actually: 18-3/8" high X 28-1/4" wide X 1-1/4" deep.

[NewType72]

Looking forward to the engine fire video! Someone must be excited

[84GMC15tepside]

Here are some pictures of the truck as it sits currently:



...my garage is relatively large so I put this tarp up to hold heat in when running the wood stove. Worked pretty good!

Took the suspension apart and got Mcgaughy 2.5" drop spindles, and will cut the springs to get the front down around 4.5"... I got a western chassis flip kit for the back, not running a c-notch either.

Some of the parts I got recently:





Going all polyurethane for all of the suspension bushings, front and rear. The chassis had decent enough rubber bushings, but I figured I would just replace them. Rather do it now than in a couple of years.