85 c10 ls swapped redo

[Louisianagmfs]

I just recently bought a 1985 c10 stepside locally and I'm going to start the mod process on it real soon. Its a Scottsdale package and original color of apple red, it was repainted a few years back it looks to be the original color. The body is in excellent shape all original sheet metal with no rust anywhere, its the cleanest sheetmetal I've seen on a square since i have been looking. The paint job is a good for a driver, I will be repainting the whole truck in the near future.

The interior is all the stock pieces which were burgundy redied black, the dash just has one of the plastic covers on it. Guages are all autometer procomps on a modified stock bezel.

As for the drivetrain a previous owner also had the 305 and th350 pulled and replaced with a 5.3 and 4l60e from an 02 truck. That work was done by a local race shop. I was told it has an ls6 cam and ported heads, but the can sounds like stock to me. I wasn't worried that wasn't why I bought the truck. The rear has some sort of limited slip and 3.73 gears in the stock 10 bolt. The suspension is lowered looks like 2 or 2.5" spindles and a dropped coil on front, and the rear has a hanger and shackle combo.

My plans are to fix all the issues and make it a nice daily driver. I've put about 1000 miles on it in 2 months and the ac is the only real problem but it seems to have been a leaky Schrader valve on the low side connection. I also had to put an electric speedo from autometer to work with the 4l60e. The truck with be lowered more on a 20 or 22 inch setup, and I want to clean the interior and engine bay up. I started installing sound deadening on the inside and will put a headliner and all the stock trim that goes with it soon.


As of 7/13 I started the process of converting to a fleet side. I will be swapping the bed from an 81 I had. The paint has to be stripped and one patch panel where the exhaust is located. Other than that its a solid bed. I'm sure after I have the bed on and painted I'll want to paint the rest.

[natedogg]

Nice looking truck. The vacuum switch on the fire wall that is to the left of the trans dip stick is for the old ESC distributor. The other vacuum switch that is to the left of the brake booster is for the 350C trans that was in your truck. Throw them in the trash!

[Louisianagmfs]

I was wondering what that switch was for... It will be gone soon. Ive been busy working on my fleet side bed, got all the paint stripped, except for about half off the tailgate, all the body work is roughed in, and the rust hole behind the wheel well has been fixed with a patch panel

[Rich84]

Looks awful nice as a stepside..

[Louisianagmfs]

Thanks I don't think its too bad as a step side, I just like fleetsides a lot more, the lines flow better to me.

This is a little of the progress from last night. Got the patch welded in, some of the body work roughed in and its almost fully stripped, just need to knock a bit more off and epoxy prime it.

[77c10]

I'm not much of a step side fan but that's a good looking truck!

[Louisianagmfs]

Not much of an update, but I built a tool for the truck today. Its so I can measure fitment for different backspacing wheels and tire widths. It adjust from 24"-34" and any width since it's using threaded rod, it also fits 5on4.5- 5on5. Its not super user friendly like the ones you buy but not bad if you understand how backspacing and offsets work. I figured I'd save the $200+ I'd spend on an aluminum one and make one at work. All total I have $18 in it, for threaded rod and hardware. I have yet to test it, but I think it will work just fine for what I need. Only thing I may need to do is open the hub hole up, and put a 60° bevel around the lug slots. If this one works well I will make 6 lug and 8 lug bases so I have them in the future if I need them.

The way its configured right now its for a 295/30/22 on a 10" wheel with 4.75 bs. I don't think that will fit but that's what I was hoping I could get under there.

[Louisianagmfs]

Got the bed done tonight. I will be putting it on tomorrow.

[Louisianagmfs]

Bed is on. Just got a few loose ends to tie up. Fuel filler is spout on the tank side is bigger on the 85 than the 81 so I need a different hose. Gotta redo the wiring for the tail lights, it was a little hacked up on that bed, and sand and buff the bed, its not bad just needs a little more shine.

[rip2174]

Nice work

[TrailerTrash]

looks great!

and not just because i hate stepsides

[Louisianagmfs]

Thanks for the compliments, and here is a better picture of how the paint came out. I sanded and buffed the bedsides tonight. Still need to do the gate.

[carboncrew]

dang! You don't mess around. Looks better with the new bed IMO

Very nice!

[Louisianagmfs]

Thanks, I'm trying to get it to nice driver status. I'm gonna order a flip kit today, I had to take off the drop shackle because I didn't want to hack up the crossmember. I found the stepside was a little bit more flimsy after I cut it. Then I will use my wheel tool to find what wheels I can fit like I want.

[Louisianagmfs]

Well I've been slacking big time on this thing. But I finally did a flip kit on the rear to get it down. I need some shorter shocks and or extenders. I think it will come down a bit more in the rear since its bottomed out right there. The front will also need to come down I'm sure. Its 29-1/8" to the front fender, and 27-5/8" to the rear fender.

Still haven't decided on wheels or anything else yet.

[tinydb84]

Man that is a gorgeous truck!

[Misled]

Beautiful truck!!!

[Louisianagmfs]

Thanks guys. I'm trying to get it ready for cruisin. Not sure I will make it

[cases84square]

Nice looking truck! It may be a stupid question, but what is that bulb thing to the drivers side of the brake booster called? What is its purpose? Its not hooked up on my truck to anything and everything seems to work the way it's suppose to.

[Louisianagmfs]

Im guessing that it was a vacuum canister, possibly for emissions or something. I didn't even see what is hooked up to it. My engine bay is on the list of things to clean up. I just been busy modifying my daily driver.

[Louisianagmfs]

Not much progress other than a blown up g80 in my 10 bolt. I have a 12 bolt to put in it and now I'm trying to decide if I want to narrow it or not. Anyone ever narrowed there own around here?