new interior for my 1980 stepside

[Schoview]

hello together,

due to corona being locked in home office for 5 weeks here in Germany now, I started to work on my stepside to bring the interior to new beauty.

I started with removing the ugly Grant-steering thing ;-) replaced it with a wooden steering wheel... and then removing all the door panels, dash etc.

My plan was to repaint the old dash and grey door panels to new black matte and used a special color system by Foliatec, similar to DupliColor.
The system really colors the surface, not only "paints" it.

These first pics show the "before" part... more pics will follow.

[Schoview]

...here are some more pics from disassembling

[Schoview]

...useless holes in door panels were filled, all parts cleaned very thorough to prepare for coloring...

[Schoview]

...the Foliatec Interior Color System works very well: Primer, paint, sealer... with a perfekt finish. No bubbles, noses , just a clean black surface like new from the factory! I´m lovin´it!

Some parts on the pics are still wet, but the paint dries to a perfect finish.
Now the parts have to sit for a few days to dry 100%.

Meanwhile I'm waiting for some parts from LMC like a new shift indicator for the dash (the old one was labeled by handwriting)

The seal of the windshield is about 40 years now and a bit wrinkled ;-) so I will remove the old seal and replace it.

New pics will follow, as soon as I can start with reassembling.

[TKCR]

You did an awesome job! I love dyeing parts, and making them look new again. Your trucks interior will look so much better.

[blazer2007]

I like the first steering wheel better than the wood one but just my opinion

[Schoview]

Originally Posted by blazer2007

I like the first steering wheel better than the wood one but just my opinion

I know what you mean. The old one fits better into the old interior look with billet aluminium parts.

But in the end, the new interior will be all black with wood trims on dash and door panels, matched to the wood steering wheel which is matched too to the outside truck bed ;-)

[57NAPCO]

Nice work!

[Pontiac1976]

good looking 81-83 step side truck

[Schoview]

Hello -or "Moin" as we say here ;-)

today I mainly have struggled with electrical problems like dead lights in the dashboard, short circuits in the printed circuits behind the instrument cluster and some TLC on the Heater AC control panel.

I have polished the Instrument Bezel glass to high gloss and cleaned the reflector of the instrument cluster, too.
I also have installed a new shift indicator. The old one was labeled by handwriting ...very unique

Today, she is getting a new windshield and a new sealing installed. Took it to the shop and hope to pick her up in the afternoon without issues like rust at the windshield frame

The pic uploader doesn't work at the moment. I will try later :-(

[Schoview]

Here come the pics ;-)

[TKCR]

While the cluster is out, this is a perfect time to add a Clock. That’s what I did, when I had mine out and cleaning it up. I put a new lens in, that made a world of difference also. The new lens has a hole for the clock stem.
Your doing a great job!

[Schoview]

today we are almost at the finish line...
the new windshield and seal were installed without issues like rust. Very solid frame.
We only sanded it and put some rust prevention on it, that's it.

then the reassembly started, every control panel was brought back to life and I cleaned up the carpet...

[Schoview]

Here are now some final pics after the reassembly

[Schoview]

...and some more pics :-)

[TKCR]

WOW!! Thats looks so good. You did an excellent job!!

[wixthedog]

Excellent job! I like the additional gauges in the bezel too, any information on that?

[LT7A]

Wow, you have a really neat truck! I like your attention to detail. It all looks good, but I especially noticed that your repaint of the steering column came out really nice. Would you mind telling us a little more about the truck? Engine, transmission, etc?

[Schoview]

Originally Posted by wixthedog

Excellent job! I like the additional gauges in the bezel too, any information on that?

Hello Mike,

thank you :-) the additional gauges are :

- electronic temperature by VDO (very acurate and also used in classic Porsche, Mercedes and other german sportscars) https://kienzle-shop.de/fahrzeugtech...hoCpyoQAvD_BwE

- Sunpro CP8216 StyleLine Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge

[Schoview]

Originally Posted by LT7A

Wow, you have a really neat truck! I like your attention to detail. It all looks good, but I especially noticed that your repaint of the steering column came out really nice. Would you mind telling us a little more about the truck? Engine, transmission, etc?

Thank you very much
yes, I love my truck and always wanted to rebuild it close to original, but with a slight touch of individualism... e.g. like the wood trim interieur (made by myself)

My truck is a 1980 GMC Stepside and was originally equiped with a 6 cylinder engine with an AC. It has been used in Arizona much of it´s life and finally was brought to germany and was used here as a solid basis for a swap out of two trucks, to get one complete truck.
It has been lowered (which I love very much), was repainted in original GM Sport Red and got 15" smoothies by Wheels Vintiques, rear 275/55R15, front 255/55R15.
The engine is now a rebuild 350cui V8 with some Edelbrock Performace parts.
the transmission is a rebuild TH350.
everything on this truck runs great, every light bulb works and it makes a lot of fun to drive it. It is really a headturner here

have a look at the rear lights
I used Harley Davidson motorbike lights for turn signals and combinated brake/rearlights to keep her nice ass clean

[Schoview]

... some more details:

I used a 1960´s motorcycle headlight with a nice visor as my back up light and put a white 12v LED in it.

And as a great fan of the 1978 movie "convoy" and of the beautiful black Mack RS700L, I printed the rubber duck hood ornament with a 3D-printer to a size that fits perfect to the hood.
It will be painted in high gloss silver and mounted on my hood

[Factory Guy]

Love the truck and the movie Convoy!

[LT7A]

Thanks for all the additional information and pictures! I really enjoy seeing a truck cared for and appreciated so well where they are so uncommon.

[dagnabbitt]

That wood steering wheel ties a wood interior together nicely. I have the same one in my 81 stepside as well.

I generally go for original but they were all the rage when I was in high school so it really takes be back in time, the way they feel in your hands.

Really nice job on your interior!