Newbie with a simple 64 Stepper Build...

[MadRatt]

Hey All!

Just bought a ugly a$$ 64 Stepper on June 8th and started tearing it down tonight. Been reading some of the other build threads, and I hope mine doesn't bore you. The bar is pretty high around here... I can't believe the caliber of some of these back yard builds. I just hope mine turns out half as good as most of these.
So here are the plans for it so far:
I want to try and make it run and drive like a new vehicle, but look like a weathered speed shop truck on the outside
so i'm going to bag it, upgrade the brakes to power disc in the front
change out the bushing. clean underneath and under the hood.
its got a 305 in it now that runs great but smokes a bit when you start it.(not valve seals) so for now its a driver but am thinking a mild crate motor, unless I can get it rebuilt reasonably locally. its got a 700R4 in it so that will stay. I want to paint the interior, and do the seat. mild sound system and we should be good. oh and diff rim and tire combo. thinking black smoothies with fat white walls, but haven't made up my mind yet. still has 6 lug for now.

I've got an air bag and front power disc brake kit with drop spindles on the way. Planning on tackling that over my 5 day 4th of july weekend.
Tonight I got the bed, hood and cowl corners off so I can start asap on wed.
going to give soda blasting a shot tomorrow, and see if I can clean up the frame, and engine bay before wed. thinking a taking the front clip off but have never done that before. little apprehensive that it won't go back on easy.. lol

This is my first truck build, and first bag kit install so that should be fun. its been over 10 yrs since I tackled a project this size. I am looking forward to relearning everything all over again. Any advise is welcome.

I'll update as I go.
Thanx

[markeb01]

Welcome to the forum! That's a nice looking truck, and having a definite plan in mind is a big plus. Just be sure to take a lot of pictures throughout the process. Good luck with your project!

[JWheeler331]

Sounds like a good plan. Looking forward to seeing more of your progress.

[bj383ss]

Alright another 64' Stepper. Looks like a 80's build. On the plus side it looks like everything is there just needs some TLC and paint. Good luck on your build and welcome.

Bret

[WhippinSaw]

Looks like a nice project to refresh your skills with MadRatt. Its been 20 years for me and a had to refresh my memory with a lot of stuff. I am just about to start mine and I just opened the box with the dwell meter and timing light in it and their are mine but I don't remember how to use them. LOL Good luck with the build. Post more pictures as you make it you own.

[FATSO64]

Looks like a good start. I too have a 64 stepper, but a little worst for wear. Been sitting for a couple years since I got it, trying to save the money up before I open that can of worms. I'm also looking to rebuild the chassis and drive train and tackle the exterior later.
I attended the Brothers Truck show this morning and chatted it up with an older gentlemen with a clean (72) suburban running a 5.7L corvette LS driveline with a 4L60e transmission and he swore get was getting 23 mpg easily. I have been thinking of going that route with a tearout 5.3L for a dependable daily driver, and after that conversation, I'm sold on an LS. At the price point and dependability of a complete late model drive train for less than 2K, why wouldn't you consider it? The cost of a crated long block is about the same price.
Good luck, I'll be watching.
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[jbgroby]

Whoever did the paint scheme did a nice break up on the body
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[wayno]

Yeah definitely an idea that hadn't crossed my mind - not my choice of colors but the 64's body lines are very difficult for anything two tone and although these aren't my choice of colors - he did a nice job with it.

[MadRatt]

Well thanx for the reply's.

I actually passed on this truck because of the color scheme. I just couldn't get over the ugly 80'sness of it.(which is stupid since I can paint it) I was just looking for something with some original patina. Anyways
I got some work done on Sat and sun. Got the bed and hood off, then Sun I soda blasted the whole frame and part of the engine compartment. Then ran out of media. I want to pull the front clip but not exactly sure how. Do the outer fenders come off separate and then the inners and rad support? and can I do it without removing the Radiator? just leave it in loose? Its a different set up than a newer truck where you can pull the whole thing in 1 shot.

[RANDY COX]

Congrats on your truck,yea they are addicting back in the winter I started lookin at this site again haven't been on for yrs.Sold my burb a while back,Lookin at the build threads and just fell in love with the 60's trucks so what did I do just had to have one.here's the day I brung her home.Good luck on your build...

[Chevy Fleetside]

about 12 to 14 bolts and the whole front clip will come off, and it would be a good idea to remove the radiator, but you might find a way to keep it there.

[TJ's Chevy]

Nice two tone paint. Looks like a great start!

[MadRatt]

Well got some work done on it today. Ground out the rivets for the rear bump stops, in preparation for the c-notch and air bags. Decided to go ahead and pull the front clip. Uff! Might have got myself in trouble. Found that when this was restored years ago it got the El Cheapo body work. (Actually they probably didn't have the resources we have now for repop's) a lot of patch work and the radiator support lower mounts( as I was unbolting it) just fell out. So I'm going to need to replace that for sure. The inner fenders are worse than I originally thought. So may be replacing those. Anyone got any good used ones cheap. I knew the fenders had been repaired with lower replacements, but I didn't realize that they were cut from other fenders that were less rusty and bondo'd. also the bottoms of the fenders were welded to the rockers to keep them aligned. So I had to cut them free from the rockers to get the clip off!

I'll get pic's up tomorrow. It was to dark in the shop to see anything tonight.
Anyone have an opinion and or web links to who you think makes the nicest inner and outer fenders? Got to make some decisions. This was not and is not supposed to be a show truck, but I do want it to be a solid respectable truck under its shell.
Till tomorrow.

[Ta2Don]

and welcome aboard!
Looks like a nice solid truck to start with...
One thing I've learned out here, no matter how high the bar gets set, everyone is welcome and to me all builds out here are worth a look see.
Like your plan, and like Mark advised, take lots of pics...

[MadRatt]

Hey Thanx everyone for the comments.

Didn't get much done yesterday(spent the day reorganizing the shop to make my life a bit easier) But today removed both doors and transferred all the guts from old to new doors. The truck came with a second set of rust free door shells (kind of a selling point) No rust but have had some minor bodywork done to them. Drivers door lined up pretty good. Pass door needs a hinge pin kit installed. so I'll redo it when that gets here. also ordered all the glass felts and vent window gaskets. was able to clean and lube the window regulators. The drivers door was all messed up. Now like butter. 2 more days off hoping to get the rear bushings and rear airbags in. I'll let ya know what happens.

[WhippinSaw]

The new doors look great, makes the truck look solid. That is a good selling point, it would of taken weeks to repair the old ones to that look. Looking forward to your airbag install.

[MadRatt]

Sat. July 6th 2013 MadRatts log: lol

IT'S OFFICIAL!!! I'M HALF IN THE BAG!

Or I'm back half bagged anyway.

So I got the whole rear end torn out today. a lot of rusted into place nuts and bolts. I haven't work that hard in years! It was like being in the Gym.

Rear end Out:
New energy suspension bushings in: check
rear end back in :check
airbags test fit and new brackets welded in: check

ignor my welds, its been awhile since I've had the welder out and they aint pretty but they are stronger than needed.

So for sun. after getting my laundry done(still have to take it to the mat hookups in the shop won't be in till next week sometime)
I'm going to soda blast the rest of the frame and get the truck up on blocks for next weekends Front disk conversion attempt.
Now for the pic's

[T Smith]

I don't know what your plans are but you're not going to be able to get very low with those bag plates on top and bottom. To have those bags at design ride height it's gonna sit pretty tall.

Great build, keep it up!

[MadRatt]

Originally Posted by T Smith

I don't know what your plans are but you're not going to be able to get very low with those bag plates on top and bottom. To have those bags at design ride height it's gonna sit pretty tall.

Great build, keep it up!

Thanx,
Not looking to slam it just get a nice lowered stance and an awesome ride quality. this set up at ride height is a 3-4 inch drop in back and with the spindles and bags in front a 5 inch drop. if I need it lower in back I'll put 2 inch blocks in.

When they were sitting next to the original coils they were almost 4" shorter.

[WhippinSaw]

Nice job getting everything together, at this rate you should be done with everything by next week. lol These trucks will give you a work out, I am in better shape now than in years. Gonna be a nice ride Madratt, let us know how the stance and ride turns out.

[MadRatt]

Originally Posted by WhippinSaw

Nice job getting everything together, at this rate you should be done with everything by next week. lol These trucks will give you a work out, I am in better shape now than in years. Gonna be a nice ride Madratt, let us know how the stance and ride turns out.

Thanx Whippinsaw,
I only get to work on it on the weekends, so I got to make it count right?
I'm an owner/operator, I haul steel around the Midwest. so I'm gone all week. Usually get back fri. night. Then its on! Get as much done as I can squeeze in a weekend.

I didn't get any pic's yesterday, but I soda blasted all the paint that built up in the nooks and cranny's of the interior. it should look a lot better when I paint it. More definition like new on all the Body lines on the dash.

I'll post pic's this weekend, received my power front disk brake conversion set up, so that's this coming weekends project. oh and new control arm shaft kits.
Till then.
ROCK ON!

[MadRatt]

Last weekend didn't have a whole lot of time, but did manage to get the front end apart ready to sand blast the control arms and reassemble with new shaft and bushing kits, new drop spindles and disc brakes! Got the new master mocked up and ran the d.a. sander on the dash for a while also. This weekend hopefully front end all back together.

I'll have to post pic's later. Can't seem to do it from my phone
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[MadRatt]

O.K. So here are some pic's

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

I'm a little late to your build thread, but it's looking good and you're making some nice progress.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by T Smith

I don't know what your plans are but you're not going to be able to get very low with those bag plates on top and bottom. To have those bags at design ride height it's gonna sit pretty tall.

Great build, keep it up!

JUST REMOVE THE BOTTOM CAGE AND RUN A BOLT THRU THE TRAILING ARM INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE BAG, THAT SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. KIETH