1971 Stepside LS Build

[1971Stepside]

Saturday night I decided to do an easy project since I didn't have to much time to spend in the garage. Thought I would go ahead and wire up the radio. The AAW harness gives you two wires for the radio. A battery wire (yellow) and a brown wire (acc). Add in the ground and you are good to go. I hooked it all up and the radio wouldn't come on. I checked the fuse(s) and no luck. Finally, after a good hour or so I just went in the house aggravated. I couldn't believe the RetroSound was bad.

The next morning I thought I would try again. I consulted with bearterku and was confident I had it wired correctly, but my volt meter was not giving me a good reading on anything so I went and bought a test light. Long story short I discovered that the yellow wire had no power from the harness. The fuse was good. I pulled out the wiring schematic and could see the brown wire and yellow wire went to different locations on the fuse block so I traced it back and discovered the yellow wire doesn't go to the radio fuse, but to the clock fuse and sure enough....it was blown. Replaced the fuse and it worked. Simple job that took 3 to 4 hours

[TA_C10]

Glad you figured that out for us . Makes sense, clock is constant battery, radio is ACC power. But odd AAW didn't give us 2 radio circuits for such.

[Low Elco]

Don't get real excited about the "options" for tuning in KC. They just dump a canned tune in, run it on the dyno twice and kick it out the door, at between 3 and 400 bucks. My favorite one have been through the guy that's done 2 of my harnesses, 150tunes.com in Washington. Kind of weird to communicate with, email only, but the tune on our 5.3 and both harnesses have been great. I'm considering pulling the computer out of my 09 to send to him to try to cure the stinky rich idle.

[1971Stepside]

Don't get real excited about the "options" for tuning in KC. They just dump a canned tune in, run it on the dyno twice and kick it out the door, at between 3 and 400 bucks. My favorite one have been through the guy that's done 2 of my harnesses, 150tunes.com in Washington. Kind of weird to communicate with, email only, but the tune on our 5.3 and both harnesses have been great. I'm considering pulling the computer out of my 09 to send to him to try to cure the stinky rich idle.

If I was running a pretty much stock motor I would be all for mailing off the PCM, but with the cam etc. I think it needs more attention. I have a great reference for Lsxkilr Custom Calibrations in Bonner Springs. At this point, I'm going to finish the truck out and worry about getting it dialed in come warmer weather.

[beaterku]

You had me stumped too. Most of the time, the answer is staring you in the face. I can't count how many times I was scratching my head with something and it was right there in front of me. I had great luck with LSXKilr. My tune is rock solid.

[1971Stepside]

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and had a chance to work on their truck. I was able to get out and get my speaker cabinet pretty well wrapped up for behind the seat. I have some mounting tabs and tweaks to do, but real happy with how it turned out. Hope to finish up the wiring this week and see how it sounds before it all goes to the upholstery shop.

[TA_C10]

Killer job Shannon, it's gonna look awesome when finished and sound just as good as it looks

[Scurry67]

Wow that looks awesome. You may have already mentioned it, but did you just wing that or did you have a set of plans? I’m digging the updates

[1971Stepside]

Wow that looks awesome. You may have already mentioned it, but did you just wing that or did you have a set of plans?

I've pretty much winged the entire thing LOL. Woodworking was my first hobby and I tend to lay awake at night thinking about how to do things like this. Once I think I have it worked out I start cutting and see what I end up with. I did look around at what other guys had done and didn't see anything I wanted to copy exactly. I wanted it to be simple, clean and provide a little room for storage. Hope it looks even better when covered with upholstery.

[1971Stepside]

They finally shot some color on the bed and remaining parts yesterday. Who knows how long it will now take to get them buffed out and ready for assembly, but it is progress after 8 months.

[MDPotter]

I think if I were to do it all again, I would do just one sub in the middle. Two is definitely overkill and it would be nice to have a little storage like you do.

Exciting to see some more parts in color!

[1971Stepside]

Liner is shot on the backside of the fenders and bed side. Hopefully, the cut and buff will be done early this week and I will get the bed back by the weekend.

Knowing that the bed was getting close I decided to pull the wood out that I had finished weeks ago. I had it stored in the house under a bed and was really disappointed to see how yellow it had gotten. I decided to strip it all off and start over. I'm thinking a bright red stain on the wood.

I finished the speaker box and wired up the amp and speakers. It sounds better than I had hoped and the Retrosound radio is pretty slick with Bluetooth. The doggo liked the bass and wanted in.

[MDPotter]

What kind of finish did you put it on it originally? The water-based Minwax clear finishes aren't supposed to be as yellow, or you can go with an automotive clear coat.

And what is that screw in your door just below your vent window handle? I had never noticed it until now. Neither of our trucks have that.

[1971Stepside]

What kind of finish did you put it on it originally? The water-based Minwax clear finishes aren't supposed to be as yellow, or you can go with an automotive clear coat.

And what is that screw in your door just below your vent window handle? I had never noticed it until now. Neither of our trucks have that.

I used an oil based poly that was recommended, but it yellowed. I will either do a water based poly or just shoot the automotive clear over the red stain.

HAHAHA! The second person to ask about the bolt. In 72 the doors had these to keep the metal from splitting like they were prone to doing in previous years. I put 72 doors on mine because I wanted to go with the 72 door panels and I had a clean rust free original on the passenger side.

...and yes, I know my door hinge bolts are black

[TA_C10]

Originally Posted by 1971stepside

...and yes, i know my door hinge bolts are black

:d

[1971Stepside]

After 9 long months the bed is finally starting to be assembled. We hung the fenders last night. Hopefully, it will come home tonight.

[MDPotter]

It's going to look like a complete truck in short order! Is your bed wood ready?

[Custom 68]

Awesome news Shannon. That's a great looking silver. It will be great to have it all back in one place...You place.
Dave

[1971Stepside]

It's going to look like a complete truck in short order! Is your bed wood ready?

I sent it to a cabinet shop to get sprayed. I just couldn't get the results I wanted without spraying it. It should be back today or tomorrow....fingers crossed.

Awesome news Shannon. That's a great looking silver. It will be great to have it all back in one place...You place.

Thanks Dave. I agree!!

[Low Elco]

Hot diggity! Looks Terriffic, hope to see it in april.

[Custom 68]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Hot diggity! Looks Terriffic, hope to see it in april.

What's goin on in April do tell...
Dave

[1971Stepside]

What's goin on in April do tell...

https://www.facebook.com/11457060370...524683642/?d=n

[1971Stepside]

I'm just hoping for some sunshine so I can get her outside to take a couple better pics. Bed wood should be back before the weekend so I can get the bed pretty well buttoned up. Had them re-shoot the cowl as it had two dirt spots under the clear that wouldn't come out. I'm kinda freaking out that this thing is about done!

[72afr]

Looks awesome!

[Thealien]

Nice!!!