New guy here with some questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Beetle · 05-25-2009, 03:12 PM

Hi, new here in the forum. My intro can be found in the welcome area. So I don't have a truck yet but am lookin really hard. Found a couple but they were too far gone. Before I jump into anything I would like to know things to look for like I know the rockers are gonna be gone, the cab corners are as well, what else is there that I need to look for? This is gonna be my first real project besides my Jeep so I not very savvy with fabrication. I really want a short bed but I think a longbed would be neat. Are there different long bed lengths, and do they make a step side longbox? Another crazy idea of mine is to drop a 454/T400, how hard would this be? I do have a really big hammer

And if anyone could give me any other suggestions while I'm lookin for my first c10 that would be great. Great to be here! (Oh and I'm not opposed to Georgia Mountain Climbers either)

Shyguy · 05-25-2009, 03:30 PM

One area that is not looked at by a lot of people when they are looking at trucks is the roof around the windshield. This is a very hard place to repair.

I am partial to steppers myself, I have a long one and a short one. Of course they are in the project phase, but driveable.

As far as I know there are 3 stepper lengths, the longest is kind of rare and is a "Longhorn". The ones I have are the short-bed and regular long bed steppers. I have only seen the "Longhorn" in pictures.

Here are a couple of pictures of long steppers, neither are mine unfortunately.

Danny

PanelDeland · 05-25-2009, 03:40 PM

WELCOME!There are also several posts in the FAQ forum that will help you learn the rust prone areas.The builds forum will have lots of pics of rust repair.The 454 TH 400 will fit right in but requires BB towers to fit factory.BB towers are different for 72 and somewhat expensive.
Last but not least, there is a trucks for sale forum and a parts for sale forum,check them to see if you can find what you are looking for.

big_al_71 · 05-25-2009, 04:19 PM

check the project section there is alot you can learn by reading posts there....
Welcome..

Longhorn Man · 05-25-2009, 05:45 PM

longhorns aren't stepside trucks.. all longhorns are fleetside.
There are 3 lengths of stepside beds.
in the C/10 series, there's a 6 foot and an 8 foot bed.
In the C/20 series, only the 8 foot.
In the C/30 series, only 9 foot stepsides.

As for what you are looking for, your best bet would be shopping out west. It sounds like you've seen the stuff east... look west, preferably south west, but all the way up the west coast will be nicer than the stuff east. And obviously, you don't want anything from the north east.
Engine and tranny work ois WAY cheaper than body work... same with suspention or int, or anything. Paint and body is the single most expensive part, so get the best body you can afford, and the rest is gravy.

Beetle · 05-26-2009, 01:52 PM

Thanks for all the help here. I have yet to see anyone do up a longbed step, so that is the direction I am headed! Now I just gotta find one...

Longhorn Man · 05-26-2009, 04:31 PM

there's a few around here. Most people find then to be fairly ugly. Locating a bed in nice shape will prove hard too. They seem to have a better following in the 4X4 group, but not by much.

UltraBlue71 · 05-27-2009, 04:47 PM

Greetings Beetle! I am stationed out in Idaho but orginally from MO, (land of the rusty chevy), Just take your time and buy the best starting point you can afford, Longhornman is right, I see LOTS these trucks out here, many of them are 100% original and have very little rust. Good Luck Buddy!

westofb · 05-27-2009, 09:12 PM

When looking at potential purchase...look for rust in hard to fix areas. Mine had rust inside the cowl area where the seams meet above the instrument cluster and the glove box. This are would not be impossible to fix (I guess nothing is impossible to fix if you want to throw enough money at it...lol), but I decided to get a different cab. The cowl rust is hard to see without a flashlight and laying in the floor looking up behind the dash. I know others have had similiar rust issues, one of the problem areas for these trucks.

05-25-2009, 03:12 PM	#1
Beetle Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 725	New guy here with some questions Hi, new here in the forum. My intro can be found in the welcome area. So I don't have a truck yet but am lookin really hard. Found a couple but they were too far gone. Before I jump into anything I would like to know things to look for like I know the rockers are gonna be gone, the cab corners are as well, what else is there that I need to look for? This is gonna be my first real project besides my Jeep so I not very savvy with fabrication. I really want a short bed but I think a longbed would be neat. Are there different long bed lengths, and do they make a step side longbox? Another crazy idea of mine is to drop a 454/T400, how hard would this be? I do have a really big hammer And if anyone could give me any other suggestions while I'm lookin for my first c10 that would be great. Great to be here! (Oh and I'm not opposed to Georgia Mountain Climbers either)

05-25-2009, 03:30 PM	#2
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: New guy here with some questions One area that is not looked at by a lot of people when they are looking at trucks is the roof around the windshield. This is a very hard place to repair. I am partial to steppers myself, I have a long one and a short one. Of course they are in the project phase, but driveable. As far as I know there are 3 stepper lengths, the longest is kind of rare and is a "Longhorn". The ones I have are the short-bed and regular long bed steppers. I have only seen the "Longhorn" in pictures. Here are a couple of pictures of long steppers, neither are mine unfortunately. Danny Attached Images __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

05-25-2009, 03:40 PM	#3
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,992	Re: New guy here with some questions WELCOME!There are also several posts in the FAQ forum that will help you learn the rust prone areas.The builds forum will have lots of pics of rust repair.The 454 TH 400 will fit right in but requires BB towers to fit factory.BB towers are different for 72 and somewhat expensive. Last but not least, there is a trucks for sale forum and a parts for sale forum,check them to see if you can find what you are looking for. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

05-25-2009, 04:19 PM	#4
big_al_71 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 11,375	Re: New guy here with some questions check the project section there is alot you can learn by reading posts there.... Welcome.. __________________ Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please!!!!!. Sylvester's build thread >>>http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ht=big+rebuild

05-25-2009, 05:45 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: New guy here with some questions longhorns aren't stepside trucks.. all longhorns are fleetside. There are 3 lengths of stepside beds. in the C/10 series, there's a 6 foot and an 8 foot bed. In the C/20 series, only the 8 foot. In the C/30 series, only 9 foot stepsides. As for what you are looking for, your best bet would be shopping out west. It sounds like you've seen the stuff east... look west, preferably south west, but all the way up the west coast will be nicer than the stuff east. And obviously, you don't want anything from the north east. Engine and tranny work ois WAY cheaper than body work... same with suspention or int, or anything. Paint and body is the single most expensive part, so get the best body you can afford, and the rest is gravy.

05-26-2009, 01:52 PM	#6
Beetle Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 725	Re: New guy here with some questions Thanks for all the help here. I have yet to see anyone do up a longbed step, so that is the direction I am headed! Now I just gotta find one...

05-26-2009, 04:31 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: New guy here with some questions there's a few around here. Most people find then to be fairly ugly. Locating a bed in nice shape will prove hard too. They seem to have a better following in the 4X4 group, but not by much.

05-27-2009, 04:47 PM	#8
UltraBlue71 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: OKC OK Posts: 489	Re: New guy here with some questions Greetings Beetle! I am stationed out in Idaho but orginally from MO, (land of the rusty chevy), Just take your time and buy the best starting point you can afford, Longhornman is right, I see LOTS these trucks out here, many of them are 100% original and have very little rust. Good Luck Buddy! __________________ "You can put lipstick on a pig, sure it's pretty pig, but it's still just a PIG... 71 LWB

05-27-2009, 09:12 PM	#9
westofb I really hate wet sanding! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Brookfield, MO Posts: 601	Re: New guy here with some questions When looking at potential purchase...look for rust in hard to fix areas. Mine had rust inside the cowl area where the seams meet above the instrument cluster and the glove box. This are would not be impossible to fix (I guess nothing is impossible to fix if you want to throw enough money at it...lol), but I decided to get a different cab. The cowl rust is hard to see without a flashlight and laying in the floor looking up behind the dash. I know others have had similiar rust issues, one of the problem areas for these trucks.



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