1986 Chevy C10 SWB Step Side

[aotte1]

The truck is painted . Starting to put some of it back together, dash pad in, new windshield, doors back on.

Les

[BamaDave]

Could you post a close up pic of rear bed post? I would like to see how the bed rail rolls into the post.

[Low Elco]

Hey, that's purdy! Congrats!

[aotte1]

Dave,
Will get you a photo in a couple of days, away from truck today.

Les

[BamaDave]

Thanks

[aotte1]

Low Elco,

Thanks, have fun this weekend, your events sounds like a great time!

Les

[aotte1]

Dave,
Let me know if these are the images you are looking for.

Les

[aotte1]

Dave,
One more image of corner.

Les

[aotte1]

The truck came home today. Not for final stay, but for installing power train, and putting the bed back together, then back to paint shop for installation of front end.

[aotte1]

Another pic .

[aotte1]

The truck in the garage

[jpnh]

Wow,getting soo close now gonna be awesome-jeff

[aotte1]

Jeff,

Thanks, you are right, having to put the brakes on myself a little too not rush things.
Next, will review your notes on how you finished your bed, thanks again for sharing your process. Plan is to take it off this afternoon with some help from friends, just have four bolts holding it on from transport home. Then tomorrow start cleaning the rear frame section.

Still need to decide how to lower rear of truck about 2 to 3 inches to make level with front, maybe should wait till truck is all done to see how it sits. Then make rear adjustment. Thinking maybe install new springs now that lower some? Local spring company would make them for me. Keith S. showed me pictures of how he lower the rear of his truck, thinking of young that process. Key themes will be ride quality and traction/safety going down the drag strip a little.

Les

[BamaDave]

Originally Posted by aotte1

Dave,
Let me know if these are the images you are looking for.

Les

Man, one sweet stepper! If you could take one eye level from rear lookin straight down the "curl" I will leave you alone. I'm trying to see the curl's shape and how it attaches to the bed post. Mine looks like the bed rail was forced down slightly and then spot-welded

[aotte1]

Dave,

Hope these help you see what you needed, let me know if not.
Les

[aotte1]

Dave,
A few more pics, it is a nice uniform curved shape until the weld, after weld it is different as shown in pictures. I believe the truck to be original in this area.
Les

[aotte1]

Started working on cleaning up the wood bed floor supports today. Attached are a few photos of them. The metal is galvanized, and their is some red paint on the ends of them, not sure if paint is original. Note: again this is a Canadian built truck, so it may of had more corrosion protection e.g. the galvanizing?

Were the stepside beds painted off the frame? I think that is the only way the braces would get body color paint on them, and non on the frame.

Les

[BamaDave]

Thanks man, mine looks to be identical. Was curious about how far that eld spot protruded.

[aotte1]

Dave,
Great, glad I could help.

Les

[JohnKimble]

Truck looks great. Did you paint it yourself?

[aotte1]

John,
Thanks for the compliment, truck was painted by a local shop.

Les

[aotte1]

Working on cleaning the frame before putting the bed back on. Removing undercoating and a little rust. The undercoating was heavy in some areas. Most of the undercoating is now removed, just a little left to remove. The rust was mainly where the bed supports contact the frame. Not doing springs and shocks now, plan to replace them later, as part of a small drop. Pictures before I started, and where I am in process now. Still have some more cleaning to do in a few spots. This is a driver level clean-up.

[aotte1]

Used mineral spirits to remove the undercoating. Selected mineral spirits because it works a little faster then other similar solvents, it is refined more. It also costs more. I used about 1 1/2 gallons to do the short bed frame area. A wire brush helped soften undercoat in heavy areas, then power washed it after letting mineral spirits soak for an hour. Repeating this three times, removed all the undercoating.

[aotte1]

The rear frame is cleaned and ready to be painted. Their is quite a bite of original paint which I am happy about. Once cleaned I am leaving the original painted, just scuffing before painting. Have a few more things to remove before painting. Plan to replace the brake lines after painting, since the truck was stored for long and brake fluid looked bad. Below are a few photos.

[aotte1]

Another photo since I pad only loads one.