1971 Stepside LS Build

[derotoreut]

I feel your pain. I have a 71 swb project that my son-in-law is doing. It's been 3-years now.

[1971Stepside]

Looks like they are making some progress on it this week. Hopefully, some good leaps forward by the weeks end.

[1971Stepside]

Went to the shop last night to see what progress had been made. I was happy to see that work was actually going on. I understand that they are slammed with insurance work and that is what pays the bills.

She is progressing, but my guess is I won't see her done until July some time. They are really working on a show quality finish, so it does take longer. The bed has been through 5 blocking and primer cycles. It should be straight for sure. Bedsides received the final primer coat last night before paint.

Hard to be patient, but had I done this myself I would be way behind where it is now.

I have been ordering the remaining parts needed to complete the build, so once it is home it should be pretty fun to wrap it up and at least get it driveable. I'm sure I have missed something that I will need, but it will different having a big stack of parts waiting for me instead of buying them one or two at a time like I have done for the whole project.

[MDPotter]

I look forward to seeing it all painted and put together! It's going to be a real unique truck with a flawless finish.

Are they going to cut and buff after painting too?

[TA_C10]

Looks good. Watching them work like that tells me how much work I have ahead of me. I like seeing that bedside upside down like that to get under the lip. Glad I'm only doing a driver and not show quality...

.

[1971Stepside]

I look forward to seeing it all painted and put together! It's going to be a real unique truck with a flawless finish.

Are they going to cut and buff after painting too?

You and me both! They will color sand prior to putting it back together and then buff it out once all together. I'm still a little anxious about the silver and red, but everyone has a red.

Looks good. Watching them work like that tells me how much work I have ahead of me. I like seeing that bedside upside down like that to get under the lip. Glad I'm only doing a driver and not show quality...

Yeah, I'm glad I didn't attempt all this in my little garage.

[Custom 68]

Wow for sure, that will be worth the wait but I know it is is killing you. Thanks for keeping the picture coming it is fun to watch.
Dave

[IronCanine]

Gonna be super slick!

[1971Stepside]

Wow for sure, that will be worth the wait but I know it is is killing you. Thanks for keeping the picture coming it is fun to watch.

I am pretty impatient for sure. Trying to keep busy by ordering parts

Gonna be super slick!

Thank you!

Question for all of you: Do I leave the radiator support red? I'm hoping it looks good to look through the egg crate and see some red along with the red interior, but at the same time I am second guessing that.

[1971Stepside]

I made a road trip to LMC Truck yesterday to pick up my "final" list of parts for the build. Was able to get a little tour of the facility while I waited. Amazing how many parts ship out of there on a daily basis. These pictures are from one of their buildings where they keep the large parts and Ford parts (I was picking up premium bumpers). The guy told me that they load 3-4 FedEx trailers a day, and one postal service trailer. Who knew that many people were restoring Fords!!

Once I made it home I began organizing all the parts so assembly will just be slowed down looking for the 10mm socket.

My radio came in. Still waiting on the Dakota gauges, AAW harness, and seat belts to arrive.

[beaterku]

Originally Posted by 1971Stepside

I made a road trip to LMC Truck yesterday to pick up my "final" list of parts for the build. Was able to get a little tour of the facility while I waited. Amazing how many parts ship out of there on a daily basis. These pictures are from one of their buildings where they keep the large parts and Ford parts (I was picking up premium bumpers). The guy told me that they load 3-4 FedEx trailers a day, and one postal service trailer. Who knew that many people were restoring Fords!!

Once I made it home I began organizing all the parts so assembly will just be slowed down looking for the 10mm socket.

My radio came in. Still waiting on the Dakota gauges, AAW harness, and seat belts to arrive.

Looking good. I've never been in their big building before. That's a crazy amount of parts shipped.

[MDPotter]

This is the exciting part of the building coming - reassembly. Putting nice new parts on freshly painted body is very satisfying.

[1971Stepside]

This is the exciting part of the building coming - reassembly. Putting nice new parts on freshly painted body is very satisfying.

This thought kept me from sleeping last night because I was daydreaming

[68Gold/white]

Tell us about that radio, and where purchased.

Can't imagine any ford being restored!!! What's the old saying, "It's a sick world"...

[1971Stepside]

Tell us about that radio, and where purchased.

It is a RetroSound Hermosa 2. BlueTooth radio. Purchased it from Crutchfield. I also bought their hidden antenna. I've heard these are good little radios. They are pricey.

[1971Stepside]

Went home at lunch and my Dakota Digital gauges had arrived. I want to thank MCB Parts for the customer service on these. I think the carbon fiber look will tie to my intake.

I also went and picked up my dash pad and steering wheel cover from the upholstery shop. I ordered extra material when I purchased the seat. Very happy with the stitch they put in the dash to give it a more modern clean look. Dropped off the visors and headliner to be done next.

[TA_C10]

Very nice, looking good. Nice touches on the upholstery. Your gonna love the gauges.

[siggyfreud]

I used those gauges on a 69 El Camino build and really like them. They were super easy to setup. The speedo calibration was very easy too. Just started driving, measured a mile on my phone, pressed a button, and boom it was set. Then verified it via a gps app on my phone and it was spot on. Everything is looking great!

[1971Stepside]

The interior pieces are rolling in one at a time. Once he finishes one piece I drop of another. I picked up the headliner today. They matched it to the seat.
Sun visors are next and then the door panels. Should have it all back with the exception of carpet by the time we are ready to drive it.

[1971Stepside]

I dropped by the shop last night to check on my girl. Looks like we are down to the cab and doors. All other parts are in final prime waiting for paint. Getting closer. The back of this cab has taken a lot of work. At some point in her life the bed got pushed into the back of the cab and created a concave curve. I'm glad they got it straight.

[MDPotter]

Don't look at the back of my cab between it and the bed...I still cringe remembering how much work is in the back of the cab and how much more time I could have spent on it to make it perfect. It's amazing how much damage the back of the cab gets.

[IronCanine]

Closer by the second....everything is looking great!

[1971Stepside]

Don't look at the back of my cab between it and the bed

The stepper shows so much of the cab you have to!

[Camaroguy]

This really is a beautiful truck. I like the theme you're going with and am anxious to see some color.

[sprint_9]

Going to look real nice, the interior pieces are coming out great.